Category Archives: Nature

This SHG thrives on betel cultivation

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature

Coimbatore :

In an effort to encourage self-help groups (SHG) to organize themselves to facilitate business, district collector Archana Patnaik visited Thenchittur village near Pollachi last week and inspected the betel leaf fields cultivated by a 21-member SHG. She interacted with the group members, talking to them about the cultivation process.

Their efforts yield 6,000kg of betel leaves each month. Keeping environmental concerns in mind, they use organic manure. To encourage their green initiative, the collector ordered the officials to help them get organic certification, which would allow them to sell their produce at higher prices.

“We would get the certification for organic betel leaves and develop the marketing strategy,” said collector Archana Patnaik.

“We used to pick betel leaves in our village. We decided to form an SHG (Thenchittur betel producers). We leased eight acres from a farmer and availed funds through the Pudhu Vazhvu Thittam, a government scheme that provides funds to self-help-groups to start small businesses, with assistance from World bank. They were given funds worth 77,800 in 2011. Our first yield came after three months and we were able to produce 6000kg monthly after that,” said G Latha, an SHG member.

The women from the SHG were involved in irrigation and plucking of betel leaves. “We planted brinjal, spinach and banana as intercrops, for additional revenue,” she added. They market their produce in Valparai and Palani, selling 1kg for 120. Cost of production including wages works out to 70 per kg.

Collector, Archana Patnaik and District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) project director Tha Murugan visited Thamaraikulam village near Kinathukadavu and inspected the coir rope manufacturing unit. Five SHGs have been engaged in the production of coir ropes. The district administration has planned to provide transport facility for the SHGs to boost business.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / A. Subburaj, TNN / June 15th, 2015

Renovated Gass Forest Museum opened

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All
The renovated Gass Forest Museum on the campus of Tamil Nadu Forest Academy which was opened on Friday.— Photo: M. Periasamy
The renovated Gass Forest Museum on the campus of Tamil Nadu Forest Academy which was opened on Friday.— Photo: M. Periasamy

Gass Forest Museum on the premises of the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy which had been closed for renovation work, was thrown open to the public on Saturday. Boasting of over 4,000 exhibits, the century-old museum was founded by H.A. Gass, a British Forest Officer, in 1903.

Initially housed in the residence of Gass, it moved to its present location in 1915. This is a one-of-a-kind institution that has an exquisite collections, says IFGTB Director (in-charge) R.S. Prashanth.

On entering the museum, one is greeted by a life-sized model of an intimidating Indian Gaur, which was presented by Sir Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur, the last Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore.

The museum houses a rich collection that ranges from birds such as kingfishers, cormorant, egret, hawks and eagles, to more than 600 timber species including a 456-year-old cross section of a teak tree weighing 1.75 tonnes. A timber library is also displayed in the museum. Further, an entire range of useful non-timber forest products such as gums and resins, oils, tars, rubber and lacks are also on display.

A rich collection of fruits and seeds, barks, roots, leaves, fibres, bamboo and canes are also found. Forest engineering models such as timber stacking and seasoning, forest brides and timber houses are kept here besides a working model of ropeways used for timber extraction.

For those into entomology, a collection of useful and harmful insects associated with forests are kept on display alongside species of butterflies and moths.

More than 300 samples of rock, minerals and soil formation from all over the world are housed here. Notable among them are different kinds of mica found in nature. Articles manufactured from forest products including bobbins, shuttles, picker arms and diapers besides carved items are also on display.

The museum will remain open between 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on all days except Sundays and holidays. Further information could be obtained by contacting the museum, telephone no: (0422) 245 0307.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Staff Reporter / Coimbatore – May 02nd, 2015

Musiri generates wealth from waste

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies
Several innovative and eco-friendly measures are being adopted at the compost yard in Musiri.— Photo: B.Velankanni Raj
Several innovative and eco-friendly measures are being adopted at the compost yard in Musiri.— Photo: B.Velankanni Raj

60 to 70 tonnes of compost generated at yard every month

The Musiri town panchayat has adopted several innovative solid waste management measures at its compost yard in the town. Operation of eco-san toilet, planting thorn-less bamboo around the sprawling 4.17-acre yard, segregation of bio-degradable and non-degradable waste, and generation of vermicompost from waste are some of the salient features of the yard.

The town, with 18 wards, accounts for a daily collection of 10.75 tonnes of garbage of which nine tonnes is segregated as biodegradable waste. “We have mobilised the support of women self-help groups in collecting and segregating the garbage,” says B.Gunalan, executive officer of the town panchayat.

About 60 to 70 tonnes of compost is generated from the yard every month. There is good demand for the manure from the banana cultivators and betel vine growers of Musiri, he said.

The thorn-less bamboo planted on the yard serves to demarcate the boundary of the facility and acts as its compound.

Further, the plant species has the ability to absorb large volume of carbondioxide and hence helps in limiting the odour generated from the yard, he said.

The eco-san toilet at the yard helps in preparing compost, minimising use of water, and preventing pollution of groundwater, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Corrrespondent / Tiruchirapalli – April 15th, 2015

Millets help maintain blood sugar level

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Madurai :

The food habits of the modern society are decided by companies that manufacture and process food. However, it is crucial to bring back some of our traditional food varieties back, including the nutrition-rich millet.

Nowadays, millets are included in bakery products like bread and bun to ensure healthier consumption of food. Millet varieties like Kuthiraivali, Varagu and Samai are used to prepare noodles. Consumption to millets is believed to help reduce chances of cancer and diabetes, and also controls obesity since it contains good amounts of fiber, protein and minerals.

S Kanchana, head of the food science and nutrition department at Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), said, “We conducted a training programme two months back for entrepreneurs to teach them about the millets that can be used in bakery products. Millets like Varagu, Thenai and Kuthiraivali has good amount of fibre and protein. Moroever, people who consume millets are 20% to 30% less likely to develop insulin resistance and diabetes-related diseases.”

Health mixes containing millets are sold at the Uzhavan Unavagam, or farmers canteen. Small millets like Thenai, Samai, Kuthiraivali and Varagu are low in glycemic index, which helps maintain blood sugar levels.

V K Balaji, 43, a farmer who runs a snack stall at Uzhavan Unavagam said, “We prepare noodles and snack items using small millets. Children and old alike enjoy consuming snacks made of these millets. It helps to maintain blood sugar levels and hence it is advisable to consume millets”.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by Karishma Ravindran, TNN / April 01st, 2015

Crucifix Orchid grown with passion

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
The flower of Crucifix Orchid resembling a ‘Holy Cross’ grown in Nagercoil.
The flower of Crucifix Orchid resembling a ‘Holy Cross’ grown in Nagercoil.

Sixty-three-year-old Stanley Joy Singh of Nagercoil grows ‘Holy Cross’ flowers with passion.

. He developed an interest in growing orchids from his school teacher Robinson Sigamani when he was in standard VIII while on an eco-tour to Pechiparai dam. Since then, the orchids in his backyard have grown in numbers. Today, over 600 varieties bloom in his backyard under shade.

Talking about the ‘Holy Cross’ flower, Mr. Singh says that they display a significant three-lobed lip and resemble a cross. The species originated from tropical and sub tropical USA and the Caribbean Islands. The popular and captivating species is commonly known as Crucifix Orchid.

The Holy Cross flowers bloom for two months in a year in February and March in four colours – orange, red, pink and blue. However, over 100 hybrid varieties of Holy Cross bloom all through the year in different colours.

“The passion flower, Crucifix Orchid, symbolises the passion of Christ for humankind, which consummated in his crucifixion and death on the Cross,” says Mr. Singh.

According to environment educator, S.S. Davidson, the plant is easily cultured at homes in pots as it is a tropical plant.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by R Arivanantham / Nagercoil – April 04th, 2015

In search of a fruit tree

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Chennai has the right weather for many fruit-bearing trees, but lack of rain and poor upkeep has left government nurseries without saplings.

If you are a tree lover who wishes to raise fruit bearing trees in your backyard, here is good news and bad news: With just a few square foot of land you can have some trees, but the gov ernment horticulture nurseries just don’t have enough saplings.

Fruit-bearing tree saplings such as mango, jackfruit, guava, pomegranate, sapodilla and custard apple are supposed to be sold in the department-owned nursery in Aathur, a village near Chengalpet. One has to travel nearly 60km to the south on the GST Road and another 2.8km west after reaching Chengalpet town to get to the nursery .

A visit to the place on Wednesday revealed that the nursery right now has only mango tree saplings and each sapling is priced at `50. This is one of the oldest horticulture nurseries, started in 1961. The dilapidated building inside the nursery reflects the state of affairs. Take a walk around and the wilting saplings show the impact of acute water scarcity in Kancheepuram district due to monsoon failure last year. Local people said an attempt was made to sink bore wells inside the premises at a depth of 350ft recently, but it failed to fetch water.

When contacted, horticulture department officials said fruit-bearing tree saplings are sold in four nurseries in Kancheepuram district. In Chennai there is nursery in Madhavaram, where one could get flowering, ornamental flowers and avenue species of tree saplings. The one in Kilpauk has been converted into a training centre and the one in Tiruvanmiyur now sells only manure.

“The nurseries in Kancheepuram sow the seeds of fruit bearing trees in May every year. After grafting, it takes at least three months for the saplings to be ready for sale. Quality saplings are sold only between September and March and some of the additionally raised saplings would be available for sale beyond March,” an official said. In order to overcome the water shortage, the department has created two pools inside its Madhavaram nursery , where rainwater was stored. This helped in recharging the groundwater table there.

Interestingly , a private nursery just opposite the horticulture nursery in Aathur has a variety of fruitbearing tree saplings, but at a higher price. A Banganapalli mango species sapling here is sold at Rs400 and that of a jack fruit at Rs700. J R Babu, owner of the nursery , said the mango seeds come from Seemandra and the jack fruit from Virudhachalam in Cuddalore.”I also faced water shortage this time. I drilled a bore well and was lucky to strike water at 350ft,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by P. Oppili, TNN / April 02nd, 2015

Ettimadai village still untouched by development

Business & Economy, Nature

Coimbatore :

While most panchayats close to the city have grown rapidly in the last ten years, the Ettimadai town panchayat has remained the same, with very little development. While residents await good drinking water, wide roads and job opportunities, local body officials are completely out of tune with their needs. However, some industrialists predict that once the airport expansion begins, opening up the southern end of the airport, the area might become ideally located for development.

“Ten years ago, I was working in a spinning mill in Madhukkarai, but the mills and workshops closed down and we had no choice but to continue farming and rearing cows,” said R Kanakaraj, a milkman in the village. Residents said that even basic amenities such as good roads and drinking water were lacking in the area. “In the last ten years, several colleges were set up here but not even one private player was allowed to set up an establishment in the village,” said S Shanmugam, an auto driver. Some panchayat sanitary workers said that they did not have many job opportunities in the area and thus several people were moving out of town to look for work. “We don’t even have a health centre here,” said Subramanian, a local. A few residents blame the inefficiency of the panchayat president for the lack of development.

The village officials said that they have done all that they could for the village. “It is located in the border area and thus many people don’t like to settle down here. Proximity to mountainous terrain and forests do not allow the land to be sold to industries,” said a town panchayat official. According to industrialists, the entire stretch after Madhukkarai became a hot spot for development after the Vellalore integrated bus stand was announced. “Moreover, since all other stretches have been developed, the south-western stretch of Coimbatore including the bypass road would definitely develop in the next three years,” said D Nandakumar, president, chamber of commerce.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Komal Gautham, TNN / March 26th, 2015

Local community radio receives national award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

The community radio of Dhan Foundation has bagged second prize in the category of community engagement awards at fifth National Community Radio Awards.

Minister of finance, corporate affairs and I&B, Arun Jaitley presented the awards at a function held in New Delhi on Monday. The ‘Vayalagam’ community radio has been operational since 2011, operated by the Madurai District Tank Farmers’ Federation under the Dhan Foundation. The station, which is available at an FM frequency of 90.4, covers a 15-km radius.

“Uluthundu Vazhvom”, a radio show focusing on agriculture, is one of the most widely listened-to programmes in the region, overtaking even commercial FM channels. The programme has many takers among the elders here.

The eight-hour channel is estimated to have a regular audience of 5,000 people, mostly farmers in the Kottampatti, Singampunari and Natham blocks. Besides passive listeners, it also has listeners who interact with the programme coordinators.

Popular shows include farmers’ views, experts’ views and harvesting techniques which the listeners claim have benefitted them immensely. Programme designer T Sundarapandian said they planned the shows based on seasons and the farmers’ requirements. The crop of the season is also a deciding factor in the programmes on the channel.

The radio station organises monthly review meetings with the farmers and programmes for the next months are planned based on the farmers’ expectations and reviews. As most farmers use their mobile phones to access the programmes, the station also gives out information on the “talktime” plans provided by mobile networks everyday.

“Gramathu kuyil”, another popular programme, broadcasts songs sung by people from the local community, which are recorded by the programmers either on the field or on the studio. Shows detailing important events in history that had taken place on a specific date also received good response, Sundarapandian said.

Much to their delight, farmers receive special wishes on their birthdays and anniversaries as the volunteers in the village information centres work closely with the farmers, obtain information from them and pass it on to the radio. Farmers are hoping that the station would go from being an 8-hour channel to a 24-hour service like other FM channels.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / March 18th, 2015

Liquor to milk: Distillers turn dairy farmers

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature

Coimbatore :

R Ravi, 43, from Shankara Nagar, was once a sought after man in the village just outside of Mettupalayam. Long before noon, at least half-a-dozen men would be waiting at his hideout on the forest fringes for a glass of the village’s best arrack. With every passing day his clientele increased because his arrack was known to have the best bite.

However, for the past 10 years the village’s best arrack brewer has been cutting trees and clearing fields for a meagre 150 to 200 a day to feed his family of four. “I learnt how to distil arrack because I started hanging around an arrack distiller in the village when I was eight years old and dropped out of school,” said Ravi. “I began serving customers and slowly learned the art of distilling,” he said. After his master died, he took over the business. “I would work till 11.30pm, earning up to 800 a day,” he said. Ravi’s reformation from an illegal arrack distiller to a tree cutter was not easy. “We would never know when we’d get caught by police,” he said. “Once we were picked up, our family members would have to go from station to station to trace our whereabouts,” he added.

In 2005, at least 80 arrack distillers in Mettupalayam and Karamadai panchayats were forced to leave their arrack business. “We kept them in jail for three months and counseled them, promising to give them jobs if they kept away from the illegal business,” said a senior inspector in Mettupalayam. “We told them that if they showed us that they had reformed, they would get a reward,” he said.

The government began distributing cows to reformed arrack distillers in 2011. We distributed around 120 cows in the district, said a government official.

The beneficiaries have been given medical and life insurance for the cow for three years, free periodical visits by the animal husbandry department and a one-day training programme on how to care for the cows. “This is to give the reformed men an alternative livelihood as dairy farmers,” said district collector Archana Patnaik.

S Arumugam, president of Palepalayam panchayat, said at least 50 men who received cows in last year have reformed. “Earlier, these arrack distilling units destroyed several families in our village. It is only in the last 10 years that men can be seen holding a job,” he said.

“The distillers are also working hard to sell their milk, keeping their cattle sheds clean and taking care of their calves,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Pratiksha RamKumar, TNN / March 21st, 2015

Help to raise a vegetable garden at home

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
Roof Garden at Ganga Street, Besant Nagar. Photo: M. Karunakaran / The Hindu
Roof Garden at Ganga Street, Besant Nagar. Photo: M. Karunakaran / The Hindu

Soon, you can raise your own vegetable garden on the terrace. As part of the Urban Horticulture Development Scheme, the State government is planning to introduce ‘Rooftop Garden – Do It Yourself Kit’ in Chennai and Coimbatore.

Dr. R. Aravindan, deputy director, The Tamil Nadu Horticulture Management Institute, Madhavaram, said, “One house will be allotted a minimum of one unit (1 kit) and a maximum of five units. One unit will cost Rs.3,300 approximately. A 16-square metre moisture polythene sheet will be provided per unit to protect the roof floor from the rainwater.

Apart from that, ultra-violet stabilised poly bags with coco peat compressed bricks and vegetables – brinjal, tomato, chilly, bush beans, cluster beans and different types of greens – will be provided. With two litres of water, the bags will expand five times higher. After seven to ten days, bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides with compost (one kilogram) should be mixed and used,” he added.

Garden tools – one litre hand sprayer, rose can, scoop, hand fork and two pro tray (50 holes) – and a hand book will be given to the beneficiaries.

The scheme is likely to be implemented in the middle of this month.

For details, contact A. Mohammed Nazeer, horticulture officer (Anna Nagar) at 9841155808, C. H. Rajeevan at 9840255347 and P. Punniyakodi at 9444989715.

For Perambur, contact N. Annamalai at 9444926440, K. Babu at 9444227095. For Thiruvanmiyur, contact M. R. Rajasekar at 9486725197 and S.V. Shanmugam at 9940658899.

Hi-tech sensor poly green house

The institute is setting up a hi-tech sensor poly green house on 28 acres, including five acres of State horticulture farm, 20 acres of ornamental garden and a horticulture management centre.

The green house will have imported saplings of capsicum (yellow, green, red and orange), lettuce, European cucumber, orchids, Dutch roses and anthura.

The house would be maintained with a temperature of 24-28 degrees Celsius throughout the year. It would be fully-automatic with irrigation, climate control devisers, foggers, shade nets, fan patch system ventilator and natural ventilator green house fan. The scheme is a frontline demonstration of National Horticulture Mission and National Agriculture Development Programme.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> DownTown / by T. S. Atul Swaminathan / Chennai – December 07th, 2013