When the water depletes......

Country is facing major drought like situation.  In Marathwada, the crisis is so deep, government is sending water in train wagons. 5 lakh liters of water is hardly sufficient to meet demand for 1 crore liters.  Anyway, people have started hunting for water from deeper wells.  Police protection, curfew etc have been imposed to stop riots on account of water.

Due to climate change we frequently hear this term drought, floods and extreme variation in everything. AMD (metrological dept) has predicted more than average monsoon this year. Hope it will not bring floods.

Meanwhile down south at my farm, the situation is much better.  Water, however is going down day by day.  We need 5000 liters of water to run the farm / day.  We get around 2000 liters through windpump. Amidst hot Sun, the wind is blowing only in mornings and evenings, typical of any summer.

Subbu is hoping for one rain atleast. He says that will solve many problems. But sky is blue.  When I seek good news, he will give bad. and when I loose hope, he will give shockingly good news. That is Subbu with alternating emoticons.

Fish pond is having 3 to 4 feet of water only.   I asked how are they doing. Subbu was sad. He said they have not grown at all for the amount of care he and Kandan had taken. He says he followed every damn advice of fisheries. But fish has grown only 3 finger width. Can't be sold. Can't be eaten. He was sad.

I told if more fish is concentrated on less water, with no fresh water being added, they will suffocate for lack of oxygen. Asked him to take a hard call.   "Distribute them to other places, sell or eat them leaving a few tens behind".......  But Subbu wants to wait (for that one rain).

The temporary lady staff have been inducted again with some regular work. each are paid around 120 per day to water. They have been given new plastic pots to carry water and pour on coconut and other trees.  It makes sense to give them work as otherwise their own farms are dry.

He was happy to announce that the cuddapah stones for the seating arrangement have come. Earlier foundation structure using bricks were made ready. They are looking good. But still stones are not mounted on the brick platforms as their edges are very sharp. The stones been delivered to Paramu's (Carpenter) house (about 3 Kms away) for smoothening the edges. I am told he has angle grinder with him. Electricity supply is not there in the farm to do this work.

He also mentioned the work on Nursery skeletal structure using available pipes is completed.  Earlier I had suggested to dismantle the nursery built with casurina sticks. That is to be replaced with the 1.25" pipes that we have in stock. These pipes were earlier used in borewell under windpump to pump water.  That was replaced with 2" pipe in due course.

He said the total size of skeletal structure is 20 feet x 10 feet. height is 8 feet.  That is two pipes on front and back. one pipe each on either side. one at the centre.  Total 13 pipes.  The required angles were already brought by him. he also said they are not concreting the pillar pipes. But just hardening the hole with mortar. This is to ensure we can more or remove them in future.  May be he is sick and tired of working with cement, and gravel.  Once completed, a new green shade net will be purchased from Tirunelveli town.

I am restless to see these two structure finish.  I advised Subbu that we should finish any work that we undertake.  Good or bad, just see the end.  I am getting a feeling of late we are not completing anything to its logical end.

Subbu and Fish Phobia

Subbu is possessed of Fish.

While casually talking he was mentioning he wants to go and sleep in the farm tonight.  And tomorrow and Day after and continuously for next 1 month. !.  I was surprised and asked why ?

He said "Sir, someone will steal the fish in the night. You see the fish has grown to 3 fingers width."

"Who will steal the fish ?"

"Sir there are people who come in the night to take mud from around the farm. Recently due to rains, there is lot of mud that has got accumulated here and there. Those people will steal the fish."

But our farm is compounded.  Put a board "Crocodile here !' or "caution Snakes".  He laughed but ignored this. He said he has the responsibility to protect the fish till we sell them in a month.

I said "Damn it. Let it go.  ".
"But how sir, I cannot let it go "

"Tell me how did they ever know we have fish in the pond ?"

"Sir we have tied silver ribbons to ward off the birds know.  They are glittering in the Sun Shine.  People who are passing by are asking what is happening. Then they come to know "  So thiefs are known guys only.

My God.  How to solve this problem.  ?  Suddenly the idea came to my mind.

"Subbu, eat those fishes and distribute to your friends.  I want no money from Fish.  It is all yours"
"No sir, I want to sell and give that money atleast to you. There is no income for the farm"

"Tonight I am going to call Paramu for company. If he doesnot come I will sleep alone. "  Few days I must show there is movement in the farm in the night to ward off evil people.

I donot think the situation is that bad..  This is only because of intensive love Subbu has towards his Fish. he is so obsessed.

Crabs are Helping Fish Escape

It is raining continuously in my Farm for the past many days.  Unable to do anything. Even tracktor with cagewheel is getting caught in the loose mud.

Some of the crops like Coconut and Jasmine has already turned brown due to chocking of roots in water logged condition for long time.  Drinage of water is limited as water is everywhere.

Subbu is confined at home.

Meanwhile I asked Subbu "How are the fishes ?".
"Sir Crabs are biting the net and fishes are trying to escape" was the answer Subbu gave.

I was pleasantly surprised.  Crabs ?  "Where the hell from where they came ?".  "Don't know sir."

It appears the crabs are biting the net that is in place preventing fishes from passing through the outlet conduit of the mud pond.  So there are fish, crab, Snakes,  Rat, Rabbits and some birds in the farm.

Subbu told he has taken photo of snake, but did'nt send it. I insisted he send.  I need all animals in the farm.

That is complete ecosystem.

The Cement Tank is full of Water

It is nice to see that the cement tank fed by the windmill is full of water. because of rains, this water is not used for any purpose now and will serve as storage.  Fish is let inside. Now I understand why the mischevous fish escaped from this tank.  According to Subbu some 20 fish jumped out of this tank playfully.

Many Funny things at the Farm !

Subbu had ventured to Manimutharu, a small town near western ghats to buy fish.  Last year we brought from the same place.  This time, however it seems since there was so much rain in TN, everyone had brought fishlings so early and so large quantity, there is scarcity.

Finally he had spent around Rs. 2.5/- per fish and brought around 2500.  The total outlay including purchase of feed is around 12K.   The fish  is now let into the large pond, and small cement tank.  He has also had a good advise from the seller on how to manage fish.  It appears we have to feed them daily.  Earlier he had fed them once in a week in lumpsum with cowdung or oil cakes.  The mistake stands corrected.   This time, we have to feed them daily - all varieties of food including cabbage, poultry waste, cowdung, different cereals and so on... all of them in small quantities every day.

The biggest learning is  that the feed should not be applied as is.  It has to be spoilt till worms develop and then apply. For example cowdung should be covered with wet gunny bag, till it rots and develops small worms. Fish like such food.  So it goes.....  Now kandan has become very very active feeding fishes. Good that it will bind the staff to the farm. Anyway i am not going to consume,  but they are. So they will take care well.

Last year the fish was thought to have escaped through overflow water.  It could have got starved to death also due to improper feeding.  The water is muddy, you cannot observe the fish.

Meanwhile some of the fish from the cement tank that is filled with water from wind pump seems to have escaped. Around 20 of them. In Subbu's words "They are very playful. They jump out as the tank is full and overflow has started. So he has cut the supply to the tank and the water now passing into the mud pond.

We had decided we will try some organic paddy this time, come what may. Last year we could not due to water scarcity. Now is rice sowing season.  we had Mappillai Samba seeds with us in stock.

 Subbu had promptly emptied them on the field.  I believe all the storks that abound the region (they are migratory birds + some local varieties) have eaten them away.  Now he suggests we get some paddy which is IR70 or IR56 hybrid variety. I am not for that. But anyway said ok because we just want to try some paddy. But I now have to work getting the country variety once more !

Meanwhile I asked about non-usage of the Green House. I was fond of that and myself have mended when I visited the farm.  It seems, Kandan's dog has pulled the green mesh and bitten  it playfully. I can understand. The green shade was of not good quality.  I purchased online.  It is good when new. But after few months it becomes brittle.

We should not have covered the sides of the shade room at the Dogs reach. I suggest we put a high raised roof and leave it at that. The roof also should be wired above and below so that the mesh

doesnot baloon up or down due to heavy wind and get torn.  We need to purchase from local store of good quality rather than from online.  lesson of life.

Meanwhile inside this nursary the vegetables in small quantity has been put in polythene bags for sprouting.

The cleaning of the banana yard is over. All the mother plants with their root has been removed leaving the banana siblings on its own. Thus, devoid of dry matter, the farm should look more clean and green.

Today the tilling for sowing onion should have been done. Earlier we were waiting for rain to stop.  Tracktor operators are refusing to come as they fear wheels will get struck in slush. The other reason is most of them have joined the chainwheel removing tyres.

The farm is full of activity with 7 hired labors working.  Cost will be running upto 15k for all of these

****

Subbu's First fish feast

"Sir, we caught two fishes. I just wanted to check if the fishes are there.  They are 250 grams each"....  Subbu was narrating with much of hesistation, shyness in voice.

I understood, he wanted to eat fish.

I asked straight question.  Subbu, did you eat fish? How was it ?. He would'nt answer out of respect, as I am a vegetarian.

Then I said, don't worry, all fish is for you only. Enjoy every Sunday.

I am surprised the fishes have grown to 200 grams each. There must be hundreds of them in the mud pond which Subbu was safeguarding all these days with bare minimum water. He deserves some fun.