Best Practices 2020-21

Title of the Practice: 1 - Pollinators Habitat

 

Objectives of the Practice - To Conserve Pollinators. To spread awareness among students and society about importance of pollinators. To conserve and protect our biodiversity. To maintain ecological balance. To aware people about the role of pollinators in increasing crop yield. To study behaviour of pollinators (especially honeybees) and carpenter bees. To conserves and protect the ecosystem.

 

The Context - Pollinators are animal species that provide pollination services to plants in natural/wild landscapes, cultivated gardens and agricultural settings. They have coevolved with plants and the relationship between plants and pollinators is very intricate as each is relying on the other for survival. Creating habitat is something that everyone can do to help support pollinators in our area. Pollinators visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen to provide nutrition for their offspring. More than 70% of flowering plants in the world rely on pollinators for reproduction.

 

The Practice - Since 2018-19 we have started to develop pollinator habitats on the campus. Pollinator-friendly plants were selected and planted. The institution planted native flowering plants and trees that sustain pollinators with nutrient-rich nectar and pollen. Plants were selected in such a way that pollen and nectar are available throughout the year. Our faculty and students had delivered lectures on the importance of pollinators in various schools, colleges and villages in surrounding areas. They met the farmers and explained the importance of Pollinators Habitat. The team prepared bee hotels and planted the trees for encouraging the practice of Pollinators Habitat. Our goal is to convey a message to the farmers, homeowners, government agencies and non-government organizations that they can provide pollinator-friendly habitats and how those habitats can make a difference for pollinator species within our local environments. These important services help many plants complete their lifecycles, as well as ensuring food and shelter for humans and other animals for a long time.

  

Evidence of Success- Various Pollinators from the order Hymenoptera such as Apis dorsata, A. florea, A. tetragonula, A. cerana indica, and from order Lepidoptera - more than 43 species were observed in our pollinator habitat.

 

Problems Encountered and Resources Required:  Lack of knowledge among people about pollinators, Lack of skilled labor. So we need skilled trainers and appropriate equipment to improve this project.

Title of the Practice 2: Kitchen Garden Project.

 

Objectives of the Practice - To reduce air pollution. To reduce food miles. To reduce water consumption for the production of fruits and vegetables. To conserve energy. To select alternative crops and crop diversity. To adopt a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle. To increase aesthetic value. To reduce the use of pesticides.

  

The Context - With organic food becoming costlier day by day, kitchen gardening is something everyone wants to try their hands at. Not only does one save money but also gets to have fresh, flavorsome veggies/ herbs/ fruits from the garden. Kitchen gardening is not the same as regular gardening. This is because a kitchen garden is usually smaller and aesthetically more pleasing. Besides, the production is meant for fresh consumption and not for sale. People can get organic fruits and vegetables.

 

The Practice: Seed sachets of (8-10 species) kharif and rabi crops used in the kitchen were selected and distributed twice a year free of cost. The team of 50 members including staff and students prepared 319 sachets and 315 sachets were distributed among staff members, students and the people of the surrounding area. To avoid the use of plastic, seed sachets were prepared from paper and not plastic to protect the environment and to cultivate eco-friendly practices. The staff and students conducted a lecture on how to grow these seeds and maintain them.

 

Evidence of Success- For last five years, we are practicing this program and now we have many homes in which regularly kitchen gardens have been developed and maintained it. We get to eat more homegrown seasonal vegetables and herbs that are free from harmful pesticides. There’s better control over what goes in one’s meal when one is growing it on his/her own, making it a healthier option. Kitchen gardening is a very healthy way to involve the whole family in physical activity. Kitchen gardening also helps to purify the air of our home and surrounding areas. kitchen gardening is beneficial in many ways to improve our health and environment.

 

Problems Encountered and Resources Required:There is a sincere lack of knowledge about plants and gardening and its impact on our health among people. Also people have the least idea about different types of gardening. Sustainability issue. We need proper tool kit to further our kitchen gardening project.