Introduction
Multi-layer vegetable model gardens have gained prominence as an innovative and sustainable agricultural model, especially for small plots of around 300 square meters. This case study focuses in the experiences of 111 farmers during the fiscal year 2023-24 supported by SRIJAN in Bundelkhand region, exploring the diverse cultivation of eight vegetables: bottle gourd, sponge gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, cowpea, spinach, coriander, and beetroot. Farmers build a machan in a 300 square meter area using bamboo, rope, and wire. Regular care and maintenance ensure structure and durability for three years or more.
Area Background
Tikamgarh district is located in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh. It forms the north-western part of Sagar district. It lies on the Bundelkhand Plateau between the Jamni, a tributary of the Betwa and Dhasan rivers. It is surrounded in the east by the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh to the West, Jhansi to the North, and Sagar to the South.
The district is divided into six blocks: Baldevgarh, Palera, Jatara, and Tikamgarh. Tikamgarh district comprises 682 villages and 332 Gram Panchayats.
The total geographical area is 5.04 lac ha, out of which the net sown area is 2.56 lac ha (50.07%). The forest area is 14%. The total cultivated area is 4.21 lac ha, and the irrigated area is 2.24 lac ha (53.4%), with a cropping intensity of 154%. 75% of the irrigated area is under good irrigation. The area under cereals, pulses, and oilseeds is about 35, 25 and 40%, respectively. Out of total land holdings, 72% of farmers are under the small and marginal class, with an average of 1.73 acres of land.
The average annual rainfall of Tikamgarh district is 995 mm. About 90% of rainfall is received in the monsoon season of July to September in about 30-35 days. Variation within the seasonal rainfall is important for crop production, and rain received in the month of September is crucial for crop production, the maturity of Kharif crops, and the sowing of Rabi crops.
The principal crops grown in the district are paddy, sorghum, maize, green gram, black gram, groundnut, sesame, soybean, wheat, barley, gram, field pea, lentil, and mustard.
Horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, and spices are cultivated in the region. Major crops include guava, mango, amla, custard apple, papaya, table pea, potato, colocasia, tomato, brinjal, okra, onion, ginger, chili, turmeric, and coriander.
Community Background
Different religions like Hindu, Muslim, Jain, and different castes GEN, OBC, SC, ST, and other minorities inhabit this region. They have been living there since their ancestral times. The community shares mutual bonding and respect for each other, as well as culture, tradition, and values. The community's education level is poor due to the lack of awareness and low per capita income. People migrate to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and other metropolitan areas in search of daily wage work. Those who do not migrate engage in agricultural labor, construction work, and other types of manual labor. In agriculture, people typically have around 2-3 acres of land, where they cultivate different crops during the Rabi and Kharif seasons. Major Kharif crops include groundnut, urad, and soybean, while major Rabi crops are wheat and mustard.
Intervention
The multilayer vegetable model is a cost-efficient and innovative activity. In this region, farmers have small land holdings and similar cultivation patterns. They follow the traditional methods to cultivate the crop. They follow the pattern of monoculture and open vegetable cultivation, which results in lower yields and high cultivation costs. Water is also one of the major issues for farmers, as in this region, people mainly depend upon rainwater to cultivate their crops. The multilayer farming model has become prominent due to its usefulness and necessity in the community. In this model, farmers harvest crops year-round, with one crop being ready to harvest as soon as another is harvested. This provides farmers with a steady income throughout the year. It requires only 200 square meters of land to earn 40 to 50 thousand rupees annually. Additionally, this model does not require extra manpower to manage. Farmers can achieve the highest value for their produce by practicing early farming.
The Multi-layer Vegetable Model's Structure:
This initiative's core lies a meticulously designed model that transforms traditional farming. Using 80 bamboo poles and ropes, a structure covering an area of 40 feet by 50 feet was established. Locally, this structure is called "Mandap."
Between rows of implanted bamboo, raised soil beds with a height of 15 cm are constructed. The beds are 152.5 cm wide and 2500 cm long. On either side of each bed, a passage 30.48 cm wide is left, which also serves as a channel for irrigation.
This structure facilitated the cultivation of vegetables in five different vertical layers across the year:
1st layer: Root crop- Ginger, turmeric, onion leaves, beetroot, turnip.
2nd layer: Leafy vegetable- Coriander, spinach, fenugreek.
3rd layer: Fruit vegetable crop- Eggplant, tomato, chilly, cowpea, cucumber.
4th layer: Creeper/vine vegetable- Bitter guard, bottle guard, ridge guard, ivy guard, pointed guard.
5th layer: Fruit crop- Papaya, drumstick
Figure 1: Mandap, Multi-layer farm
Some crucial points to keep in mind while preparing the structure:
- Trap crops like marigolds and maize can also be included to gain extra income and control the insects.
- To prevent termite attacks on bamboo, apply a polish of used oil to the bottom part.
- The structure should be provided with anchored support on corners so that it can sustain heavy rain or wind.
- We used tricot rope with a long life span and a 6 mm diameter to support the climber vine vegetables.
Figure 2: Creeper Vegetable
Farming method
With the multi-layer vegetable model, we are promoting natural farming. No chemical fertilizer or pesticide is used during vegetable production using this method. We produce Ghanjivamrit, jivamrit, and other natural pesticides and fungicides that can be produced in-house.
Figure 3: Bed Preparation
Figure 4: Seed sowing and harvesting
Challenges of the Multi-layer Vegetable Model
In agriculture, farmers have faced climate change issues for a while. Their primary source of income comes from agriculture. The rural population majorly depends upon agriculture-based activities for the sustainability of their livelihood. But the sudden change in climate and natural calamities pushed them to find a new way of life. The sowing time of crops has extended due to untimely rainfall and droughts in the region. The quality of produce has decreased significantly, and the physical properties of grains have also changed. Yield went down and directly affected the farmer's income. The sudden temperature changes have affected the crop maturity period; thus, the seed cannot grow and mature properly.
Farmers in this area face several challenges in vegetable cultivation. Some major challenges have been highlighted below:
- Farmers have adopted monoculture, which is high-risk and requires more manpower. Farmers choose to grow only one kind of crop on their land, which results in intensive farming across the field. When planting the same crops annually, soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen, can be depleted. This depletion weakens the soil and impairs its ability to support healthy crop growth. Additionally, the excessive use of fertilizers can damage the natural components of the soil, further compromising its quality.
- Cultivating vegetables in open spaces can degrade their quality. When mature vegetables come into contact with the land, they are more susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections, adversely affecting their size and texture. As a result, farmers may struggle to obtain a reasonable price for their produce in local markets.
- Farmers have limited water resources for crop cultivation. From March to April, they often face groundwater shortages as reservoirs deplete and borewells and other water sources fail to meet the demand. Irregular rainfall further reduces groundwater recharge, exacerbating the issue.
Socioeconomic background:
This area is inhabited by people of different castes and religions. The beneficiaries are mainly from SC, ST, and OBC backgrounds. People in this community live below the poverty level and have poor education status. They generate most of their income from their agricultural land, agricultural labor, construction labor, and migration to different states.
Financial Performance of the Multi-layer Vegetable Model:
The farmers collectively earned ₹23,41,235.50 through the cultivation of these vegetables. The earnings demonstrated considerable variation, with a minimum of ₹ 6631.00, a maximum of ₹ 52808.00, and an average of ₹ 21244.9. This financial diversity underscores the potential of multi-layer vegetable gardens to provide a steady income stream throughout the year.
Production Analysis: The total production of vegetables amounted to 78,208 KG, showcasing the efficiency of multi-layer cultivation. The maximum production for each vegetable varied, emphasizing the model's flexibility. For instance, bottle gourd exhibited a maximum production of 512 KG, while spinach had a maximum of 232 KG. This diversity in production aligns with the seasonal growth patterns and compatibility of different vegetables within the multi-layer system.
Rate Analysis: The rates at which the vegetables were sold also contributed significantly to the overall earnings. The maximum rates ranged from ₹47.00 to ₹140.00 per Kg, reflecting the market demand for specific vegetables. And the minimum rate of vegetables ranged between ₹ 5.00 to ₹ 13.00 per Kg. The average rate across all vegetables was ₹ 54.90, reinforcing the economic viability of the multi-layer approach. The rate chart of 8 different vegetables which are grown in farmers' fields is mentioned below.
Input Cost Analysis
Considering the ₹13000 input costs of multilayer farming, farmers who earned more than ₹40,000 were 7 in number, those who earned more than ₹30,000 were 25, and those who earned more than ₹20,000 were 57. This indicates that many farmers achieved noteworthy financial returns, further supporting the feasibility and profitability of multi-layer vegetable gardens. and 54 farmers could make the financial achievement of less than ₹ 20000.
Challenges of the Multi-layer Vegetable Model
This multilayer model is very efficient and profitable for this region. However, farmers still face certain difficulties in sustaining it. Hence, below, we have highlighted the major challenges within this model.
- Weed management in a covered mandap is challenging for farmers because heavy tractors and other agricultural equipment cannot be used for weed removal. As a result, the process becomes labor-intensive, adding extra burden on the farmer.
- Another challenge is maintaining the structure's durability during the rainy season. Thunderstorms can damage the structure, leading to financial losses. In some cases, the entire structure may be destroyed, requiring the farmer to rebuild it from scratch.
- During the summer, water scarcity demands additional effort from farmers to sustain their crops.
- Due to limited awareness of the mandap crop cycle, farmers sometimes sow seeds at unsuitable times, leading to seed loss and disrupted harvesting cycles.
Community Inclination towards Adopting Multilayer Farming:
The multilayer model is gaining widespread recognition and acceptance within the community. Previously, farmers cultivated their crops in open spaces, which involved higher costs and greater vulnerability to insects and pests. Since the introduction of this model, it has rapidly spread across villages. Beneficiaries who adopted the model have increased their yields and supported other farmers in establishing similar systems on their land. By integrating natural farming methods with the strategic arrangement of vegetables in different layers, the model not only ensures a continuous year-round harvest but also enhances the nutritional intake of farming families.
Farmer corner:
Farmers own word for multilayer farming:
Neetu Ghosh w/o Ajeet Ghosh, Varmadang, Jatara, District Tikamgarh:
“I have started practicing multilayer farming since July 2013. While practicing this intervention, Srijan provided me with training on preparing the required bio inputs independently. Which saves my expenses, and now I do not depend on the market for my farming practices. Now, I have access to fresh and chemical-free healthy vegetables. Now that production has increased, I am selling the vegetables at the local market. I am earning more than Rs. 3000 per month. With this money, I am able to serve adequate and healthy meals for my big family and cover expenses with self-dignity. Now I can do expenses on household work & children. Thus, I can assert that multi-layer farming is a good tool to raise the adaptive capacity of farmers. It could be of immense help to farmers in ensuring food and nutrition security.”
Conclusion:
Hence, the multi-layer vegetable garden model has proven to be a successful and sustainable approach for small-scale farming. The integration of natural farming methods, coupled with the strategic arrangement of vegetables in different layers, ensures a continuous harvest throughout the year and enhances the nutritional intake of the farming families. The case study demonstrates that this model can be adapted to local conditions, fostering creativity and innovation among cultivators. The success of this approach lies not only in its financial gains but also in its potential to address food security and improve the overall well-being of farming communities. The local communities have widely adopted this model and ensured their sustainable livelihood through this activity. Previously, farmers used to cultivate only a single crop at a time in their fields, but now they can grow multiple crops.