Features
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
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ART AND CULTURE Assam's brass and bell metal industries not in sound health The tinkling from every legend point to the while eating on bell metal house in Sarthebari was industry's existence since plates is considered once the music of pros- the Mauryan period (321- healthy. Items commonly perity. Today, it conveys 185 BC). Written docu- made are cymbals, a metallic message: ments, on the other hand, bhogjhora, dugdugi, Assam's brass and bell trace its existence to 7th pikdani, bankahi, banbati, metal industries are not in century AD when Buddhist taal used for insound health. Kumar Bhaskar Barman, cantations, and dofola Factory-made replicas of king of Kamrupa, pre- bati used by some tribal their painstakingly- sented a Kangshapatra (a communities for marriage crafted wares and haz- bell metal item) to king ceremony. a r d o u s The bell metal w o r k i n g Dr Roli Misra and Parvin Sultana industry has conditions been facing Harshavardhan of north myriad problems for two are two of the reasons. About 95 km from India. It is believed that a decades now. Kohiram Guwahati, Sarthebari is well-known artisan from Das, a master craftsman, situated in the eastern- Sarthebari made the foresaw this in 1933 and most part of Barpeta dis- Kangshapatra. History formed the Assam Cooptrict. It is one of two main does not support erative Bell Metal Utenclusters - the other is at Sarthebari's link with the sils Manufacturing SociHajo - of brass and bell Kangshapatra. ety Limited to safeguard metal industry in Assam. The family trees of local the interests of the workEvery house here has an bell metal artisans indi- ers. informal workshop or cate that people started to Brass and bell metal garshal where a group of live in Sarthebari from products demand both workmen called kohars 14th century onwards. physical strength and arbeat bell metal into aes- Their forefathers brought tistic skill. Each worker thetic utilitarian products fame to the area by re- specializes in a particular that are an integral part ceiving awards from the piece of work and makes kings during the Ahom only one part of a prodof Assamese culture Brass and bell metal regime, and later from uct. Workers feel that products are an important the British rulers and gov- these items, adorned with traditional craft form in ernments in post-inde- intricate designs, cannot Assam. But there is no pendence India. be made by machines, authentic documentary Bell metal items have thus limiting the scope for evidence regarding the utilitarian and aesthetic mechanization. genesis of the state's bell value in Assam; they are Scarcity of charcoal and metal industry. Some his- de rigueur in marriages broken bell metal prodtorical events and local and religious functions ucts - much of it without
the right copper-zinc proportion - is hitting the industry hard. The cooperative society helps source the raw materials but the government plays a negligible role. Difficult working conditions take a toll on the workers' health. If informal setups in the households affect work during the rainy season, long periods of inhaling toxic gases from burning charcoal have make the workers vulnerable to chest pain, respiratory disorders and, in some cases, premature graying of hair. Long hours of beating metal have also lead to posturerelated disorders. The physical strain invariably cuts the artisans' careers short and pushes them into abject poverty. The history of the brass industry too has no documentary proof. But it is believed to have been born when the Maria Muslims settled in Assam after the war at Koliabar between General Turbak and Ahom soldiers in 1532 AD. The standout brass products are the traditional xorai and pan bota (for
even if it is not profitable. The newer generations take it up as the last option because of unemployment or lack of better opportunities, and are thus disinclined to learn the intricacies. But this internationally famous handicraft can be made a viable livelihood option with government intervention in the form of steady supply of raw material, easy loans, minimum health insurance and proper marketing facilities. Initiatives should also be taken to provide training and capacitybuilding measures to the artisans. A larger role of the cooperatives can go Artisans making brass items. Source: farm4.staticflickr a long way in safeguardserving betel nut to sence of a strong union ish, are cheaper and are ing the artisans' interests guests) besides memen- like that of the bell metal thus preferred as gift too. ( Dr Roli Misra teaches tos and figurative art- workers. Brass workers items. works. The xorai, in vari- depend on local dealers Workers of both the in- Economics in D.B.S ous sizes and designs, is for raw materials; they dustries fear duplication College, Kanpur, Uttar used for offerings in are at the mercy of the of their work. Customers Pradesh. Her interest Naamghars (Vaishnav mahajans who set the fail to differentiate be- areas are Gender and prayer halls) as well as in prices according to their tween the originals and Migration. Parvin Sulvarious public and private convenience. If that replicas and often take tana is an Assistant functions. were not enough, the products that retailers pro- Professor in B.N ColDespite being an impor- workers are facing stiff cure from outside the lege, Dhubri of Assam. tant part of Assamese competition from ma- state for a higher margin. Her research interest tradition and culture, the chine-made products In the case of both brass includes Muslims in brass industry is facing a made outside Assam. and bell metal, the profes- Assam, Development number of challenges These machine-made sion is passed on from and the Northeast, compounded by the ab- products have better pol- one generation to another Gender etc.)
HORTICULTURE
Organic Basmati Rice Cultivation Introduction of Basmati Rice: - These days, farming technology involved using of agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides in greater extent for higher yield in most of the crops. However using these chemicals are impacting the environment and causing health problems. One should come out of chemical intensive agriculture and start thinking of organic cultivation of crops. Organic farming or cultivation basically focus on at achieving agro-eco system which are socially acceptable and ecologically sustainable. Organic cultivation uses ecological principles for crop management. As Basmati rice production is concerned, India is the number 1 producer and
exporter of basmati rice in the world. In India, Basmati rice is usually used in biryani due their texture/shape and fragrance. This rice has huge demand in international markets as well. In this article we try to brief about organic basmati rice farming or cultivation practices.
1. Out of all these improved varieties, Pusa Basmati-1 yields more and HBC-19 yields less (Traditional variety). Pusa-1121 has better aroma and yields almost same as Pusa basmati-1. Climate Required for Basmati Rice Farming:Basmati rice crop requires evenly distributed rainfall throughout its growth and ideal temperature for its cultivation is 20 to 38. It also requires clear sky during day and low night temperatures.
Organic Basmati Rice Cultivating States in India:- Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are the major basmati rice cultiSoil Requirement for vating states in India. Basmati Rice FarmVarieties of Basmati ing:- Basmati rice can be Rice in India:- Basmati grown in all kinds of soils. 370 & Taraori Basmati However, heavy neutral are the two mainly culti- soils like clay loam, clay vated Basmati varieties in and loamy are excellent India. Other improved for its cultivation. These varieties are Pusa-1121, soils have the property of CSR-30, Pusa Basmati- holding water for longer
Aromatic Basmati Rice. Source: supportbiz
period. The ideal pH range of soil for its better yield is 5.0 to 8.5. Alkaline or Saline soils are not suitable for its cultivation. Seed Selection and Seed Rate in Basmati Rice Farming:- Selecting good quality and genetically good seeds are very important in basmati crop cultivation. Farmers should buy the seeds from the trusted sources. Seed rate in basmati rice farming is about 6 to 8 kg /acre of land.
ploughed 2 to 3 weeks before plantation. After ploughing, the field should be submerged with 5 cm - 10 cm standing water. Incorporate 10 to 12 tonnes of organic manure/compost or 10 to 25 tonnes of green manure. The field should be levelled properly after applying the organic matter.
Normally land preparation for rice crop cultivation is 1 time ploughing & 1 time puddling. Make sure the field is flooded at least 3 Seed Treatment in to 4 days before transBasmati Rice Farm- planting the seedlings. ing:- Once seeds are selected, they should be Propagation and Planttreated properly. Take ing Method in Basmati 1kg of salt and dilute in Rice Farming:- Rice is 10 liters of water .Soon cultivated by growing in after this, 8-10 kg of nursery and transplanting seeds should be poured in of seedlings. this solution to sort out the quality seeds. The qual- Ideal Time of Transplanity seeds will reach the tation - First week to secbottom where as waste ond week of July. 3 to 4 seeds float in the solution. weeks of seedlings should Throw the waste seeds be transplanted in the and take out quality seeds main field . Spacing beand soak them with fresh tween the two plants water for couple of time should be 15 cm to 20 cm. to wash away the salt. Spacing between the Then these seeds should rows should be 20 cm to be kept in the solution of 25 cm. 10 liters of water, 5 grams Emison & 2.5 Manures in Basmati grams of Agromycin (or) Rice Farming:- Apply 1 gram of streptomycin Farm Yard Manureat5 to tonnes/ha & for 1 day. After 1 day, the 4 rice seeds should be Vermicompost (http:// spread in a place with a g r i f a r m i n g . i n / t a g / wet sacks on the seeds. vermicompost)at5 to 6 Then sacks should be tonnes/ha. waters continuously or at frequent intervals for ger- Irrigation in Basmati mination process to start. Rice Farming:- Basmati Land Preparation and rice crop requires 2 to 4 Transplanting in Basmati cm of water in the field Rice Farming:- The main throughout the growing field should be dry season. Sometimes it re-
Organic Basmati Rice Farming. Source: farmingquest
quires timely irrigation but low quantity of water during specific period of growth. Weed Control in Basmati Rice Farming:- In rice cultivation, weed growth is minimal due to the fact that this crop is cultivated under submerged condition of water. Hand weeding should be carried 3 to 4 timesat3 weeks interval starting from 3 weeks after planting. Pruning in Basmati Rice Farming: - To reduce the plant height and prevent it from lodging, should cut the flag leaf at about 10 cm from upper most leaf collar without affecting the yield. Top Dressing in Basmati Rice Farming:- Usually ,basmati crop varieties require low
fertilizer quantity. Especially, it requires low quantity of nitrogen to avoid excessive vegetative growth of the crop. Pests and Diseases in Basmati Rice Farming:Pests and diseases are main threats in basmati rice farming. Neck blast disease, Sheath blight are the main diseases in basmati crop. Sheath rot & false smut, yellow stem borer, gall midge and brown plant hopper are the main pest found. These pests and diseases can be reduced substantially by applying effective bioagents like "Trichogramma japonicum" & T. chilonis. Water Drying Before Harvesting in Rice Farming:- Drying the field /Removing the water from the field 2 weeks before the harvesting is mandatory for getting good yield and quality of
seed. Harvesting of Basmati Rice:- This crop will be ready for harvesting when crop turns to golden colour. To get maximum yield, crop should be harvestedat20 % of moistureat35 - 38 days after 50% of flowering. Usually the crop will be ready for harvesting depends on the variety cultivated. The crop should be harvested 25 to 30 days after flowering in early & medium duration varieties. In ate varieties, harvesting should be done 35 - 40 days after the flowering. Yield of Basmati Rice: - In Organic Farming, yield reduces in the conversion period as chemical fertilizers are withdrawn. The crop yield stabilizes and reaches 95% normal yield rate in 4th year of cultivation.