Category Archives: Nature

US lizards set to get city treats

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, World Opinion

Silkworms from Bengaluru will soon be reared in the US as pet food for lizards and other reptiles

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A US company will be importing silkworm eggs from Bengaluru to grow them as pet food. A professor from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) is felicitating the initiative and earlier this month helped in selecting the ideal way to farm mulberry plants in Louisiana, US. The silkworms will not be used for producing silk but become feed for exotic pet lizards in the US.

Dr BL Chidananda, an associate professor at the department of animal sciences, visited insect breeder ‘Mulberry Farms’ which are setting up the first silkworm breeding centre in Ringgold, Louisiana. It is the only company in the US to be granted permission by the US department of agriculture to import the silkworm eggs from India.

Speaking to Mirror, Chidananda said, “Mulberry cultivation was in troduced to the US in the late 18th Century. It was cultivated in Louisiana, Florida and California, but it never took off. Now this company that produces pet foodd wants to grow silkworms, especially for pets like lizards and other reptiles. Since silkworms are domesticated they can be reared for pet foodd. However, the problem with the whole thing is the mulberry plant, which is the sole food of silkworms, they do not grow well in the US due to the extreme weather. The company tried to grow mulberry in California but found it very uneconomical.” Chidananda has suggested growing mulberry for silkworms in polyhouses. Chidananda did the needful by studying the weather patterns in the farm at Ringgold, Louisiana.

“I have suggested cultivation of mulberry in poly-houses for six months of the year. It cannot be done in winter. Poly-house cultivation of mulberry will not be economical in India. Unlike India, the mulberry leaves will not be fed fresh to the silkworms. They will be ground into dry powder and used as feed for silkworms later. For six months, the plants will be pruned and capped.This is the way Bengaluru silkworms will be reared in the US very shortly.”

The company is already into insect farming and grows cricket and armyworms.

Silkworm pupae are indirectly and directly consumed by people as well. In some places in India, silkworm feed is replacing fish feed in poultry. Chidananda said, “Littleknown is the fact that pupae are also a delicacy in some parts of India.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / BangaloreMirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Shyam Prasad  S , Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 24th, 2014

Hundreds of farmers attend workshop on ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Natural farming proponent Subhash Palekar (fifth from left) is seen releasing the books as Natural Farming Convener Prasanna Murthy, Janachethana Trust President Prasanna N. Gowda, Kuvempu University former VC Dr. Chidananda Gowda, MLA Puttanaiah, former Speaker Dr. Krishna, Naisargika Krushi Andolana President D.R. Patil, author Raju B. Kannali, Natural Farmer Bannur Krishnappa and KRRS & Hasiru Sene General Secretary Badagalapura Nagendra look on.
Natural farming proponent Subhash Palekar (fifth from left) is seen releasing the books as Natural Farming Convener Prasanna Murthy, Janachethana Trust President Prasanna N. Gowda, Kuvempu University former VC Dr. Chidananda Gowda, MLA Puttanaiah, former Speaker Dr. Krishna, Naisargika Krushi Andolana President D.R. Patil, author Raju B. Kannali, Natural Farmer Bannur Krishnappa and KRRS & Hasiru Sene General Secretary Badagalapura Nagendra look on.

Mysuru :

A five-day workshop on ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ by Natural farming proponent Subhash Palekar, hailing from Belora village in Maharashtra and known for his books on Zero Budget Natural Farming, began this morning at Kalamandira in city. The workshop is being held under the joint auspices of Janachethana Trust, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Rural Development Organisation.

More than 1,200 people, including farmers from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana, Orissa and other States, are participating in the workshop.

The workshop was inaugurated by the former Speaker Krishna.

‘Naisargika Krishi Beeja,’ a book authored by Raju B. Kannali was released by Subhash Palekar while ‘Dhanvantari Chikitse Chitra Roopaka’ authored by Subhash Palekar was released by Prof. K. Chidananda Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University.

D.R. Patil, President, Naisargika Krushi Andolana, Karnataka, speaking on the occasion, said: “Nowadays lot of farmers are spoiling the soil by using chemicals in order to increase the yield. We should stop using chemicals and move into the path of Natural farming.”

Prasanna N. Gowda, President, Janachetana Trust, Mysuru, in his keynote address, urged those participating in the five-day workshop to take an oath to follow Palekar’s methodology of Natural Farming cent percent.

The workshop aims at introducing nature-friendly farming, controlling of pollution resulting from different forms of farming, introducing natural farming to the farmers who have incurred heavy debts due to unscientific farming, using of Indian seeds keeping in mind the environment balance and to encourage breeding of Indian cattle.

H.P. Ravikumar (Devegowda) of Aralahalli in Pandavapura; Gangadhara Siddaramappa Chincholi of Shindagi in Vijapura, Satyanna of Sagara and M.G. Yogananda Swamy of Tipaturu were felicitated on the occasion along with mementos and a cheque of Rs. 5,000 each.

K.S. Puttannaiah, Chandrashekhar Kadadi, Badagalapura Nagendra and others were present. The workshop will conclude on Nov.23.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General  News  / Wedesday , November 19th, 2014

Wildlife enthusiasts capture the ‘unsung story’ of Bhadra

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion

Bengaluru  :

Braving mating tigers, crocodiles in water, bison moving around huge trees and pythons slithering on grass, a team of wildlife enthusiasts from Bengaluru have captured the beautiful flora and fauna of the Bhadra tiger reserve.
The Unsung is the first documentary film on the forest spread across Chikmagalur and Shivamogga, which was declared the country’s 25th tiger reserve in 1998.

According to Prashanth S Nayaka, director and team leader, the 37-minute documentary narrates an untold story of a silent movement deep inside one of the most pristine jungles of Karnataka. “Besides showcasing the untainted beauty of Bhadra, the film follows the footsteps of forest guards who protect the reserve with dedication and passion.”

The team members are Pradip Shastry, CJ Anil, Hulivan Nagaraj, Prashanth Nageshappa, Vinod Reddy, Sharath and Chethan.

“It was tough making a movie covering 500 sqkm of forest. We started our work in October 2013 and completed it in May 2014. We worked for nearly 122 days shooting, facing tigers and elephants deep inside the jungle. We had to shoot at night for several days. Usually, tigers moved at nights as they are nocturnal. There were snakes on our way also. We saw an Indian rock python, bears, gaurs and many other animals,” says Prashanth.

The documentary has also captured the beautiful streams, rivulets, waterfalls, thick clouds, humming of birds, bamboo and teak trees that thrive under the watchful eyes of the forest department.

The original name of the area was Jaagara valley, but changed to Bhadra wildlife reserve in 1974.

Today, 36 anti-poaching camps protect the tiger reserve, with jeeps patrolling day and night and forest watchers covering nearly 15 km on foot. “Once, I noticed a tiger at very close range. I did not know what to do. I just stood still and stared at it for five minutes. It quietly left,” recalls Govindaraj, watcher, anti-poaching camp.

The film has commentary in English (Pradeep Shastry) and Kannada (Prakash Kumar). The music has been composed by C J Anil.

According to Prashanth, the film aims to create awareness among public about the need to protect forests and animals. “We have not taken money from anyone for the project. The team members pooled in money and spent nearly Rs 1.5 lakh. We plan to screen the documentary in schools and colleges. The intention is to convey the message that guarding forests is as important as guarding our nation.”

QUOTE

They have done a nice documentary on the problems faced by frontline staff in forests. The focus of the film is different from what one generally does. They have brought out a CD and we are ready to distribute copies in schools and colleges. It is a fine attempt.

—Vinay Luthra | principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), karnataka

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Environment> Flora & Fauna / GS Kumar, TNN / November 09th, 2014

A home turns power-generating station in Bengaluru

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

A house in HSR Layout has become the first and smallest solar power-generating station in the country after the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the house owner on Monday.

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The residence of Lalitha Shankaranarayana now generates about eight units of solar power per day and can export up to five units per day to the grid, on a sunny day.

After years of delay and debate, Bescom has now taken a big leap in encouraging micro-power producers by signing an agreement with Lalitha on November 17.

With this, Bescom, too, has become the first electricity supply company in the country to encourage green energy production in households by entering into a full-fledged PPA.

“The implementation of the rooftop power plant has been delayed for a long time, but this is a significant step and the Bescom is credit-worthy,” said Ravi Shankar Satyanarayana, son-in-law of Lalitha, an IITian and the person responsible for setting up the plant.

According to the agreement, the household will supply power at a cost of Rs 9.56 per unit as fixed by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission. Bescom has agreed to procure power from the house for 25 years. The agreement can be terminated at the will of the seller.

To encourage more people, Bescom has said it will pay interest to the sellers, if it fails to credit the money for power supplied within 30 days of pumping energy into the grid. House owners can also lease out their rooftops for generation of solar energy.

The house has solar power plant with a generating capacity of two kilowatts. It was taken up as a pilot project by Bescom in 2011.

The power supplied free of cost to the grid was produced using nano rooftop solar photovoltaic systems.

After the first PPA, Bescom on Tuesday signed four more PPAs with homeowners in Bengaluru, where pilot projects were taken up in 2013.

Pankaj Kumar Pandey, managing director, Bescom, told Deccan Herald that they hope to add at least five megawatt of power by end of the financial year.  “The response is good and we already have 120 applications till Monday. People in the City being more green conscious are collecting more applications,” Pandey said.

With the City still growing and receiving 300 days of sunshine, there is potential to generate solar power through rooftop plants, he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / by Subhash Chandra NS, Bengaluru / DHNS – November 18th, 2014

India’s first dog exhibition in Bagalkot

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Records, All, Sports, Travel
Dogs with their owners participating in the first ever exhibition of Indian breed of dogs in Bagalkot city on Sunday./ The Hindu
Dogs with their owners participating in the first ever exhibition of Indian breed of dogs in Bagalkot city on Sunday./ The Hindu

On Sunday, Bagalkot set the record of becoming the first city in the country to host the first ever exhibition of dogs only of Indian breed.

The extravagant event in which around 230 canines of different breeds had gathered to showcase their strength and sense of obedience, was organised by Society for Indian Breeds of Dogs (SIBD), an affiliated body to Kennel Club of India.

“It is just great to see so many different dogs here”, said Shalini Asnotikar, an Engineering student of Mangalore who is a dog lover. Though dogs of breeds such as Pashmi, Combai, Rajapalayam and Caravan hound were present, the dominating among them were the local, Mudhol hound breed.

B.C. Ramakrishna,president of SIBD, said that Mudhol hound, one of the domestic breeds, had got itself registered in the league of international breed of dogs. “ It is surely a matter of great pride for us”, he said.

Informing that the Union Government, in the recognition of Mudhol hound, had released a stamp, he said that this breed is being developed as sniffer dog for police and security personnel for its sharp memory and obedience.

With this lean yet sturdy physique and pointed face, Mudhol hounds instantly caught the attraction of the people during the event.

Sharing his opinion, Raju Anneppanavar, one of the participants who owns a Mudhol hound, said that the event encourages the canine owners and also to people to raise the dog as pet. The objective of the event was to spread awareness about the Indian breed of dogs, protect and promote them, Mr. Ramakrishna said.

Claiming that India once was home to 27 varieties of domestic dogs, he regretted that the owing to negligence, the country had lost some of the best breeds forever. “ Today, we have only seven Indian breeds, and if not protected, we may lose them too”, he said.

Earlier, inaugurating the event, District In-charge Minister, S. R. Patil promised to get an ambulance for dogs as demanded by Mudhol Dog Research and Information Centre, Timmapur. He also assured get a multi-special hospital built for canines at the centre with the help of Union Government.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Firoz Rozindar / Bagalkot – November 16th, 2014

Israeli tech whets once-barren farm

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Dry farming techniques gave a new twist to organic farming on this land

Sunita Prabhakar, director, Gopalan Organics, is today proud about the manner Israeli technique of dry farming helped her team to turn around the 100-acre barren land to grow organic crops for exports
Sunita Prabhakar, director, Gopalan Organics, is today proud about the manner Israeli technique of dry farming helped her team to turn around the 100-acre barren land to grow organic crops for exports

Away from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore city areas, in Uttari and surrounding villages, falling under Kagalipura post, a silent socio-agronomics revolution, inspired and propelled by Israeli farming techniques, is slowly gaining momentum. Spearheading the campaign from a 100-acre organic farm is one young entrepreneur, a graduate in environmental science and in her 30s, determined to make organic a mass movement.

Every morning before the crack of dawn a vehicle leaves the organic farm and reaches out to the adjacent villages to pick up enterprising men and women for training in production of organically grown vegetables and high-value export quality herbs like basil, chives, sage, tarragon, rosemary, parsley, thyme, mint etc. at the sprawling organic farm located in the foothills of the nearby Uttari Hills.

“After training in organic farming, many of them have begun growing organic vegetables. We purchase their produce after ascertaining their quality. Some of these organic vegetables are sold at our Gopalan Organics outlet at Old Madras Road in Bangalore. A portion of the produce makes it to the export markets in Dubai and European markets after stringent quality checks”, says Sunita Prabhakar, the brain behind the grassroots organic farming movement. “My mission is to remove the elitist tag off organic vegetables and make them available to common households at affordable rates. After all everyone is entitled to organically grown, healthy, chemical fertilizer and pesticides free farm produce,” explains Director of Gopalan Organics, Sunita Prabhakar, who started her organic unit in 2003, in what was then a barren land, bought by her real estate developer husband’s family in Bangalore heading the ‘Gopalan Enterprises’.

However, although today the organic vegetables and culinary herbs company exports dry, natural herbs and fresh vegetables to a large number of markets in Western Europe and Dubai respectively and employs over 200 workforce including farmers, agronomists and agricultural scientists, 10 years ago when Sunita threw the idea of starting her organic venture on the rocky, godforsaken land, many did not take her seriously.

She had seen for herself how Israelis mastered the art of dry agriculture with minimal use of water. She was determined to bring the technology to India.

The conviction and determination paid off.

In the summer of 2000 a group of Israeli dry farming experts from Netafim Irrigation System landed at the barren, undulated rocky piece of land.

They examined the prospect of turning it into fertile land for growing organically produced vegetables, herbs and fruits. A mammoth and uphill task awaited them as for the next six months they devoted their time in preparing, planning and executing the organic farm project.

It took another year for the first crop to grow at the newly developed farm.

Alongside Israeli advanced farm management expertise in water conserving irrigation, desalination, and compost enriching the farm, Sunita also adopted biodynamic farming methods pioneered by Australian thinker Rudolf Steiner to grow crops both inside temperature-control green houses and in the open fields, applying scientific soil testing methods for optimum yield per acre.

A network of drip irrigation pipes and sprinklers were laid both inside the green houses and in the open farm land.

The farm land was bifurcated for growing crops under controlled climatic conditions inside the green-houses, and tunnels in the open. “Those days very few people were doing organic farming. There was hardly any infrastructural or technical support available in the country to do dry organic farming. The greatest challenge was to export the basic infrastructure from Israel and then transport them to this remote village from Bangalore Airport. But we managed it all,” says Sunita.

The organic farm today produces 800 to 900 Metric Tonnes of vegetables and fresh and dry culinary herbs under the brand name of ‘Naturale’.

“Of the total volume, we exports 300 to 400 MT of mainly fresh and dry herbs to Germany, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Belgium, etc. places. To ensure strict adherence to European quality control norms, the vegetables and fresh herbs undergo tests at all levels- from farmland to packaging table-at the analytical lab.

Scientific soil analysis and preparation, soil-enriching using organic manure, plant analysis, bio-degradable poly packaging, processing and storing to retain temperature levels are undertaken,” says K Babu, the agricultural scientist at the farm. Babu further said for the protection of crop bio agents and other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices were being followed as against indiscriminate use of harmful chemical pesticides. Each consignment can also be tracked back right down to the date and green house in which it was grown.

Sunita explains: “To ensure freshness of the produce till they are handed over to customers in Germany and other European countries an uninterrupted cold chain from farm to the customer is maintained. The produce is subjected to pre-cooling treatment that increases the shelf life and reduces break down of the nutrients. The air-conditioned pack houses are equipped with all necessary equipment and facilities in consonance with international standards.”

Sunita, who has visited organic farms in Europe, feels the government must support adoption of automation and IT to streamline and modernise organic farming.

​DRY FARMING

It is a type of farming practised in arid areas without irrigation or with drip irrigation and maintaining a fine surface tilth or mulch that protects the natural moisture of the soil from evaporation. Dryland farming involves quite a struggle to set the crop cycle going.

HOW AND WHERE IT ORIGINATED

Dry farming originated in the 19th century in the Great Plains of USA to accelerate production of certain crops, most notably wheat. It should be practised in areas where rainfall averages less than twenty inches a year. Hardy Webster Campbell, a South Dakota homesteader, invented a subsoil packer circa 1890 and thereafter operated demonstration farms for railroads. By the end of the century dry farming was championed as the solution to the agricultural problems of the Great Plains.
(Source: Encyclopaedia of Oklahama History and Culture)

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Others> Sci-Tech / Agencies / by Dipankar Chakraborty / October 29th, 2014

Natural farming should be given top priority for a better India

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Intro:

Natural Farming and Organic products are becoming popular at a fast pace in Mysore, thanks to R. Swamy Anand, State Convener of Karnataka State Natural Farming Movement and a resident of Jayalakshmipuram in City, who has made this happen by his sheer dedication, determination, consumer awareness programmes, workshops & seminars on Natural Farming and through his Green Shop ‘Hasiru.’

Originally from H.D. Kote taluk, Swamy moved to Mysore to pursue his Master’s degree. When Swamy was pursuing his Master’s, he had written an article on Taraka Dam and sent it to ‘Lankesh Pathrike.’ The editor of ‘Lankesh Pathrike’ was so impressed by the article that he not only published it but also appointed Swamy Anand as a journalist for ‘Lankesh Pathrike’ where Swamy Anand worked for 15 years.

Swamy Anand has also written a book in Kannada on Natural Farming.The book was awarded Karnataka Sahitya Akademi award in the year 2005 and nearly 65,000 copies of the book were sold. Swamy Anand is married to L. Geetha and the couple have three children. SOM spoke to Swamy Anand about his experience with Natural farming, Organic farming , Organic products and his shop Hasiru. Excerpts…

by Arafat Ahmed Aizaz

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SOM: You were a Journalist. What made you take up Natural and Organic Farming as a profession?

Swamy Anand: I worked as a Journalist because of my writing skills. But I had more interest in Agriculture as my great grandfather, grandfather and father were all farmers. I knew what hardships farmers face and hence wanted to do something better for the farming fraternity. Farmers work hard but they do not know how to market their products in a better way. So I started ‘Hasiru’ to help farmers to market their products and to get them better price for their products. One more reason is “I love the traditional agriculture system – Natural Farming.”

SOM: How does your shop ‘Hasiru’ help farmers in getting better price?

Swamy Anand: I started ‘Hasiru’ in April, 2011. Since then, farmers directly approach me with their organic products and quote a rate for which their produce need to be sold. I will keep a very minimal margin on the rate quoted by them and will sell it at my shop, thus helping them in getting good price for their products.

SOM: How do you justify that Organic products are better than the products which are grown or made using chemicals?

Swamy Anand: Organic products are better in taste and have more nutrients. They are safe, non-poisonous and save the environment. Organic products are free from chemicals, artificial manure and artificial colours. Hence organic products are better when compared to those grown using chemicals.

SOM: You say that Organic products are non-poisonous. Do you mean to say that vegetables and fruits which are sold for lesser rates in the market are poisonous?

Swamy Anand: Yes, they are poisonous because they are grown by using chemicals and urea. They may not kill you immediately, but in the long run, they will create problems such as acidity, blood pressure and diabetes. Urea is highly dangerous. It not only spoils the soil but also creates health problems.

SOM: What are the activities conducted by ‘Hasiru’ in the recent past?

Swamy Anand: Hasiru has conducted Mango Mela, Grapes Mela, Millets Mela and Rajmudi Vaibhava – a mela where Rajmudi rice was sold.

SOM: Why did you name your shop as ‘Hasiru’?

Swamy Anand: One of my friends Sachidananda, an artiste, suggested me to name my shop as ‘Hasiru’ because I am a lover of agriculture and greenery.

SOM: Can you name some of the products you sell at Hasiru?

Swamy Anand: We sell organic Basmati brown rice, Organic Sonamasuri brown rice, Organic hand-made soaps, Organic teas, Organic coffee powder, Organic Foxtail millets & Little millets, Natural unprocessed forest honey, Organic Spirulina tablets, Organic perfumes, Organic wheat, Organic multi-grain malt, Organic Flax seeds, Desi ghee (Indian cow ghee) and many more. We get products from Ooty, Coorg, Maharashtra, Coastal Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other places.

SOM: How is the response for Organic products in Mysore?

Swamy Anand: The response is very good in Mysore. We have customers’ support. We have customers of all ages who are concerned about health and most of our customers are factory workers, because factory workers need quality food to get more nutrients and energy to do physical work.

SOM: Do you have any unique product at ‘Hasiru’?

Swamy Anand: We have a unique product ‘Love Tea’ which is made by using Organic Roses, Chamomile, Lavender and other flowers. It warms the heart. Youths are buying ‘Love Tea’ at our shop in large quantity to gift their friends.

SOM: The fruits and vegetables grown by Natural Farming look exactly similar to those grown by Chemical Farming. How do you prove that the fruits and vegetables available at ‘Hasiru’ are naturally grown?

Swamy Anand: Both look alike. But the taste of naturally grown food products is really good compared to those grown by Chemical Farming. Those who consume foods which are grown naturally do not get acidity problems. We can take you to our farms and prove that no chemicals are being used by us. One can even pay a surprise visit to our farms and check out what we are doing. People who consume naturally grown food products on a regular basis can feel the difference between the food products grown by natural farming and those which are grown by Chemical Farming.

SOM: Poor people can’t afford to buy the food products grown by Natural Farming or Organic Farming as they are very costly. What do you say about this?

Swamy Anand: The food products grown by Natural or Organic Farming are costly because the yield is low in these two types of farming as chemicals are not used to kill the pests. They are completely free from chemicals.

SOM: Which State is doing well in Natural Farming in India?

Swamy Anand: Karnataka is doing well. In Mandya district, 200 small villages have been certified as Organic Villages. Natural Farming and Organic Farming have a better future in Karnataka.

SOM: What are the challenges being faced in Natural and Organic Farming?

Swamy Anand: The main challenge is the labour problem. Both Natural and Organic Farming need more skilled labours when compared to Chemical Farming. These days, very less people are ready to work in the fields.

SOM: Natural farming is an old method. Do you think it can give better yield like that of Chemical farming?

Swamy Anand: I agree that the yield in Natural Farming is low when compared to Chemical Farming, but the whole world can be fed by Natural Farming. Hence, we should stop Chemical Farming and completely move into the path of Natural Farming.

SOM: Would you like to give any message to the public?

Swamy Anand: Yes. Government is treating Natural Farming as an alternative to Chemical Farming. According to me, Natural Farming should be given top priority for a better India and everyone should support it.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles  / Wednesday ,  October 22nd, 2014

Green Mela begins at Green Hotel in city

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Artisans from across India have set up stalls in the mela Green Mela to be held bimonthly from December

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Mysore :

A three-day organic products fair ‘Green Mela,’ organised by The Green Hotel on Hunsur Road began at its premises here yesterday.

The mela was inaugurated by Prof.U.N.Ravikumar, who is well-known in the field of conserving lakes, rain water harvesting and sustainable development.

Speaking to SOM, Prof.Ravikumar said “If rural India has to go on a greener path, urban Indians should lead the path by showing them non-wasteful consumption methods.”

General Manager of the Hotel Mithun said, “I am thrilled by the overwhelming response by the public who are thronging the mela.” He also said that artisans from across India have set up their stalls in the mela and from December onwards the Green Hotel will conduct Green Mela bimonthly.

The products which are on display and for sale at the mela include Avocado pickles, Bamboo pens, Bamboo lamp shades, Coir pots, Natural ice-creams, Organic coffee powder from Madikeri, various types of handmade soaps, Pashmina Shawls, Silk Scarves, Singing Bowls, drumstick tambli – a special drink from coastal region which is said to have medicinal values, Audio CD’s of the songs of Adivasis from Adivasi Munnetra Sangam, Gudlur, Tamil Nadu and other items.

The major attraction at the mela is the Pottery workshop in which public can try and experience making pottery using natural clay. The pottery workshop has programmes like ‘Make your own diya’ and ‘Make your own Ganesha.’

Different varieties of organic authentic teas imported from United Kingdom are also available at the mela which include Peppermint tea, Night time tea – an organic oat flower, lavender and limeflower tea for peaceful sleep, Vanilla chai and others.

There is a very special kind of tea at the Mela called ‘Love Tea’ , which has a tagline ‘a tea to warm your heart’. It is made from organic roses, chamomile and lavender.

The mela is open for public from 11 am to 8 pm daily and will conclude on Oct. 12.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>General  News / Saturday,  October 11th, 2014

This farmer earns Rs. 22 lakh a year from 2.1 acres of land

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

H. Sadananda grows 30 varieties of crop and even breeds dogs

Profitable venture: Innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods have helped H. Sadananda of Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk to reap a rich harvest. / The Hindu
Profitable venture: Innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods have helped H. Sadananda of Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk to reap a rich harvest. / The Hindu

Bangalore :

At a time when there is a strong perception that farming is not a profitable venture, this farmer from Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk has created waves by earning a profit of about Rs. 22 lakh a year from merely 2.1 acres of land.

It is his innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods that have helped 51-year-old H. Sadananda to reap a rich harvest.

He cultivates nearly 30 varieties of crop on his land, including tomato and areca on half an acre each which yield him Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 50,000 respectively.

Ginger is cultivated along with areca in the plantation, and it yields him about Rs. 70,000 a year. Mr. Sadananda has also made space in his areca plantation for rearing 250 Giriraja hens which he sells every three months to earn about Rs. 1 lakh a year. The poultry droppings are valuable manure for the areca plantation while agricultural waste is used as feed for the birds.

He has planted about 2,000 rose cuttings on three-fourth of an acre, which fetches him about Rs. 4 lakh a year, and has set up a greenhouse on one-fourth of an acre for cultivating capsicum and high-quality rose alternatively. Capsicum, cultivated for about six months, yields him about Rs. 5.4 lakh while the rose variety that replaces capsicum for the next six months gets him about Rs. 2.5 lakh a year. A small vegetable garden, a fish-rearing pond, coconut and jackfruit trees on the periphery of his land, in addition to coffee plants, papaya, sapota and lime trees also find a place. His cows produce 80 to 100 litres of milk a day.

Manure

Manure comes from vermicompost and the slurry from a gobar gas plant. A tiny pond is filled with azolla plants which is a good cow feed.

Mr. Sadananda, who depends on borewell for irrigation, has installed drip irrigation system for the entire land at a cost of Rs. 50,000 (excluding subsidy). “Drip irrigation allows me to irrigate my entire land even with four hours of three-phase power,” he says. Besides, it prevents weeds and also saves him about Rs. 400 a day in labour costs.

Interestingly, he also breeds Rottweiler and Great Dane breeds of dogs to earn Rs. 1.2 lakh a year.

He has been honoured with prestigious awards by the Union Ministry of Agriculture. Several agricultural scientists, farmers and VIPs from India and abroad visit his farm.

Innovative ideas

Mr. Sadananda says that his farm income increased after he adopted innovative ideas provided by the Department of Biotechnology’s Bio-Resource Complex project taken up in his village. He can be contacted on 9342022146.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by B.S. Satish Kumar / April 19th, 2010

Multipurpose fruit KOKAM: Saviour of your heart

Nature, Science & Technology

DrBhatBF07oct2014

by Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat

Principal, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore

The fruits of the Kokam can be used for cooking. It can be explored as best industrial commodity. Nevertheless, it shall also be used as best medicine to save your heart and stomach from ailments. Garcinia indica is the scientific name of the fruit. African and Asian evergreen forests have over 200 species of Garcinia.

Mangosteen is the well-known fruit from this genus across the globe. Among these, Garcinia indica is endemic to Western ghats, particularly, right from Gujarat belt up to Kanyakumari ranges. An evergreen tree with shiny oval leaves, it reaches up to ten meters tall. Garcinia indica is found in forest lands, riversides and wastelands. These plants prefer evergreen forests, but sometimes they also thrive in areas with relatively low rainfall. It is also cultivated on a small scale.

Of late, few attempts are made to grow this useful tree as avenue tree on roadsides. It has a beautiful crown and canopy too. Best selection for coffee estates too as it does not require irrigation, spraying of pesticides or fertilisers.

The peel of fruit is dried under sun to get aamsul or kokam. It is used as a slightly sour spice in recipes from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Even star hotels serve a dish named as Kokam De Soup. Kokam peel yields a peculiar flavour and blackish red colour. It is a preferred substitute for tamarind and tomatoes in curries. It is the best choice among these. It is also used in cuisine from Gujarat where it is frequently used to add flavour and tartness to dhal, for flavour balance, and parts of South India. The syrup prepared out of its pulp is used to make kokum sherbet. Kokum squash or kokum concentrate is used in preparing a drink, which is bright red in colour. It improves digestion and cools the body during summer. The dried peel can be used round the year.

Sixty years ago, few studies conducted at IISc., Bangalore, reveal that the seed butter of Kokam fruit, is a wonderful wound healer. Burns and foot crack can get better with mere few applications. This is the major industrial potential of the tree. Many studies reveal the anti-cholesterol as well as potential heart tonic effects are not so popular.

Charaka Samhitha, 3000 years old text on Internal Medicine designates Vrikshamla (Kokam) and Amlavethasa (another Garcinia sp) as best heart tonics. Both are best food as well as medicine. During this Dasara, let us decide to go for herbal. Let us make our heart strong.

[Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat can be contacted on Ph:0821-2444701 or Mob:91-09448081005 or email:sathyanarayana.bhat@gmail.com]

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles  / Wednesday, October 01st, 2014