Mr Tharu receiving award
Mr. Ram Autar Tharu of Masuriay-2, Kailali wins the Innovative Breeder Farmer of 2012 award.
Award established by: Dr. Bhuwon R. Sthapit and Ms. Rajya Shree Sthapit, founder members of LI-BIRD.
Ram Autar from Masuriay-2, Kailali, actively involved in biodiversity conservation, has been affiliated with LI-BIRD for the last six years. He has been exploiting the theoretical and practical knowledge on importance, use and farming technology of local crops to increase production. He is also chairperson of Sunpal Farmer’s Group and secretary of Ekata Biodiversity Conservation and Development Committee (BCDC).
He has successfully conserved different varieties/ species of rice (26), medicinal plants (60), vegetables (25) and fruits (10). He has gathered 4 kg of seeds of locally extinct rice Kuili Jadhan by collecting 15 grains at first. He practices SRI method of rice cultivation and SWI method of wheat cultivation. He has crossed local rice varieties to produce 3rd generation of Indrasan X Kachorba-5, Asahaniya Anadi X Sunaulo suganda and 1st generation of Seto Anadi X Radha-4. Due to easy availability of local rice seeds, there has been reduction in his expenses. He has been able to improve his livelihood by using his barren land to produce new species through participatory plant breeding. He is an organic farmer and avoids use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to prevent environmental pollution. His farm is green, fertile and productive throughout the year even during harsh and unfavorable weather conditions.
Overall, Ram Autar has been a lead farmer and a breeder. He has made remarkable contributions in agricultural biodiversity conservation and management by collecting local crops, conserving local rare species and producing new species. He has efficiently promoted resource home garden and maintained species in diversity blocks.
He has successfully conserved different varieties/ species of rice (26), medicinal plants (60), vegetables (25) and fruits (10). He has gathered 4 kg of seeds of locally extinct rice Kuili Jadhan by collecting 15 grains at first. He practices SRI method of rice cultivation and SWI method of wheat cultivation. He has crossed local rice varieties to produce 3rd generation of Indrasan X Kachorba-5, Asahaniya Anadi X Sunaulo suganda and 1st generation of Seto Anadi X Radha-4. Due to easy availability of local rice seeds, there has been reduction in his expenses. He has been able to improve his livelihood by using his barren land to produce new species through participatory plant breeding. He is an organic farmer and avoids use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to prevent environmental pollution. His farm is green, fertile and productive throughout the year even during harsh and unfavorable weather conditions.
Overall, Ram Autar has been a lead farmer and a breeder. He has made remarkable contributions in agricultural biodiversity conservation and management by collecting local crops, conserving local rare species and producing new species. He has efficiently promoted resource home garden and maintained species in diversity blocks.