Why Gujarat farmers are celebrating this writing on the wall

‘‘The extract of research in different fields of agriculture has been put up on the wall in the form of slogans, making it easy for farmers and other visitors to read and understand it easily,’’ says Vice-Chancellor Dr B K Kikani. ‘‘We conduct village meetings, shows and other events to create awareness. But this is the simplest, cheapest and most effective way to do so.’’

Farmers from all over Junagadh district make regular visits to the information and training centre at the campus. Off the wall, they can get tips on biotechnology, greenhouse, aromatic plants, ayurveda, the medicinal value of plants and trees, even which pesticides to use, how to save crops during droughts, how to store perishable items like onions and how to grow flowers. The slogans round up by informing farmers how to get the best market price for their agricultural produce.

‘‘Often farmers feel shy about talking to officials and scientists. So we decided to put up the information they seek right there on the wall,’’ says Narendrabhai Barad, a training associate.

So popular have the slogans become that on the request of farmers, the university recently made them available as a booklet. Named Krishi Ratnakanika, the booklet was released by State Agriculture Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma at a national conference on Sustainable Management of Water Resources held at the university in January.

The university has 35 departments and each has contributed at least five slogans. ‘‘All 25 scientists here were asked to submit useful tips, which were shortlisted. Then we translated these into slogans,’’ says Barad. The slogans are written in simple Gujarati so that a farmer with basic education can also understand them, he adds.

University authorities began work on the wall about four months ago. ‘‘The work is being conducted in three phases. The total length of the wall is around 3 km, and we have covered about 2 km with graffiti,’’ says Kikani. Since no grant was available to carry out the work, the university asked the departments to share the expense, with each picking up for the tab for the display of its slogans.

When the farmers urged that the slogans be also made available in written form, the Vruksh Perm Seva Trust (VPST), an organisation of farmers from Upleta, decided to sponsor the booklet Krishi Ratnakanika.