Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has developed a ‘lime applicator’ system to apply lime on the sprawling paddy fields of the state, to ameliorate the acidity of soil, before agriculture activities. This machine has come out as a boost for kole land farmers as they were facing acute problems with lime application ahead of every farming season.
The R&D team of the Food Security Arm (FSA) under the University has developed a system of protocols to use the equipment ‘fertilizer broadcaster’ as lime applicator.
After field trials at ARS Mannuthy, applicator was successfully demonstrated at Ponnamutha Kole padavu, before the farmers, and was found very successful. It will apply lime at the rate of 600kg/ha.
According to ARS head U Jaikumaran the kole lands of Malappuram and Thrissur districts, stretching over 30,000 acres, is inherently faced with high acidity problem.
Here high acidity interferes with soil fertility and hinders the uptake of nutrients by the paddy crop thereby reduces rice production up to 60-90 per cent, unless neutralised by lime application.
The farmers in this area were demanding the development of a suitable machinery, over the years, for lime application in kole lands, at the prescribed rate. This demand was projected in ‘Operation Ponnamutha 300/5’ project and since then Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, was trying to development of a lime applicator feasible to kole lands, Jaikumaran said.
This led to the development of two lime applicators. Both these functions through PTO operated tractor and mounted on three point linkage. Its hopper is conical in shape and can hold nearly 450 kg of lime material. The PTO operates a central spin situated on the bottom opening of the hopper, which scatters lime material dropping through the hopper.
When manual workers claim nearly `3-5/ kg for lime application, using this machine can reduce the cost by `1/kg. The equipment can also be hydraulically lifted.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / October 22nd, 2014
The Department of Ports is gearing up to make Vizhinjam a bunkering port to tap the potential of the business in view of proximity to the international sea routes and the East-West Shipping Axis.
The procedures to extend bunkering services from the existing wharf at Vizhinjam had started, Director of Ports P.I. Sheik Pareeth told The Hindu here.
The services of multiple agencies were needed and the modalities were being worked out with the stakeholders. The department was trying to exploit the strategic and unbeatable inherent advantages of the location, he said.
The port was just 10-12 nautical miles away from the busy Persian Gulf- Malacca shipping lines which carried almost a third of the world’s maritime traffic. Piracy issues had prompted vessels on the Red Sea – far east route to take a relatively northerly route and steam closer to west India. This would turn advantageous to Vizhinjam and Kochi, sources said.
The aim was to make available from the port food, water, and other things needed for the vessels that moved along the outer channel.
Besides generating revenue, bunkering business would bring in a sea change to the harbour and generate employment in the supply and logistics industry.
More maritime services could be generated in the port area. A supply hub could be developed and the increased utilisation of hotels and flights was possible, Mr. Pareeth said.
The preference shown by shipping lines towards Kochi and the government’s steps to promote it prompted the department to think of Vizhinjam as a bunkering port.
The service delivery would be as per Customs procedures governing the supply of fuel, ship stores, provisions, and fresh water to vessels on foreign run, round-the-clock, he said.
The government had reduced value-added tax (VAT) on bunkers being sold to foreign-going vessels. This had given a boost to bunker sales. Kochi and Colombo were the nearest bunkering ports. The annual bunkering market in India was estimated to be over 12 lakh tonnes, sources said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News. Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by S. Anil Radhakrishnan / Thiruvananthapuram – October 16th, 2014
A worker at the loom in Tasara Kozhikode. Photo: K. Ragesh / The Hindu
Twenty five years on, Tasara continues to bring imagination, aesthetics and exclusivity to weaving
There are no signboards in sight. Tasara, Centre for Creative Weaving, is lost in the small streets of Naduvattom near Beypore, and the lack of signage is deliberate. V. Vasudevan, its chief architect, only wants the curious and the committed to reach. Yet, in the past 25 years, a steady trickle of enthusiasts has landed here from across the world to learn and take back an aging craft woven with new colours.
At Tasara Kozhikode. Photo: K. Ragesh / The Hindu
The first international workshop at Tasara happened in 1989. Tell Vasudevan that makes this their 25th year surviving on creative weaving, he is blasé. Milestones do not matter. Tasara is a philosophy of life for him and family. And they are believers in quiet work. On November 1 begins a month-long residential workshop, a bi-annual feature on the centre’s calendar. “We have eight candidates coming from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and Costa Rica. Every time there would be couple of them who are brilliant. The person from Costa Rica is a textile teacher,” says Vasudevan.
The double-decker residential complex — a large house — is readying for the workshop. Vasudevan, his brother and artist Balakrishnan – the man behind the engaging tapestries, sister Santha and a few more family and a handful of non-family members make up Tasara. The aim is a community where everyone pitches in for everything. Panchali who is scrubbing floors could be found at the loom moments later. Inside, Vasudevan shows his latest piece of work. A running spread of silvery grey coarse material is taking birth on the loom. “Carpet?” I ask. “No, sofa furnishing,” he says. Weaving with wild silk sourced from Chhattisgarh is tough, says the weaver. But it is for a customised order from Scotland, he adds.
A tapestry at Tasara Kozhikode. Photo: K. Ragesh / The Hindu
Tasara’s biggest tapestry at 13 metres height and two-and-a-half metre width was done for The Paul Hotel, Bangalore. “It took seven of us four months to weave. But that is the only one we did for hotels .”
A slow game
At the hallway at Tasara are piles of hand-woven material. There are large tapestries , stacks of wild silk stoles, woven table mats, elaborate floor mats, yoga mats, hand-woven shirts and bed spreads — all from the loom. The space embraces art and mundane together. “Once in a while someone comes to buy. But it will all be sold slowly,” says Vasudevan.
‘Small’ is a big word here. Growing in terms of quantity is not the focus. “It is about doing things with dignity. Everything you do is part of your personality,” he says.
Remaining small and exclusive has let Tasara live. Their creations have been exhibited in Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Germany and the United States. “I can say that there not many countries in the world that does not have a small thing of ours,” says Vasudevan.
Handloom can survive not by mass production, but by scaling down. This was a lesson Vasudevan learnt quickly. He began like many others in the 1970s of Kozhikode with Spider Weavers when weaving went bullish. “There was an enormous market for cotton crepe in the U.S. and U.K. and production was not matching up to the demand. The weaving hub was Kannur, but it spilled over to Kozhikode and many units came up.” Weaving was simple to learn and many came to make a quick buck. The bull ride though lost steam quickly.
“When crepe cotton went out, we wove satin bed sheets with viscous fibre. It went to Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. When washing machines took over lives, these 90-inch bed spreads woven by 12 over a day and a half, was pushed out. A machine could wash only a bed spread at a time.”
The Hindu
Experimentation, adaptation and innovation proved the only way. There were enough reasons to shut down, few ways to survive. “Slow production is the weak point of handloom, but it has to be converted into our strength. Limited supply will always have demand.” The way forward was in being creative and creating custom-made, exclusive products. “I realised the significance of a counter experience. Handicraft would be valued only if it is exclusive. Secondly, it has to be more aesthetic. I tried to bring in the texture of a painting onto woven textiles,” says Vasudevan.
A random mention of his weaving enterprise to a German friend in Chennai led to an order for curtains at the Max Mueller Bhavan there. The weavers experimented and the order became their statement. Handloom bordered on art and drew attention. The curtains at Max Mueller led to an offer to collaborate for an exhibition by the Alliance Francaise in Chennai. It was the metamorphosis of the commercial enterprise Spider Weavers into the cultural Tasara. Collaborating with a French artist, the men and women of Tasara created tapestries what were soon given the name “woven art.”
Max Mueller Bhavan followed suit with the proposal for an international workshop. Painters came from within and beyond to create and execute ideas. Many artists have stayed and worked here — Adimoolam, Achuthan Kudallur, Jayapala Panicker, Surya Prakash and others. Ever since, international workshops have been an annual feature at Tasara. “When creative people come together something is bound to happen,” says Vasudevan.
Workshops are Tasara’s means to never stop learning. As enthusiasts come in from world over — from an IT guy to textile academicians — new techniques and ideas emerge. “At the last workshop, we were introduced to eco printing by a participant. Teaching is the best way to be updated,” says Vasudevan. They also allow an apprenticeship of six months free of cost for those interesting in weaving. Learning continues and Tasara lives. Sustenance is through workshops and small sales. “We have happily survived; importantly work does not feel like work.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fashion / Kozhikode – October 10th, 2014
NRKs planning to invest in agriculture back home now have a golden opportunity to do so and to understand how to go about it. The Agriculture Department is planning a two-day investors’ meet in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday and Friday to attract investment and to generate awareness regarding the scope. The meet will also feature a ‘single window clearance’ mechanism for potential investments, Agriculture officials said. This is the first time that the Agriculture Department is organising a workshop outside the country, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said here on Tuesday.
“The meet is aimed at potential NRK investors in this sector. But it will also help to boost the possibilities of the meet which will be held in Kochi in November this year,” he said. The Global Agro Meet is to be held on November 6 and 7 and aims at showcasing Kerala’s own agro products. This list includes indigenous rice varieties, other produces such as Vazhakkulam Pineapple and spices like Malabar Pepper.
The November expo is also intended to acquaint farmers here with the latest trends and possibilities on offer in the international market. The meet also proposes to discuss ways and means to strengthen marketing and supply chain infrastructure for farm products in the state.The Biofach India 2014 trade fair also will be held alongside the Global Agro Meet.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / October 15th, 2014
Agriculture department in association with Nalikera Karshaka Samithi will be organizing classes on how to make coconut farming financially viable for farmers. Classes on Neera production and other topics will be discussed by agriculture experts.
Apart from coconut farmers, persons engaging in other works related to coconut farming, copra production will also be attending the classes. Coconut tree climbers, toddy tappers, and those engage in producing value added products from coconut are expected to benefit from the training class.
The focus of the training programme will be to make farmers and others aware of the government schemes for coconut farmers, said Kollamkandi Vijayan, president of Nalikera Karshaka Samithi. The need for the use of modern technology for improving cultivation will also be discussed, he added.
Those interested to attend the sessions can register their names by dialling 9048627810 or 9745148451 said, Mujeeb Komath district secretary of the Samithi. The programme will be held at Perambra on Monday, he added.
The focus of the training programme is to make farmers aware of the government schemes for them.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / October 10th, 2014
The number of engineering colleges in the State has grown so much and so fast that it has even become the stuff of jokes such as, ‘If you throw a stone in the streets of Kerala, you’re bound to hit an engineer.’ Now, it seems the statement can be applied to the field of entrepreneurship with more and more youngsters rejecting the prospect of a desk job in a large corporation and choosing to follow their own creative and innovative spirit.
A recent entrant into this fold here strikes as a little different from most others that are being incubated in institutions such as the Technopark-TBI in the capital and Start-up Village at Kochi. For one, it has two women at the helm.
For Aardra Chandra Mouli and Gayathri Thankachi, the inauguration of Aeka Biochemicals Pvt. Ltd. here on Friday is the first step towards the dream they have nurtured since college. Both of them graduated from the Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering in 2011.
Another feature that sets this start-up apart is their specialisation in biotechnology and biochemicals – a vast area that is yet to receive a level of interest by new start-ups in the State that matches its immense potential. In Kerala, biotechnology is still viewed as ‘the next big thing,’ when the truth is it has already arrived, said Aardra. She pointed out how in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the concept of ‘bioparks’ has long been established but Kerala is still a step behind.
Aeka seeks to apply its expertise on a wider basis, covering food and agriculture, health care, waste management and environment conservation. “Research for biochemical products is a capital intensive affair which is why we are prioritising small-scale production of high-value, low-volume products to begin with,” said Aardra. Their first product may be brought out as soon as next month and Aeka has the support of the Cashew Export Promotion Council at Kollam in this venture.
Afterwards, Aardra says they hope to work on biopesticides and products that will provide some solution to the waste management issue in the capital. “We were born and brought up here and we know what the city can be at its best. But pollution, accumulation of plastic waste are major civic issues here that need to be addressed,” she said. Their classmate from college Nidhin Sreekumar is another member of the start-up.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Kaaya Pradeep Kumar / Thiruvananthapuram – October 05th, 2014
Actor Asif Ali is stepping into entrepreneurship with a food outlet, called Waffle Street.
Located in Panampilly Nagar, Kochi, Waffle Street will serve Waffles, Crepes, Donuts and more. Asif, along with two friends are behind the venture which launched on Monday evening.
Actor Prithviraj inaugurated the outlet officially.
Asif told media that he always wanted to start an exclusive food outlet and felt that Waffles was a good option.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Malayalam> Movies / by Asha Prakash, TNN / August 26th, 2014
People from all walks of life paid tributes to industrialist P.K. Mohamed, 73, who died here on Monday. He was the managing director (MD) of Western India Plywoods Ltd. (WIP).
He had been recuperating at his residence at Thana here after a recent cardiac surgery. The body was taken to Thalassery for burial at Elangol Juma Masjid, Chettamkunnu.
Early years
He followed his father, A.K. Kaderkutty, into the industry. After college education in Chennai, Mohamed went to Germany for extensive training in wood technology.
He joined WIP as production manager in 1962. He was made MD in 1993.
He was involved in the modernisation and diversification of the company.
He had functioned as office-bearer of the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce and was a sports organiser. He was a member of various industry organisations and was actively involved in the social sphere.
He is survived by wife and four sons. Political leaders including Rural Development Minister K.C. Joseph and E. Ahamed paid their last respects.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kannur – October 01st, 2014
A demonstration of honey extraction at the honey festival at VJT Hall in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar / The Hindu
Also on sale are honey products such as honey wax, soaps and facial creams, and many products with honey as their base.
Thiruvananthapuram is once again playing host to a honey festival that presents an impressive variety of honey and honey products.
The three-day festival, which got under way at VJT Hall on Tuesday, promises to provide the people of the city a rare opportunity to learn about the subtle differences between different honey varieties, their medicinal properties, and buy various honey products.
Organised by the Federation of Indigenous Apiculturists (FIA), the festival has stalls put up by apiculturists from across the State displaying hives of stingless bees, Newton bees, honey extractors, and other honey production equipment.
From sunflower honey to Coorg honey and forest honey and stingless bee honey, the types of honey on display are remarkable for their sweetness and the way they throw light on a mostly unseen facet of rural entrepreneurship in Kerala.
Also on sale are honey products such as honey wax, soaps and facial creams, and many products with honey as their base.
Students of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) have put up a stall that sells honey drink and honey laddus.
Over the coming two days, experts from the KAU, State Horticulture Mission, Horticorp, Agriculture Department, and the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, who are also the co-organisers of the festival, will conduct training sessions for beginners in apiculture.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / A Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – September 17th, 2014
An Arab patient, Mohammed Ahammed, being treated at Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Kozhikode | T P Sooraj
Kozhikode :
Musabah Saeed Khalfan Al brought his younger brother Mohammad Saeed Khalfan all the way from Oman to Kozhikode to check the accuracy of a diagnosis report which they had received from a leading hospital at their native place.
After a thorough check up at the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) here he was told that the doctors in Oman had made a mistake with the original diagnosis and his brother was not suffering from cancer.
“Praise to lord, this diagnosis report is such a huge relief for us,” said Musabah Saeed Khalfan after consulting the doctor.
“I am thankful for the facilities and expert doctors available here,” he said.
Musabah’s is not an isolated case. Doctors of many major private hospitals in North Malabar come across several such patients, especially, those from the Middle East who come here to verify the diagnosis made by the doctors back home or else for treatment due to the better facilities available here.
For the Arabs, North Kerala is turning out to be a healthcare hub as almost all the leading private hospitals here offer special treatment facilities, international desks, international waiting lounge, exclusive wards or rooms for them. When contacted Dr R Bijayaraj, convenor of the Academy of Family Physicians of India(AFPI) Kerala chapter, he said the cost of treatment and assured quality are the two significant elements that attract foreign patients to Kerala. At a time when they have to pay `25,OOO for an MRI scan in gulf countries we charge only `4,OOO, which they find to be affordable.”
Saleh Mohammed Hussein from Yemen, baby Mallak from Oman and Hassan Abdulla Yusuf Al from Bahrain are the patients who came to Kerala after learning about the medical facilities available here through word of mouth.
“Appropriate advices at all the stages of the caring process is new to me. Hence, I prefer coming to the Malabar region for treatment,” said Mohammed Ahammed from UAE. Al Shifa Hospital at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district is another big hospital which caters to a huge influx of foreign patients.
“Patient satisfaction is an important dimension of healthcare sector.
“Since our departments have Arab as well as African patients the total revenue of the hospital increases by `3.5 to 4 Crore annually,” said NP Muhammadali, manager of the Department of Overseas Operation in Al Shifa.
“Though treatment facilities for the foreigners were available at MIMS hospital during its initial years, the international desk got into full swing from 2006 onwards,” said Georgiana Vandana, deputy manager of Medical Value Travel, MIMS Hospital.
“Every day our doctors have at least 30 Arab patients for consultation,” she said adding that Medical tourism in the state has emerged as the fastest growing segment of tourism industry.
Family members or those who accompany the patient are also fascinated by the old world charm of Malabar region and make it a point to visit various tourist spots while the patient undergoes treatment.
There is an increase in the number of patients over years.
According to Georgiana Vandana, 45 percent of the hospital’s total revenue is from the international desk. Similar facilities are available at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Lakeshore and Lourde Hospital in southern part of the state.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Aswathi Krishna / September 12th, 2014
