Helping Farmers Grow Organic Crops Better
Posted by Unknown in Biotechnology, India, Organic Farming, Scientist, Small Scale Farming on Monday 28 January 2013
Like
hundreds who study bioscience, Vinay completed his BSc in biotechnology
and did his post-graduation in bioscience from the University of
Mysore. But he didn't stop at that though he got a job and went into
academics: His weekends are reserved for the farming community.
Attending
to the farming community is what he enjoys doing. Vinay B Raghavendra,
teaches biotechnology at the city's noted Teresian College and on
weekends visits the farmers and extends expert advice on pest control.
He also promotes organic farming.
When
the interest among the urban class to the rural issues is on the wane,
the 32-year-old has started to use the knowledge he acquired-he has got a
PhD from the University of Mysore in biotechnology-for the benefit of
the end user-the farmer.
It
has been six years since the assistant professor has been helping
farmers. He is visiting nearby villages and extending his support to
help farmers. Conducting educative programmes with the support of
service-oriented organizations like Lion and Rotary clubs or going on
his own to the villages, the youth is trying to address the agriculture
crisis that is plaguing rural India. He has visited 25 villages in
Mysore, Hassan, Mandya and Tumkur districts.
While
involved in his research work, he used to go on field visits when he
came face-to-face with the problems faced by the farmers. He said he
realized that he should educate farmers about the benefits of organic
farming. The dependence on pesticides was heavy since farmers were not
aware of organic farming, he said explaining as to how he got into the
habit.
"Farmers
are usually not aware about reasons for the diseases that affect
plants. They blindly go and ask for some pesticides. This made me to
interact with farmers directly about the different methods of pest
control for variety of diseases," he said, adding, "I have been training
them about the preparation and proper utilization of organic manure."
Vinay has published his research work on 'Bacterial Blight of Cotton'.
He completed his bachelor's degree at Banmaiah's College (BSc in
biotechnology) and master's degree in bioscience at Hema Gangotri in
Hassan in 2001. He even carries his laptop along with him to the
villages he visits and informs the farmers about the proper usage of
nutrients.
"I
was influenced by my uncle Dr Vasanthkumar Timkapur, a plant
pathologist. He used to visit many villages and guide farmers. I am
following in his footsteps," he said. He has also been awarded 'P R
Verma Student Award' by the Second Asian Congress of Mycology and Plant
Pathology in 2007 at Hyderabad. His wife, who is a master degree holder
in biotechnology, helps him identify fungus and bacteria which affects
plants, he said.
The Times of India
