About 2000 Maharashtra farmers have developed a communication model using social media to address climate change, understand price volatility in the markets and support each other.
Shekhar Paigude (VUCCD)
Amol Bhosekar, a farmer from a tiny Galalimb village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra has been consulting with fellow farmers and experts to understand weather forecasting for his onion harvest.
Bhosekar cultivated onion on eight acres and decided to harvest in the first week of April after consultation with Vijay Jaybhaye, his counterpart from Pune district. Jaybhaye is a weather expert in the ‘Maharashtra Onion Farmers group’, a network of farmers in North and Western Maharashtra. This network runs a FB page, WhatsApp group, a YouTube channel and Clubhouse – a social audio app. Also, the network members have one-on-one discussions and field visits.
The network comprises of farmers in North and Western Maharashtra who have developed these extension programmes using social media and traditional forms of communication. Amol only follows this group while making vital decisions about his produce.
Amol told Vishwakarma University Centre For Communication for Development (VUCCD), “As located on the bank of Godavari river, we moved blindly towards Sugarcane. I never tried other options till I associated with the Maharashtra onion farmers group. Now I am a devoted follower of advice and consultation of group members. The group consists of experienced farmers who predict prices, weather experts, seed experts and climate change experts”.
He adds, “ Climate change has posed an unprecedented challenge before onion cultivators in the state. However, our group members who observed and experienced the changing climate patterns have suggested farmers like to post onion cultivation.”
Amol cites an example. “Considering an extension of Monsoon till November in the last few years, our group members collectively informed us to change the cultivation period. Earlier we used to cultivate onions in the first fortnight of November. Considering climate change, we have postponed the cultivation period to the first fortnight of December. It benefited us that we can save our crops from November Monsoon wrath. Even our crop gets done before April which saves us from the heat waves.”
The Foundation
Maharashtra Onion Farmers Group (MOFG) is the participatory network started by onion farmers from Ahamadnagar, Nasik, Galgaon, Solapur, Jalgaon and Dule in 2019.
One of the founders of group Baban Nanabhau Fand Patil popularly known as B. N. Fand Patil in the group says that an idea was to connect farmers and exchange ideas, experiences and collective knowledge for sustainable agriculture and farmers empowerment.
He said, “We started this group in 2019. An earlier objective of the group was to build the network of onion farmers in the state. Later on it emerged as a multi-crop group where more than 30 crops get consulted. The group has all expertise in crop management and climate change resilience. Climate change is the biggest threat to small and marginal farmers and their livelihood. We have utilized experienced farmers’ knowledge regarding seed selection, water management, and weather forecasting to collectively build resilience and adaptation to changing weather conditions.”
Patil adds, “We have been using farmers gathering at farms, social media networks to inform the farmers. We have an active network of 2000 farmers in the state. We organise gatherings once in two months in which farmers share knowledge and ideas. It has resulted in collective agriculture practices. We succeeded in convincing farmers to postpone onion cultivation, which saved their crop from an extension of the monsoon in the past few years.”
Fand Patil claims social media platforms have empowered the group and farmers too. Access to information is quite instrumental in farmers’ output. The group has a strong presence on online applications like Clubhouse. Fand Patil said, “ Farmers gathering is vital for sharing knowledge. But many times farm virtual meetings, WhatsApp, FB page deliver more as it give access to every farmer. Today our clubhouse programes have more than 600 registrations.”
Fighting Climate Change
B N Patil with his experience and understanding has established resilience to climate change with changing agriculture practices. He studied weather patterns in his taluka and developed crop system.
He said, “ My taluka falls in drought-prone region of the district. W receive annual rainfall 480 mm. My father had cultivated horticulture crops. However, I studied rainfall and water levels of wells and percolation tanks for more than seven years from year 2005. On account of shortage of water for horticultural crops, I discontinued the practices and moves to less water demanding crops.”
Patil adds, “ I started cultivating crops like mung, bajara, soya, french beans which grow using less water. I started sharing knowledge with others in my own village and nearby villages. More than 100 farmers in my periphery of five villages have adopted new practices. Every Year after monsoon I check the water level of wells and percolation tank in the village and predict water availability for irrigation. This helped farmers in crop selection and water management.”
Weather Forecast
Weather forecasting is instrumental in changing agricultural environment. The group has a weather expert. Vijay Jaybhaye, technically sound farmer is equipped with modern gadgets like laptops and smartphone with good geographical understanding. Vijay uses satellites, reports, predictions and prepare regular content for farmers. Vijay said, “Weather forecasting is crucial in the crop management. I regularly keep watch on the wind direction, where low-pressure belt is being built, annual predictions and instant changes”.
He explains with an example. Ahmednagar district has been divided in two geographical parts where North has different weather conditions than South. “ Here I have to give taluka wise predictions. I use FB and Whatsapp to deliver content. Once a farmer has information, he can take precautionary measures. Climate change is directly related to weather. Hence, I have to be very much conscious while sharing information. Farmers in our group schedule harvest after consultations with us. Getting timely information can save farmers’ losses which is utmost important.”
Seed Development
Seed developing is another important aspect in crop management. In the recent past, the state was in the headlines because of bogus seeds which led to farmers suicide cases. But the group farmers have started developing seeds for various crops. Farmers share seeds among themselves, which has reduced the dependency on the market.
Manish Kumbhekar one of seed developing farmers told VUCCD, “ I have developed seeds for onion, soya and wheat. After kind of training from government of state, I started developing seeds. I have been doing this for twenty years now. This network works on the basis of trust. Many farmers in our group have been benefited. However, we suggest seed variety considering their geography, quality of soil. It contributes in yields ”
Market Prices
An experienced farmer Shivaji Awate, another group member predicts market prices. An ordinary farmer, Awate has pricing data records more than 18 years of thirty crops. He gets at least twenty calls a day regarding crop selection for a better price for a season.
Awate said, “I conducted a session on clubhouse in July 2021 where 40 farmers participated. However, in the next session in July 2022, as many as 600 farmers participated. It has a really positive burden on me. I get many phone calls. Hence, I started a YouTube channel which has a base of 3000 farmers. As part of group, I suggest farmer for short span crops in Rabi season considering their market.”
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