Farm Update 31st May, 2017

I was speaking to Subbu today.  In fact I speak every day or alternate days. I have given free rein to irrigate the land as much as possible and never mind about fuel cost.  It has given results. These are snaps sent by him last week. What is the message in all these images ?   That the plants are sprouting new leafs.  They are responding to water.

Coming to daily chores,  Kandan is still taking rest. Subbu is managing plucking flowers with one more helping hand - Sumati a temp staff.  Today yield is below half kg.  I think it is fluctuating. He was talking at length about providing some nutrition. We have never given any manure for the past year or so.  Now is the time. We have planned to manure individual plants as well as the entire farm with 6 tractor loads.  Each will cost INR 1500/-. Plus 200/- for loading off loading and distributing it.  Let me see how best we can do this subject to money constraint.

The other thing is Subbu had successfully moved the Generator into its own room that was specially constructed last month. Though they (local mason) have made a mistake of not providing any opening anywhere resulting in heat buildup. I asked Subbu to make large windows at Knee height in opposite walls. And cover with grills.    Otherwise generator is secure now.

Now a new problem. Earlier Kandan would dare not touch the generator. Now he is not even coming anywhere near the room itself.  So scared !.  What to do ?

Farm Update 07-April-2017

There had been many eventful days in the past 2 weeks since the time we decided to bring the Generator to the farm.

1. Subbu had accomplished the movement of machine from Perumalanji a small hamlet 10 Kms away into the farm. The generator is kept on farm over 2 car tyres.  It required some more work in getting the starter customised, fuse, panel and other setups using the local technician. In this summer the pump technicians are very busy.
   
2. Last week when the generator was started, I believe it was a great moment to see the ampere meter reaching 7.5 KV.   The temporary 5 HP submersible pump of Subbu's farm that was brought here seemed to have chocked because of long gap in using it.   Then it was repaired in moolakaraipatti where such pumps are overhauled.
   
3. Presently water is gushing with high pressure.  First day they ran for 1 hour, 2nd day 3 hours and so on.    So far they have burnt around 10 liters of diseal.
   
4. The parched land that did not see water for 2.5 years is now sucking water.  Everyone are happy to irrigate all the plants that was asking water all these days. I guess the atmosphere is charged at the farm.
   
5. Subbu is making arrangements to plant the saplings that we brought in Ramji Nursery two month ago when I was there in person.  Those saplings had been kept aside for want of adequate water.  JCB had been called for digging pits for coconut planting.  Fresh karandai soil from nearby pond had been brought along with some manure.
   
6. Today workers are arranged to plant them - around 200 plants in all.
   
7. The team will continue to work near the windpump tower to re-plant the red-banana suckers.  That soil had been wetted by water in the past 2 days.
   
8. Subbu told yesterday he would want to plant "nendran" variety of banana. This variety is used for making chips and is a wild variety native to Kerala. We must get the banana plants from nursery in kalakkadu.
   
9. The Jasmine is not yielding properly due to lack of water. Now with right amount of irrigation it should start showing results hopefully.

Subbu told the price of Jasmine is down in the market. I did not like that tone.  Every crop that we are going to grow will finally under-estimated by the market brokers. We cannot allow that to happen. So  I have instructed him to do two experiments.

a) Pack the red banana in small bunchers in carton box and send to Pune - a distance of 800 Kms through courier. Let me see how it arrives here. I want to give the exprience to Subbu on how to pack and forward to long distance.

b) Pack and send the Jasmine flowers in banana leave to Chennai city. I will arrange for its sale through some organic store.  Normally farmers are spraying toxic chemicals even for jasmine.  Whereas we are growing without any chemicals, I hope the smell must be much better and buyers must be able to buy at a cost.

Bottomline:    We have water now. We can start doing professional and careful farming.  We need to find innovative was to produce and sell.

The windpump can now be subjected to R&D. I want Subbu to dismantle the central rod system and replace with Steel cables that I had already planned and procured. After that we will do something to increase the water output.  Gradually we need to reduce the usage of Generator.

I said NO to Free Electricity proposal

I have taken the best ever decision which is backed by my long standing conviction and satisfaction. I said 'NO' to an idea to apply for 'free' electricity connection to my farm.  Not that it is so easy to get. I hear there is a waiting list of 3 years. But my farm supervisor was bringing a proposal whereby someone has promised that they will provide connection before May (elections) if we 'pay' money with 80% probability. That money could cost as much as one lakh. Left alone, many people will be dragged into this attraction, after all they will get lifelong free electricity even if upfront payment is high.

I explained to my supervisor as follows.

1. I donot anyway like the idea of 'free' current. Anyone who has taken free current is only misusing over a period of time. I have seen farmers just pumping water from boring into well for hours togather, i know not what they achieve.
2. Free current will not be there forever. Even after Kudankulam and other power plants, once again TN is in darkness with power cuts. Therefore there is no guarantee of power in TN.
3. I donot want to adjust to 'load schedules' of electricity board. I want power when i want.
4. I have no major machinery. By limiting to small current, I can limit my growth on any major power consuming activity and encourage energy effecient small scale things.
5. I want to give first preference to renewable energy. Crack the problem of Wind and Solar. Gas and solar concentrators are bit away once labour force comes in.

I have experience of planning for Solar. I did an intensive mental exercise as well are some study and have arrived at a model suitable for me.  My planning was in advance stage 6 months back. But due to some disagreement at home,  i had to postpone it. Now i will start thinking seriously. I need to relieve my lonely worker of his physical burden of handpump. Number of saplings are growing.  Otherwise my plan was as follows;

	Quantity
Solar PV Module - 250 Wp	3	Nos.
MC4 Connectors	1	Set
Module Mouting Frame	1	Set
Hybrid Solar Pump of 1.4 KW	1	No.
Starter Panel suitable for 1.4KW Pump	1	No.
Solar Cable, 4.0 Sqmm	40	Mts
Submersible Cable Suitable for 1.4KW	100	Mts

The solar panels to be installed at 6 feet height on pedastals with concrete base and iron rods. The submersible pump which is costly should be secured somehow.  The total spend would be around 1.5 lacs is my estimate.  Let me see.....

Note: My area is prone to theft in the night. Therefore I also need to have night watchman. That is one of the deterrence to go for more investment of costly items in my farm.