Visit to Nabar’s Mango Orchard (Vengurla)

We visited Bhooshan Nabar’s mango orchard in Vengurla yesterday (22nd March) to understand how mangoes are made ready for the market once harvested. Below are photos from the visit.

Bhooshan Nabar (foreground) and Sajjan with the mango orchard in the background

Nabar prefers to keep the undergrowth in check for fear of fires during the dry months

Alphonso tree laden with fruit

Because the trees have been regularly pruned, they are short and bear fruit so low that you could crouch under the branches and pluck them. Walli takes a moment to capture some photos

Pheromone traps are a simple and effective way to attract and trap insects that may damage the mangoes. Similar pheromone traps are available at the ZAO's office or even at Ela Farm in Old Goa.

Mango trees need looking after. Nabar digs a ring around the base of the tree at a distance of approximately 30 feet from the trunk. This ring is used to fertilise the tree. He uses bonemeal, dolomite (lime with Calcium and Magnesium), cow-dung and super-phosphate. Keeping the ring mulched helps retain moisture.

Mangoes being harvested

Freshly harvested mangoes

Nabar shows us his new plantation (3 years old). A bore-well and a drip irrigation system ensures that the trees get the water the need. The land is rocky and undulating, much like portions of land on our island of Chorao. No reason why we can't make similar plantations on our lands

(From left to right) Kalangutkar, Santosh, Mahambare, Walli, Sajjan, Nabar, Abreu (back), Arjun, Ramesh (back), Prava

Club Presentation at State Credit Seminar – NABARD

On the 16th of February NABARD conducted its annual State Credit Seminar. At this seminar NABARD outlines its plans for the coming financial year.

Like last year, members of the Chorao Farmers Club were asked to make a presentation of our activities. Presentations included experience sharing from the Club’s President, the Branch Manager of the Central Bank (to which we are linked) and from TERI (the organisation which we work with).

(click here for TERI’s presentation [PDF- 4.3MB] )

Following the presentation, officers from NABARD, the Central Bank Regional and Branch Office visited the Farmers Club. Discussions with the 11-Member Committee were followed by a visit to farms nearby where some farmers are involved in an experiment on growing exotic vegetables (broccoli, Chinese cabbage and capsicum).

NABARD and Central Bank officials visit Madel Fields

Tiswadi Krishi-Mela at Ela

On the 19th of January members of the Chorao Farmers Club participated in the taluka-level Krishi Mela organised by the Department of Agriculture at Ela, Old Goa.

Chorao Farmers Club stall at the Tiswadi Krishi Mela - Ela

This was an interesting opportunity for us to showcase our work and also directly sell produce to other farmers and residents from the taluka.

Thanks to the Department for organising an interactive session where we could address our concerns directly to the Directors of relevant departments, the ZAO and Ministers present (unfortunately, the Agriculture Minister was not present).

Farmers participating in the Q & A Sesion organised by the Department

We think such forums are an important space for farmers to raise issues of concern directly with authoroties. We hope the Department makes this an annual affair AND takes action on issues discussed.

Packaging the rice with care

We are particular about how we pack our rice. Not only do we want the entire package to look pleasing, we also take care that the rice is free of stones, bugs and all other things that do not belong in a bag of rice.

Learning to tag the bag

On the 14th of December 2009, we conducted a workshop where 8 new suppliers were inducted. Because we do not conduct centralised packaging, it is important that each and every supplier of rice (and these are all farmers too) know how to pack the rice the ‘correct’ way.

Always a little more, never a gram less...

We plan to conduct similar workshops every few months so as to induct new suppliers regularly.

Raising a Vegetable Nursery – in photos

As a follow-up from our Workshop on Growing Exotic Vegetables in Goa (conducted in September this year), ICAR’s Program Coordinator, Dr. Rajnarayan demonstrated the setting up of a vegetable nursery for broccoli, capsicum and Chinese cabbage, on the 30th of November, 2009

Beds are made, approximately 1 meter wide. They can be as long a desired

A clear walking path between two beds is important to access beds on both sides. Vermicompost and well-decomposed cow-dung are mixed into the beds

The compost and dung are worked into the soil and large, hard chunks of soil are either broken down or removed so that the bed is fine and powdery. Using a stick, furrows are made along the with the of the bed, leaving a gap of approximately 5cm or as wide as four-fingers

Seeds are sprinkled in a straight line into the furrows

Farmers giving a hand at sowing seeds into the furrows. Once seeds are sown, the furrows look like in the photo above (right)

After sowing seeds, sprinkle a thin layer of soil and compsot mix on the seeds (traditionally, several women simply take a stick and mix the soil around in a random manner, thereby sending the seeds under a few layers of soil. Namita brings in the hay that will be used to mulch the beds

Straw is then used to cover the beds (mulch) to keep the seeds warm and allow them to germinate. The straw can be removed as soon as the seeds are seen to sprout.

The beds are then watered. Farmers are adept in using their hands to create a light sprinkle (else the seeds will scatter); Sometimes a water can is recommended for a similar effect

Given the stray-cattle menace in Goa, it is advisable to ensure cattle cannot reacht he beds, otherwise the tender shoots will make for tasty meals! Using sticks and branches, a fence is made to secure the beds.

Zonal Agricultural Officers Visit for Inspection

Officers from the ZAO had planned to inspect damaged crops and fields on the 1st of December, after coordinating time and date with the Village Talathi (Mr. Kedar Bhandari).

During the inspection farmers are expected to be present so that the officers can be taken to the fields in question. The Talathi put up a notice on the Village Panchayat bulletin board announcing the date and time. The Farmers Club informed the relevant members about the date.

Talathi's announcement on the Village Panchayat bulletin board and a gathering of farmers awaiting the Zonal Agricultural Officers at the appointed date and time for the inspection to commence

Besides the 22 farmers that submitted applications through the Farmers Club, the Mamlatdar bunched another 35 applications that were received individually, for inspection as well. All these applications were forwarded to the ZAO.

With a total of 57 applicants to deal with, a route was planned that made visiting the fields easy.

Collectively, a logical route is decided upon and everyone sets out for the inspection (by car, motorbikes, bicycles on foot....)

Each individual farmer was asked a few key questions (amount and variety of seed planted). Plots close to the roads were visually inspected, those with no accessible road were not. Yet, each applicant’s complaint was dealt with.

Next Steps
The ZAO will now compile a technical report with recommendations that will be sent off to the Mamlatdar. The Mamlatdar will eventually make the decision and the funds will be disbursed through him.

Stay tuned for progress on the matter.

Cyclone Phyan ruins paddy crop!

Cyclone Phyan that struck the western coast of India caught several farmers unawares. November is no time to be expecting thunder storms! But the rains came and stayed for several days after that.

Harvested paddy that awaited threshing got innundated

Harvested paddy that was lying in the field awaiting threshing got caught in the downpour. Low-lying khazan areas were inundated for several hours and this led to rotting of the harvest

Inspecting losses and salvaging what can be salvaged

In some cases it was possible to salvage a part of the crop and let it dry

Sitting in water for several hours, the paddy has resprouted!

In many cases, the dampness and the heat resulted in the paddy sprouting seedlings again! This is of no use to the farmers. It can certainly not be eaten and replanting these is not possible for most, as there is a shortage of water in the later months when water is needed for the rice.

 

 

Making Bio-Inputs for the Winter Crop

On the 2^nd of November, after electing the Governing Body, Dr. Prabhudesai led a workshop on making bio-inputs, using EM as a key ingredient.

Dr. Prabhudesai leading a Bio-inputs-making workshop

Farmers saw the preparation of rice-wash,  extended EM,  bokashi, vermicompost and basic bio-composting in windrows.

Earthworms for vermicompost, and making Bokasih

 

We will shortly put up a file with detailed instructions on how to make these for the benefit of other farmers, but in the meantime you can follow the link below for more reading on using EM.

Effective Microorganisms - a cocktail of good bacteria and fungus used for farming

Effective Microorganisms (EM) is widely recognised now as a great bio-input for agriculture. It is the base to make several forms of natural fertilisers and pesticides to keep the farm healthy.

Farmers Club Registers as a ‘Society’

Members of our Farmers Club met on the 2^nd of November 2009 to promulgate the Club into a Society under the Societies Act 1860.

Members gather to create their Society and elect the Governing Body

Founder members and the Governing Body

There are 56 founding members and we also elected our Governing Body consisting of 11 representatives.

The Governing Members are as below…

President:  Premanand Mahambare	Vice President: Shrikant Priolkar
Secretary: Shankar Chodankar	Joint Secretary: Namita Khandeparkar
Treasurer: Mukund Khandeparkar	Joint Treasurer: Samiksha Khandeparkar
Member: Gita Uskaikar	Member Sunita Khandolkar
Member: Lisa Noronha Dias-Noronha	Member: Manoj Sarnaik
Members: Mahadev Chondankar

ICAR's Dr. Prabhudesai administered the 'Oath of Office' to the elected members of the Governing Body

Growing Exotic Vegetables in Goa: A Workshop

Dr. Rajnarayan discussing importance of growing vegetables

The Club, in conjunction with TERI, organised a half-day workshop on Growing Exotic Vegetables in Goa, on the 14th of Sept. Faculty from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) spoke on the different kinds of non-traditional vegetables that have been successfully grown in Goa and how these can be grown safely, without the use of chemicals.

Dr. Rajnarayan, Program Coordinator at KVK spoke about the nutritional, medicinal and economic importance of growing vegetables.

He focused specially on 4 vegetables, broccoli, chinese cabbage, sweet corn and green capsicum, that he suggested the Club could consider growing on an experimental basis for the coming rabi season.

Chinese Cabbage, Broccoli, Green Capsicum and Sweet Corn have successfully been grown in Goa

This was followed by Dr. Prabhudesai touching on the importance of growing food “safely”. He explained how chemicals used to grow food end up in our body systems and can even be found in cows and mothers’ milk!! He said it was possible to make bio-inputs using EM, Neem and other natural ingredients so as to reduce farmers dependency on chemicals like urea and pesticides.

Five farmers have volunteered a portion of their fields to grow the 4 crops shown above. As part of this exercise KVK will guide the farmers in raising nurseries for these vegetables, land preparation and transplantation, making bio-inputs and timly harvesting. They will also guide farmers to gather data for scientific purposes.