Agricultural Innovation from Rajasthan: The 72-Year-Old Woman's Homegrown Approach to Safeguard Crops from Termite Destruction
In the heart of Rajasthan, a humble farmer named Bhagwati Devi has turned heads with her innovative approach to pest control. Her method, which involves using eucalyptus wood, has shown promising results in combating termite infestations, a persistent problem for many farmers in the region.
Bhagwati's journey began when she noticed that eucalyptus wood seemed to attract more termites than other types of wood. Intrigued, she decided to test her theory. She placed small chunks of eucalyptus wood in a pearl millet crop and was astonished to see thousands of termites gather around the wood, leaving the rest of the crop untouched.
Encouraged by this success, Bhagwati expanded her experiments to other crops, including wheat. She found that using one eucalyptus piece for each area occupied by a sprinkler nozzle was effective in controlling termites in the wheat crop. This budget-friendly method, costing approximately Rs. 100 per acre, proved to be highly effective.
The Agricultural Research Station of Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, conducted a significant trial on barley, a crop known for its extreme vulnerability to termite attack. The results were favourable, with scientists at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Fatehpur Shekhawati finding Bhagwati's method to be highly effective, cost-effective, and straightforward.
Bhagwati's innovative approach has not gone unnoticed. She has been featured on national and regional television networks and in various magazines. In 2011, she was honoured with the title 'Kheton ki Vaigyanik' by the then Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. In 2013, she received the 'Krishi Prerna Samman' under the Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Awards.
Bhagwati's work is not just about farming; it is also about resilience, insight, and the unsung strength of rural women shaping India's agricultural future. She educates other farmers, particularly women, on minimizing chemical pesticide usage. In fact, she established a group called "Swabhiman" to promote organic and sustainable agricultural practices.
While eucalyptus-based natural termite repellents are recognized, the direct use of eucalyptus wood as a termite control method in crops remains an anecdotal or emerging practice without widespread scientific evaluation publicly available. However, Bhagwati's success story offers optimism regarding the use of chemicals in agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers.
As Bhagwati continues to inspire and educate, her innovative approach to termite control serves as a testament to the power of local knowledge and the potential for sustainable farming practices to transform the agricultural landscape.
- Bhagwati's success in using eucalyptus wood for termite control in her crops has sparked interest in the field of environmental science, particularly in the study of sustainable agricultural practices.
- In the realm of education and self-development, Bhagwati's inventive method of termite control has not only garnered attention but also serves as a significant example of technological innovation originating from within rural communities.
