T.P. William Rajan, a traditional dairy farmer in Peerumade, Idukki, is trying to make an entire village free of packet milk.
A traditional dairy farmer in Peermade is trying to make an entire village free of packet milk.
T.P. William Rajan, a traditional dairy farmer, is the milk-delivery man for almost the whole of the Peerumade grama panchayat.
His cowshed has 12 cows of different varieties. He is trying to revive and an old system of milk delivery. His cows graze on the nearby grasslands during the day and return by evening. The milk has not been ‘branded’ but it is already a brand in itself.
“Now, I supply 45 litres of milk and the milking is done two times daily,” he says. His wife, Philomina, supports him in the endeavour.
The cowshed has Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and other varieties and the selection is done through a ‘trial-and-error method.’ “Local milk delivery is an old system which was prevalent here. I supply milk in bottles, half litre and above, to restaurants and houses,” he says. The average yield is low as far as the total production is concerned.
“This is because the cows and their calves are allowed free grazing and they eat natural grass alone. We provide pure water to our animals,” he says. His dog Pakru herds the cows and leads them back to the cowshed in the evening. “The cows give us a regular income and we get a price higher than the market rate. This is because the milk is farm fresh and delivered at the doorstep,” he says. His work begins at 5 a.m. with the cleaning of the cattle and milking. The work ends by 9 a.m. and the cowshed is opened for Pakru to lead the cattle out. Santhosh, a customer, says the delivery is prompt and the product fresh and pure.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Giji K. Raman / Peermade (Idukki District) – September 01st, 2014
Jeemon Kaaraadi, a dairy farmer from Kottayam, protesting with his cows in front of the Milma Bhavan at Pattom in the city. Photo: S.R. Praveen / The Hindu
Jeemon Kaaraadi, a dairy farmer from Kottayam, decided to act after several representations sent to the Milma officials drew a blank.
He, along with a cow and its calf, boarded a pick-up truck to the capital city. For the past 10 days, the three of them are living in a small ‘two-storey’ tent in front of Milma Bhavan at Pattom, with the ground floor occupied by the cow and the calf, and Jeemon sleeping on a cot attached to pillars just above them. One of his demands is restructuring of the milk price charts so that dairy farmers would get minimum prices. “The price of milk has increased in recent times. But it is hardly reflected in payments to dairy farmers. There has been only a nominal increase in our earnings. Also, the lack of clarity in the norms for fat content and Solid Not Fat (SNF) in milk collected from us means that the respective cooperative society can bring down the prices at will,” says Mr. Jeemon. Amid the protest too, he regularly milks the cow. He has stocked up on cattle feed and grass.
“I distribute the milk to the tea shops nearby. A few local people have also begun asking for it, as milk straight from the udder is almost non-existent in the city,” he says.
Some of those who came to the Milma counter close by were seen enquiring if they could buy milk from him.
But his grouse is that none of the officials who pass through the gates daily has asked him why he is sitting here. “Perhaps, they think I will leave this place if there is no response. But, I have just started boiling the milk, and it will take some time to rise and spill over,” he says.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / S. R. Praveen / Thiruvananthapuram – August 25th, 2014
P. Gopalakrishna Swamy has not heard of the Stockholm Convention on the Environment or about ‘Our Common Future’—a report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The 78-year-old ascetic may not be well-read or travelled, but his work speaks volumes. He has converted a rocky hill top, 850 feet above sea level, at Thirichittapara, in Kerala, into a garden of rare species of trees.
“I purchased an acre from a Dalit family,” he says. “In return, I had to buy a piece of land and house for them at a nearby place.” To ensure that he has a regular supply of water, Gopalakrishna dug a twenty-feet deep pit on one side of the rock for rain harvesting. Thanks to Kerala’s healthy monsoon, the pit has enough water for watering the trees and other requirements.
As the rocky hill top was not suitable to grow plants he pressed down a layer of earth on the rock surface to allow the tree saplings to take root, and hold firm against the winds.
The rare trees and plants include koovalam (bael tree), sandalwood, red sandalwood, kunthirikkam (white dammer), pachotti (bodhi tree), neelakadampu, arassu, kallarassu, kattikodi (the plant which dilutes water), kallal, arayal (sacred fig), ithi (Indian laurel), neer maruthu (arjuna tree), and even alien plants such as the African cherry and rudrakasha.
Gopalakrishna lives alone on the hill top.
Some 16 years ago, he had set up a Lord Hanuman temple here. “I wanted to experience the bliss of solitude and meditate under the shade of rocks,” says Gopalakrishna, who retired as an employee of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation 23 years ago. “I rarely leave the hill to meet my friends and relatives.”
But the life of an ascetic is not easy, and he has a hard time meeting his expenses. “I have also not collected any money from anybody,” he says. “So far, I have used my retirement benefits.” To save more, he does manual labour along with the workers.
And he ensures that no pesticides are used in the garden. “I am planting saplings which are found in forests, so it does not need any extra nutrients or pesticides,” he explains.
Gopalakrishna is keen to pass on his knowledge about rare trees. Pointing towards a tree called ‘Punk’, he says sitting under it helps one live longer. He is ready to cut its branches, to hand them out to visitors.
“Even if my plants get destroyed, they will grow somewhere else,” he says, pointing at a dried-out Rudraksha tree. “So I don’t mind giving branches to the friendly visitors.”
But the local people are not so friendly towards him. One reason for their resentment is that Gopalakrishna has been unwilling to part with the control of the temple. The second reason is tragic. A few years ago, a child fell into the water pit and drowned.
“I had to face the anger of the people, although it was not my fault,” says Gopalakrishna. “My aim is to serve Mother Nature without making complaints or demands.”
Despite the difficulties, Gopalakrishna says the panaromic view from the hill top offers him solace. “Standing on the top of the rock, I can see the sunset with the left eye and the sunrise with the right one.”
Eden on a hill
The rare trees and plants include koovalam (bael tree), sandalwood, red sandalwood, kunthirikkam (white dammer), pachotti (bodhi tree), neelakadampu, arassu, kallarassu, kattikodi (the plant which dilutes water), kallal, arayal (sacred fig), ithi (Indian laurel), neer maruthu (arjuna tree) and even alien plants such as the African cherry and rudrakasha.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by N. V. Ravindranathan Nair / August 10th, 2014
Have you ever visited the hills twined with waterfalls during the monsoon? If you haven’t, this is just the right time to plan a trip to various scenic retreats at Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Malakkappara region, bordering Tamil Nadu in central Kerala, as the sight of the picturesque hills coupled with the cascading falls is soul-nourishing fare and can send you in raptures of glee.
The revival of the south-west monsoon has provided thousands of tourists a tryst with nature at Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Malakkapara as the hills and falls in the region offer some of the most beautiful and astonishing sights during rains.
While water courses through the ravines at the peak of the monsoon, the falls and hills come alive as the rains enrich the lives of the mountain folk along with the endless variety of flora and fauna it supports in the region.
Athirappilly, Vazhachal, Charpa and Thumburmuzhi falls are in their full splendour after KSEB authorities opened the shutters of the Peringalkuthu reservoir following heavy rains. The gigantic surge of water along the breadth of the Chalakudy River just before it takes a dramatic plunge of 82 ft from a cliff is a sight not-to-miss at Athirappilly.
The grandeur of the waterfalls provides breathtaking views to the tourists with the waves of spray appearing like white smoke seeping from the rocks.
The amount of water flowing is now around 14,000 litres per second during daytime and 36,000 litres per second after 9 pm with Peringalkuth reservoir releasing an average of 1.2 mcm of water per day from the reservoir. At the same time, the slippery boulders in the area are also equally infamous for the number of lives they have claimed in the last few years.
B D Devassy MLA said the government has arranged measures at the renowned spot to woo more tourists to the region. Around three dozen toilets are constructed in the tourist area. Besides arranging sanitation and drinking water facilities, the authorities have also been neatly maintaining the area with the association of Athirappilly Puzha-Vana Samrakshna Samithi members and local tribal people effectively carrying out a plastic-free project in the reserve forest area, he said. Sarah Dizon, a foreigner who visited the spot, told ‘Express’ that the forest region’s endless panorama of amazing wonders is nothing short of romance with pristine nature itself, since the natural beauty is at its best in the area during the monsoons.
The breathtaking views of mountains shrouded in clouds and the beauty of the unpredictable weather either pouring down heavily on the hills or the clear blue skies have its own magical charm and beauty, she said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / home> States> Kerala / by Dhinesh Kallungal / August 09th, 2014
Jazeera along with her children protesting in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Kaavya Pradeep Kumar / The Hindu
Jazeera is on a silent campaign, in defence of the Neerozhukkumchal beach in Kannur
The so-called sand mafia of a little taluk in Kannur rues the day Jazeera returned home. Dismissed as an insignificant voice of protest against the rampant exploitation of a stretch of shoreline near Pazhayangadi town, this woman has soon come to be known as a force to be reckoned with. All the way from the northern district of Kannur, she has brought her silent campaign to the State capital, as she sits in front of the Secretariat with her three children — protesting without loud sloganeering or politically coloured flags or leaflets.
Entering the fifth day, Jazeera’s protest has thus far been eclipsed by a far more populous Left protest.
Now that they have left, the presence of this family has become more conspicuous, leading the Chief Minister to meet them briefly on Monday afternoon on the issue of sand-mining in her hometown. For Jazeera, the cause is intensely personal, as the Neerozhukkumchal beach is the canvas all her childhood memories are painted upon.
She is an autorickshaw driver, a profession she has struggled to be part of, in a conservative society. She does not let herself to be affected by such taboos and continued working until after her marriage in 2004, when she moved to Kottayam with her husband.
She has found the new district far more accepting. It was only one and a half years ago, when she returned home during the final month of her third pregnancy, did she see to her shock the daylight robbery of a natural landscape.
Countless visits to the Kannur collectorate and police stations have proved futile.
And for the past one and a half years, her silent protest has involved a sit-in, along with her daughters Rizwana, Shifana and her son Mohammed. The two girls, aged 12 and 10, know everything about the case and have flanked their mother every step. Her husband, Abdul Salaam, is a teacher at a madrasa in Kochi.
While he has not been a visible part of Jazeera’s protest, his support, despite pressure various quarters, has been a huge boon for her.
She is clear about her objective despite the obstacles strewn before her in terms of muscle and money power. Even the police, she says, have pleaded with her to give up. “Their greed is despicable. In broad daylight they commit this heinous crime of emptying our lands, oblivious to the fact that there are so many creatures that depend on it. The sudden depth of water is dangerous as well,” she says.
She is glad to have met the Chief Minister personally and she said he assured her that he would ensure that the vehicles carting away the sand would be immediately dealt with.
She will leave once she obtains something in print promising a complete halt of the activities.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Kaavya Pradeep Kumar / Thiruvananthapuram – August 08th, 2013
JNTBGRI have developed three new hybrids of the Pitcher plant or Monkey cup (Nepenthes), a carnivorous plant that traps insects and small rodents and feeds on them.
Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) here have developed three new hybrids of the Pitcher plant or Monkey cup (Nepenthes), a carnivorous plant that traps insects and small rodents and feeds on them.
The institute is justifiably proud of its Nepenthes collection of 20 species brought from far and wide. Of the 140 species of Nepenthes distributed across the world, mainly in Madagascar, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Australia, only one — Nepenthes khasiana — is known to occur in India, in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya.
Plants of Nepenthes are usually climbers, growing several metres in length and straggling over low bushes and trees in forest areas. The leaves of the plant get modified into a pouch-like structure with a lid on top. The pouch produces enzymes that can kill insects and even small rodents. The trap is often colourful, attracting prey. The slick coating on the upper part of the trap makes escape nearly impossible for the prey.
According to C. Sathish Kumar, scientist, Orchid Biology and Conservation unit, JNTBGRI, Nepenthes and other carnivorous plants such as Aldrovanda, Dionea, Drosera, Sarracenia, and Utriculariaattract, kill, and digest insects to derive nitrogen required for their growth.
Dr. Sathish Kumar said the initial results of the breeding experiments with Nepenthes were exciting. “For the first time in India, we have developed a few wonderful hybrids.”
The collection of carnivorous plants is the highlight of Plant Wonders, a children’s education programme conducted by the JNTBGRI. “Understanding the basics of plant sciences will have to be a priority in this changing world when forced extinction of species is happening at a faster rate than ever. How many of the species on the earth today will be seen by our children or grandchildren is anybody’s guess. Botanical gardens will act as Noah’s Ark, arresting the extinction and saving some species for posterity.”
The JNTBGRI has drawn up plans to supply Nepenthes plants to students under the programme.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / T.NandaKumar / Thiruvananthapuram – July 28th, 2014
Manju Warrier, who got appointed as the goodwill ambassador of Kudumbashree’s organic farming initiative, has assured total support for the project. “It is a realization of my role in the film ?How Old Are You,” said the actor here on Friday. She was speaking after formally anointed as the goodwill ambassador by social justice minister Dr M K Muneer.
The state used to be self-sufficient in vegetables and fruits, but now awaits trucks carrying vegetables from other states. The state buys around 25 lakh tonnes of vegetables a year from other states, which incurs about Rs 1,100 crore expense, despite the fact that it is treated with poisonous chemical pesticides, she said.
Minister Muneer said, it is a great comeback for Manju Warrier. “Toxic free organic farming by Kudumbashree will be promoted with Manju Warrier’s support. Kudumbashree will also ensure that its organic farm produce is poison-free and certified through quality control checks before it reaches the market,” Muneer said.
Kudumbashree Mission executive director K B Valsalakumari said that 50,000 farm groups of women were involved in organic cultivation of paddy, plantain, tapioca and many vegetables in 47,000 hectare of leased land. “Kudumbashree has 16,000 master farmers and 1,000 farmer facilitation centres with Green Brigade or Karshikakarmasena to promote organic terrace farming in each household. Each grow bag with the seedling or sapling will be provided at Rs 80 and their services to nurture the plants will be available at Rs 100 per month,” she said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / July 05th, 2014
In an attempt to attract new generation farmers, the Agricultural Research Centre of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Anakkayam near here has decided to try its hand at aquaponics – an ancient method of farming vegetables and fishes together practised by ethnic groups in Mexico and China.
The centre has successfully cultivated tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflower, chilli and paddy via the soil-free method in which fish excreta is used as fertilizer. In fact, it began a second round of cultivation two weeks ago. Aquaponics is a portmanteau of words aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).
Researchers at the centre used 12 units made of PVC pipes in which vegetables are grown. The units are placed inside a polyhouse situated close to a pond that holds about 3,000 varieties of fishes. The saplings or seeds are planted in small disposable fibre vessels filled with sponge-like pith particles of coconut husk. The vessels are then placed on small holes in PVS pipes. Water from the pond, carrying fish excrement is always circulated through the pipes and the plants grow in a hydroponic bath of flowing water enriched with minerals.
Farm officer at the centre E Jubail said the method is ideal for farming in populated areas and is cost effective. “No chemical fertilizers are used in the method as it would kill the fishes. This ensures that the crops are organic,” he said, adding that the method does not call for the use of pesticides and consumes less water compared to traditiional farming methods.
The plan is to introduce the method to farmers and visitors at the centre besides providing provide assistance to set up the system at their farmhouses.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / by T P Nijish, TNN / July 02nd, 2014
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar. File photo
Thrissur:
Groups of elephant lovers have submitted a proposal to the central government to set up the country’s first elephant hospital and a diagnostic laboratory here.
The proposal was submitted this month to Minister of Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar when he visited the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor near here.
Elephant veterinarian Jacob Cheeran said that such a hospital would be the first of its kind in the country. He said the medical facility was necessary as the majority of the over 500 captive elephants in Kerala will soon be over 50 years of age.
“The proposal suggests a treatment facility for 10 elephants at a time which is required to treat elephants affected by chronic diseases like foot rot and so on.” Cheeran said.
“The diagnostic laboratory is to support the field veterinarians in early diagnosis of specific diseases like tuberculosis and infections in elephants,” he added.
Temple authorities in Thiruvambady, Paramekkavu and Guruvayoor and the Kerala State Elephant Owners Multipurpose Cooperative Society joined hands to support the proposal.
The proposal also suggests that both the hospital and the laboratory should be located on a five acre plot of land at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus at Mannuthy near here.
Thrissur district has the maximum number of captive elephants in Kerala, with the famed Guruvayoor temple alone having 59 elephants.
Cheeran said that in recent years there has been a drastic decline in the number of captive elephants in Kerala due to increased death rate of the elephants and the restrictions in import of captive elephants from the north-eastern states.
The elephant hospital is expected to cost Rs.10 crore including the running costs for three years.
“Even though many field veterinarians are engaged in treating elephants in almost all districts in Kerala, there is no centralised specialist healthcare support,” Cheeran said.
” Since Thrissur is centrally located, transporting sick elephants from any place in the state is also easy,” added Cheeran, who has been to elephant hospitals in Thailand and other parts of the world.
State Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said that they will do their bit to take up the proposal with the central government.
source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / ManoramaOnline / Home> News> Kerala / by The Correspondent / Thursday – July 10th, 2014
The Greater Cochin Development Authority’s Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan to be inaugurated in August.— Photo: Vipin Chandran
Mayor cries unauthorised construction
As the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is all set to inaugurate its laser show project at Rajendra Maidan, the Kochi Corporation has termed it an unauthorised construction.
N. Venugopal, GCDA chairman, said that the project would be inaugurated in the last week of August.
At the same time, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany said that the Kochi Corporation has not issued permission for setting up the Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan.
For any project to be approved by the Kochi Corporation, the project proponent should submit the documents pertaining to the ownership of the land along with the project details. In this case, the GCDA has not produced any documents to prove the ownership of the land, he said. The Authority has not obtained the permission from the Kochi Corporation, he asserted.
At the same time, Mr. Venugopal maintained that the Authority had submitted the documents pertaining to the ownership of the land. The Government had assigned the land to the Authority earlier. The Authority proceeded with the work after the expiry of the mandatory time for clearing the application. The municipal laws say that one can proceed with the work if the local body fails to respond within a specific time, Mr. Venugopal said.
An inspection by the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation had earlier revealed that the Authority was proceeding without the mandatory permission from the local body. Hence, it was a case of unauthorised construction, said a member of the Committee. Meanwhile, the CPI (M) leadership in the Corporation council said that it will fight any move to usurp the public space, especially Rajendra Maidan.
K.N. Sunilkumar, the Parliamentary Party secretary of the CPI (M), said that the party was for protecting the public spaces in the city. The Kochi Mayor had earlier assured the council that all documents pertaining to the project will be placed before the council. Mr. Venugopal maintained that the free access to the site would not be curbed and the laser show will be held only after 8 p.m., the closing time of the park.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by K. S. Sudhi / Kochi – July 11th, 2014
