Asha Tejasvi Naik wins farmer of the year award

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Mrs. Asha Tejasvi Naik is the recipient of the prestigious ASPEE L.M. PATEL farmer of the year award 2010 (Women farmer category). This is a national level award and carries a cash prize, trophy & citation. The award was presented to her by Prof M.S.Swaminathan eminent scientist, member of Rajya sabha and the father of green revolution in India, at a glittering ceremony held on 1st January at U.A.S. NAVSARI GUJARAT. The award is instituted by the ASPEE group of companies in the memory of their founder. Mrs. Asha Naik hails from village Modaga Taluka Belgaum and is a Homa Organic Farmer practicing seri-culture for the past 15 years. She has 3 hectares of land under V1 mulberry cultivation. She has two rearing houses and has used ingenious idea of ventilating by using simple technologies to maintain temperature, humidity and proper lighting. The two open wells on the farm are recharged by a novel technique of rain water harvesting. Her entire mulberry is irrigated by drip. Smt Naik does not use chemical fertilizer or pesticides and is a certified organic farmer and is actively involved in preserving bio diversity and soil health. The leftover mulberry sticks are used as mulch as also the litter to produce compost manures. By practicing Agnihotra homa farming techniques she has benefitted the most in eradicating pest and diseases as also the atmosphere in her farm is pure and filled with positive energies created by the homa. She rears 6900 dfls and produces 5.5 tons of silk cocoons yearly Smt.Naik is the recipient of the Shresta Krishi mahile award 2007 from the U.A.S. Dharwad. She also works as a resource person and also a speaker and trainer for various events related to sericulture and floriculture. Smt.Naik had the privilege of floral decoration at the two assembly sessions held in Belgaum and provides her services to many institutions and offices, the foremost being the K.L.E Society. She acknowledges the efforts of the sericulture dept Govt. of Karnataka and the Central Silk Board in shaping her up in this herculean task. Asha Naik says “think big become big. Be self sufficient and self reliant by using available resources on the farm. Women are well suited for sericulture as they take care of their children with love and care so also they can take care of the silk worms and the mulberry gardens. Add value to your farm products and your earnings will rise fourfold.” Asha Naik categorically cautions the school syllabus writers to edit the word ONCE THERE WAS A POOR FARMER from all the text books in India, as these words will discourage young minds from becoming a farmer who is said to be poor