CONSULTANT PLANT DOCTOR MISSION (CPDM)

Consultant Plant Doctor Mission (CPDM) is a science-based human welfare mission, aimed to introduce and promote ‘Professional Advisory Services’ in Agriculture. The CPDM is designed to facilitate a high degree of professionalism in Agriculture Advisory Services, both in the public and private sectors. The CPDM will promote two models, first ‘PRO-P’ (The model to enhance advisory capabilities of extension functionaries in the public sector. The model is already in use in Rajasthan, the largest state of India) and second ‘PDI’ (A complete professional advisory model both for private and public sectors). Details of ‘Pro-P’ and ‘PDI’ are given below.

The mission is intended to connect all prime Agriculture universities around the Globe to motivate Agriculture students and working professionals through free tutorial programs of CPDM. Well-designed technical lectures (Academic Releases) in the form of online videos and PDFs will be delivered to Agricultural students and professionals under this mission. Valuable literature, in the form of diagnostic photographs, and academic book chapters in PDFs, will be provided free of cost to students and professionals. This way the CPDM will make students technically more sound and professionally more confident to become practicing 'Consultant Plant Doctors'.

The CPDM will also facilitate Agriculture students and professionals to become expert advisors in the specialized field of their choice, such as in - Farm Designing & Development, crisis management, Crop Advisory, Farm Business facilitation, Nursery Management, Tree Plantation Nurseries, Commercial Seed Production, Commercial Animal Breeding, Food Processing, Organic farming, Protected cultivation, etc.

The mission will connect Farming Groups/ FPOs/ Cooperatives/ Agriculture Academic Institutions/ Agriculture Research Institutions/ Welfare organizations/business organizations/Agriculture Trade companies/ NGOs / Charities etc to establish PDIs. The mission will also connect various National and Provincial Governments to support them in executing the Pro-P model of advisory services to farmers through their Agriculture Departments. The CPDM will create a common platform ‘ARBF’ (Agriculture Research & Business Forum) for Agriculture Academicians, Scientists, input manufacturers, implement manufacturers, processing industries, and traders to share knowledge and exchange views on new research, new policies, new opportunities, new directions, emerging challenges, steaming difficulties and possible solutions etc. in field of Agriculture. The CPDM program is absolutely free for all.

1. Plant Doctor Institute (PDI)

Expert advisory support is in huge demand in the farming sector as Agriculture enterprises are now growing towards organic farming, protected cultivation, high-value commercial crops, and food processing industries. The rural sector is now additionally catering to many new farm-based businesses like - village tourism, Eco tourism, destination marriage gardens, close-to-nature residential colonies, residential farmhouses, commercial farmhouses, Food processing Parks, High-value Seed Production Farms, Tree plantation nurseries, Animal Breeding centers, Village artisans and craft centers, etc. Fast growing road network, around the Globe, is now opening new opportunities in remote destinations. Educated and talented youth is now moving towards villages with innovative investment plans.

The Plant Doctor Institute (PDI) will cater to all types of advisory/input/finance/marketing needs of farmers and farm investors under one roof. The PDI will not only be a self-sustained center but this will be a highly profitable business centre. The high degree of professionalism in advisory services will attract farmers to obtain reliable services at a nominal cost. The feeling of reliability proofed through benefits and gains will create faith in farmers and farm investors towards such centers. Soon these centers will emerge as powerful hubs of the farm business. The PDIs may be developed and run on various operating and ownership modes i.e. Individual/ Private limited/ Cooperative/ Charitable entity/ Public entity etc. Agriculture Universities and autonomous organizations may also run such centers for organisational income used in ‘not-for profit’ purposes. At least one PDI is required in every 10,000 Agricultural Households.

On the basis of the facilities available, the CPDM has designed three types of PDI models - MiniPDI, Medium PDI, and Large PDI. The smallest model, Mini PDI, should consist of at least 7 basic infrastructure facilities- The Plant Doctors, Plant Nursery, Input store (Seed, fertilizer, and pesticides), Farm designing and development center, diagnostic lab (Soil & Plant Testing), Farm Business Facilitation Centre and Mini bank. The minimum services available on mini PDIs should be 1. Farm Designing & Development Services 2. Farm Plan Services 3. Crop Advisory Services 4. Crises Management Services (in case of pest, disease, weeds, or nutritional problems) 5. Input Supply Services (Seeds, Nursery Plants, Fertilizers and Pesticides), 6. Farm business facilitation services and 7. Banking services (maybe through some other established banking organization).

The medium model, ‘Medium PDI’ should additionally consist of three more components - Farm Produce Collection and Storage center, Custom hiring center, and Training facilities for farmers.

The largest model, ‘Large PDI’ should additionally consist of more components than the medium model. As per business and need of the area, these facilities may be Facilitation Centre for Food Processing, Warehouse and commodity exchange center, cold storage, Fruit ripening chambers, Sale & Service center for Agriculture implements and equipment, Milk chilling and Transportation Centre, Animal breeding Centre, Tree plantation nursery center, Mushroom seed production center, Poultry brooding center, Fish Seed Production center, Mother Plantation and root stalk center, Village artisans and craft training center etc.

2. Production with Protection (Pro-P) -

The Pro-P is a public sector model of Farmers Advisory Services, first tested as a pilot project in 4 districts of Rajasthan (India) by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, through Nanta Agriculture Research Station, Command Area Development, Kota and later executed in entire Rajasthan State by Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan. The "Production with protection (Pro-P) project" provides a methodology to transfer & utilize high-level diagnosis and treatment expertise to the village level through agriculture extension functionaries. The Pro-P is a science-based advisory system that may be implemented within a few months in any part of the world with the scientific support of Agriculture Universities or Research Institutions. The CPDM will provide consultancy support to Governments, interested in executing Pro-P-based advisory services to the farmers.

3. Plant Doctor Services (PDS) -

Introduction- Similar to other animates on earth, our crops also suffer from various pathogenic diseases, pests, and physiological disorders. In such cases, a diagnosis and treatment advice (written prescription) are required by the farmers to save their crops. Through this component program, the CPDM will try to enhance clinical diagnostic skills in Agriculture students and practicing professionals through regular and classified tutorials. The purpose of this component program is to incorporate more and more practicing plant doctors into the system. These plant doctors may provide their services independently or may work in coordination with any organization. The CPDM will connect Agriculture students and practicing professionals through the CPDM portal. Free High-quality diagnostic photographs of plant problems, their specific identification marks (SIM), and diagnostic literature will be provided to students through the CPDM portal.

What is SIM - Diagnosis through signs and symptoms, popularly known as clinical diagnosis, is considered one of the finest skills of a doctor. Every success of treatment depends upon the correct diagnosis. In case of doubt, the doctors of medical sciences have the option of laboratory tests which are easily available. Wrong diagnosis leads to wasteful expenditure of resources and time with a substantial threat to life. But diagnostic lab support is not available in the field of Agriculture. Such facilities are only available in Agriculture Universities and Research Institutions for research purposes. Till such diagnostic facilities are made available to Plant Doctors in the fields, the only option for us is to strengthen our clinical diagnosis skills. Specific Identification Mark (SIM) is one of the reliable tools for clinical diagnosis at the field level. SIM is one of the distinguish diagnostic features, easily visible on external parts. SIM substantially increases, the degree of accuracy in clinical diagnosis. Constant support and contribution of researchers are required to dig out the strongest distinguish diagnostic features to help plant doctors in the field.

4. Crop Advisory Services (CAS) -

Introduction- Success in farming lies in the optimal utilization of farm resources and high levels of productivity. This is only possible through a scientific approach in Agricultural operations, especially in the case of high-investment technologies like protected cultivation (Net house/Poly House/Glasshouse/Hydroponics) and high-value fruits, vegetables, spices, and flowers. The farmers can’t afford a single failure in such crops. Even low productivity shatters the immense efforts and faith of farmers in adopting new technologies and high-value crops. To ensure farm operations with accuracy and scientific vision, Crop Advisory Services are in huge demand around the Globe. But such crop-specific qualified professionals are in paucity. The CPDM will facilitate the highest professional level of training to prepare such crop-specific advisory professionals. In the beginning, the CPDM will cover around 20 selected fruits, vegetables, and spices grown in open fields and 5 fruits, vegetables, and flowers grown under protected cultivation. In the second phase, the number of crops will be increased.

5. Farm Designing and Development -

Introduction- Farm designing is now becoming a prime pillar of modern Agricultural growth. Every inch of land must be planned so that every resource can be protected and utilized for optimal returns. Mapping of Water harvesting slopes, and installation of conservation structures, fencing, roads, pathways, irrigation systems, solar systems with plotting, leveling, plantations, cropping, and other commercial components must be planned, designed, and accordingly developed. Every ‘Farm’ has a different size, shape, and boundaries with different resources, different investment plans, and different commercial purposes. So, every ‘Farm Design’ is actually a marvelous and unique piece of artwork that will be implemented on real grounds like ‘A dream: flourishing with nature’.

The CPDM will facilitate, the incorporation of farm designing skills in agricultural students and practicing professionals. The CPDM will try to convince Agriculture, Horticulture and forestry universities to incorporate farm design as a professional course at the graduation level. The CPDM will provide intensive lectures on ‘Farm Designing and Development’. Millions of youths may be absorbed in this newly growing, commercially productive sector of Farm Development.

The CPDM has coined a farming model named ‘Satv-Kuber farming’. Satv meaning ‘nature’ and kuber meaning ‘money’, the Satv-kuber farming model is aimed - to restore nature with worthwhile profits. The CPDM will promote this model around the globe to restore environmental components on farming fields with worthwhile profits to the farmers.

6. Plantation Tree Nurseries -

Introduction- Plantation Tree nursery technology is one of the promising technologies ready to serve nature, but due to a lack of awareness and support this excellent planting technology is not gaining momentum. In this technology, a large number of valuable economic tree plants are grown with closer spacings in ‘Tree Plantation Nurseries’ for up to 2-3 years. Intensive care and nutrition are provided to these plants with proper trimming and pruning to give them uniform shapes. Such plants grow faster and stronger. These small trees are transported and planted in actual fields with proper spacing. Nursing plants in nurseries up to the small tree stage saves a lot of time and resources substantially reducing establishing risk. There are two component parts of this technology first to grow small trees in a nursery and second to arrange their safe transportation and planting in actual fields. The economic viability of this technology is only possible when small trees are transplanted with locally available tractor-operated equipment. Secondly, all trees are not suitable for tree transplanting and every tree species behaves differently. Tree plantation nurseries with locally available transplanting equipment may provide a marvelous restoration of green cover to orchards and landscapes.

CPDM will strongly support this technology across the Globe through awareness campaigns, research findings, and success stories. The CPDM will also try to convince public and private sector organizations to install such tree plantation nurseries and provide equipment in custom hiring mode.

7. Farm Business -

Introduction- Road connectivity, land availability and a huge number of educated youths are now engraving a new graphic of villages in almost all developing countries. This unsullied rural canvas is now waiting for glorious brush and beaming colors. The emerging scenario is attracting new opportunities for investments and employment in rural areas. Food processing Industries, Protected cultivation, Branded commodity Production, Organic production, Fruit orchards, Animal Breeding, High tech Dairies, High tech Nurseries, Input Industries, Ecotourism, close to nature residential colonies, modern schools, colleges, playgrounds, markets, microfinance institutes, village artisans and craft, etc. are such fields of investments. The CPDM will facilitate rural investments through its Farm Business Awareness Program - ‘Hey Youth, Come in Villages’.

8. Agriculture Research & Business Forum (ARBF) –

Introduction- A lot of valuable research in Agriculture is waiting its turn to serve humanity and nature. The biggest problem is the lack of coordination amongst academic Universities, research institutions, financial institutions, and business organizations involved in Input production, Equipment Production, Farm produce Procurement, storage, processing, and marketing, etc. The CPDM will provide a global platform to all stakeholders i.e. Agriculture Research Institutions, Agricultural Universities, Financial Institutions, Scientists, Extension functionaries, progressive farmers, Input companies (Seed, Fertilizer, Pesticides), Implement companies (Tractors, Implements, equipment, Micro-Irrigation, protected shades), Organic Companies, Procurement, storage, Processing and marketing companies, etc. to exchange knowledge and views. The ARBF will also be an important source of information for public bodies involved in planning & Development.