Nagaur: In collaboration with South Asia Biotech, scientists Dr. K.S. Bhardwaj and Dr. Naresh introduced farmers in Rajasthan’s villages to the “FIR” technique. This innovative approach ensures that for the first 45 days of cultivation, no pesticides or sprays are required. Dr. Bhardwaj explained that specific chemicals used to protect crops like cumin and fenugreek leaves from diseases fall into three categories:
‘F’ for Fungicides – These protect crops from fungal infections.
‘I’ for Insecticides – These shield crops from insects, flies, and pests.
‘R’ for Rhizobium – These support beneficial bacteria to improve soil fertility and yield.
This technique minimizes pesticide use, promoting eco-friendly farming.
Dr. Bhardwaj emphasized the importance of seed selection. Farmers can plant around 100 seeds in a pot. If 80 or more germinate, they are high-quality seeds suitable for cultivation. For treating seeds with the FIR technique:
For ‘F’ (Fungicide): Mix 2 ml of carbendazim with 1 kg cumin seeds and dry them in the shade for 2 hours.
For ‘I’ (Insecticide): Use red insecticide like acetamiprid or thiamethoxam, then dry the seeds again in the shade for 2 hours.
For ‘R’ (Rhizobium): Beneficial bacteria that create small colonies around roots, providing ample nitrogen to plants.
MDH Group Chairman Rajiv Gulati highlighted the need to make Rajasthan and other parts of India pesticide-free by raising farmer awareness and gaining their trust. During the “MDH My Village’s Soil Awareness Campaign,” MDH Group’s Suresh Rathi assured farmers that using the FIR method for cultivating cumin and fenugreek leaves would fetch them 20% and 15% higher prices than market rates, respectively. This announcement brought great joy to the villagers.
Notably, MDH’s awareness campaign has already trained over 4,000 farmers across 60+ villages.
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