Bangalore cow bags first place, yields 30.9 kgs milk
Mysore :
Bangalore cow bagged the first place in the cow milking competition organised by the Raitha Dasara Sub- Committee as part of Dasara festivities held at J.K. Grounds in city yesterday.
The cows were milked twice, once in the morning and once in the evening and the measurements were totalled in which Lakshman Hogebandi of Bangalore emerged as winner.
Results: Lakshman Hogebandi of Bangalore won the first place by milking a total of 30 Kgs and 900 grams. Second place was bagged by Jagadish of Mysore who milked 30 Kgs and 300 grams. Third place was bagged by Satish of Naganahalli, who milked 28 Kgs and 800 grams and the fourth place went to Bangalore resident Byanna Lohit Yadav, who milked 26 Kgs and 850 grams.
Prizes were given away by Co-operation Minister H.S. Mahadevaprasad in the presence of ZP President Dr. Pushpa Amarnath, Corporator D. Nagabhushan, Jt. Director of the Dept. of Animal Husbandry Venkatesh, Dr. Shashidhar and others.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday, September 29th, 2014
Department of Horticulture alleges that the Department of Tourism is intruding in its jurisdiction
The controversial Cubbon Park Management Authority (CPMA), a proposed autonomous body to manage the lung space and develop it as a tourism hub, has been caught in a bitter turf war between the Horticulture and Tourism Departments.
CPMA was proposed as part of the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group, appointed by the government. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced formation of the Authority in his 2014-15 budget speech, under the ‘tourism’ head.
However, a note seeking approval from the government did not even find its way to the cabinet, as the Department of Horticulture alleged that the Department of Tourism was unduly intruding in its jurisdiction through CPMA, sources said.
The cabinet note was prepared by the Tourism Department. It envisages the CPMA to be on the lines of English Heritage in England, an executive public body for the protection of historical buildings and monuments in that country. CPMA was to be headed by a private individual with representatives from all government departments that have a stake in the park. The Authority had envisaged to re-purpose some of the buildings in the area to provide for tourist attractions, sources said.
Alternative proposal
Meanwhile, sources said, the Horticulture Department has now proposed an alternative CPMA headed by the Horticulture Minister instead of a private individual as a face saver for the government since it was announced by the chief minister. The CPMA proposed by the Department of Horticulture would have six members from the public of which one would be the non-executive vice-chairperson.
Also, the CPMA is caught up in another tangle — over jurisdiction. Lokayukta has ordered the City Survey Department, Survey Settlement and Land Records to conduct a survey of the Cubbon Park area and fix its boundaries, as there have been multiple notifications issued by the State government demarcating the Cubbon Park area. The survey report is expected by November second week. CPMA is likely to be withheld till the boundaries are finalised in the survey.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj / Bangalore – September 30th, 2014
Manoj Rajan (second from left), IFS, is seen releasing the book “Agri-input Marketing in India” at MYRA recently as (from left)Dr. Shalini Urs, Chairperson, MYRA School of Business, P.S. Vastrad, IAS, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ram Kaundinya, Professor of Strategy, MYRA School of Business, Dr. Venugopal Pingali, Professor of Marketing, XLRI and Dr. Rajiv Sinha, Dean, MYRA School of Business, look on.
Mysore :
The book “Agri-input Marketing in India,” authored by Dr. Venugopal Pingali, Professor of Marketing, XLRI and Ram Kaundinya, Professor of Strategy, MYRA School of Business and published by SAGE, was launched by MYRA School of Business on Sept. 19 at its Athena Auditorium in Yelwal.
Manoj Rajan, IFS, Additional Secretary (Market Reforms), Government of Karnataka, released the book in the presence of chief guest P.S. Vastrad, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Manoj Rajan, in his address, highlighted the enormous stride made by the Karnataka Government in this sector of Agricultural marketing. Quoting the father of Green revolution, Dr. Swaminathan, he said agricultural development is defined by Monsoons and Market. While monsoon is not in our hands markets are. Hence, market reforms have played a key role in bringing about transformation, he opined.
Rashtriya e-Market Services Private Limited (ReMSL), a joint venture company of the Government of Karnataka and the NCDEX Spot Exchange Limited, has set up the online markets and that has been the game changer, he said and cited the example of how in the district of Tiptur, the online trading helped triple the price of copra increasing from Rs. 6,000 to 18,000 per quintal.
He spoke about Agricultural Marketing Reforms Committee set up by the Government to study all the aspects relating to the objectives of providing a barrier-free agricultural market system for the benefit of farmers and consumers and its report and recommendations along with a comprehensive road map and necessary interventions for undertaking the reforms in agricultural marketing in the State.
Having carefully considered the report and recommendations, the same has been adopted as Karnataka Agricultural Marketing Policy, 2013, he said adding the Government of Karnataka is embarking on an ambitious-reforms agenda for Agricultural Marketing through the implementation of this Policy.
He urged the young management students to consider the Agri-Business sector as a career option that is well paying, challenging as well as satisfying.
Vastrad spoke about the evolution of the Agri-Business sector and the government’s role in bringing about positive changes for the benefit of both farmers and consumers.
The authors of the book are two stalwarts with vast experience in both academia and industry. While Dr. Pingali Venugopal, Associate Director, XLRI, Centre for Global Management and Responsible Leadership, and Professor (Marketing), comes with more than three decades of significant research work in the Indian context, Ram Kaundinya, formerly Managing Director, Advanta India Ltd., and Chairman, Association of Biotech Led Enterprises – Agricultural Group (ABLE-AG), member of the Board of Directors of Axis Bank, comes with equal years of experience in the agrochemical & seed industries and banking sector. Ram Kaundinya also holds a faculty position and teaches Strategy, to the students of the MYRA School of Business.
According to the authors, the book is meant for policy-makers, managers and business students. However, the book makes for an easy and interesting read and is accessible to all concerned citizens. Its 220 pages draw on data to show the long distance that India has travelled since Independence. This book is a must read for ordinary citizens who realise that food security is at risk in the foreseeable future.
The programme began with invocation by MYRAcles Plavani and Kashish Vyas. Prof. Shalini R. Urs, Founder of MYRA, who welcomed, outlined the importance of agriculture sector. Prof. Rajiv Sinha, Dean, MYRA School of Business, proposed a vote of thanks.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday , September 24th, 2014
‘Shukavana’ (Rehabilitation Centre for Birds) has come up at the premises of Sri Ganapathy Ashram on Ooty Road here.
The aviary was inaugurated by Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji yesterday.
More than 1000 birds of about 300 species are kept and being nurtured in the aviary. Over a couple of decades, injured birds were being nursed and nurtured by the Swamiji at the Ashram. Now the modern and scientifically crafted aviary will be a safe haven for thousands of birds. Speaking on the occasion, the Swamiji said humans should have concern and love for birds which represent nature. He advised the people not to disturb or harm birds.
Raja Segranm, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore, who was present, regretted that human bondage was dwindling with words like love, friendship and mercy turning misnomers. He commended the work of Sri Swamiji in establishing an aviary. Addl. PCCF Ajay Mishra, Feather Friends Forever-USA Founder Ronald Johnson and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday , September 22nd, 2014
Kitchen gardening has been gaining popularity over the years as more people are becoming aware of its benefits. In accordance with this, several forums where one can get tips on the ways of growing organic food, and also promote the healthy lifestyle, have been popping up.
One such forum is ‘Organic Terrace Gardening’, which is dedicated to organic food farming in an urban environment. They promote organic events and organic gardening resources.
This includes growing our own food within City spaces like the yard, gardens, terraces, balconies or even spaces as small as window sills. They also aim to move away from unsustainable technologies and lifestyles, and adopt more of eco-friendly and sustainable methods of living.
Another forum is Oota from your Thota which means ‘food from your garden’. It is a one day organic vegetable gardening event in Bangalore and it makes various gardening tools available under one roof, along with technical know-how.
Visitors can pick up seeds, saplings, herbs, compost, eco-friendly cosmetics, organic produce directly from farmers and more. These pages have people posting regular pictures, advice, takes a healthy interest in organic gardening, helping beginners start off, and experts showcasing harvests.
Vishwanath Kadur, founder of ‘Garden City Farmers Trust’, which is popularly known as ‘Organic Terrace Gardening’ on Facebook, says, “Bangalore was known for kitchen gardening at one time. Before, every house had a food or flower garden, but now due to the greed of the people, they use up the entire land for commercial purposes.”
He adds, “I started farming in 1995 but from 2005, people started realising the benefits
of organic farming. We all know the negatives of market vegetables and that has made kitchen gardening popular.”
Minette Ranjit and her husband have been into kitchen gardening for the past five years and is a founder of ‘Greenthumbs Boutique’. “Being nature and plant lovers, we began our little adventure together. With most of the vegetables being produced with a lot of chemicals and fertilizers, we decided to start own vegetable patch. A single tomato or chilly gave us immense joy in the beginning years, after which we were inspired to grow more,” she says.
She went on to grow brinjal, snake gourd, bitter gourd, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and mint.
Taking care of a garden is a lot of hard work. Dr Vishwanath says, “People should have a love for gardening and the plants will grow automatically. Start with one pot and the collection will grow gradually. Greens like bush beans and bhindi will harvest in 45 days and ground space is the best as it doesn’t involve monetary investment. And plants need to be taken care of just like you; they will need vermicompost, compost and regular watering is a must.”
Kitchen gardening has a lot of benefits. “This is a healthy way to relieve stress, eat healthier and safer, provide better nutrition to your family with fresh vegetables, and get some exercise while enjoying the warm sun and environment. By planting and tending to your garden, you control what you eat as well as how it is grown. Even apartment or flat dwellers can produce a nice size vegetable garden on their balconies,” sums up Minette.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Preethi Ravi / DHNS – September 19th, 2014
Murugan has been coming to Bangalore for two months every year from Rajikotai | Jithendra M
Bangalore :
About 50 nomadic families from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have arrived with their droves to meet Bangalore’s rising demand for donkey’s milk.
Wandering about in groups of four or five families, they take their produce to residential layouts, where it is in huge demand.
Many families believe feeding a child, donkey’s milk at least once increases its immunity.
Each donkey-rearing group brings two females, one or two males, and a foal (baby donkey).
Camping on the city’s outskirts on Magadi Road, Tumkur Road, Mysore Road and Kanakpura Road, the groups venture into individual houses and apartment complexes in busy neighbourhoods.
They are doing brisk business, selling the milk for `40-50 for 5 ml. Their produce is cheaper than the donkey’s milk available at the local dhobi ghats. And moreover, they come to your doorstep.
Many mothers with newborns wait for them, to buy what they believe is an elixir. Rashmi, who works in a garment factory, said, “I gave a teaspoon of the milk to my six-month-old baby. He has been falling ill often.”
She paid `30 to a family from Vellore, and hopes the dose will cure the baby of respiratory infections, as rumoured.
Biz in two cities
For the donkey owners, business entails travel for six months in a year.
Murugan (40) has been coming to Bangalore for two months every year from Rajikotai in Dharmapuri district. He is part of a four-family group that has set up camp on Magadi Road. They have been around for over a month. City Express met him near K R Road, when he was making his rounds of Jayanagar and Basavangudi.
“Six months in a year, we go round Bangalore and Chennai, where people believe in giving this milk to their babies. This time, I am selling it for `50 for 5 ml and not a paisa less,” he said.
His group has already gone to many areas and plans to return after some more days of selling.
“It is a hard life. We have to buy a truck. I bought a Tata Ace for `2.5 lakh to take my animals around,” he said.
He is particular about the fodder, and says he can’t compromise since the milk is fed to delicate infants.
He has heard about the popularity of asses’ milk in the US and Europe. “There is no need for people to be scared about what the donkeys eat as we provide them grass and fodder,” said Murugan.
On the other hand, Gopika, who was annoyed at being disturbed during business, said, “It is a seasonal business and the donkeys give milk only if a foal is around.” The families have to look after the animals carefully so that they don’t fall sick. “When we come to the city, we leave them on the outskirts, where they graze. We collect them in the morning,” she said.
Dismissing the apprehension that the animals could eat garbage, Gopika declared, “My animals eat only bhoosa (fodder) and mevu (grass) and don’t touch other things.”
Street vending
Cries of ‘Katte haalu’ (donkey’s milk) have become common in recent days. People rush out to buy the milk for children between six months and three years.
City Express met a few families in Kadirenhalli, Uttarahalli and Jalahalli, where nomads have been selling donkey’s milk. About 20 families in Kadirenahalli said they had fed their children donkey’s milk.
Of Baby donkeys
R N Prasad, food processing expert and a resident of PP Layout, said, “The one group that camped in our neighbourhood for eight days was from Dharmapuri district.”
It sold milk to people from Arehalli and Uttarahalli. A donkey gives 200 to 300 ml every day. It can be milked for six months in a year, but only in the presence of a baby donkey, he explained.
“This milk is considered good for children to help them develop immunity, and it is also supposed to be good for lactose intolerant babies,” he said.
White breed
Last week, people were excited to see a group of white donkeys near Maharaja Agrasena Hospital near Chikallalasandra. Many in the crowd soon turned into customers, as a family from Hosur sold donkey’s milk at `60 for 5 ml.
Mani, who was measuring out the produce, made `3,000 in just two hours. “Business has been good this year as more and more people are buying donkey’s milk,” he said.
Kumar, a policeman and resident of Kadirenhalli, said, “We bought the milk for my two grandchildren from a Vellore family. We are not scared of any infection, as many in our family have been following this tradition for years.“
Doc’s take
“The tradition of feeding infants donkey’s milk has existed for centuries. But one has to be careful as the animals may feed on garbage dumps when they are left out to graze. Otherwise, there is no harm in feeding children this milk,” said Dr S Rao, a paediatrician.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Meera Bhardwaj / September 18th, 2014
At Saad Bin Jung’s luxury eco-tourism lodge in Kabini, Karnataka, villagers and tribals work together to conserve the forest and the big cats that inhabit it
Image: Shaaz Jung A new calling: Saad Jung believes in eco-tourism that conserves more than animals
As the last rays of sunlight filter through the leaves, a shadow slinks out of the thick foliage with an unmistakable feline elegance. “There,” whispers 27-year-old Shaaz Jung from his perch atop a jeep. Immediately, seven pairs of eyes turn to the clearing ahead. Under the rapt gaze of the tourists, a male leopard emerges from the foliage. A flurry of clicks from SLR cameras breaks the silence of the waning dusk. But the leopard makes an indifferent model. He was aware of the jeep the moment the vehicle entered his territory, deep in the jungles of Karnataka. For the tourists, however, this sighting is a privilege. The shy animal deigned to make an appearance on the last of the five game drives organised by Bison Wildlife Resort near Kabini Lake, Karnataka. The resort, started by Shaaz’s father, 53-year-old Saad Bin Jung, lies between two national parks, Nagarhole and Bandipur, and is a two-hour drive from Mysore. It is also a labour of love, one in which villagers and tribals work with the Jungs to conserve and preserve this ecologically vibrant zone.
Though the eco-resort opened five years ago, it took over a decade to come to fruition. Consider its back story.
Like his uncle Mansur Ali Khan—the late nawab who is remembered by his moniker ‘Tiger’ Pataudi—Saad Jung started his career as a cricketer. A descendant of the royal Pataudi family of Bhopal and the Paigahs of Hyderabad, he acknowledges and accepts the popular portrayal of Indian nobility as hunters. “I now realise the mistakes we made while addressing wildlife conservation within the forests that belonged to our family,” says Jung. “The rulers, to a large extent, permitted community usage of forest produce. Locals were asked to manage forest land, but were banned from hunting. That was the sole prerogative of the royals. There was control, but there was also inclusion.”
Image: Prasad Gori for Forbes Life India The village: The resort maintains a rustic look and feel, although it houses luxurious facilities
Saad began taking an active interest in conservation in 1986. He started with Bush Betta Resort at Bandipur and an angling camp on the Kaveri river soon after. In 1997, he acquired patta (registered) land outside the protected forest area and worked with locals to build a luxury resort, one that doesn’t intrude on or disturb the ecologically sensitive zone. The Bison Resort, made up of African lodge-style stilted, elaborate tents and decks that overlook the forest and Kabini lake, is the result. Most of the building material for it was sourced locally. Rather than alienating tribals and villagers from the land, Saad brokered a symbiotic relationship between resort and village.
The Bison, which opened in 2009, has succeeded because it combines luxury with inclusive growth. Saad and Shaaz, who is the resort manager, create a rustic yet opulent experience. From sunken showers in bathrooms to bars that overlook the lake, the resort delivers a unique kind of grandeur—one that typically costs more than Rs 10,000 a night for Indians and Rs 24,240 ($400) a night for foreign nationals. Most employees are locals and their intimate knowledge of the land heightens a visitor’s experience.
source: http://www.forbesindia.com / Forbes India / Home> Forbes India/Live / by Shravan Bhat / August 16th, 2014
To spread awareness on medicinal plants, Department of AYUSH together with Government Ayurveda College has launched ‘Moolika Dasara’ throughout the district.
Planting Sapling: About 30,000 saplings of over 50 medicinal plants like Bringaraja, Madhushalini, Nelli, Vandagala and Brahmi will be planted in all the taluks of the district.
‘Mane Maddu’: Women participating in Mahila Dasara will be groomed on making ‘Mane Maddu’ (home medicine) using medicinal plant to treat common ailments.
Makkala Dasara: Medicinal plants will be on exhibit at Kukkerahalli lake premises where students will be educated on medicinal plants by Ayurveda Medicine students. A quiz to identify medicinal plants will also be conducted for the students.
Raitha Dasara: Farmers visiting Raitha Dasara will be given medicinal plant saplings free of cost to spread awareness on them.
Mini garden: Institutions and public in city will be encouraged to develop mini garden of medicinal plants.
Awareness Rally: An awareness rally as part of ‘Moolika Dasara’ will be taken out throughout the city by students of Ayurveda College with distribution of leaflets on medicinal plants.
Guests arriving for Dasara programmes will be greeted with a sapling of medicinal plant instead of a bouquet, according to sources in AYUSH Department.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 04th, 2014
Those weekend trips you made to a hill-station or to your farmhouse cushioned amidst nature, need not be just during the weekends. If Shubhendu Sharma and Afforestt have their way, every backyard in our country will have abundant greenery. Shubhendu’s company grows urban forests that are maintenance-free, natural forests using afforestation methods from Japan and through some research of their own. And all these forests can be grown in just two years time.
“Our forests grow ten times faster than trees planted conventionally, giving you the equivalent of a 100-year old natural forest in just ten years,” says Shubhendu proudly. Afforestt can create dense forests with three-five trees per square metre, in areas as small as 1,000 square feet. And their maintenance-free, natural, bio-diverse forests cost only a tenth of making lawns. Afforestt uses only native species and works with 100% organic materials to mimic what nature creates.
Shubhendu is targeting people who prefer natural landscapes to manicured lawns or exotic trees, for the later does more harm than good to the environment. Afforestt is making urban forests in corporate campuses, around apartment buildings, hospitals, schools etc. Another plus about these urban forests is they can soak grey water coming out of sewage treatment plants, hence aiding purification of air and water.
Shubhendu stimulus to startup was his stint as a volunteer in the afforestation team at his previous employer (Toyota) as well as his personal hobby of afforestation. “All this started when I met Dr. Akira Miyawaki, whose afforestation methodology (known as the Miyawaki Method) makes forests grow ten times faster. I was fascinated with his work and joined his team as a volunteer to cultivate a forest in our Toyota factory premises,” says Shubhendu. He subsequently started experimenting with modifications to the Miyawaki Method to reduce costs involved and to Indianise the method. “And this resulted in Afforestt’s method, which is a modification of the Miyawaki method using organic soil amenders,” explains Shubhendu.
After practicing the methods successfully in his backyard at Uttaranchal, Shubhendu decided to combine his passion and hard work and make a living out of the opportunity. The first reactions from landscapers and NGOs involved in environment conservation were negative. Despite naysayers, Shubhendu formed his team and started Afforestt. And since January 2011, Shubhendu has been increasing the green cover in our country, the Afforestt way.
Shubhendu dreams to change the face of our planet for good. “We have lost most of our natural habitat in the name of economic progress/development; Afforestt will help correct this . My mission is to bring back the natural greens in which we humans deserve to live,” he says.
Based in Bangalore, Afforestt can currently work across the Indian geography. Afforestt has so far 11 forests in five cities from Kerela to Uttarakhand. “We can create forests anywhere and everywhere, using materials available within a 100 km radius of the site,” says Shubhendu.
What Shubhendu has set out to do, will impact all of us but he draws his personal motivation from being able to create something of his own. He shares an incident, when two volunteers joined two different batches of his afforestation programs. One a two and half year old child who planted the saplings all by herself, as if she had always known the way it had to be done. Another a 92 year old lady who planted the first sapling with her son, murmuring a silent prayer; knowing what a tree stands for. “The realization that what I am doing is enjoyed and loved by an age group spanning a whole human lifetime gave me a great sense of achievement,” says Shubhendu.
This year, Afforestt has launched Urban Containerized Gardens (UCG) which will enable people to grow greens indoors and on rooftops. Talking about revenues, Shubhendu says, “We charge our clients for total area covered, which builds in our profit margin. For UCG we will charge as per the number of containers bought.” About UCG Shubhendu has invented a technology using which the containers that don’t have to be watered and maintained regularly. Afforestt is trying to keep gardens as maintenance free as possible. Their gardens are 100% organic and will be used to grow food as well. In the next six months Afforestt plans to launch Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kits for UCG where hobbyists can make their own indoor and rooftop gardens using the DIY kits.
“Adivasis are rulers of forests But some of them and Tribals who caught up with modern civilisation are living under deplorable conditions,” opined writer Prof. Aravind Malagatti.
He was speaking after inaugurating a day long seminar on “The status of Adivasis and Tribals” organised jointly by Aranya Moola Adivasigala Hitarakshana Vedike (Forum of Original inhabitants of forests) and Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagruta Vedike (Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum) at Maneyangala, Kalamandira on Hunsur road today.
Pointing out that the soul of Adivasis and Tribals lie in forests, Prof. Malagatti regretted that the onslaught of civilisation is hurting thei social structure.
Stressing that Adivasi culture, lifestyle and other social practises can never be linked with modernisation, he called upon the government for setting up of exclusive residential schools for Adivasis in urban areas.
Earlier, Adivasi troupes comprising mostly of children, presented a magnificent tribal dance, dancing to the tunes of music generated by using water drum, kerosene cans, oil tins and the like. Floral tributes were offered to the portrait of tribal leader Birsa Munda.
Litterateur Prof. Neelagiri Talwar, journalist Rajashekar Koti, Backward Classes Forum office-bearers K.S. Shivaramu, C. Naganna, Adivasi Forum President Gopal Poojar, Adivasi leader P. Basavaraj and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / August 27th, 2014
