The Story of Paddy in My farm

For several weeks now that I have not written a proper post that would capture the current state of

Subbu's brother owns a tracktor.

affairs at the form.   I call Subbu everyday but it has become a mere customary talk - "I ask something and then he replies something".

Two weeks back I was upset.  I was upset because nothing productive is happening at the farm in spite of huge efforts and money spent.   I have still not grown even 5 kg of brinjal that otherwise could be grown in the backyard of a kitchen garden with ease. Am I drifting from the stated objective of growing vegetables and selling?   I have still not called the aunty who promised me in selling for fear of telling her that I cannot supply vegetables now. It is a different matter that I have to spend my efforts on setting up my first shop for her, for she is just a home maker.    I had been very candid and clear with emotional feedback when I spoke to Subbu.

They are trying their best to create paddy field

For a few days after this conversation my calls were not properly attended by Subbu. He was avoiding.  I started feeling insecure if ever he will work for me.  But after a few days, Subbu called me on his own with enthusiasm to say that he has decided to convert a portion of the farm into a rice field.  I guess he was contemplating on things which I said.

Paddy siblings from Subbu's farm waiting
for transplantation

Taking that as an opportunity,  we discussed at length about the condition of the soil.  The soil is very soft loose clay and is in a semi liquid form after the rains. It is like a barter.   No tractor will venture to plough the field. You can't use a spade either.  He was saying that he was waiting for a right moment.  ie., few days of sun shine.

I pointed it to Subbu that this is the exact mistake that we are making every time.  "When there was no no rain we complaint, when there is plenty of rain also we complain.  Good times are not going to come. We have to take control of the situation".

Workers planting paddy. No measurements.
Just free hand distance.
Note the high tension electrical tower beside.

Therefore I said that let us import sand and mix it with the clay to create some rigidity so that we can build mud bars for the vegetable.  So saying I went into action, called my Builder in native place to get an idea of Sand.  I asked him for a truckload of river sand.  In our part, there is no river. therefore sand will be taken from the big pond.

But under the current Government control, there is a prohibition on movement of any vehicle carrying sand. This is because of over exploitation of the sand mafia connected with politicians that in some parts of Tamilnadu the rules have become very strict. You just can't transport sand and soil from one place to another. Police will arrest the vehicle.

The Builder told that M-sand (mountain sand as it is called is crushed rock) is the only thing which can be made available now as it is permitted.

That's costly.  Msand is Rs. 600 per ton and a tractor will hold 6 units. Plus the transport cost will add another 1500/- as it has to come from Tirunelveli.  I was not confirming to builder and consulted Subbu.  He refused the idea immediately. Said that m-sand will harden like cement and will make the soil useless for farming.  He quoted that in his own farm (father's), they are actually removing this.   Therefore we dropped the idea.  I guess only adding fiber in the form of waste vegetation and roots is the only way to separate the particles in the soil.

The pump set did not work on the day of planting. It was tense moment for Subbu to water.

After few days of sunshine, the mud had got hardened to some extent and tractor was called. Tilling was done.  Subbu's own brother is having tracktor and gives this service.

Meanwhile the time has run out for sowing paddy.  Therefore ready made paddy tillers (sprouted seeds + 15 days) were obtained from Subbu's farm as we needed very less quantity.  At this point I am not bothered what variety of paddy or rice it is going to be.  My personal preference would be native country variety than hybrid, but there is no time now..

This is the 2nd time we are growing Paddy in that plot. This time the specialty is that some more area has been added near the cement tank.  I think now it will be half acre.  That soil is at low level and is found to be suitable for wet crops.

On the vegetable plot, having run out of options for getting sand, it was decided to just mix some more soil from outside. I asked Subbu to order a tractor or two loads of mud and sent some money as well. But I guess he told that it was impossible, no one is willing to transport soil....

I guess  I heard him right, I am not sure..... because we went into another major topic - multiple failures of all machinery.   The 3HP electric Pump set, the standby 5HP pump (Subbu's), failure of kerosene mini pump and finally the failure of genset itself.  It is a bad time we are passing. Subbu was down in his voice. I told him "you are blessed.   Once you face all these failures, next time you will be an expert. In rural villages, one must know everything. I give free hand to you."

It was hectic week for Subbu who on this Christmas day.  He was found travelling to Tirunelveli for purchasing a belt which had broken off the Genset when he attempted to start....

More on that later.

Farm Update 30-Dec-2015

Tilling:  Entire pieces of land have been tilled with tractor.  The tractor is owned by Subbu's brother. With half cage wheel, they have completed the job.  Half cage means attaching a cage wheel to the tyres so that it can run on marsh soil without getting submerged.

Paddy :  Subbu  and Sumathi (temperory lady staff) have completed planting of Ambi-16 variety of Paddy on remaining patch of land.  He could get around 60 Nos of 24 day old rice saplings in around 24 cents of land. The crop will come to maturity in 90 days.  Though I have reservation in planting anything other than country variety, this time let it go with hybrid. After all we are testing the ground for the first time.

The paddy has been laid with adequate spacing between them in what is called as System of Rice Intensification (SRI).

Vegetables:  Over the tractor tilled soil, the mud bars have been constructed using 3 man power. This is for vegetables.  Presently Sweet potato, Onion, tomato, chilli, brinjal have been planted.  The seeds will sprout in a week.  Apart from this bottle gourd and ridge guard also planned in few quantities.  I am missing the farm now.

Nursary :  We discussed and decided to remove the existing nursary and re-do the same with iron pipes, perhaps little smaller in size.  There will be ceiling at 7 Feet. There will be no side covers. That was causing wind to shake the pandal.  this activity ofcourse can be done after 10 days.

Plantain (Banana) :  Near the wind tower, the banana plants have rooted properly. It requires de-weeding and cleaning.

Sugar Cane:  Has come to market.  Subbu will buy few and try this time.

Vettiver :  The vettiver that survived near the tower has grown very well. They need to be re-planted near the mud pond to arrest soil erosion. That was the original plan.

Coconut : Each of the new coconut saplings in polythene bags (with mud) has cost Rs. 150/- each.  10 of them have been planted.

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.

****

Subbu selling his Paddy !

.So far the past few days, Subbu was the driver for his own vehicle, a lorry.  They are a joint family. His brother is actually a driver. But since he was ill, Subbu had assumed that role. It is paddy harvesting season. What did Subbu do.

The paddy (Ambai16) that is grown in his own farm as well as that of his neighbours had to be shuttled between Village to town Market.

He shuttles around 100 kottai paddy. Each kottai is equivalent of around 136 Kgs or approximately two gunny bags (sacs).

Each Kottai is purchased at Rs.1650/- by him and sold for Rs. 1750.  He spends around 20/- for uploading and measuring. Net profit is Rs.80/- per Kottai of paddy or Rs.0.60/- per kg.

Since he has done hauling of around 100 Kottai (13 tonnes), he has earned a gross 8000/- profit excluding his spend on diesel.  Not bad.

However he regretted that the farmers should have "held" the stock for some more time before selling. He predicted that the rate will go upto Rs. 2000/- per kottai in just another month or two.  But alas !, no one is waiting. They want to make quick money !.