Going back to basics, cow grazing in agriculture fields to enrich soil

Sangareddy: Cattle grazing in agriculture fields that facilitates soil enrichment through the dung and urine released by the cattle, before taking up sowing operations, is an age-old practice. Unfortunately, with the advent of chemical fertilisers, this practice of natural soil enrichment has become a thing of the past.

A family of cow-herds from the remote Kangti area in Sangareddy district, however, continue with the practice and charge just Rs 500 or sufficient meal for the cow herders a day to facilitate grazing by 200 cows in any farmer’s field. Normally, farmers buy a truck-load of cattle dung for Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 which is applied in agriculture fields as a natural fertiliser to enhance productivity.

A farmer who wants to enrich his soil in the field can hire the services of Rama Rao Chouhan’s family that owns over 200 cows, for just Rs 500 a day. The family takes their herd to the farmer’s field, spend the day and night with the cattle in for Rs 500 or enough food for the herders during their stay.

The Chouhan family is not only popular in Sangareddy district, but also get invites from farmers in neighbouring Kamareddy district.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Agriculture Extension Officer Gandla Santosh Kumar said cow grazing in the fields improves the productivity of any crop since cow urine and dung release all the necessary nutrients to the soil which in turn helps the crops grow healthy.

“It is time that farmers switch to this age-old practice and avoid use of chemical fertiliser in cultivation since the chemicals also enters the food chain impacting the health of all living beings on earth,” he said.

Chouhan told Telangana Today that farmers call them to their fields ahead of Vanakalam and Yasangi cultivation before tilling the soil for sowing operations. The family, which just owned 15 cows in 2005, now has over 200 cows.