Aatma Nirbhar Kishan - India

When I was a kid, my Dad used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher. But every day, three times a day, you need a farmer. Life on a farm is a school of patience.

But with industrial and economic revolution in India late 90’s, many of people from rural location were migrated to urban location. And like others, our family too moved out from Berhampur, Orisha to Mumbai. We all know once people move out, it is very difficult to go back to your old time. After that, I was so lost in urban world, I never got the time to understand and experience the agriculture and the joy of farming.

Agriculture plays a very crucial role in Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Agriculture continues to be the source of livelihood for majority of the population. In a nutshell, agricultural has a vast impact on every citizen of the country, either directly or indirectly. Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man. 

Our late second Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965, gave us the slogan Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan ("English: Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer"). Jai Jawan Jai Kishan would definitely strengthen and balanced the economy of our nation from rural side during this havoc pandemic. Desh ka asli hero kishan.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit us all cruelly, but at the same time gave us an opportunity to be aatma nirbhar. Over the last 4 months, I spent my time learning about rice cultivations and farming in agriculture. Before I explain here about rice plantation process, I take this opportunity to salute and a huge respect to all our farmers and their families for being the backbone and pillar of India.

I had a wonderful time at my farm doing the rice plantation. The learning and experience was magnificent. It felt like the glory and pain alike... yet not withstanding go out to meet it. 

Rice Plantation:

Step1: Land preparation:

Before rice can be planted, the soil should be in the best physical condition for crop growth and the soil surface is level. Land preparation involves plowing and harrowing to ‘till’ or dig-up, mix and level the soil.

Tillage allows the seeds to be planted at the right depth, and also helps with weed control. Now a days, Farmers can till the land using equipment like tractors.

Step2: Seedbed preparation:

Seedbed after land preparation. Once the seedbed are ready, transplantation are done as next step. I am just the rookie in learning phase of farming. Ofcourse, I am a farmer's son and it is in my blood. 

Step3: Rice plantation

After 25-30 days of growth, the seedlings are transferred from a seedbed to the wet field. It requires less seed and is an effective method to control weeds but requires more labor. Though there are machines available but because of cost, people in most of the rural areas are still doing the manually with labor and hands.

The farmer continues to monitor the rice plants until they are ready for harvesting. So far I have learned this much, maybe I can write further steps after 4 months once the plants are ready for harvesting.

Thank You for reading my eassy. I would like to conclude my essay with a quote and few of my pics from the farm land.

Dear God, Today I woke up. I am healthy. I am alive. I am experiencing this phase of my life. I feel blessed as I step out and witness the beauty of light shines upto me every day. I am taking care of Nature and Plants, as I know they take care of me."

Thank You, Jagannath Padhy

Thanking You,

Jagannath Padhy