Labor Problem in the Farm and farm updates

Farm Labor

1. The two new workers continue to come late despite several briefings to them. There was an SOS call from the farm yesterday. Otherwise soft natured, Kandan had taken courage to complain through Subbu that his companion workers are of no use. They continue to come after10 AM and  donot pour water, rest in shade and go home before sunset. Today around 30 plants had not been watered.  Due to summer heat they are dropping. Because of ommission by the new workers, yesterday Subbu called to discuss if they need to water in the night to save them. Kandan later postponed to today morning as he knows better about the plants. It has been decided to settle the accounts of the new workers at month end and look for someone else.
2. Today my friend from Chennai called me to enquire on farm labours for his organic farm .  He was willing to pay much higher amount, provide housing including cable TV in his farm. All he wants is a couple who can stay in the farm and work sincerely. But alas! he has not been successful in getting proper workers. His farm is in a bit advanced stage. Though not much documented, they are growing organic millets, paddy, vegetables etc.

It appears that there are employment opportunities like this everywhere, but there is scarcity of labour. Mainly due to NREGA scheme of the Government, the farming people have quit farming and has become lazy. This is a lesson.

My strategy now would be to invite people below poverty line, provide them and train them.

Wind Pump

The wind pump is still not visible from ABS.  It is waiting for special containers to be made by a specific supplier. ABS is specific to pack even the tower (top portion) into a box. I wonder. But they are adament. Perhaps packing is required as it is to be sent through XPS logistics via several passes.  If all goes well, today they would have dispatched, if not on Monday.

Farm Update

Farming should be a parallel activity. Not waiting for wind pump which is getting delayed, we thought of doing rest of the work. The following could be some activities that will happen.

1. Ploughing:.  It was decided to plough, because of the incessant rain that poured 10 days back for a week, the soil is soft. Therefore one single run using tracktor will turn the soil and aerate the same. It will also control the weeds. Simultaneously i wanted to spray mixed seeds for manure growth, but the simmering heat has again started. The seeds will not sprout. Therefore for the time being only ploughing.

2. Compost Shed: We would need continuous supply of compost. Therefore wanted to make a small beginning. Need to construct a low cost shed and build a vermi compost tank with rough unfinished bricks. I am yet to send the design after which the work will start.  Cowdung for this will come from neighbouring cattle shed for the time being.

3. Bullock Cart: I am nostalgic about buying a bullock cart. Perhaps I will be the only farmer to buy bullock cart in 21st century. But neverthless, I need one or two. Option A is to order and make one. There is an artisan in nearby village, I heared. But I am not sure how much it would cost. Option B would be to buy one discarded. So far Subbu has got only a very bad dilapidated cart and has discarded the proposal. Need to focus on the same. Bullock cart will be used to cart cow dung, grass etc between farms.

4. Seeds: I need seeds of all varities, now to be stored for 2 months and used. Seed collection will happen by word of mouth through contacts. I may have to sponsor travel. Acquire by Post or visit myself.  Presently a seed bank need to be built. Simple one should be one room, with shelf and mud vessels/pots to hold the seeds. Seeds can also be struck on cowdung cakes and dried in the sun.

5. Farm Pond:  The lowest point in the farm where water has got collected naturally and retained by Subbu's effort should be a natural pond. I suggested digging further and cementing the floor with clay obtained from another pond along with Gypsum. Subbu did not understand what is gypsum.

I need to write a letter on all above points to subbu, otherwise they will forget.

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Farm Update (Random) on 5th April, 2014

1. New appointment : Two female workers have been appointed. It will take one month to confirm. Kandan needs a helping hand in this hot sun. He is unable to manage all by himself drawing water from hand pump and watering the plants across.  The mud is very hot.   He used to fill the tank in the morning and pour the water in the evening. His little daughter used to give him company occassionally. Now a days due to hot sun, he is not keeping well. Therefore one women worker was decided initially. But later it was her preference and also collective wisdom that we should have two female workers for safety and company for each other.  That means cost of wages will go up for me. But that is a happy problem. After all, the purpose of this venture is to provide more job opportunity.
2. The intensity of heat is so high that around 7 casuarina sibling plants have got burnt in above 39dec C and hot air. They were promptly replaced with stock available.
3. Wages :  I believe they had expectations of wages equal to NREGA (The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)  which comes to around Rs. 130/- per person per day. It was explained to them that we cannot pay that money much as there is no production yet.  The work is also less - only watering now.  We settled for little less. But in the mind i was thinking that these workers will in fact get more salary in the long run by working for me than working for Government.
4. What's the Plan: The justification for appointing them now is that they will slowly get used to a monthly salary routine (Our farm believes in monthly salary and not daily wages) and the farm and its developments. Once the water is arranged, there will not be work of drawing the water. Only irrigation. Then around 2 months from now, we can start creating raised soil beds and start the crops. Most of the crops will be local country organic varieties (Non-hybrid) and will be for seed generation. Therefore there will be plenty of variety, but small in quantity like a nursery. This will require the kind of skillset only women have - patience and routine tending.
5. I reminded  Subbu that we have temporarily deviated from our mission. In the sense that I wanted to appoint a female worker only after construction of toilet and a resting room.  That is a little away, not due to lack of efforts, but for water.  We can construct a toilet only when there is flow of water to water tank for flush out. Otherwise it is of no use.
6. Foundation is complete. we decided not to dress the upper portion of foundation with another layer of concrete. It is only for beauty and we don't require beauty now is what Subbu opinioned.  He had put 16 bags of cement and has done a 4 feet deep foundation - too solid.  We may spread small gravel stones on the top or even dress it up with cement after the tower is done.
7. Tower is getting welded starting today in its ABS factory some 1200 Kms away in Mumbai city.  I mentioned to the coordinator that we need that painted in green color. They were planning red color earlier like a typical cell phone tower.
8. I made friendship with a Goshala owner (Cow Protection centre), some 60 kilometers away. he has promised to supply a lorry load of cow dung manure some 2 months from now.  That should be ideal to enrich the soil.
9. The country is facing election in starting this week. There is frantic activity all over.  Someone in Govt level who is outgoing before election wanted to make quick buck. By promising that he will help me convert all pending patta at a cost of  whopping a lakh of rupees. They are cheats and they will not do that. I have experienced that already.  Moreover I have waited for 3 years and I can wait for few more years.  World is not going to come to an end. I have confidence in Government and taluka rules that it will protect the interests of farmers in the long run.  I refused the offer.  Farming is an activity which require long periods of "waiting". It is not a business model to make quick bucks. If anyone is making quick money either in farming, or in business, then we can be rest assured that he is compromising on something else. 

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