Dairy and Agriculture formulates the staple means of revenue generation for the village communities. In order to strengthen their means of livelihoods further the Trust has been continuously engaged in developing new varieties of crops and cattle through research and development.
AGRICULTURE
The Trust has been working in agriculture. The main activities inlcude-
Organic Farming
Green vegetables and fruits are produced using organic manure (no use of chemical fertilizer) for the Trust as well as green fodder for dairy animals. This form of farming is encouraged among village communities too.
Development of Ravine Land
The trust mostly occupies ravine lands. The endeavour is to transform the ravine lands into cultivable lands and making best use of it.
Water-Shed Management Practices
Water-Shed Management Practices are being implemented in all our campus and agriculture land using appropriate technology such as-
Check dams on nullahs.
Bunding and vegetation cover in the fields, to make the best use of run off water, help soil and water conservation and recharging of water resources.
Recycling of Water
Inorder to recycle the used water efficiently, the trust has established water treatment plants. The waste water from sewage is collected in the plant and is treated and again rendered useful.
Benefits-
It leads to water conservation.
The recycled water is used in irrigation of fields.
Plantation
Afforestation as a part of social forestry is undertaken every year in the rainy season. The Trust has contributed in planting over 10,000 plants. SSSST has also launched a donation scheme that one sapling will be planted on behalf of every donor who will donate Rs. 5,000.
Benefits-
It provides a clean, attractive and ecological sound environment.
It serves as food for domestic animals in the form of green fodder and provides them, shelter.
DAIRY
The Trust has maintained a crossbreed of animal (H.F. and Jr.) herd with the strength of140 including 60 cows. The average annual production of milk is 1.75 lac litres with 500 litres of milk produced daily.
Salient features
Average milk production of dairy cow is 10 to 12 litres per day.
Individual production of a cow goes up to 30 litres per day
Future Goals
To increase the annual milk production to 2 lac litres.
To adopt mechanized and modern technology in processing milk.
CATTLE CAMPS
The Trust has been organizing a cattle camp every year since 2001 in the summer months (March to June). Approximately 2000 cows are sheltered in the cattle camps. The summer months are crucial for the poor villagers when fodder and drinking water becomes scarce as they are monsoon dependent. In order to prevent the cattle from starvation, the cattle from the villages were adopted under the project and returned safely to their owners after rainfall.
Objectives
To provide shelter, fodder and drinking water for physically weak, sick and wounded cattle.
Upgradation of Indian breeds of cows through artificial insemination.
Breeding of low productive and N.D. cows with genetically superior bull’s semen.
ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL COW DAIRY
Some farmers who were not able to feed their cows in abject poverty often used to leave their cattle in the cattle camps. Thus, 350 cows were collected. The Trust has adopted these cows and continues to serve them.
Objectives
Upgradation and breeding of cows through Sahiwal and Gir bull’s semen.
Increased awareness of farmers in creating and using FVM and Biogas which has resulted in increased fertility of soil, reduced the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and contributed effectively to a clean and ecologically sound environment.
Future Goals
To generate electricity through Biogas.
Preparation of products (Soap, Mosquito Coil, Phenyl, Distilled Urine etc.) from cowdung and urine.
Establishment of a dairy of Gir and Sahiwal cows.
To sustain the dairy program.
@ Copyright Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust 2009. All Rights Reserved.
Agriculture
