Extension activity organised in collaboration with ODP in Anchechittanahalli, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya “World Environment Day Celebration and Vanamahothsava”
Preamble
World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. June 5th, is celebrated as a World Environment Day to inspire people to be active concerning the atmosphere and take measures to secure the future of the planet. It calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet. “Fifty years ago, the world’s leaders came together at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and committed to protecting the planet. The first Environment day was celebrated in the year 1973; it was organized by the UN General Assembly in 1972 on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This year’s theme is ‘Only One Earth‘, which draws our attention towards playing our role effectively while living in perfect harmony with nature – without proving a burden on it.
The value and purpose of trees is enormous; and their existence is vital for our survival.
- Trees help to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.
- They also reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves. It’s estimated that trees can reduce the temperature in a city by up to 7°C.
- They help to prevent flooding and soil erosion, by absorbing thousands of liters of storm water.
- Trees help to improve air quality by intercepting and trapping dust and other pollutants from the air.
- The shade of trees also provides a useful barrier to harmful ultra-violet radiation from the sun.
- Trees can bring people together.
So, humans, animals and the environment depend upon trees for survival. By planting more trees, it will contribute to global reforestation efforts, restoring lost forests, repairing damaged ecosystems and mitigating climate change.
OBJECTIVES
- To create awareness among the local community about planting trees.
- To promote interest in planting trees and earning livelihood from cultivation.
- To make realization about modern agricultural practices and their significance.
ABOUT THE EXTENSION ACTIVITY
The department of Botany organised an extension activity in collaboration with ODP in Anchechittanahalli village, Nagamangala taluk, Mandya district. The activity involved 30 Students of 4th Semester CBZ & CBFN and 2 staff members from the department. The extension activity began with addressing students and the members of the local community by Mr. Ramesh, Project coordinator, ODP regarding the importance of environment and how to protect it in villages. He also emphasised on the effects and consequences of not protecting the environment. With this introduction, faculty, students & villagers actively participated in Vanamahothsava in the premises of primary school of the village.
The students enthusiastically planted saplings of Teak, Jackfruit, Neem and Java Plum in the premises of the government school of Anchechittanahalli, Nagamangala taluk.
After Vanamahotsava, students and staff assembled in the nearby hall for a small gathering to celebrate World Environment Day. The gathering included President, Vice President of Grampanchayat of the village, BEO of Nagamangala taluk, District Forest Officer were the dignitaries of the programme. The dignitaries gave an eloquent speech on the importance of environment, methods of conservation, using modern techniques to develop new agricultural practices. The program culminated with felicitation of achievers who excelled in the board examinations.
The students later on visited a village near to Anchechittanahalli to learn more about the mushroom cultivation. Mr. Santhosh, a famer, enthusiastically explained and demonstrated organic way of cultivating Oyster mushroom. He spoke on diversity of edible mushrooms and also listed some of the nutritional benefits of oyster mushroom. He also added that these mushrooms are reservoirs of diverse proteins and eating these mushrooms keeps us away from various diseases like reducing cancer risk, promoting heart health. He explained the materials required for mushroom cultivation and the conditions which enhance the mushroom yield. He elaborately explained the procedure of cultivation. Mr Santhosh spoke on importance of maintaining aseptic condition for better yield of mushrooms. He gave a lot of insight on the growth, maintenance of oyster mushroom and marketing of mushrooms towards profit. Students also actively participated in the demonstration of Mushroom cultivation.
OUTCOME OF THE EXTENSION PROGRAMME
- The villagers appreciated the efforts of the students and staff for creating awareness and undertaking plantation activity in their village.
- The students enriched their knowledge on mushroom cultivation.
- The villagers expressed that they will continue this good work in their local community.
Feedback:
The overall extension activity fulfilled the purpose of organizing it and celebrating world environment day in a meaningful way.
