"Every body has praised me for my work" reminisces Chunmun standing in his farm, bubbling with enthusiasm, eager to tell his success story. He exudes confidence as he explains how he made the informed choice to invest in an innovative technology that has helped him regain both his pride and his confidence. His new found dignity and economic independence means that he is no longer at the mercy of the “Thakurs” (big farmer) to irrigate his land.
Summary
Thirty year old Chunmun lives in Chittorah, in the Behrainch District with his three brothers and both parents. All are engaged independently in farming. Pointing towards the boundaries clearly marked out on the farm, Chunmun recalls his family history when his father owned 8000 sq meters of land which was enough to support a family of 3 sons.
But as the sons got married the land was divided amongst them. Due to the small landholdings inherited by each son and the fact that their own responsibilities increased, gradually they all sunk into poverty. Adding to their woe, the diesel pump bought in better times by their father and used for irrigating the land broke down and demanded huge repair costs.
Refusing defeat “Bare bhaiyya khetn chor ke chale gaye sahar kaam khojne” (my brother went away to the town to look for work) – starts the oft-repeated saga of a disillusioned farmer leaving his native land for an alien world of elusiveness and nonchalance. But Chunmun refused to take that path. He continued to stay in the village, only irrigating his land when the Thakur wanted his services for attending the cattle and, as a show of goodwill, then let him borrow his diesel pump for US$1 an hour. This limited alternate source of water allowed Chunmun to grow only those crops that needed little irrigation like maize, pulses and mustard seeds, the sale of which fetched just US $60 annually.
Introducing the Treadle pump
It was during a visit to his in-laws village that Chunmun saw a patch of land that looked to be lying fallow, but to his amazement, was green with numerous small eggplants. Approaching the field he saw a farmer standing on two bamboo sticks and a clear and steady stream of water flowing into the field. As an inquisitive individual, Chunmun asked the farmer to explain his methods, which he happily agreed to do. The farmer gave him all the information he needed about the bamboo ‘KB’ treadle pump he was using.
He told him that he irrigates his 2000 sq meters of land as and when required with the pump and that his crop yield had increased as he no longer had to economize on water. The farmer was also growing a wide variety of other mainly vegetable crops, which fetched a good price. He had been able to recover the cost of the pump by selling just one-months produce.
Taking the plunge
Chunmun was impressed but forgot about it as soon as he reached his village. Still pondering over his decision to migrate to the town he visited the village haat (fair) where he saw the KB pump being demonstrated, followed by a film show.
Chunmun felt the story of his life being role played on the screen. The character of the film deserted his farm to go to the town just to get into multiple concentric circles of shock waves, returning to his village completely disillusioned. Instantly making a decision to buy the pump, but still apprehensive about how it functioned, he asked for a demonstration in his field from his tube-well. Everything worked, and so on the next day the pump was installed in his field. His relatives initially dismissed the idea of the mechanical pump referring to it as tedious and a daily labourers job, but the children loved to treadle it and started competing by rising up early to be able to be the first one on. Cunmun laughs and recalls their innocent excuses of convincing him to let them pedal on it.
Leading by example “Ab hum kabhi khet khali nahi chorte” (I never leave my land fallow). For the past four years Chunmun has grown vegetables on 800 sq meters of land, and rice and wheat on his other land, which is further away from his house. In the first year that he used the Treadle pump he sold US$400 worth of vegetables, which was enough to earn accolades from his relatives and neighbours. At that point they to bought their own treadle pump. Now his ‘Tola’ (a group of houses in a village) have 10 pumps.
Chunmun starts early at 5am, attends to his farm and reaches the market by 10am, and is back by 12noon. In his absence the children treadle the pump, and become totally ecstatic when they receive 5 cents from him as a token of appreciation.
Encouraging good practice
Chunmun discovered that as he spent more time in the field treadling on the pump he became more aware, observant and alert to good and effective agricultural practices. He could now reflect better on the uses and impacts of different pesticides and fertilizers for a particular crop. He would often discuss the problems with the “Ahaarti” (commission agent), who would suggest ways of increasing crop yields with good quality seeds and crop rotations. The Ahaarti told him about high value crops and how to command a good price for vegetables by scheduling sowing a little in advance and selling a little before the onset of the season.
Profits
Chunmun says that since he has nurtured his land with the utmost care and effort, like his own child, he has been well rewarded. He grows onion, coriander, garlic and spinach worth US$500, during the months of June to January. His total cost of cultivation is approximately US$31, (US$20 for seeds, US$2 for pesticides & US$10 for fertilizers.) The next crop, comprised of cucumbers, extends from February to July, giving him a return of US$240 from an investment of US$40.
Taking quantum leaps towards economic independence Chunmun stands confident with a new found self esteem that has set in motion a wonderful cycle of self motivation to take on new challenges. He has bought an ambassador car which he rents out as a taxi and has also constructed a ‘Pucca’ house for himself. Recently he bought an extra 1600 sqmts of land that he intends to use for vegetable farming. He states that he will still use a Treadle pump even though he can afford a deisel pump now as he feels that the strong water current of the diesel pump leaches away fertilizers and is difficult to manage on a small farm like his.
Towards empowerment
A highly motivated and a practical man as he is, Chunmun feels that he has only made a beginning. He has already carved out a future plan for himself saying “Ab hum phoolon ki kheti karenge, Arif Khan ka mali ne bataya bahut profit hai ” (I will grow flowers now as a gardener told me that there is much more profit to be made) For a poor farmer like Chunmun, who has never been to school this is a major stride from vulnerability to empowerment.
