Workshop on Eco-friendly pot-composting and Grafting technique of commercial crops and farming

Workshop on Eco-friendly pot-composting and Grafting technique of commercial crops and farming

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 25, 2020:    Mangalore University under the head of Vijaya Bank Chair on Ecology and Environment, in association with Ramakrishna Mission Swachh  Mangaluru Abhiyan has organized a  workshop on eco-friendly pot-composting and   grafting technique of commercial crops and farming,  at Prof. U.R. Rao auditorium, Mangalagangothri. Sri Swami Ekagamyanandaji  Maharaj,  convener of the Ramakrishna Mission Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan,  Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Mangaluru inaugurated the workshop by lighting the lamp. He said in his inaugural speech that persons who learned the discipline of picking the waste will not discard them here and there. This is the real motto of the Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan. In this context,  Ramakrishna Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan is a platform for the general public to participate in the cleanliness drive. Earlier in Mangalore city corporation area, there were around 800 dumping spots in the public places that we named them as ‘blackspots’ now reduced to only 40. All credit goes to Mangaloreans who supported us in the cleanliness drive. Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens. That’s the reason,  we have been training school children about cleanliness;  as many as 11,000 pupils have enrolled in it, we call them swachhatha senanigalu (Swachhatha soldiers). It is to sensitize them about cleanliness, and we hope that it would help  Swachh Bharat,  completely a successful one by another 20 years. Pot-composting is an easy method of waste management that does not require a machine,  fuel, electricity, investment and a big space. But, it gives very nutritious manure enhancing the yield 10 times more than that of regular farming.  Disposing municipal wastes in dumping yards create air,  water and land pollutions leading to various health and other environmental issues. People should cooperate in waste management, that is by segregating wet (kitchen)  and dry wastes, and converting wet wastes into manure at home and sending dry wastes to recycling centres.

 

Dr. P. Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya, Vice-Chancellor,  Mangalore University presided over the function and said in his presidential speech that the wastes that we generate is a nuisance not only in our surroundings but also in the society, and is a national problem.  In fact, there is nothing called waste; as per a popular saying ’wastes to treasures’  everything can be recycled into valuable products. In this context, pot-composting is an easy method of decentralized organic wastes management. The general public has to make use of this simple method that will be helpful for effective waste management. The COVID-19 pandemic in addition to health issues has paved the way to many problems, including economic crisis worldwide, including India. In this critical situation, people have to face it boldly without losing hopes.  There is a need to economically empower the people who lost their jobs, not getting a salary, loss in business, etc. Small scale home-based enterprises will be useful for the general public. Grafting and farming of some commercial crops is one such home-based business venture. Appreciating the team of Ramakrishna Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan he said it is a role model at the national and internal levels.
    

Mr Nidheesha K.J. Assistant Director, Horticulture Department, Udupi was a resource person and demonstrated the method of grafting some commercial crops and their farming with the aid of vermicomposting. He also addressed the importance of soil fertility.

Another resource person Mr Sachin Shetty, coordinator of the  Ramakrishna Mission  Swachh  Mangaluru Abhiyan demonstrated how to do the pot-composting of kitchen wastes.

Dr. Prashantha Naik, Professor of Biosciences and Coordinator of the Vijaya Bank Chair and of the workshop gave the preamble and welcomed the guests and gathering.

Prof. Chandra M. anchored the programme. Sri Laxmikanatha Nayak,  Senior Branch Manager, (Vijaya Bank) Bank of Baroda, Mangalagangothri wished the programme and Mr. Bhaskar H.S. a staff from Bank of Baroda, Dr. Tharavathy N.C., Nodal Officer, Environment programme, Mangalore University were present. The whole event was live-streamed via www.youtube.com/abakkatv

The workshop helpful to learn  the pot-composting,  and for economic empowerment can be watched  at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCI8KM1wEy4
https://youtu.be/-8GHNi6GbxA