Fage
01-07-2009, 08:43 AM
Jan 5
BANGALORE : This is what the bunch of 91 farmers from the state who visited China in December for a week-long educational tour had to deal with: a Chinese speaking in his mother tongue, another translating it to English and an English-literate Kannadiga translating it to Kannada! The state government had sponsored the trip, but not sent any translators along.
Though the group included many English-speaking progressive farmers, language was a barrier. It was all the more difficult for the English-illiterate farmers.
"They don't know English. Even though the translator spoke in English, it was difficult to follow,'' said Papanna, a native of Katannallur, Bangalore East. Many others echoed his opinion. Papanna cited an example. "I asked them about the water table and how much they need to dig for a well. The reply was 350 metres. How is that possible? I know this was a translation error.''
How did they manage?
As the tour included less of theory and more practical learning through site visits, the farmers managed to grasp the essence. "I don't know English. But I am a farmer and have tried experimenting with some modern techniques. So I could gather their practices,'' said Indiramma Dhananjayappa from Alavarthi in Davangere.
What did they learn?
The China-returned farmers can't stop harping about the rich experience. Apart from the Great Wall of China and the splendour of Beijing and Shanghai, they were impressed by the culture of discipline and hard work the Chinese people follow. On their list of lessons learned are mechanized farming, organic farming, optimum utilization of land, zero-waste approach, soil-less cultivation, and well streamlined system of agriculture. They say the government supports farmers right from giving land on lease to supplying seeds, fertilizers and modern equipment, to buying the produce.
"There are no middlemen. Farmers get justice for their hard work. If the same system is implemented here, there would be no suicides,'' said Dr J R Sujatha, a taluk panchayat member from Chitradurga district.
How will they use the knowledge?
Sujatha has decided to spread the knowledge she has acquired. She explained: "We visited a food and beverages company where hundreds of varieties of juice are made. I was shocked to see only three employees producing more than 10,000 packs a day. Manual farming is minimum. It is absolutely scientific and technology-driven. They don't waste a single leaf. Besides adopting these methods on our land, I am keen to spread the message about organic and zero-waste farming.''
Subbanna, a farmer from Huskur, and Papanna, are impressed with the green houses in China and have decided to implement it on their land. What has also fascinated Subbanna is the Chinese men working at the kitchen. "Wherever you go, be it hotels or villages, it is the men who cook. The women work outside,'' he said.
Organic farming and green houses caught the imagination of Indiramma. "I saw a tomato plant more than 10 feet high. After this trip, I am confident to go in for organic farming in a big way,'' she said.
THE TRIP
Under the Karnataka Krishi Mission, the government intends to send 1,000 farmers every year to study agricultural practices in China. It has earmarked Rs 5 crore for the tour this year. The first batch left Bangalore on December 23. The following is the list of places the farmers visited:
* Xiaotangshan Modern Agricultural Base, an agricultural science park that has several research and production centres focusing on production and popularization of equipment, nursery, processing of feed and food and sheep raising
* To understand the link between food processing and fruit supplying farmers, the visitors went to Huiyuan Beverages and Food Company
* Shunyi Hitech Agricultural Pilot Zone to see soil-less cultivation of vegetables in controlled atmosphere and to visit sheep farm
* Discussion with Beijing Agricultural Univesity professors and organic farmers
* Liu-min Ying Ecological Farm and Silk Industry, Shanghai Agricultural Machinery Research Institute, Sunqiao Modern Agriculture Development Zone, Jinshan Special Agriculture Development Zone, University Industry Research Insitute of Shanghai where farmers saw fish, prawns and shrimps reared in controlled condition
* Large-scale rice processing units, and poly-houses where vegetables are grown organically
SUGGESTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT
* Eliminate middlemen
* Provide subsidies
* Encourage mechanized, organic and zero-waste farming
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Lessons_from_China_lost_in_translation/articleshow/3934758.cms
BANGALORE : This is what the bunch of 91 farmers from the state who visited China in December for a week-long educational tour had to deal with: a Chinese speaking in his mother tongue, another translating it to English and an English-literate Kannadiga translating it to Kannada! The state government had sponsored the trip, but not sent any translators along.
Though the group included many English-speaking progressive farmers, language was a barrier. It was all the more difficult for the English-illiterate farmers.
"They don't know English. Even though the translator spoke in English, it was difficult to follow,'' said Papanna, a native of Katannallur, Bangalore East. Many others echoed his opinion. Papanna cited an example. "I asked them about the water table and how much they need to dig for a well. The reply was 350 metres. How is that possible? I know this was a translation error.''
How did they manage?
As the tour included less of theory and more practical learning through site visits, the farmers managed to grasp the essence. "I don't know English. But I am a farmer and have tried experimenting with some modern techniques. So I could gather their practices,'' said Indiramma Dhananjayappa from Alavarthi in Davangere.
What did they learn?
The China-returned farmers can't stop harping about the rich experience. Apart from the Great Wall of China and the splendour of Beijing and Shanghai, they were impressed by the culture of discipline and hard work the Chinese people follow. On their list of lessons learned are mechanized farming, organic farming, optimum utilization of land, zero-waste approach, soil-less cultivation, and well streamlined system of agriculture. They say the government supports farmers right from giving land on lease to supplying seeds, fertilizers and modern equipment, to buying the produce.
"There are no middlemen. Farmers get justice for their hard work. If the same system is implemented here, there would be no suicides,'' said Dr J R Sujatha, a taluk panchayat member from Chitradurga district.
How will they use the knowledge?
Sujatha has decided to spread the knowledge she has acquired. She explained: "We visited a food and beverages company where hundreds of varieties of juice are made. I was shocked to see only three employees producing more than 10,000 packs a day. Manual farming is minimum. It is absolutely scientific and technology-driven. They don't waste a single leaf. Besides adopting these methods on our land, I am keen to spread the message about organic and zero-waste farming.''
Subbanna, a farmer from Huskur, and Papanna, are impressed with the green houses in China and have decided to implement it on their land. What has also fascinated Subbanna is the Chinese men working at the kitchen. "Wherever you go, be it hotels or villages, it is the men who cook. The women work outside,'' he said.
Organic farming and green houses caught the imagination of Indiramma. "I saw a tomato plant more than 10 feet high. After this trip, I am confident to go in for organic farming in a big way,'' she said.
THE TRIP
Under the Karnataka Krishi Mission, the government intends to send 1,000 farmers every year to study agricultural practices in China. It has earmarked Rs 5 crore for the tour this year. The first batch left Bangalore on December 23. The following is the list of places the farmers visited:
* Xiaotangshan Modern Agricultural Base, an agricultural science park that has several research and production centres focusing on production and popularization of equipment, nursery, processing of feed and food and sheep raising
* To understand the link between food processing and fruit supplying farmers, the visitors went to Huiyuan Beverages and Food Company
* Shunyi Hitech Agricultural Pilot Zone to see soil-less cultivation of vegetables in controlled atmosphere and to visit sheep farm
* Discussion with Beijing Agricultural Univesity professors and organic farmers
* Liu-min Ying Ecological Farm and Silk Industry, Shanghai Agricultural Machinery Research Institute, Sunqiao Modern Agriculture Development Zone, Jinshan Special Agriculture Development Zone, University Industry Research Insitute of Shanghai where farmers saw fish, prawns and shrimps reared in controlled condition
* Large-scale rice processing units, and poly-houses where vegetables are grown organically
SUGGESTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT
* Eliminate middlemen
* Provide subsidies
* Encourage mechanized, organic and zero-waste farming
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Lessons_from_China_lost_in_translation/articleshow/3934758.cms