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
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