Agriculture

Crop Management is the most important function of the Agriculture activity in Dayalbagh. Good crop management is to increase the production of agriculture. Crops classification, good timing for planting of crop, timing of irrigation and best method for irrigation according to the crop type, these are the main activities in the crop management. Classification of crops is based on the three seasons – these are Kharif (July-October), Rabi (November-February), Zaid (March-June).

Dayalbagh agriculture uses different technologies and equipments for different activities of agriculture but the maximum activities are done through the manpower like harvesting, bundling, loading of crops and leveling of field. Community has 9 tractors, 6 trucks, 4 threshers and various other new tools for the agriculture.

Technological adoptions: computerization of agriculture department in order to manage data of agricultural production. Use of laser guided land leveler to maintain equal level in fields. Expansion of irrigation technique, Fodder cutter machine, Rotavator, soil tillers.

Dayalbagh Community maintains around 1200 acres of cultivable land and is involved in cultivation of major crops of rabbi, khareef and jaid. Three types of soils are in Dayalbagh Sandy, Loamy and Clay soil.

• Sandy soil is composed of large, rounded particles that pack together as well as marbles, allowing free passage of water and air.
• Loamy soil represents a balance between sand and clay.
• Clay soil is made up of very fine, flattened particles that pack very closely together, leaving little space for air and water movement.

Organic farming system is extensively used in Dayalbagh. Organic farming is a system in which the use of chemicals such as synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides is reduced to a minimum and the biological potential of the soil and under ground water resources are conserved and protected from natural and human induced degradation or depletion. It adopts suitable cropping models like agro-forestry and methods of organic replenishment.

Objectives:

• To produce food of high quality in sufficient quantity,
• To work in harmony with the natural system,
• To maintain the genetic bio-diversity of the production system,
• To promote sustainable use of natural resources

Different types of irrigation methods are used in Dayalbagh. These are very useful and effective methods:

• Free or uncontrolled flooding: this is used for filling the field and irrigation the Paddy crops.
• Basin methods: this method is generally used in the garden trees.
• Ring methods: By this method, there is no direct contact of the stems with the water and the tree become safer.
• Ridge and furrow method: Commonly used in sugarcane and potato corps.
• Sprinkling irrigation: it is a system in which water is sprayed on the crops and soil as a fine spray.
• Drip of Trickle Irrigation: it involves the slow application of water drop by drop as the name signifies, to the root zone of a crop.

In spite of various technological adoptions, Dayalbagh works based on human labour model in fields. These tools are generally used for few activities and community members do the rest of work. Dayalbagh works on semi-mechanized model and encourages human labour (shramdan) in fields in order to maintain essence of human effort and to make members physically active. All the members work together in the farms, which increases the cooperative functioning and mutual understanding among members.

RSS Gaushala is also the important department of Dayalbagh. The herd of cattle in Gaushala has increased from 556 to 839, which are of Sahiwal & Friesian breeds. Old & dry cattle are retained in Gaushala and are not sold away. There has been addition in the manpower with the appointment of 3 Vet Officers, 1 Consultant and 1 Fodder Officer and 2 Supervisors. The annual milk production has increased from 3.08 lac litres to 3.76 lac litres. RSS Gaushala use different technology and innovation practices:

• Ear tagging
  • An cattle have been numbered
  • Ability to maintain records from birth/ breeding etc.
  • Easy identification of cattle
• Artificial insemination
  • To be launched soon
  • Breed improvement using semen of high pedigree bulls
• Bull exerciser
  • Simple food for fitness of bulls.