Ginger Cultivation

Ginger Cultivation

• About 600kg -1000kg of seed Rhizomes(roots) are required to sow one acre of  land
• Sowing is done in April-May in South India and a little later in North India
• Ginger can be cultivated as a mixed or inter crop along with shade giving plants like banana, tomato, chilli and even coconut trees
• The irrigated ginger crop is watered immediately after sowing
• The ginger crop is ready for harvesting in about 8 - 10 months depending upon the maturity of the variety. When fully mature, the leaves turn yellow and the stem begins to dry

Small crops

Small crops that can be cultivated in Small spaces

1)Garlic
2)Onion
3)Ginger
4)Microgreens
5)Capsicum
6)Pepper
7)Chillies (special)
8)Mushroom
9)Beekeeping
10)Groundnuts
11)Potato
12)Brinjal
13)Curry leaves

Innovative Vertical gardening - small space farming

Vertical gardening

Limited space can still be put to great use with some clever design tricks like making the most of vertical space growing opportunities. Not only are these functionally effective, but tend to be more low maintenance and enhance your garden space visually.

Almost anything can, with a little imagination be turned into a place to grow something in your own backyard.

Examples of Container Gardening, Raised Bed Garden, Vertical Tower Garde...

Innovative small space - Farming/Gardening in Windows

Setting up your Dig In windowsill

Even if you've only got a windowsill, you can still grow some lovely grub.

Choose windowsills that get plenty of sun - five hours a day or more during summer preferably.

The wider the sill the better, as you'll be able to get bigger containers onto it. And if it catches the rain as well, that's even better - it'll save on watering later.

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Wonderful windowboxes

The deeper your windowbox, the greater the variety of veg you can grow. Make sure it's properly fixed and supported, as it'll be very heavy once it's full.

A 20cm deep windowbox is fine for salad leaves and 30cm for the Dig In carrots and beans. Very few windowboxes are big enough to suit a courgette plant - they need a lot of room.

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Innovative Small space Sack farming/gardening

Small Space, Big Promise: Sack Farming

Nakabaale apparently learnt sack farming from her parents who used to practice it at home on a small scale. In fact, growing up she was always told that every woman needs a garden, something that inspired her to set up a sack garden to fit in her small space.

The sacks are not ordinary, at least in regards to size. They are so gigantic with a radius of just over one meter. She has only four of them; exactly what her compound can hold.

Setting Up The Garden

“I started by collecting huge sacks that had been dumped around my neighbourhood. Given that I have always had a poultry house, I was able to compost chicken manure that had accumulated in the coop. This I mixed with black soil to enrich the soil. But I did not just fill the sacks with the soil, I had to place small pebble stones at the middle of the sack, right from bottom to top, then filled the sack with soil leaving the stones erect in the middle,” the mother of three says.

Harriet Nakabaale shows some crops in eggshells that she grows as part of her extended farming in her sack garden.

The stones ensure sufficient water distribution throughout the sacks during watering.
In one of the sacks she grows spinach, dodo and carrots. In another sack is a young guava tree right in its centre surrounded by green vegetables. In yet another there are spring onions, celery, tomatoes and spinach. True to her philosophy, size does not matter which is why even in egg shells there are thriving plants.

In order to ensure maximum usage of the sack, she grows some crops on the sides of the bag. “Usually the crops with big roots like carrots go on the top and the sides are reserved for those with small roots like ordinary vegetables. I water my sack garden almost on a daily basis so I have no such a thing as a crop growing season. My garden is ever green, even during the dry season,” she says.

Ron Finley: A guerilla gardener in South Central LA - Very nice inspiring video on farming

Innovative Vertical Farming/Gardening

Vertical Farming/Gardening 

Roll up some landscape fabric(Saakku in tamil), fill it with soil and poke holes in it for your growies.  

The first pic here shows the cylindrical fabric filled with soil and tied to a tree.

The second pic shows holes and plants growing from them.

Farming and produce more in very small spaces

How to Produce 6,000 Pounds(2720 Kilograms apprx) of 

food in Small Spaces 

A family that farms just 4,000 square feet of land is able to produce about 4,300 pounds of vegetables, 900 chicken and 1,000 duck eggs, 25 pounds of honey, and further poundage of seasonal fruits on their 4,000 square-foot postage stamp of land just outside the southern California’s sprawling megalopolis. Beyond providing food for themselves, the family makes about $20,000 per year by selling their produce from their front porch.”

That kind of productivity would rival any highly mechanized, GMO-seeded, chemical fertilized Big farm field. That the family was able to reap such an extraordinary harvest from a tenth of an acre is actually the status quo where farmers really know what they’re doing. Especially when they avoid many of the pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers and GMOs of modern farming.

Every member of the family pitches on to make sure every square inch of their land produces as much as possible. In addition, beyond simply producing their own organic food, the Dervaes family is living almost totally off the grid. Many of the gadgets they use are hand-powered, and what isn’t hand powered gets energy from solar panels, which leads to power bills that max out at about $12 per month. They also don’t burn any fossil fuels, as their car is powered by biodiesel produced from used cooking fat—which restaurants deliver to their doorstep.”

The real secret here is that a focused effort applied with the ancient wisdom about how to till the land and enrich the soil can go a long way. This family have proven that farming can still be highly productive when you know the tricks of the trade and the land is genuinely respected.

Conclusion

Many farmers, both small organic and Big Agriculture, have recognized that the rules have been changing. The nation is entering a period where self sufficiency and independence from corporate farming could become useful.

New pickup truck in India

Multix - Launched at 2.85 - 3.00 lacs

India’s a vast country, but with a population over 1 billion humans their cities still don’t have space for the kind of gargantuan pickup trucks we get to drive here in America. So Polaris and Eicher Motors have combined forced to build the Multix for Indians to do the same things we do with F-150s.

PICKUP TRUCKS

India and the Pick-Up:

Isuzu, the Japanese utility vehicle manufacturer launched the D-Max in two variants on 29th May 2014 in Delhi. This is a company who has been tremendously successful when it comes to commercial vehicles, Utility Vehicles and are leaders in manufacturing diesel engines; What made these veterans enter a potential rich market for SUV’s and instead concentrate on Pick-Up trucks? Statistically there is an expected increase in demand for PUP’s (Pick-Up’s) by the year 2023, as India is a developing economy on the verge of becoming a superpower, and the backbone of this growth would be the small business, so Isuzu plans to  use their expertise in this segment and fortify their stronghold in our markets before this demand boom sets in. Not only are they targeting the customers coming their way because their livelihood depends on it, but also the ones who shall benefit directly themselves from a growing economy and with an increase in finances would like to have a secondary vehicle for off-roading or similar purposes. Its a prudent move from an old war-horse which knows its way into a growing market.

Check out  as to what are the options that we have when it comes to Pick-up trucks as on date.

Mahindra Scorpio Getaway:

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Its quite honestly a Scorpio with the third row cut-off and an extended bed added int its place, there is very little change in the design otherwise. Powered by a 2.6 L turbocharged Common Rail Diesel Engine that unleashes 115 BHP @ 3800 rpm and 277.5 Nm @ 1700 rpm. The two-wheel drive is enhanced with a 5-speed manual transmission and covers 0 to 100 KMPH in 19.7 seconds.

Mileage: 9 KMPL City and 11 KMPL Highway.

Price: A little over Rs 8.8 Lakhs (Delhi) for the 4WD variant

Tata Xenon XT:

This is from our point of view is the best product aesthetically and also packs in a host of features. The Xenon XT is equipped with a 2.2 litre VTT DICOR (Variable Turbine Technology – Direct Injection Common Rail) diesel engine that churns out an awesome power of 139 BHP. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and an intelligent ECU (engine control unit) and It gives a maximum speed of 160 KMPH.

Mileage: 9 KMPL City and 12 KMPL Highway.

Price: Rs 10.5 Lakhs (Delhi) for the 4×4.

Mahindra Bolero Camper:

Out of the three, its the most simple looking and not made as a lifestyle vehicle. The Bolero Camper is propelled by a 2.5L turbocharged direct injection diesel churning out 72 BHP of power and a peak torque of 176 Nm. The standard transmission on Camper Gold is a 5-speed manual and that on the Camper DI and Huber is a 4-speed manual.

Mileage:11 KMPL City and 14 KMPL Highway

Price: Rs 6 Lakhs for the top-end model

Isuzu D-Max spacecab:

Coming from a manufacturer with global real-time experience with PUP’s it feels to be a bit of a let down to see it to be only a two seater, the interiors have a no-nonsense feel to it and the extra space behind the seats can be useful in longer trips.

Mileage: upward of 16 KMPL on Highway.

Price: Rs 8.5 to 9 Lakhs (Delhi) for the Arched Deck.

Farmer earns Rs. 22 lakh a year from 2.1 acres of land

Farmer earns Rs. 22 lakh a year from 2.1 acres of land

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041956350500.htm

BANGALORE: At a time when there is a strong perception that farming is not a profitable venture, this farmer from Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk has created waves by earning a profit of about Rs. 22 lakh a year from merely 2.1 acres of land.

It is his innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods that have helped 51-year-old H. Sadananda to reap a rich harvest.

He cultivates nearly 30 varieties of crop on his land, including tomato and areca on half an acre each which yield him Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 50,000 respectively.

Ginger is cultivated along with areca in the plantation, and it yields him about Rs. 70,000 a year. Mr. Sadananda has also made space in his areca plantation for rearing 250 Giriraja hens which he sells every three months to earn about Rs. 1 lakh a year. The poultry droppings are valuable manure for the areca plantation while agricultural waste is used as feed for the birds.

He has planted about 2,000 rose cuttings on three-fourth of an acre, which fetches him about Rs. 4 lakh a year, and has set up a greenhouse on one-fourth of an acre for cultivating capsicum and high-quality rose alternatively. Capsicum, cultivated for about six months, yields him about Rs. 5.4 lakh while the rose variety that replaces capsicum for the next six months gets him about Rs. 2.5 lakh a year. A small vegetable garden, a fish-rearing pond, coconut and jackfruit trees on the periphery of his land, in addition to coffee plants, papaya, sapota and lime trees also find a place. His cows produce 80 to 100 litres of milk a day.

Manure

Manure comes from vermicompost and the slurry from a gobar gas plant. A tiny pond is filled with azolla plants which is a good cow feed.

Mr. Sadananda, who depends on borewell for irrigation, has installed drip irrigation system for the entire land at a cost of Rs. 50,000 (excluding subsidy). “Drip irrigation allows me to irrigate my entire land even with four hours of three-phase power,” he says. Besides, it prevents weeds and also saves him about Rs. 400 a day in labour costs.

Interestingly, he also breeds Rottweiler and Great Dane breeds of dogs to earn Rs. 1.2 lakh a year.

He has been honoured with prestigious awards by the Union Ministry of Agriculture. Several agricultural scientists, farmers and VIPs from India and abroad visit his farm.

Innovative ideas

Mr. Sadananda says that his farm income increased after he adopted innovative ideas provided by the Department of Biotechnology's Bio-Resource Complex project taken up in his village. He can be contacted on 9342022146.

Profitable farming - Rs. 6 Lakh per Acre from Natural Farming (Zero budget farming)

Profitable farming - Rs. 6 Lakh per Acre from Natural Farming (Zero budget farming)

Sri Krishnappa Dasappa Gowda has developed this model in 5 acres. He has divided that 5 acres into equal blocks of 36ft X 36ft. In this video, he explains that in each block of 36 ft x 36 ft (which is further divided into four 9ft X 9ft sub-blocks) he is growing around 170 [plants and] trees. 

In that he is explaining about the yield he is getting in a 9ft x 9 ft portion of land (one sub-block). He planted 1 Banana tree, 4 Arecanut Trees, 4 Black pepper creepers climbing on Arecanut trees, 2 Coffee plants, 2 Gliricidia trees, 2 Vanilla creepers climbing on Gliricidia trees & 32 Ginger plants in each 9ft X 9ft area. 

He says that the Yield from:

(1) 1 Banana Tree - 10 Kg X Rs.20/- = Rs. 200=00

(2) 4 Arecanut Trees - 25 Kg x 4 Trees x Rs.15/- = Rs.1500=00

(3) 2 Vanilla creepers + 2 Gliricidia Trees - 50 gms x 2 trees x Rs.3/- = Rs. 300=00

(4) 4 Black Pepper creepers - 1 Kg x 4 x Rs.400/- = Rs.1600=00

(5) 2 Coffee plants - 2 Kg x 2 Plants x Rs.80/- = Rs. 320=00

(6) 32 Ginger plants - 0.15 kg x 32 x Rs.100/- = (Rs. 480=00) (This income Rs.480/- is utilized for expenses)

Total income from 9ft x 9 ft (Sub- block) land = Rs.3800 = 00

So, for each 36ft x 36ft block (4 Sub-blocks + 1 Coconut tree + 1 Mosambi tree) the total income is approximately Rs.18000 = 00.

Explanation:- income from each 9ft X 9ft sub-block = Rs.15,200/-  In addition to these blocks he planted 1 Mosambi (citrus) tree and 1 Coconut Tree in each 36ft X 36ft block and the income from them is Rs.2000/- and Rs.1000/- respectively. So, the total income from each 36ft X 36ft Block is Rs.18,200/- and rounded off to Rs.18,000/- 

For 1 acre there are 33 similar blocks like this. So, the total income per acre is Rs.6 Lakh approx. (Rs.18,200/- X 33 blocks = Rs.6,00,600/- and rounded off to 6 Lakhs).

CONCLUSION : He doesn't have any borewell in his farm and he says that his land is a double wet land and mostly it is rainfed, canal water is used very rarely during peak summer. Water consumption is 10% of regular farming. He suggests that all the farmers should adopt similar Natural Farming Methods and grow plants & crops suitable for their local climate and reap money. Wish you all the best .

Five Layer Palekar Models (Model I)

(Mango, Amla, Custard apple, Drumstick, Sapota, Orange, Mosambi, Kinno(vengai tree in Tamil, Bijasal in Hindi, Honne in Kannada), Lemon, Malta(some orange), Guava, Pomegranate)

Five Layer Palekar Models (Model II)

(Coconut, Areca nut, Black Pepper, Coffee, Cocoa, Vanilla, Rubber, Pine apple, Oil Palm, Cashew nut) 

விழிகள் நலம் - ம.செந்தமிழன்

Bank schemes in India, solely for women entrepreneurs

India's private and state-run banks have several schemes targeting women entrepreneurs. This article lists 16 schemes from nine banks, sourced from SIDBI’s entrepreneurship-focused website -- smallb.in.

State Bank of Mysore

-Stree Shakthi Package for Women Entrepreneurs: Financial assistance is earmarked for enterprises where a woman owns a majority stake, which is over and above 51 percent equity in the firm. Women entrepreneurs who have participated in state-sponsored EDPs or programs co-sponsored / sponsored by SBM are eligible to apply for financial assistance

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

-Annapurna Scheme for Financing Women for Establishing Food Catering Unit: Targets firms in the catering space

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

State Bank of Hyderabad

-Stree Shakti Package: The bank encourages entrepreneurship among women by offering some concessions and special facilities that help train women entrepreneurs

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

Punjab National Bank

-PNB Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme: Targets the micro and small scale sector as well as the rehabilitation of sick SSI units 

-PNB Mahila Samridhi Yojna: Financial aid for the purchase of infrastructure for tailoring shops, boutiques, telecom agencies, beauty parlours, and Internet browsing centers
 

-Scheme For Financing Creches: Provides cheaper and easier credit to setup a crèche. Equipment such as stationery, refrigerators and water filters are covered by the scheme

-PNB Kalyani Card Scheme: It targets both literate and illiterate women hailing from the semi-urban or rural areas looking to agriculture / non-farm activities

 
-PNB Mahila Sashaktikaran Abhiyan: Provides concessions such as a reduction in interest rates; waiver of 50 percent of the upfront fee and margin fee cap at 10 percent

The link to the webpage that lists all details about all these PNB schemes is here

Punjab and Sind Bank

-P&S Bank Udyogini Scheme: Targets micro and small scale manufacturing units; the retail sector; the agriculture sector, among others

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

Oriental Bank of Commerce

-Scheme for Professional & Self-Employed Women: Provides term loans for the purchase of fixed assets; apart from working capital

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

-Scheme for Beauty Parlors / Boutiques / Saloons and Tailoring: Provides ‘easy, timely and convenient access’ to institutional credit

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

-Oriented Mahila Vikas Yojana: Provides need based credit needs for women entrepreneurs

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

State Bank of Travancore

-Mahila Vikas Scheme: Provide term loans / working capital to units promoted by women entrepreneurs. The woman entrepreneur must own a majority stake and the half the employees have to be women

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

Dena Bank

-Dena Shakti Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs: The scheme covers agriculture and allied activities; small enterprises (direct and indirect Finance); micro and small (manufacturing) enterprises; micro and small (service) enterprises which include small road and water transport operators, small business professional and all other service enterprises; retail trade; micro credit; education; and the housing sectors

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

Bank of Baroda

-Akshaya Mahila Arthik Sahay Yojna: Provides financial assistance for those into retail trade and agricultural activities

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here

Andhra Bank

-ALEAP & CGTSI - Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for Women: Provides credit facilities (fund based and/ or non-fund based) of up to Rs.100 lakh (both manufacturing and service sectors) without any collateral security and /or third party guarantee. Retail trade is excluded

The link to the webpage that lists all details about the scheme is here