The many miles into the deep interior villages and the travel through the gutted and dusty roads far away from the main highways did not take to a forest. The spots that touched were dotted green all over. The open air of the villages was scenting coriander. The fields that we went past were lush green fields bearing coriander seeds. The ripe wheat fields at the farther end wore golden colour and saw the nature as a master weaver weaving a special green carpet with golden laces. The ups and downs of the topography were very peculiar. The hills are generally barren brown and the valleys are chlorophyll green. It was an artistic presentation of big natural scenery with a flowing border. Imagination was at its peak as it could be the heavenly design of the nature facilitating a whirl winding exclusive path for green agriculture in this plateau of Madhya Pradesh. The rural tract of Guna and Ashoknagar districts in Madhya Pradesh famous for its intrinsically superior coriander has mesmerized me and this impact will not be any different for others too.
The thick presence of cattle, heaps of cow dungs and the presence of people in the fields are more than sufficient to define the character of the villages. Farming is the main occupation and there is just nothing other than that in the villages.
A team of officials from the Spices Board was deputed by the Chairman, Mr. V.J. Kurian IAS to undertake a field publicity campaign in the villages of Guna and Ashoknagar in Madhya Pradesh where one of the best quality coriander is grown. Many in the trade for its colour and texture prefer the small and bold coriander that grows in the fields of Guna district. The field publicity campaign held during 1st March to 9th March in the villages to inform the farmers on the need to follow scientific practices soon after harvest of coriander, cumin and fenugreek crops could stir their silent thoughts and bring to surface their expectations for better marketability and better returns. The movement in particular evoked positive attitude by the way the farmers responded. As a person who coordinated the campaign, I felt the happiness of the success of the programme in full length since the team could know the limitations and understand the expectations of the farmers.
Right at the first interaction in the village of Dhamnar in Guna district farmers were excited to meet the campaign team curiously asking questions on the concept of the Spices Park about which they were reading in newspapers.
The campaign could feel the expectations of the farmers who are on the look out for infrastructure facilities for enhancing the quality of their products, which they were not able to do till date. The harvested coriander and fenugreek were dried in the sun and then packed for selling to the middlemen at a general average price fixed by the middleman. The prevalence of operations of middlemen ruined the possibilities of getting reasonable prices for the farmer. Hence the concept of quality hitherto was not the botheration of the farmer. Farmers who could afford to hold stocks still hold it but the general quality of the product is found deteriorating. The sample of coriander in the village of Mahour kept by a farmer was shown at the meeting, which was found to have twigs and stones. This is the general practice of storing. Farmers seldom give time or care to clean the product after harvest. But as the campaign moved from village to village and in the aftermath of the interactions, the average spice grower is showing interest in adopting the ideal post harvest practice. But the question finally posed is: what will be the bonus of the farmer?
To ensure that the theme of the campaign reaches every home in the village. the team members visited schools in the localities where Quiz sessions on general knowledge including spices in general were held for the school children. Prizes were given away to children who participated in the sessions followed by presentation of a book designed to disseminate information on cultivation and processing of spices though a story presentation. The Board prepared a book titled “Nirakhem.. Parekem.. “ in Hindi with a storyline presentation with illustrations for children on different aspects of growing spices like coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ajowan and mustard. There are chapters on history of spices, package of practices for different seeds spices besides tips to the farmers. The book neatly done with over 45 pages will be a cherished possession for the children. The children will carry the copies home where members of the family will read it. In these villages every one is in a way connected with farming and the book will serve the purpose since one or the other person will run through the pages.
The thick presence of cattle, heaps of cow dungs and the presence of people in the fields are more than sufficient to define the character of the villages. Farming is the main occupation and there is just nothing other than that in the villages.
A team of officials from the Spices Board was deputed by the Chairman, Mr. V.J. Kurian IAS to undertake a field publicity campaign in the villages of Guna and Ashoknagar in Madhya Pradesh where one of the best quality coriander is grown. Many in the trade for its colour and texture prefer the small and bold coriander that grows in the fields of Guna district. The field publicity campaign held during 1st March to 9th March in the villages to inform the farmers on the need to follow scientific practices soon after harvest of coriander, cumin and fenugreek crops could stir their silent thoughts and bring to surface their expectations for better marketability and better returns. The movement in particular evoked positive attitude by the way the farmers responded. As a person who coordinated the campaign, I felt the happiness of the success of the programme in full length since the team could know the limitations and understand the expectations of the farmers.
Right at the first interaction in the village of Dhamnar in Guna district farmers were excited to meet the campaign team curiously asking questions on the concept of the Spices Park about which they were reading in newspapers.
The campaign could feel the expectations of the farmers who are on the look out for infrastructure facilities for enhancing the quality of their products, which they were not able to do till date. The harvested coriander and fenugreek were dried in the sun and then packed for selling to the middlemen at a general average price fixed by the middleman. The prevalence of operations of middlemen ruined the possibilities of getting reasonable prices for the farmer. Hence the concept of quality hitherto was not the botheration of the farmer. Farmers who could afford to hold stocks still hold it but the general quality of the product is found deteriorating. The sample of coriander in the village of Mahour kept by a farmer was shown at the meeting, which was found to have twigs and stones. This is the general practice of storing. Farmers seldom give time or care to clean the product after harvest. But as the campaign moved from village to village and in the aftermath of the interactions, the average spice grower is showing interest in adopting the ideal post harvest practice. But the question finally posed is: what will be the bonus of the farmer?
To ensure that the theme of the campaign reaches every home in the village. the team members visited schools in the localities where Quiz sessions on general knowledge including spices in general were held for the school children. Prizes were given away to children who participated in the sessions followed by presentation of a book designed to disseminate information on cultivation and processing of spices though a story presentation. The Board prepared a book titled “Nirakhem.. Parekem.. “ in Hindi with a storyline presentation with illustrations for children on different aspects of growing spices like coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ajowan and mustard. There are chapters on history of spices, package of practices for different seeds spices besides tips to the farmers. The book neatly done with over 45 pages will be a cherished possession for the children. The children will carry the copies home where members of the family will read it. In these villages every one is in a way connected with farming and the book will serve the purpose since one or the other person will run through the pages.
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