STICK TO ORGANIC MANURE

 I observed that all the vegetation on our farm land was given adequate green manure, cow dung or compost, neem cake or groundnut cake and ash on a regular basis. This made their yield very good. The earthworms, Mannira, and various beetles and other micro-organisms that are found in the soil consume the manure and a fertile organic soil is returned which is ready for absorption by the plants.

It was again the Grama Sevak who advised my parents to use chemical fertilizers lavishly to get better yield. Urea, Super phosphate, Ammonium phosphate, and Muriate of Potash were some of the fertilizers commonly used in the paddy fields and plantations. When green manure was neglected the yield began to decrease. The numbers of earthworms, beettles and other micro-organisms in the soil were also found scarce. I have observed that the minute organisms and other tiny animals help in converting the dead fauna and flora into humus or organic soil fit for consumption by the plants. Due to the regular use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers there were negative effects on the soil and the land such as land degradation and desertification and make the land unfit for cultivation. One should, therefore, resort to the old method of organic cultivation for getting a reasonable yield. This also makes the fruits and the grains much tastier. 

          I have started using a few products like Panchagavyam and Aminoplus developed jointly by the Krishi Vigyan Kerala and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute at Ernakulam. Panchagavyam is prepared by a mix of cowdung, urine, milk, curd, butter, which are obtained from a cow reared in naturally, and also adding Palayamkotan fruit, jaggery and tender coconut water.  One ml. of this mix diluted in one litre of water is be sprayed on the leaves once in ten days; it will improve not only their growing but also flowering and fruiting.  Aminoplus is another fermented product made of Indian Sardine fish and jaggery. Spraying of this mix will improve the growth of the plant. Both these products give resistance to attack by insects.

I have experienced that a mix of neem cake and groundnut cake fermented for a week is poured into the bed of guava tree and other fruit trees it will start flowering and give you lots of fruits. Krishi Vigyan has developed lots of other products helpful for the growth of plants as well as protection from insects and other micro-organisms.                    

Web:www.kvkernakulam.org.in).

Excerpts from

 NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

SPRAYING OF POISON UNDER THE GARB OF MEDICINE

          The Agriculture Assistant, Grama Sevak, was a frequent visitor at our house. He appreciated our vegetable garden. One day when he came, ‘Ammachi’ complained about the pests which were a menace in our vegetable garden. He advised her to spray medicine on the leaves to get rid of them. He supplied her with two packets of a particular powder and directed her to mix it in water and spray it on our vegetation.

When ‘Ammachi’ opened the packet I gazed at the dull yellow powder had a strong and unpleasant whiff. Her reflex was to cover her nose with a towel. She mixed the powder in water and sprayed it on our vegetable gardens. Miraculously, the pests had all disappeared in a day. This medicine namely D.D.T. was given a warm welcome in many such vegetable gardens which were infested with pests. After a few years this too became ineffective because the pests became immune to it. I have seen ants consuming D.D.T. with no side effects or repercussions. Subsequently   B.H.C was introduced into the market as a pesticide.  The result proved to be the same.  Years later the media revealed that the Government fraudulently used the agricultural department and its officers to promote D.D.T. as a medicine although this pesticide was banned in the United States of America much earlier. By doing so, the Government was jeopardizing the health of the population and was causing serious damage to the environment as well. It was an unpardonable mistake.

  

Another banned item, Aluminium phosphate in round tablet form, was used in ware houses to control pests which badly affect the health of the people.

After all these calamities it is shameful to note that the Central Government is again trying to promote  the spraying of  yet another banned poison, “Endosulphan” on cashew, tea, coffee and other plantations. The spraying of endosulphan in certain    cashew plantations caused mental abnormalities to innumerable persons living in the adjacent three villages of Kasargod Taluk, in the State of Kerala. It is a grave mistake.

Neem oil and cake are natural pesticides to control pests. A few ground hot Chillies, Kanthari, and little Neem oil mixed in a litre of water can be sprayed to ward off the attack of pests in a vegetable garden. Cow dung can be used as a pesticide as well as fungicide. Similarly Bordeaux mixture which is a quick combination of Copper sulphate and Calcium hydroxide is a good fungicide. The use of such medicines will not cause any damage to the crops and the environment.

. I have noticed that the presence of large number of the big red ants (‘Muyiru’ or ‘Mussar’) protects the mangoes from the attack of beetles and other pests by feeding on them.

I have started using “Firamon trap” vended by the Krishi Vigyan Kerala and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute jointly at Ernakulam. This trap is very effective; lots of bettles were trapped and killed and we got lots of nice mangoes during this season.

Excerpts from

 NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com