Eating is an agricultural act - Wendell Berry

Monday, January 19, 2015

2014-15 season update

following a learning-filled  and moderately productive 2013-14 season, the planning for the current season started in july 2014.

as the july-aug SW monsoon was a failure, we undertook paddy planting in  staggered steps. we have planted almost the same varieties as the previous year.
the NE monsoon was a further disappointment. we recorded 35 cms between oct-dec 2014 as against a typical average of 55 cms. this happens to be the third successive year of deficit rainfall. the dry lakes in our area are an indicator of tougher times ahead.
the neighbouring farmers who would have planted their rice by mid oct, could only do so by late nov. and most of them are struggling.
the poor NE rains also meant that the paddy did not take off with the same vigour and insect afflictions were higher. it is said that the oxygen dissolved in the rain water invigorates the crop.

we have  planted around 100 nos mixed varieties of bananas. it is a very low cost crop and if the experiment goes well and we are able to sell without wastage, we could expand acreage in the coming years.

additionally we have groundnut, blackgram, greengram, cow-pea, sesame and mustard growing.

we wish readers a happy new year, pongal and more.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

2013-2014 production at TF

2013- 14 agri season - produce data

1. Paddy - 3000 kgs -> 1800 kgs of Rice.
Varieties: Kaivirai Samba, Mappilai Samba, Sura Kuruvai (sample fields - first experimental season) Vaikunta, Thuyamalli and  White Ponni (second season - own seeds).
Average yield - 950-1000 kgs of paddy per acre. Neighbours get around 1600 kgs paddy per acre. We expect that with more experience and better soil recovery, we could bridge the gap.
We have tried the SRI system as well as the conventional system. we are likely to use the latter more often than the former as we are unable to see much benefits.

2. Groundnut - 600 kgs of nuts. Majority converted to oil. Here our yields we comparable to neighbours.

3. Sesame - 50 kgs

4. Blackgram - 120 kgs

5. Greengram - 30 kgs

6. Ragi - 120 kgs

items 1 and 2 have thus far been the main crops for us - a reflection of the fact that it is the main crops in the neighbourhood.

we have extensively used the local workforce. we use tractors/machinery whenever other manual options are not available/feasible.

we have turned in a moderate profit overall.

along with the house building and all that, last season was quite something.