Sign in or 
Share this
Simple organic vegetabale systems
 Let us make critical analysis about the bada nad good part of this story.This is today excelent news from one of the leading Indian English newpapers Of India , The hindu, which always dedicate report on the science and technology Date:19/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2008/06/19/stories/2008061950211600.htm Sci Tech FARMER'S NOTEBOOK Bread sandwich method can provide vegetables throughout the year M.J. PRABU
 Simple technology: Dr. G. Nammalvar, teaching the farmers the sandwich method. Vegetables have a short lifespan compared to fruit crops. By making use of modern technologies and inputs, their lifespan can perhaps be extended to say about a year. But if there is a simple method of growing vegetables throughout the year, without any costly gadgets, modern technologies, or costly inputs, it is definitely worth a try for the farmers. Commonly called the ‘Bread sandwich method,’ once the soil is made ready and the suggested practices followed, one need not work on the soil for the second time. They can go on sowing and reaping, all through the year, according to Dr. G. Nammalvar, organic scientist. Better yield But why call it the sandwich method? “We are used to eating sandwich in which vegetable or egg is inserted between two layers of bread. The same method is applied in gardening for a better yield.” “Here, the top soil and sub soil are kept separated by inserting compost between the two layers of soil. Charcoal can also be inserted for better performance,” explained Dr. Nammalvar. According to him, soil health forms the basis for the production of nutritious food from our garden. “By feeding the micro (soil) organisms and maintaining soil moisture we can harvest maximum solar energy through photosynthesis. For the application of this principle we adopt sandwiching of soil.” The top soil is loose and contains more micro and macro organisms than the sub soil. The roots of plants, whether it is wheat or radish go up to a depth of more than 60 cm into the soil. Healthy soil So it is important that the soil is healthy and the micro organisms live till a depth of about 60 centimetres. At the same time farmers must ensure that the top soil is not buried deep. “To achieve this result, as a first step, we remove the top soil and keep it separate. Then we split the sub soil. In the third stage, a thick layer of well digested compost is added over the split sub soil. Finally, the top soil is replaced over the compost, said Dr. Nammalvar. “This is called as soil sandwiching. Radish and greens can be sown on the edges. Vegetables with wider canopy such as tomato, brinjal, lady’s finger and chilli have to be allowed wider spacing. Avoid monocropping “It is wise to avoid mono culture. Because plants of the same family compete with each other for light, water and nutrition.” While sowing the seeds, it is advisable for farmers to do relay cropping. Relay cropping means sowing or planting a seed or a plant before the withering of the previous one. At the end of the harvest cut the vegetative parts and put back over the soil. In order to get better quality and more quantity let apply organic inputs. Suitable combinations By experience one can understand better combinations. One thumb rule is to see that one legume crop (e.g., cowpea) is sown adjacent to every non-legume (non-pulse) group plants. The bed can be of any length. But it is advisable to keep the width to about 120cm. A bed size of about 1.2mX7.5m will fulfil the vegetables need of a single person (that is 200 gm of vegetables every day). “The plants should be watered using sprinkler or rose cane or a hose with shower to create a rain effect. Wastewater used for washing the floors and utensils can also be used. It is better to water the plants during evening,” said Nammalvar. Minimum income By adopting this practice a family of five persons can grow vegetables all through the year in 25 cents, or quarter of an acre of land, to ensure a certain minimum income throughout. At present there are about 2,500 farmers all over India who are practising it. For information on training, readers can contact Dr. G. Nammalwar at email: nammalvar@gmail.comor mobile: 9442531699. © Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu Let us make critical analysis about the bada nad good part of this story.This is today excelent news from one of the leading Indian English newpapers Of India , The hindu, which always dedicate report on the science and technology nnovative aquaculture practices pay dividends M.J. PRABU
 Perseverance: Mr. Sudhakaran, shrimp farmer with the sluice structure. The South-western part of Thrissur district in Kerala accounts for a major share of brackish water fish production. Vellangallur, Azhikode, Kodungallur regions in particular are famous for their traditional prawn filtration units called ‘Chemmeen Kettu’ in Malayalam. Mr. C.K. Sudhakaran, is a progressive fish farmer in Narayanamangalam village, Thrissur. His shrimp farm has been selected as the innovative farm under the ‘Yet To Harvest’ National Innovative Program of the Department of Biotechnology, Kochi University of Science and Technology. He adopts semi-intensive culture of tiger shrimps in a pond area of 16 acres and harvests two crops a year. Harvesting yield “Initially I was able to harvest only 400 kg of shrimp from an acre. But I was determined to increase the yield and make a mark in this field. By 2006 I have been able to harvest about 2,500 kg of shrimp from a hectare,” he says. A private shrimp feed manufacturing firm adopted his farm as their demonstration unit and incorporated all new scientific techniques and methods available in shrimp farming such as draining of the pond before the culture period, pre-treatment of water, bleaching, introduction of mechanical aerators (paddle wheel and spiral aerators). But they could not make much headway. Thereafter Mr. Sudhakaran decided to personally take care of his farm. After considerable thought and labour he designed and developed a permanent sluice structure (a device which controls the water inflow and outflow) which is cost effective and much more beneficial. The sluice structure designed by him consists of a 3-4 m length hollow concrete pipe placed horizontally and earthed. Easy maintenance It doesn’t require much maintenance, making it cheaper for the local farmers compared to wooden sluices more commonly used (but require periodic maintenance). Concrete sluices are also used in some farms but the initial investment is high for the common man to bear. According to Joemol .C. Baby, Programme Assistant (Fisheries), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur, though there are several fish farmers in the region who practise shrimp farming, very few have been able to harvest as rich a yield as Mr. Sudhakaran. fish toxicant Giving details about his farm, Mr. Sudhakaran explains that before each crop, the ponds are drained, bleached for disinfecting and tea seed oilcake (fish toxicant) is applied for eradication of unwanted predatory and weed fishes (small fishes which compete with cultured species for food and space). Water is pre-treated and the sediment is allowed to settle down in a small pit before the water’s entry into culture ponds. These pits are later used as harvest pits where shrimps get collected while ponds are drained for harvesting, thus reducing labour as well as time, and the quality of the captured product is also better. Indigenous technique Manuring is done using cow dung and an indigenous technique common among fish farmers in the region, that is rice bran, jaggery, yeast and micronutrients sometimes along with cooked sardines are allowed to ferment for 24 hours and are sprinkled all over the pond surface. The culture period (growing time) for the shrimps is about 90-120 days until they attain marketable size. The shrimp seeds (small ones) are artificially fed with supplementary feeds for better production. Check trays are used to avoid wastage of feed and periodic sampling is done to monitor feeding levels and disease occurrence. Proper aeration is provided using a paddle wheel and spiral aerators. Water quality Mr. Sudhakaran takes special care and effort to maintain the water quality. Water quality parameters are tested every week and control measures are taken. Mr. Sudhakaran markets his product at Rs. 300-350 per kg. For more information contact Joemol .C. Baby, Programme Assistant (Fisheries), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, KAU, Thrissur, Phone: 0487:2375855. email: jojo_joby@yahoo.co.in, mobile: 9388268632. |
pannirbr |
Latest page update: made by pannirbr
, Aug 7 2008, 8:32 AM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by pannirbr
706 words added 1 word deleted 1 image added view changes - complete history) |
|
More Info: links to this page
|
There are no threads for this page.
Be the first to start a new thread.
