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