• Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
    Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
    Sign up Log in

Nature Tackling Farm Pests With "Havan" (2 Related Articles)

Tejwant Singh

Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Jun 30, 2004
5,024
7,183
Henderson, NV.
Article 1

http://www.tribunei ndia.com/ 2010/20100530/ main6.htm

Tackling farm pests with ‘havan’


Dharamsala, May 29

Scientists at Palampur Agriculture University are using vedic mantras, “havan” and ringing of bells to promote organic farming. While occasional visitors are caught by surprise at the chants, the seemingly religious activity is an experimental project taken up by the department of organic farming in Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya.

The university has allocated special funds for the research project, designed to chase away pests and pathogens from the fields.

The scientists hope to establish that the smoke that emerges from the “havan” in which cow dung cakes are smoked slowly in desi ghee can help drive away pests.

The entire department, ranging from farm labourers to research scholars, have been participating in the research activity.

The department when contacted by The Tribune revealed that the research project had been christened Homa Farming.[

Dr YS Paul, a scientist supervising the activity, explained that “homa” was the original word for “havan” in Sanskrit.

“As part of the experiment, which began in 2006, we conduct a havan every morning at sunrise and sunset in fields where pests or pathogens are attacking crops. The havan is accompanied by ringing of bells and is conducted at specific points earmarked by scientists after certain “calculations” ,” Dr Paul said.

Besides the havan, the “Mahamritunjaya” (mantra used to conquer all types of ills as per the Hindu mythology) is recited twice daily. On Fridays, it is mandatory for all workers and staff of the department to participate in the activity, Dr Paul said.

The scientist claimed that Homa Farming was being practised in 19 countries after it was successfully demonstrated by a Swami on banana farms in Peru.

When asked about the scientific results achieved so far, he said till now the results had not been quantified. “However, our observations have shown interesting results,” he added

“I carried pathogens to the departmental laboratory and subjected them to the Homa Farming conditions. The growth of pathogens was found retarded by about 30 per cent. Also, the production of crops is better in the farms where Homa Farming is carried out than the other farms of the university where such farming is not practised, he claimed.

]Dr Paul hoped that the practice would help people keep away from harmful chemical pesticides they were using on crops.

Other scientists this correspondent spoke to also claimed that the vibrations created by mantras had the potential to chase away crop diseases.




 

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
Article 2


Punjab farmers take up natural farming


Balwant Garg | TNN


Bathinda: Here in southern Punjab a silent revolution is in the making. Although the harbingers of the revolution are not many, yet their success with new methodology in agriculture to regenerate ecological resources and bringing back soil productivity is attracting experts, even some ecologists from European countries.

Farmers here (around 100) are practising natural farming and use only Jeevaamrita (a cow urine based preparation) as fertiliser and pesticide. After three years of natural farming, land has become rich in humus, yield has increased and the land has again become rich in life forms. Moreover, their produce is in demand and that too at higher prices.

While the farmers in Punjab can be seen burning paddy stubble in their fields, farmers here use the residue to cover the naked soil.

"By this, besides protecting the bacteria and retaining the moisture, the temperature of the soil is kept low for the survival of microbes," told Subash Palekar, a famous farmer from Amravati (Maharashtra) . Palekar is a known exponent in natural farming in India.

"These farmers practice Guru Nanak's philosophy of "Sarbat da Bhala" (well being of all) in its true sense," said Frederique Menant, a member of French team of ecological experts which visited the farm of Amarjit Sharma at Chaina village in Faridkot some days back. Amar Sharma is one of the successful natural farmers of Punjab whose farm attracted not only foreigners but many experts from agriculture universities.

By using chemical inputs, especially pesticides, farmers have destroyed the delicate microbial equilibrium of soil, said Umendra Dutt, executive director of Kheti Virasat, a voluntary organisation which works in tandem with farmers to promote natural farming. Several well-educated persons are also joining this movement.
 

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
These articles are posted together in the same thread, rather than as 2 separate threads, so that the contrast between approaches is more noticeable, and they can be discussed as polar understandings. Or maybe not. :)
 
📌 For all latest updates, follow the Official Sikh Philosophy Network Whatsapp Channel:
Top