There is heavy rain in South Tamil Nadu and in my farm. Subbu was unable to speak to me as he is fearing lightning strike on his cell phone in open field. We spoke after the rains. It is 4 days hence rain is there. The Met has predicted a low pressure area in Bay of Bengal and a cyclone off Kanyakumari. So more rains, if not thunder showers are expected. That is good news.
For the first time I feel how a Farmer would feel about the rains. When the ground is parched for many months and crop is dying, the rain will definitely bring happiness to everyone. I also realize the importance of water for farming. Without water, nothing can be done. NOTHING.
Today the female workers came late and got mouthful of shouting. Even he gave the phone to me and I did my bit over the phone. They promised they will come in time from tomorrow. Subbu is planning for an attendance register. So HR is born.
They have re-planted some stocks of casuarina saplings on the eastern fence side. He asked me what should he do for the branches that are growing and spreading just above ground level. Coniferous trees have a habit of growing with huge bottom. I told him not to do anything. Once the tree grows to a height, automatically the bottom most branches will become less dense. Then we can take a call.
So our ground is soaked. Subbu did a brilliant thing after hearing me many times. "We should not allow single drop of water to run off the farm. It should soak underground." He has arrested the water by creating mud bunds so that the rainwater is arrested from run away. He was confident, even if it doesnot rain for few days also, the stored water can be used. That is great. He also said that the soil is very slushy and asked me to go slow on inviting ABS. Vehicle will have problem. But I feel that is part of the game.
We are eagerly awaiting when the Wind Pump will be delivered. I understand from ABS that it will be packed starting today. Only when it is installed and working, that we will come to know if we have solved the water problem.
Assuming water problem will be solved.... we are planning for next steps. May, June and July are important months for agricultural activity. We cannot waste our time now. We need to prepare for monsoon. Presently due to pre-monsoon rains (or Summer rain / Spring rain ?) I am restless on what all the possibilities that is opening up. Only when I want to refer my notes now that I realize that is grossly inadequate.
We need to start the crops.
We decided we will start with little bit of Banana trees. It is a 10 month crop. Best suitable for our climate and soil. We have selected Karpooravalli variety. The reason Subbu gave is this variety is best suited for Organic cultivation according to him.
The following is the process we may follow;
Recalling back what I planned for the farm in theory, and what I am able to achieve until now, there is a big difference. But I am delighted that we are there....perhaps with a time difference.
Note that the compound itself has undergone change. Some portion has been eaten away and it looks like "Digger". That portion of land doesnot belong to me, but to someone else under a government scheme. I was cheated at that time. So that portion was circumvented. I may however take the owners help and plant cow grass in it with another temporary fence.
For the first time I feel how a Farmer would feel about the rains. When the ground is parched for many months and crop is dying, the rain will definitely bring happiness to everyone. I also realize the importance of water for farming. Without water, nothing can be done. NOTHING.
Today the female workers came late and got mouthful of shouting. Even he gave the phone to me and I did my bit over the phone. They promised they will come in time from tomorrow. Subbu is planning for an attendance register. So HR is born.
They have re-planted some stocks of casuarina saplings on the eastern fence side. He asked me what should he do for the branches that are growing and spreading just above ground level. Coniferous trees have a habit of growing with huge bottom. I told him not to do anything. Once the tree grows to a height, automatically the bottom most branches will become less dense. Then we can take a call.
So our ground is soaked. Subbu did a brilliant thing after hearing me many times. "We should not allow single drop of water to run off the farm. It should soak underground." He has arrested the water by creating mud bunds so that the rainwater is arrested from run away. He was confident, even if it doesnot rain for few days also, the stored water can be used. That is great. He also said that the soil is very slushy and asked me to go slow on inviting ABS. Vehicle will have problem. But I feel that is part of the game.
We are eagerly awaiting when the Wind Pump will be delivered. I understand from ABS that it will be packed starting today. Only when it is installed and working, that we will come to know if we have solved the water problem.
Assuming water problem will be solved.... we are planning for next steps. May, June and July are important months for agricultural activity. We cannot waste our time now. We need to prepare for monsoon. Presently due to pre-monsoon rains (or Summer rain / Spring rain ?) I am restless on what all the possibilities that is opening up. Only when I want to refer my notes now that I realize that is grossly inadequate.
We need to start the crops.
We decided we will start with little bit of Banana trees. It is a 10 month crop. Best suitable for our climate and soil. We have selected Karpooravalli variety. The reason Subbu gave is this variety is best suited for Organic cultivation according to him.
Karpuravalli (ABB): It is a popular variety grown for table purpose in medium rich soils. Its commercial cultivation is spread over in Central and Southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Bihar, cultivation is in patches under the name 'Kanthali'. Karpuravalli is a tall, robust plant well suited to marginal lands and soils, produced under low input conditions. It is also the sweetest among Indian bananas. Karpuravalli is occasionally seeded depending on the seasonal variability. Its ash coated golden yellow and sweet fruits have good keeping quality. Karpuravalli is highly susceptible to wilt disease, tolerant to leaf spot disease and well suited for drought, salt affected areas and for low input conditions.
The following is the process we may follow;
- Tower assembly for windmill require some ground space. Once that is installed in another 10 days, the ground will be ploughed with hired tractor.
- We will purchase mixture of millets, oil seeds, pulses, beans and other seeds each 5 Kg, mix them, soak them in cow urine, cowdung and water for a day.
- Spread them over the field and allow it to grow for a month, plough them again into the soil.
- Spread some more organic manure and oil cakes and spread them. I may try some coconut coir waste and charcoal also.
- Create raised bunds in the mud with tractor and start planting the saplings. They must be available in nearby town called Kalakkadu.
The calculation is 8 Cents will hold 80 trees. The proposed half acre or 50 cents will then hold 480 trees. So it is 500 trees in total.
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| What I planned 2 Years back |
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| What I am doing now |
Note that the compound itself has undergone change. Some portion has been eaten away and it looks like "Digger". That portion of land doesnot belong to me, but to someone else under a government scheme. I was cheated at that time. So that portion was circumvented. I may however take the owners help and plant cow grass in it with another temporary fence.
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