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Fastest growing alternative to teak Mangium survives various terrains and soil conditions, including degraded areas such as bushes, grasslands, open areas and even compact ground. MANGIUM (Acacia mangium) is one amongst the three fastest growing useful hardwood trees. This native of Australia is also known as Brown Sal, is a major re-forestation tree in Malaysia with more than 80 per cent of new plantation. A hardy tree, Mangium survives various terrains and soil conditions, including degraded areas such as bushes, grasslands, open areas and even compact grounds. Saplings raised with seeds, naturally crossbred and hybridised, produces disease resistant quality timber trees. The tree is usually planted for windbreakers, erosion control, in agro forestry and for pollution control. Planting is done during monsoon the pit size should be 50 x 50 x 50 cms filled with red soil, river sand, FYM, at the ratio of 1:2:1. Plants planted at 1.5m between plants and 2.5m between rows at 2650 plants/Ha with 10 per cent on mortality, 30 per cent thinning in 2nd year, 20 per cent thinning in 5th year, 25 per cent in 1st harvest in the 10th year 20 cuft round logs/ trees at Rs. 150/cuft and 15 per cent in the final harvest in the 15th year 30 cuft round logs/ tree at Rs. 200/cuft. The two most common diseases which affect the tree are root rot and heart rots. They are effectively controlled with the usage of 1 per cent bordeaux mixture, Rhizobium, Phosphobacteria and VAM. Caterpillars and grasshoppers occasionally cause problems. They can be controlled by usual methods. Regular pruning of branches makes it grow straight. It can be grown with other shade resistant medicinal plants (Gymnema Sylvestre) black pepper, for interim returns. (Courtesy- The Hindu) |
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Tribals to be given land for coffee plantations Union Minister for Tribal Welfare, announced that 60,000 tribal families would be given as many acres of land for coffee plantations at Paderu under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency under a seven-year scheme with a Central Government outlay of Rs. 72 crores. |
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Bt Cotton- A boon for farmers Bt cotton seeds will be sown in the forthcoming season. This might help increase production from 160 lakh bales to 200 lakh bales. The long awaited decision of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) clearing the release of Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) for commercial use from the beginning of the current month on certain conditions is expected to be a boon for farmers as well as textile mills. There is progressive increase in the actual area of transgenic cotton in the world. Better yield and reduced number of sprays are known to characterize Bt cotton trials in India. Reduction in insecticide use to the extent of 80% in China and 60% in USA has been reported. At present India plants nearly 8.5 to nine million hectares of land under cotton and produces nearly 155-160 lakh bales. The country is the third largest producer of cotton in the world after China and the US, even when in terms of area it is at the top. The supply of Bt cotton seeds for the forthcoming sowing season is expected to be limited to 1.1 lakh packets, hardly enough for around 48,000 hectares or half a percent of the total area under cotton cultivation in the country. Every field where Bt cotton is planted will have to be fully surrounded by a belt of land called refuge in which the same non-Bt cotton variety will be sown. The earlier white revolution ushered by hybrid cotton enabled the country to increase production from 100-110 lakh bales to 160 lakh bales, now it is hoped that the Bt cotton will take it further to 200 lakh bales soon. |
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Nabard in talks with banks to revive tea, jute industry The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is in talks with various co-operative and commercial banks to help activate the tea and jute industry. Investments should be emphasized to help these industries regain their importance in the eastern region. |
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Organic Control ELIGMA NARCISSUS indica cramer is the serious pest of plantation forest trees. Periodic out-breaks cause considerable loss of growth and quality. The larva of the moth defoliates the plants and thereby suppressing the growth of the tree. The adult moth can be identified by their yellow hind wing the presence of prominent black spots on the dorsal side of the body. This pest can be controlled by using neem and pongamia oil at 2-4% without polluting the natural environment. |
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Minimum Support Price for Pulses and Oilseeds The Centre govt. is considering the payment of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers for pulses and oilseeds to encourage and enhance their production. Providing minimum support prices for pulses and oilseeds to increase their cultivation and move towards self-sufficiency. Such a move would provide the right incentive to farmers to diversify and undertake their cultivation. As a first step to encourage farmers to diversify there crop pattern. The whole exercise would involve three basic inputs- the needs of the local, regional and national markets and, in the case of some produce, the international demands. This is to ensure that they do not stand to lose and the country’s demand for various produce too is met catering the export demand. Agriculture ministry has estimated that the edible oil shortage in the country is around 1.5m tonnes. The imports of palm oil and other edible oil by various companies have been to the extent of 4.5m tons this year. The total imports and edible oil consumption this year are no yardstick of the demand, as the rise in consumption was primarily due to cheaper imports. With Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh and Orissa- the main oilseed producing areas- continuing to experience a dry spell, we will remain far behind our target. Shifting emphasis from increasing output, centre govt.is encouraging better agriculture practices to reduce costs and on "achieving self-sufficiency" in all produce including oilseeds and pulse. |
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Aurangabad based Sunmoon Sleeves Pvt. Ltd. Have developed a versatile agri implement called Balram – 3 keeping in view the need of the farmers cultivating cotton, turdal, banana, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables. Balram – 3 is a mini power tiller that is efficient in tilling activities, cultivation, weeding and spraying. It helps soften the soil and make seeding and planting easy for garden and also for lawns. It maintains aeration to promote growth of crop roots, protects against weeds and with spray attachment helps spraying of pesticides. Other technical data of Balram – 3 include width of cutters – 300, 450, 700 mm. Depth of digging – 130mm to 155mm, fuel – approx. 1.5 litre kerosene per hour for farming, farming capacity – 1 to 2 acre and 8 hours on open agricultural land; general dimension – length 711mm, height – 990mm. Weight 100 kg, Farming capacity – 2 to 3 acres and 8 hours (depending upon crop).
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IRRI: expresses a better deal in agriculture sector Participating in a two-day workshop-cum-group meeting, Dr.V.Balasubramanium of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines has expressed concern over the low priority accorded to agriculture in the country. He stressed that measures should be taken to make farming more attractive. Efforts should be made to increase rice production by adopting the right strategy. Looking at the pace at which the population is growing, efforts should be made to increase the rice production to nearly 14 million tonnes, he stated. Directorate of Rice Research, in his inaugural address pointed out that there had been a change in the pattern of rice cultivation over the years. As rice was the staple food of a majority of the people, modern methods needed to increase production. |
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A few months ago, Apeda launched its virtual trade market. This market is targeted primarily at the small exporters who do not have the financial strength to start net based trading. It is reported that the response has been good with about 30,000 hits being registered since the site became online about four months ago. Apeda’s net offering is targeted to ensure that Indian exporters do not lose out in the international market. Now a day Apeda is concerned about pre-and post harvest aspects. The authority is working with the state govt. of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in developing cold storage and other related support facilities in and around production centres in order to improve infrastructure facilities. These centres would be an important link in the demand supply chain. During the busy season these centres would be used for storing for onward distribution to the market place and during lean months these centres would stock and supply products needed for the said production area. |
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