Banana is a Loss

The only commercial crop that is ripe and ready to sell is banana in my farm. We started with around 200 trees. I am not sure how many are standing now. How many have been cut.  Because Subbu is in no mood to share that information with me.  He said he has removed substantial portion of banana after giving it off. He has jumped to next action plan already, meanwhile my mind is still loitering around banana and what next.

There is a reason why Subbu is silent.

Banana is not selling well in the market. Attached is a bill from the broker which says Rs. 70/-  (approx 1 dollar) for the bunch of 250 bananas and another rate for smaller bunch at Rs. 30/- (half a dollar). Atleast this is ok.  In subsequent bunches, they got so less price that we had to pay from our pocket for the transport.

Subbu is disappointed, so also me.  After all he had taken careof banana plants for 10 months day and night tending care, watering and growing it to see in full adult hood. When we visited with family we enjoyed that patch very well. Each of the taller than 12 feet are now sold for just Rs. 25/-.  Such is the nature of agriculture.

I must find a way out of this.  Perhaps chips, banana powder.... I spoke to subbu about these just to keep him happy and give hope.  To do that practically is difficult.

Anyway my inner thought says, why can't i take up the job of broker myself. I heared several farmers are giving away banana bunches for loss at this season. If only I collect all of them and sell it at a profit. May be to a far away place after paying toll and transport ?  

Farm Update in Visuals 04-Jan-2018

The new year is good. Nothing great, nothing worse.  Subbu is doing his best. I am doing mine. Here is the update of farm as it stands now.
Rice is planted now. It is growing. Now today the tilling and bar will be constructed for vegetables. Subbu is determined to put good quantity of vegetable seeds. It is boring now to do anything in small quantity.

For strange reasons unknown, Subbu is refusing any money other than salary. how his is managing wages for work and tilling I know not. Perhaps he has taken as challenge.

Recently at a point of time none of the instruments were working.  We are out of that. But it is important to document that.

a) The new boring pump jammed. The motor is fine, but pump is chocked. It is in Valliyoor workshop.

b) Subbu's standby 5Hp (3phase) pump did not work more than 2 hours. Got chocked too. Seems some mud is there inside borewell due to recent rains.

c) Generator did not start. The belt cut off.  Subbu brought this in Tnly and replaced. Now working fine. In fact farm is now running on generator

d) Windpump was disconnected earlier for painting, never restored yet. Not focusing on that.

e) The mini kerosene pump is not working. I guess it was in peak usage. Recently it was helpful to a marriage party to pump stagnant water from road ( whew,,  Subbu us rotating it to known circle !. I have no comments. We must help people. But they must return with care).

Towards the pond

Sapota tree

Doesnot look healthy. The plant to the left near the fence is one of the oldest batches.
I know not why it is not growing.  

The gate from inside

Paddy growing

Not so fertile patch. This one. Let us wait.

My classic mini water tank. This was the oldest one near the windpump.  Yes the front ones are
red bananas.

Another side of windmill. Look at the stay wire of windmill.

One side of tower. Note there is a peacock dead opposite standing.

This portion was infertile earlier. Now we will know after so much efforts.

Banana growing like a forest along with other plants. I donot want clean shave. Let it be this way.

Farm Progress in Visuals 20-Sep-2017

A quick update through visuals as of yesterday.

The bananas are sprouting. this piece of land is a classic one adjacent to the wind tower where we harvested bananas 3 years back. this is a fertile land.

The piece on the other side of tower. This piece was earlier water logging. Nothing was grown properly here earlier.
Once we grew tomato and lost to water. Now banana. hope this will grow good.

an angle : Hearting to see that the farm is getting greener and trees growing after water

The jasmine patch.  The surviving ones are now growing well. Note how there are empty
patches in between. Due to draught we lost many plants. Will ask Subbu to plant some more.
The majestic windpump is on the backdrop

Another angle. 

Close up

Farm Activities and Planning- 14-Dec-2015

Banana 1 : The "Tholuvam" banana variety (a country organic variety of banana which can grow well in our farm) re-installation is complete.  On either side of the windpump tower, the banana siblings (suckers) have been replanted.   Earlier on one portion I had planted Red Banana obtained from a friend near Coimbatore.  That crop did not come well. Added to that there was no water to sustain them at that time.  They were removed. Only 10 of them are left out.  Balance space are filled only with Tholuvam which is time tested.

Banana 2 : From adjacent to wind tower there were "Andhra Nadan", another variety that was earlier starving for water. They had under growth. The mother plants have dried. But the dwarf ones and the suckers are growing.  That is not a fertail piece.  It is just left to grow. No changes.

Paddy: Near the high tension power tower,  Subbu had experimented with a small patch of Paddy last week. We will be expanding in the complete area now as that area is a marsh and water logging one.  That patch was thick with grass so far.


Jasmine:  Due to recent incessant and untimely continuous rains, the newly laid jasmine plants have got destroyed. Loss of time and money. The leaves have turned brown and could not survive the stagnant water. Only the old ones are ok. We are back to square one.

Onion, Potato :  For the past two days there is no rain. The ground is drying and is good time for running tractor.  Today Subbu will rent tractor to make some raised mud bars for Onion and sweet potato in a small piece of land which so far we have not tried anything.

Sugarcane:  I asked Subbu to try few sugarcane.  In January when the festival of Pongal comes, people buy sugar cane from far off places. Last year I planned but did not materialise. This year it is too late. But on experimental basis few can be tried. He said the juice centres are closed due to rains. Today/tomorrow one or two must open and he must get some.  The cane sugar can be cut into pieces and installed.

Coconut:  Coconut tree is growing well. It is time we go for some more. So also sapota.

Cow Grass: I asked Subbu to start growing some cow grass. we need to create conducive environment for a cow to stay. Targetting for month of May, we must get a cow.

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My Farm visit experience - May, 2015 - Part 3

Banana Under growth.

The biggest issue now is how to make the soil uniformly fertile?  There could be quick answers like remove the top soil, add red soil, add fertilizer, grow green manure and so on.... All of these cost tons of money. With natural farming techniques and available resources doing this is a challenge.

These trees are healthy and near the tower......

Especially when your team has still not quite understood the workings of panjagavya, jeevamrudam or any natural techniques or when the ground facilities donot permit that.

For example when there is no water the staff keep thinking only about it. They dread growing anything like green manure.  When water is occupying your head.......

Panaroma of same Banana Patch all planted 5 months back.
Note the unhealthy growth on the left slowly graduating to healthy one on the right

The above picture shows banana trees planted at the same time.  Some areas have dwarf growth whereas in others there is full growth.  Non availability of biomass in soil could be a reason. But I feel not watering them properly could also be a reason, which Subbu doesnot agree with me.

I have a reason to think so.  Look at the dwarf trees. They are looking healthy. Perhaps because water conditions have improved. Perhaps because of few days of rain that preceded. That means if we had watered it must have grown.  You never know......

Well to improve the soil I advocated atleast twice in the past of sowing multi grain mixture.  It was promptly done and got dried without sprouting in few days. Such is the intensity of heat and dryness. Subbu fears if we plan anything, we need to water them. That (water resource) is scarce. How do you then add fertility to soil.

One idea is to wait till rains and sow the seeds. But the moisture will dry in few days. After that ?

Recently It has been decided we will apply manure prepared else where.  It requires more cowdung.  I have ordered for two tracktor loads of cow dung which is expected in few days. We will prepare liquid panjagavya and solid gana jeevarmidam and apply. Perhaps that will improve.

Farm Progress in Visual 09-Apr-2015

Few trees have come to fruition.  This will be ready for harvest in 2 weeks.  

A portion of Farm as it appears from Gate side.  Surprised to see complete change of landscape near the tower because of better care and water.

The water pipes of the windmill are extracted from the borewell and kept outside This week to reach a clog.
This was re-assembled with another pump at the end.

One of the unsent photos of February.  Shows the harvested Sweet Potato. Not bad at all.  They are looking healthy
At that time we fetched a market rate of Rs. 10/- as against going rate of 6/- due to the shining and juicy construct

Sacs of Banana roots just arrived

The healthy Juicy Red-banana roots.  To be sowed today/tomorrow.  It requires some preparation of the soil with 6 array and 12 array tracktor plough to break
the mud and create soil powder 

The 2nd batch of banana trees are growing well. I didnt expect this height.

Custom laid drop pipes by Subbu to cover fence and coconut plants

Another Segment of Drop pipes circling the jasmine plants

The tapping for Drop segments from the underground pipe coming from overhead tank.
Total 3 segments going to three different directions.

Special mention about the layout :  I had an argument with Subbu about why he has laid the pipes in long linear fashion rather than the typical one to many configuration of drop laterals.  He gave a satisfactory answer.  If we split more pipes from a common pipe, the pressure to each will reduce. Since we donot have pressure (But enough volume), he has made a long pipe winding across the farm.  So far as water reaches the last point that is good.   And It does reach.

Jasmine and Banyan in Place, Subbu and women empowerment

Banyan Tree in place near the shed.

Subbu is proactive.  Before I opened discussion on pending check list, he has already completed few tasks silently.  A total of 30 Jasmine flower saplings have been planted by him.  This will bring the total to over 80 odd plants.

In addition one banyan tree to complete the eco-system is also planted near the resting hut.  That place is bang opposite to the main gate. It will also be a remembrance of the resting hut which served through these years from Hot and cold whether.  This spot is not so fertile.

Subbu appreciating Jasmine

We discussed about the mud quality for some time.  In general my farm has soil which will solidify like a rock if left without water for few days.  It is clay+sand+something.  Now the task is to make the soil more porous.  That can be done only by adding more organic matter. That means more cowdung, panjagavya, and kolingi plants.  The soil around each tree plants is being loosened as often.  Before planting coconut, the JCB was used to dig large pits of 4 to 5 feet. That is now giving dividends. The coconut is looking healthy and one fresh leaf is appearing it seems.

The two former women employees are still coming to farm on part time. Though not permanent workers, I have asked Subbu to engage them as much as possible to provide employment.  They have just completed three days of de-weeding work in the sweet potato portion. Now they will work near Banana trees and then will assist Paramu to build the fertiliser tank.

Poor Subbu in the hands of Urban Elite women

"Sir the banana and casurina are so thick one cannot go inside. Besides there are thick grass. Snake could be there. I am not sending ladies there he said"  I said good. Right decision

Then he went on "Ladies should not go near flowering banana, it will bring disease" !?.  Subbu should be exposed to upperclass women empowerment comittee I thought.  He will be torn into pieces. For now his theory should be accepted for validation.

For cowdung, one women (Rani) is bringing cowdung and cowurine daily. She is paid Rs. 400/- in a month. It will be used as fish feed and for preparing panjagavya. I asked one more drum to be purchased to make additional mixture.  I am restless to make more fertiliser as I feel this rate is not enough.  The Navadhanya experiment has failed twice.  Once the soken nava dhanya is spread all over, within 3 days they dry up instead of sprouting. This is because of the prevalent dry weather. We cannot afford to sprinkle water daily.

Meanwhile Subbu is using the small cement tank near the borewell for mixing Jeevamruthum already.  This tank was used as main water source when there was manual pump before windmill came.  I told him, we can put some tortoise in it.

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Visual Update on Jasmine, Banana, coconut and sweet potato planting Nov, 2014

The Nursary Plants are picked at Ramji Nursary in Nagarcoil.  This includes around 35 coconut saplings of 4 varieties.

Our purchase is normally a mix of everything to create a genetically diversity natural farm. Hope I will not end up creating a nursary instead of a farm.

Mallikai - Jasmine Plants are first to go. These are Nagapattinam variety

Jasmine baby

Jasmine being planted after tilling.

Jasmine is mulched with local nochi weeds. Sufficient space is provided so that there can be an inter crop later

Banana 2nd Round.  The roots are procured from the nearby farm. Details covered already.

Banana tubers

Banana is planted just after a rain

Another view of Banana in place

Coconut is mostly planted at the fence side.

The young one inside the pit. Some red soil is added to increase quality. Also some pith. and natural fertiliser

Coconut lined up as 2nd row from a fence

Sweet Potato is a vein. We obtained this from neighbours farm through Subbu Contact for a small price.  But the land preparation is a very delicate thing as can be seen. It cost 2 labor days.

The raised bars prepared for sweet potato and  planted

Planting in progress

Karpuravalli Banana would go First based on pre-monsoon assumptions

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.

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;

1. Tower assembly for windmill require some ground space. Once that is installed in another 10 days, the ground will be ploughed with hired tractor.
2. 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.
3. Spread them over the field and allow it to grow for a month, plough them again into the soil.
4. Spread some more organic manure  and oil cakes and spread them. I may try some coconut coir waste and charcoal also.
5. Create raised bunds in the mud with tractor and start planting the saplings. They must be available in nearby town called Kalakkadu.

Then let us see how it goes...

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.

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.

What I planned 2 Years back

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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