V. Selvam, right, Chief Workshop Manager, Golden Rock Railway Workshop, giving away the Best Communication and Technical Development Award to G.S. Gopalakrishnan, Senior Section Engineer, in Tiruchi on Tuesday. / Photo: R. M. Rajarathinam / The Hindu
988 coaches overhauled in 2013-14; orders bagged for 1,000 low container wagons
The Golden Rock Railway Workshop here had created a record in periodic overhauling (POH) of passenger coaches in the 2013-14 fiscal, its Chief Workshop Manager V. Selvam said on Tuesday.
The workshop had carried out period overhauling of 988 coaches in 2013-14, including 144 air-conditioned coaches as against 924 coaches in the 2012-13 financial year, Mr. Selvam said speaking at the 59 Railway Week celebrations organised by the workshop here.
Highlighting the achievements of various wings of the workshop, Mr. Selvam appreciated the officers and employees for their joint effort in surpassing the targets.
The workshop had bagged a fresh order for the manufacture of 1,000 bogie low container wagons from the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) at a cost of Rs. 315 crore. The CONCOR had deposited Rs. 74 crore to the Railways in this regard, Mr. Selvam said.
Due to power conservation measures, the electrical wing of the workshop had saved 24,341 units of electricity.
There were no electricity-related accidents in 2013-14 in the workshop because of effective power management measures, he said.
Mr. Selvam said the workshop had bagged the General Manager’s Green Shield Award for the fifth time and another award for ‘Best Maintained Extra Division Office (Major)”.
Certificates were presented on the occasion to a number of 961 workshop employees in appreciation of their outstanding performances.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by R. Rajaram / Tiruchi – April 30th, 2014
The Milk collection point established by MSSRF. / Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu
“I have to get back my payment of Rs. 22,000 for supplying which is pending from my earlier milk vendor. Even after two years he is not ready to pay. Every time I go to ask for the amount he gives some excuse and sometimes he is not in his shop,” says Ms. Chellam from Thiruvennakoilpatti village, Illupur taluk, Pudukottai district.
Like her there are many people in different villages with the same story — pending payments from the local milk vendor or tea stall for the milk they supplied.
Confident
But today, after the Rural Women’s Entrepreneur Federation (RWEF) has been inaugurated by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Pudukottai, Ms. Chellam can be confident of getting back her due since there is a group to support her.
“The group was started in 2012 with an initial membership of about 450 women members after a survey in the village revealed that cattle rearing was not a popular off-farm activity since irregular monthly payments, faulty milk analysis, lack of knowledge in animal health care and management were some of the common reasons cited,” says Dr. R.S. Shanthakumar Hopper, Director, Ecotechnology Center, MSSRF.
Based on a request from the members, a federation called Komatha milk producer association (KMPA) was started, consisting of 375 women dairy entrepreneurs managed by RWEF.
The objective was to promote an integrated system of credit access for animal purchase, create quality and cost effective fodder banks, and establish vermicompost units, manufacture bio products from cow urine and maintain animal health care and insurance.
Azolla
Through the introduction of Azolla (used as green manure in rice fields), it was demonstrated that feed cost for the animals can be reduced by 20 per cent.
During the current year, the project promoted 80 acres fodder sorghum crop to ensure fodder availability for animals during summer.
To ensure a transparent management system, a committee consisting of nine members was elected from KMPA who meet once a month to discuss various matters related to their milk business.
KMPA has established six milk collection centers till date and has provided a revolving fund loan for Rs. 13 lakh for purchase of milch animals.
Indirect threat
“Though the women received loan from the federation and were willing to sell the milk to the federation, indirect threat came from the buyers that the pending money will not be given if they do not continue to supply the milk to them. The delayed payment is the trump card of the traders for making the women dependent on them and ensures regular supply,” says Dr. Hopper.
But constant efforts of the group resolved the delayed payments and the milk supply has increased from initial 100 litres per month to 12,000 litres per month with an annual gross income of Rs. 25 lakh.
Price
“The local milk trader gave us only Rs. 12 per litre and now we have bargained with a private milk vendor for bulk sales for Rs. 24 per litre. We also sell milk locally to a few shops on a regular basis for Rs. 28 per litre, that provides us with additional income” says Ms. Rajamani, a member of the association.
“I know that certainly I will get my milk sales money by 5th and 20th of every month. Now, this has enabled me and my family to plan for productive expenses.
“I have gained lot of confidence and respect in my family and community” says Ms. Muthulakshmi another milk supplier.
Long term plan
The long term strategy for the RWEF is to increase the milk producers to 1,000 members by 2015.
For more details contact Mr. Dr. R.S.Shanthakumar Hopper, Director at email: hopper@mssrf.res.in, mobile: 9445394394 and K. Thachinamurthy, Project Coordinator, Samathanapuram, Irunthirappatti road, Illuppur – PO, Pudukkottai District. email: thachinamurthy@gmail.com, Phone: 04339 272630, mobile: 09626737207.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> S & T> Science / by M. J. Prabu / April 30th, 2014
Depending on the demand and requirements, the company would expand the park in the 75 acres owned by it and adjacent to the park, Chellappan said.
Coimbatore :
Rooftop solar installation company Swelect Energy Systems has commissioned a 15 MW solar energy park near Vellakoil in Karur district of Tamil Nadu.
The 15 MW park is a modular energy park, wherein the company owns 12 MW and 3 MW capacity is owned by two other companies, Yajur Energy Solutions and Amex Alloys, company’s Managing Director R Chellappan told PTI today.
Set up on 75 acres of land with an investment of Rs 102 crore, the power evacuation is through a 33 KV dedicated feeder connecting Periyarnagar sub-station of Tangendco, he said.
Depending on the demand and requirements, the company would expand the park in the 75 acres owned by it and adjacent to the park, Chellappan said.
On the policy bottlenecks, Chellappan said the solar sector would benefit a lot if the Renewal Purchase Obligation (RPO) was regularised.
To a question on Tamil Nadu’s project to generate 3,000 MW through solar energy in three years, Chellappan said that the sector was waiting for favourable scheme.
The company has been engaged in developing solar power projects for a decade now as channel partner to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, he said, adding, it has installed over 1,500 rooftop projects across the country.
source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Industry> Energy> Power / by PTI / April 30th, 2014
There will be an interaction between experts and participants
Salem District Small Scale and Tiny Industries Association (SADISSTIA), Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA) and Germany based Fredrich-Newman-Foundation Service Centre, will be jointly organising a one-day seminar on “Energy Conservation”.
The programme will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hotel Grand Estancia in Kuranguchavadi, on April 30.
Chief Executive Officer of Jindal Steel Works, Mecheri, Salem, D. Ravichandar, will deliver the keynote address. Technical expert S. Kannan, from Tiruchi, will enlighten the participants on “Energy Conservation” in all types of buildings.
Focus will be on energy conservation in hotels, hospitals and educational institutions.
R. Baskaran, an energy conservation expert from Coimbatore, will be addressing the participants on energy conservation in utilities, compressors, boilers, fans and pumps.
Topic
Officer of the South India Textile Research Association, Coimbatore, N. Vasantha Kumar will elaborate on the topic for textile industries.
P. Ashok Kumar, President of the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Developers Association, will explain on getting solar energy equipment at a concessional rate with allowable subsidy from the Government. SADISSTIA President K. Mariappan said that there will be an interaction between experts and the participants.
The registration fee will be nominal for those who enrol for the programme at the SADISSTIA office opposite Alagapuram Police Station in Fairlands, Salem.
Further details could be obtained over phone at 94437-17295, 94426-31277 or 0427-2448479.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Staff Reporter / Salem – April 27th, 2014
It took a while for A Muruganantham, the 49-year-old resident of Coimbatore, known globally as the menstrual man for his revolutionary design in the production of low cost hygienic sanitary napkins, for the news to sink in when he came to know that he’s one among four Indians to be featured in the Time magazine list of 100 most influential people in the world along with BJP leader Narendra Modi, Aam Aadmi Party leader Aravind Kejriwal and writer Arundhathi Roy. The list also includes the likes of US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, education activist Malala and whistle blower Edward Snowden.
“It is a great feeling to realise that I am sharing space with these people. But it has not been an easy journey for me so far even though I’m constantly trying to improvise and upgrade my skills, which is my main driving force,” said Muruganantham, seated inside his modest workshop in the outskirts of the city. When he is in Coimbatore, he spends most of his time tinkering with his production design for low cost sanitary napkins. But most of the time he is travelling across the globe delivering lectures and attending seminars organised by universities including Harvard University. A Muruganatham had decided to come up with the sanitary napkin manufacturing machine way back in 1998 when he realised that his wife Santhi used a piece of old rag cloth as a substitute for sanitary napkins. He realised that most Indian women like his wife were finding it difficult to access hygienic sanitary napkins due to lack of availability and affordability.
“Hailing from the family of a handloom weaver and making a living from a modest workshop, I realised that if the women in my family decide to opt for branded sanitary napkins then we will have to make major cuts in our family budget,” added Muruganantham.
His initial attempt involved buying 10 grams of cotton at 10p and presenting a sanitary napkin to his wife. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disaster. This forced him to do some ground research on the type of materials used in branded sanitary napkins.
“At once I realized I was in trouble as I was unable to get feedback on existing products. Besides, I didn’t have access to used napkins to study and understand the type of raw materials I would need. Fed up with my obsession, my wife left me for a while. There were rumours that I was a pervert in my village. Some even said I was a vampire yearning to drink blood,” he said.
But Muruganantham continued with his efforts and realised that the key raw material to manufacture sanitary napkins was cellulose which could be separated and turned into the fluffy cotton used inside the pad. After further research he came up with a design that was finally approved by IIT Madras. Instantly, his fortunes were reversed and he began to receive global attention in 2009. He went one step further and decided to supply the units to women self help groups in India and globally where groups of women could manufacture and market their own local brands of sanitary napkins.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Binoy Valsan, TNN / April 27th, 2014
Enthusiasts thronged Coimbatore city for ‘Aeroplus 2014’, which exhibited more than 20 varieties of aircrafts, choppers and their manoeuvres.
The exhibition is being organised by Nehru College of Aeronautical Science and will continue for three days. Most of the aircrafts that were on display have been brought from Indian Air Force and other foreign countries.
“The show has been organised to create awareness among the public regarding aviation field,” said organiser of the aero show, Krishna Kumar.
The visitors were mostly attracted to miniature helicopter, which was designed by an aeronautical student. One of the distinct characteristics of this miniature chopper was it cannot be detected by radar which can be greatly useful for the armed forces.
“We thought that models would be exhibited, but there are real choppers and flights being exhibited here, there are choppers designed by the students. The students explained us about the working of the choppers and about the flight here and inside the lab, the engines and the materials used to manufacture the flight are being displayed. This is a wonderful experience,” said a visitor, Priya.
Some of the aircrafts that were on display included Hawker 1A, Beech aircraft, King Air C-90 aircraft, Cessna 150D, a rare Enstrom F-28 helicopter, etc.
Inside the exhibition halls, visitors also got the chance to witness an international airport which was prepared in the form of a big model. There were runways, terminals, security points, radar, repair yard, flying club, parking area arranged along with the aircrafts. Engine models were also put on display including MIG-21 fighter plane engine.
Aircraft accessories, aviation photo gallery and cockpit instruments were also set up in this novel exhibition.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-ANI> National / ANI / Coimbatore – April 27th, 2014
Music technology has indeed come a long way. / Photos: Desikan Krishnan, V.V. Krishnan, AP and Vipinchandran. / The Hindu
From the humble gramophone to iTunes and MP4, music technology has come a long way.
My earliest recollection of listening to recorded music is that of a strange looking contraption with a brassy and shiny loud-speaker mounted on it, churning out a crackling version of a Carnatic melody (kriti) by one Kanchipuram Dhanakoti who would sign off the three-and-a-half minute song, raucously announcing her name. Well, that was the custom then!
This was soon replaced by a better looking and more compact box with its speaker built in and a neat looking turn-table that worked on an optimum speed (78 RPM) only if it were wound enough by a special lever which resembled the manual-starter of a truck. A circular disc made of vinyl would be placed on the turn-table and it would be activated by a spindle at the top with a stylus (subject to change once in a while) that coursed over its grainy surface and generated the music much to our delight and wonder!
The image of a dog peering into the loudspeaker with curiosity later became a popular brand mnemonic – “His Master’s Voice” – for The Gramophone Co. of India.
Those were the days when the high-pitched voices of S.G. Kittappa, Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and Dandapani Desikar ruled the roost on 78 RPM vinyl. T. N. Rajarathnam’s three-and-a half minute capsule of Thodi was breathtaking, to say the least. When Long Playing records (LP’s) and Extended Play (45 RPM) followed the 78 RPM, there was a veritable explosion of various genres of music that entered our homes. Remember Saraswathi Stores on Mount Road where everybody who wanted to buy records homed in on with regularity?
While there was the haunting voice of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan surprisingly singing ‘Rama Ni Samana’ in Kharahapriya (unbelievable, but the recording is still available) and Veena Dhanammal’s dulcet fingers floated over a seemingly fretless veena to thrill the connoisseurs of Hindustani and Carnatic music respectively, the younger generation (which included yours truly then) began to get LPs of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra from the world of Pop, and Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong straight, so to speak, from the smoke-filled bars of New Orleans.
A remarkable change in the world of storing and delivering music took place when the spool recorder made its first appearance in Japan and later took India by storm. The AKAI-M 10 (if I vaguely recall the model) became a household name and a status symbol for those who wanted to swing in with the times and display it in their living rooms. Catering to a higher segment, the tape recorder, armed with four tracks, boasted the capacity to bring home several hours of Carnatic music concerts, long-drawn symphonies of Beethoven, jazz standards ranging from Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, not to forget the complete repertoire of the golden oldies, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh and Talat Mehmood, and ghazals of Begum Akthar.
But Man’s thirst for innovation soon put paid to the rule of the cumbersome Tape Recorder. The entry of Compact Cassettes into the world of Recorded Music was a remarkable phenomenon making it possible for music to go wherever he wanted it to and allowing him to manipulate its flow in whichever sequence he desired. One thrilled to the idea of having a small package of invaluable music tucked away in one’s pocket. (At a later point of time, history would repeat itself when the pen-drive captured much more music within its tiny frame!).
The advent of a slew of Japanese models flaunting two-in-ones (tuner plus recorder) made it possible to record music easily on cassettes and play them at leisure. The versatility of cassettes made them extremely popular and the music industry witnessed an unprecedented boom with enormous popular appeal. One vividly recalls how NRIs would swoop down on Sankara Hall on Mowbrays Road and other exhibition halls to pick up cassettes in baskets!
Teenagers had the pleasure of listening to Elvis Presley and the Beatles at home while those of ‘sterner’ stuff could switch over to Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison in the privacy of their “pads”! My prized collection of cassettes of Jean Luc Ponty and Stephane Grappelli demonstrated how international fusion could be churned out on violins by those virtuosos even in the early 1990s!
As a jolly bachelor in Calcutta, I spent lazy Sunday afternoons at home with my friends, quaffing generous draughts of beer and listening to popular tracks from Abba (“Hasta Manhana”), Osibisa and Boney M (“Ma Baker” and “Daddy Cool”) on my heavy-duty Aiwa!
Came the moment when EPs and LPs, packaged tantalisingly in colourful jackets and fighting a losing battle for shelf space, finally took a bow and graciously allowed cassettes to step into the limelight. During this metamorphosis, a soft interim entry by Laser Discs did make some ripples but the fiery momentum set up by the flow of cassettes drove them away without much ado. So too did Cartridges with a short life-span.
The recording industry appears to be a cruel and relentless one with no regard for their star players; thanks to a slew of new products being researched and finally churned out by the ever pioneering software industry, CDs and MP4 players have wiped out cassettes from the field of play just as cassettes did to LPs earlier.
Music lovers, saddled with thousands of cassettes collected and recorded with passion over many years and hours of night-long recording sessions, are today left with a treasure-trove but with no takers! The next generation is ‘cool’ with its pen-drive, iPod and Smart Phones. Apple and Bose are there to cater for those who can afford them. A neat and tidy hard disc back-up unit takes care of all their music, apart from their study notes and other papers!
Cassettes and cassette players are no longer being manufactured and it is a Herculean task to get the old ones repaired at Electronics Repairers who are preoccupied with more sophisticated equipment. Cosmic, Norge and Nakamichi Cassette Decks, once a part of the prized accoutrements, are now perhaps a mere memory!
The initial enthusiasm that drove many to several outlets in Chennai to transfer their musical treasure from cassettes to CDs has evaporated of late since the portents are indicative of CDs themselves being eased out by music files, MP4 players and through downloads from various sources, not to mention retail points such as Giri Trading Co., Mylapore, building up of one’s own library on Real Player and, of course, tapping into the inexhaustible sources of YouTube, I-tune Stores, non-stop Radio Stations and music-centric websites on the Internet.
One is reminded of a clairvoyant advertising tycoon who prophesied a decade ago at an Asian Advertising Congress that one day, not too far away, each home will be equipped with just One Black Box that will use a convergent digital technology to incorporate all the elements of Voice, Video, Text and Graphics delivering all forms of Information, Communication and Audio-Visual Entertainment. Beware, Apple and Microsoft are already at it!
It looks like we are almost there!
(vkalidas@gmail.com)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by V. Kalidas / Chennai – April 25th, 2014
Special Arrangement The measures found on one of the walls of the Thanjavur Big temple. / Photo: Sri Gokul Seshadri / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
How many are familiar with weights and measures such as Kuzhi, Maa, Veli and Muntiri that were used in olden days?
(A monthly column that unravels fascinating facts about heritage, art and architecture, this one throws light on measurements used in medieval period)
Writing in the 19th Century, a British official complained, “the number of viss in a maund differs in a bewildering way, both according to local custom and to the substance which is being weighed… a ‘measure,’ is a most varying quantity – any old compressed beef tin of any size passes as a measure, if you will accept it. The only way is to get accustomed to your providers’ peculiarities and pay accordingly.” The same traveller would be surprised if he was in the medieval Tamil Nadu! Weights and measures from inscriptions are complex. They vary with region, dynasty and many kings created their own!
Different calculations
Weights and measures are frequently found in inscriptions that deal with gifts of land and produce to temples. The Chola and Pandya territories seemed to have had different measures but with many local variations. Some calculations can be made.
Land was measured in Kuzhi – which was one rod in length and one rod in width. Three Kuzhi made aMaa. 20 Maa made a Veli (sometimes called Sey as well). A Maa approximates to 33 cents. Because a rod length varied it’s difficult to say that a Veli in one part of the state was the same elsewhere. 1/80 of a Veli made a Kani and 1/320 of a Veli made a muntiri. Smaller land fractions went to as low as 2.81 sq.ft. Such small fractions were useful since land was taxed not just by spread but fertility as well. By colonial times, a Veli was equal to 6.6116 acres.
Grain was measured as eight Naazhi that made a pucca padi or a pattanam padi in the Pandya country. Surprisingly in Thanjavur, eight Naazhi made only half that quantity and was called a china padi. Amarakkal was used to measure grain. A Nerai Naazhi approximated to a little less than a kilo, possibly 850-900gms.
Gold and gems had a separate calculation. One gold kasu (coin) was four kunrimani (a seed). TwoKunrimani made a manjadi and 20 manjadi made a kalanju. 2.5 kalanju made a sovereign of pre-independence proportions, around eight grams today.
Land measures are most commonly encountered. Several temples such as those in Kanchipuram (Varadaraja temple), Srirangam and others have alavu kols – lines etched into the stone wall that are a measure for land. These come in varying lengths, 12, 16, sometimes even 18 ft. The ends are differentiated with a zig zag or some decorative feature, and the alavu kol, usually has a name to it. Raja Raja called his, Adavallan after the Chola tutelary deity Nataraja of Chidambaram. These measures continued even in the 19th centuries, temples in the Pudukottai district have such measures from the reigns of the Sethupathis. The Kols were based on a human span – (chaan) or a foot (adi). A rod was named after the number of spans and feet it comprised. 16 span rods were most common but mostly in the northern districts. Foot rods become more popular in the 12th century. The 18 foot rod was more popular in the Pandya country. We have evidence of land surveys being conducted during the reigns of Raja Raja I and Kulotunga and Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I in the 11-13th centuries. The person responsible for it, being honoured with the title “Ulagalanda” or one who surveyed the world.
In the 18th century, the documents in the Thanjavur Sarasvati Mahal library give us insights into the measures of that period. One Manjadi was 260 mg, One kalanju was 5.2 gms, One tank was One gm, One tola was 2.9 gms, One palam was 35 gms, Oneseer was 280 gms and One marakkal was three Kg. 12tolas made One palam (35 gm), eight palams made One seer (280 gm), five seers made One veesai (One kg and 400 gm), eight veesai made One manangu (11 kg and 200 gm), 40 manangu made One baram(448 kg).
In another system prevalent in the Maratha times One padi made 750 gm and four padis made Onemarakkal (three kg). This was used mostly for agriculture produce. Land was measured by a rod fourteen feet in length. 20 maa made one veli (6.5 Acres). 100 kuzhi made a maa. The Marathas also had taank (rhyming with ‘Monk’). One tola (three gm), in 1820, made three taank, whereas in 1780, One tola was equal to One taank. Gold and silver had a separate system. One kunrimani made 13.3 mg, two kunrimani made One manjadi (26.6 mg), 20 manjadi made One kalanju (5.320 mg), 60 kunrimanimade One poun (7.98 gm).
During the colonial times, measures included One padi, ½ padi and ¼ padi. Two aazhakku made ¼padi. ½ and aazhaku was a Veechampadi. Another unit was a Maakani. In Kumbakonam a ½ padi was a chinna padi. In many places down south liquids were sold as a Chombu– about 1/4th padi. Old timers still remember these units and can swiftly calculate and convert without modern devices – perhaps in some ways modern technology has made us mentally less agile!
(The writer can be contacted at pradeepandanusha@gmail.com)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review> History & Culture / Stone Speak / by Pradeep Chakravarthy / Chennai – April 24th, 2014
Mindless usage of chemical fertilizers and spraying pesticides to increase yields have made farming a commercial exercise profiting only some private companies rather than a small farmer.
“The challenge today is to generate a better yield and income from small farms using locally available materials since more than 80 per cent of farmers in India are small farmers,” says Dr. Kamalasanan Pillai, Head of the R&D, Vivekananda Kendra –Natural Resources Development (Vk- Nardep), an NGO in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
While cattle-dung based formulations are well known, still not all marginal farmers are cattle owners – particularly cow – which is essential for indigenous formulations. Some of these formulations are also costly for a marginal farmer.
New technology
Vk-nardep developed a new technology using fish wastes to make a nutrient that offers all the vital ingredients needed for crop growth in an organic way through locally available resources.
“Though fish is available throughout the year, during the post monsoon season huge quantity of fish waste as well as non-edible fish related waste are generated both in village markets and also in household kitchens.
The disposal of this waste material poses a big problem. As the fish-waste contains rich proteins, it cannot be kept beyond 24 hours. This waste material becomes the basic substrate for the bio-formulation developed by us. This also solves the problem of pollution and waste-disposal,” says Dr. Pillai.
Giving details on how the fish substrate can be done he says:
About 20 kg of fish waste is collected and stored in a plastic can of 40 litres capacity.
To this 10 litre of water is added followed by 20-30 ml papaya latex. The papaya latex (pappain) is collected after making a small cut on the surface of a mature green papaya fruit. The material is mixed well with pappain and kept for 5-8 hrs. The vessel is kept closed with stirring every hour.
Fermentation
After five to eight hours, jaggary solution (four kg jaggary dissolved in five litres of water) is added to the fish substrate and stirred well. This mixture is allowed to ferment well for 15-20 days. The scales and fish bones get degraded well within this period.
After the stipulated day the extract is prepared by adding two to five times water to the fermented material.
The extract can be filtered and applied to plants, preferably as a foliar spray. The undigested part if any, can be used as manure for the soil.
Shelf life
For increasing shelf life further, the extract can be filtered using a muslin cloth followed by pressure filtration to get rid of small solid particles.
The material filtered with the pressure filter can be kept for a period of three months and used when necessary. To use this as spray dilute 250 to 500 ml of the extract in 10 litres of water.
Farmers are advised to spray this after 4 pm in the evening for best results.
“The formulation can be used for all vegetable and flower crops. The technology is particularly useful for those who do not have cattle.
It also benefits the waste disposal problem of local fish markets and restaurants – particularly the fish waste. Extensive trials have been conducted by our institute using this fish extract on crops like lady’s finger, amaranthus, palak, brinjal and tomato and have fetched good results,” he explains.
Amino extract from chemical source/commercial brands available in the market costs Rs. 300 per litre while the locally made fish-amino costs only Rs. 40-50. It is ecologically safer than chemicals and has also pest repellent effect. “We are working to see how beneficial this extract is for paddy and banana crops as well,” he adds.
Workshops
VK-nardep work is on seeking sustainable solutions to address the environmental and agriculture related issues and innovates sustainable alternatives. It regulalry organises awareness camps, seminars, workshops and brings out publications on sustainable farming practices. To know more contact Dr.P.Kamalasanan Pillai, Project Coordinator,Vivekananda Kendra – NARDEP,,Kanyakumari – 629 702,,Tamilnadu, ), e.mail : vknardep@gmail.com, web : vknardep.org, mobile : 09387212005, phone: 04652 246296.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> S & T> Science / Farmers Notebook / by M.J. Prabu / February 28th, 2013
THE EFFECT: Frequency of pesticide spray was reduced from once in seven days to once in 15 days and finally once in 30 days./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Continuous power supply is essential for any type of agricultural activity. Particularly in villages where the concept of invertors or generators is yet to attain a major breakthrough, electricity disruption means temporary suspension of any activity till power supply resumes.
Though the Government has been harping on need to harness solar power and grants subsidies for installing solar units for farm related activities, the concept is yet to gain momentum.
Major issue
But for some individuals like Mr. David Raja Beula, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Kadayam in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, electricity disruption does not seem to be a major issue since he has developed several solar powered farming equipment.
Among his recent innovations is the multipurpose solar pest manager and garden light. The device according to him was developed to help brinjal and jasmine cultivators in the region control fruit borer and white fly pest in their crops.
The height of the solar light is about eight feet. It has a solar panel, a battery, two five watt bulbs and an insect collection stainless steel tray on which a sticky paste of castor oil and shampoo mix is smeared.
“Brinjal and jasmine farmers in Kadayam region in the district were struggling to control the fruit borer and white fly pests for a long time. They sprayed pesticides once in seven days to control the problem. During this time I had developed the multipurpose solar pest manager and introduced it to the participants at a meeting. About 35 farmers who attended the meeting were given one device to experiment the efficiency of the device,” says Mr. Beula.
The collection of killed fruit borer moths started at the rate of three moths and gradually increased to 500 moths a day and white flies from 100 numbers to 700 a day.
Reduced spray
“We also found that the frequency of pesticide spray was reduced from once in seven days to once in 15 days and finally once in 30 days, thereby bringing down the expense from Rs.10, 000 to Rs.5,000 for an acre of brinjal and from Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 12,000 for jasmine,” he explains.
Priced at Rs.15,000 a piece, it can be used to control pests in other crops also, according him. Since the device has also a light facility attached, it can be used to light the fields and garden in which it is used.
Farmers repeatedly spray several chemicals, or in case of organic methods use the required bio applications on the jasmine and brinjal crops. But complete eradication seems impossible as the larvae hide in the shoots and fruits and escape the sprays.
“Naturally farmers tend to over-spray thinking that more spraying effectively controls the pest.
Big expense
Repeated spraying causes a big expense for a small farmer. In addition to the financial cost incurred for buying the inputs, excessive application of chemicals creates a negative impact on the environment, in the harvested flowers and vegetables and poses a serious risk to consumers as well,” he says.
Mr. Sivaperumal a small farmer from Therkumadathur village showed thousands of white flies in jasmine crops attracted and killed in the device.
Another farmer from Tharuvai village Mr. Anthony Raj was deeply impressed by the effectiveness of the device in controlling the fruit borer in his brinjal crop and says, “I have got the confidence to expand the cultivation area from half an acre to two acres in the coming season,” he says.
Dhan foundation an NGO in Madurai that works for farmers’ welfare has recorded that the solar multipurpose device helps reduce the boll worm’s infestation in cotton crops by controlling the moths and there was reasonable reduction in pesticide usage among the 35 farmers using it.
Based on order
“At present I do not have a readymade unit available for those who are interested to try it. It is manufactured based on order. So farmers who need it are requested to contact me in advance and place orders,” says Mr. Beula.
For more details and personal visit interested farmers can contact Mr. P. David Raja Beula Assistant Director of Horticulture Kadayam, Tirunelveli District Tamil Nadu,email: microeconomicsdavid@yahoo.co.in, mobile: 09486285704.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> S&T> Science / Farmers Notebook / by M.J. Prabu / January 01st, 2014
