The field has been cleared and ploughed with a power-tiller
The plot has been cleared and tilled
The land has been cleared, the stone walls mended where they were broken, to ensure that stray cattle are kept out and the laat-stand has been taken down to make way for a pump-house where a 1.5HP kerosene+petrol pump will be installed. This will greately facilitate the watering of the field.
Beds have been made to raise nurseries for various crops. The first round of planting consists of tambadi bhaji (visible as red patches in the photo above), radish, spinach, chillies etc…
Seed collection
We have gathered seeds from different places (Auroville’s Annadana, Navadayna from Deheradoon, and some from our local seed stockists in and around Panjim).
Miguel Braganza provides support for the experiment
Miguel Braganza, who is closely linked with the Organic Farmers Association of India (OFAI) and the Peer Guarantee System (PGS) of organic certification is our advisor for this esperiment. He has committeed to visit Chorao once a week, every Monday afternoon to check on progress, torubleshoot and provide guidance. Thanks Miguel!
Shilan pokes around to see what's germinated
Nursery beds are covered with straw to keep the seeds warm and facilitate germination. Once the seeds sprout, the straw is moved back and they seedlings are allowed to grow under full sunlight.
Posted in Events on 17. Feb, 2010
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
Several of us have had a problem with our Capsicum crop, as well as the local varieties of chillies that we grow.
The Problem: Leaves of the capsicum plan seem to be shriveling up and are not growing in size.
Shriveled up leaves of Capsicum
The diagnosis: Scientists from the KVK visited the farms where this seemed to be a problem. They suggest that this is a problem of fungal attack as well as that of white flies.
Dr. Prabhu and Dr. Rajnarayan visit affected farms
They also suspect that due to very high moisture levels (because of a low water table) and excessive watering the fungal attack was seen more in low-lying and not so much in upland areas.
Solutions: There were a couple of approaches taken to try and address the issue:
Sprinkle the following
- wood/burnt cow-dung ash on the plants
- a solution of burnt cow-dung ash in water (soaked for 24 hrs)
- a neem-based water solution (though this was found to also contain the chemical epichlorohydrin )
It remains to be seen which of the above has been most effective.
Samiksha sprays her chilly crop with neem-based insecticide
Despite attack, Capsicum seems to be growing well in some pockets
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.
The Farmers Club is conducting various experiments both in growing and in marketing of their produce.
One of the more recent experiments has been the growing of some exotic vegetables, with support from the ICAR.
A few of the women have planted broccoli and capsicum. While the capsicum has not been doing very well, the broccoli has grown into healthy florets.
Broccoli being grown on an experimental basis
