Project to implement coconut-based agro system

The Kochi-based Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation has embarked on a programme to promote coconut-based agro ecosystem. The project is being implemented in eight panchayats involving a population of over two lakh.Adoption of integrated agricultural practices, establishment of community nurseries for coconut and medicinal species, setting up of eco-friendly processing plant for producing coir fibre are among the objectives of the programme. It also intends to promote women's self help groups. The project is assisted by UNDP, Ministry of Environment & Forests and Centre for Environment Education.The project was initially sanctioned under a UNDP programme for a single panchayat. It was later extended to eight panchayats. The programme will be operational till December 2009, according to P.K. Thampan, its coordinator. About 40,000 saplings of medicinal species have been planted on the premises of over 9,000 houses. The saplings were raised by self-help groups. These medicinal species, when planted over a large area, minimises the hazards of soil and water erosion apart from stimulating productive capacity of the soil resource and strengthening biodiversity.Processing of coconut husk is being taken up in association with 26,000 households. Fresh coconut husk is procured from these households. A fibre mill unit is being operated by a society, promoted by a 10-memebr self-help group having 270 households as shareholders. The average daily output of coir fibre from the mill is over 1,700 kg. Training camps have also been held for households for making paper carry bags, soap and detergent. Seminars and conventions on organic farming are also organised as part of the scheme.

The Hindu, 12^th September 2008

Three-wheeler taps the sun to run

It may not turn heads or set the roads on fire, but it promises to revolutionise inner city commuting. A group of students of the Mary Matha College of Engineering, Paliyode have developed a three-wheeler that harnesses solar energy to power its wheels. Named Taurus, the solar-powered vehicle is driven by an electric motor. The three-wheeler has a revolving driver's seat that can be turned 180 degrees. Titto B.S., Ajith C.G., Unnikrishnan M.A., Rahul S.L., Aristotle Ashok and Saji M.P developed the vehicle with the help of their lab instructor S. Shyamkumar. Taurus uses a 500 watt hub motor for propulsion. The accelerator, reverse switch and battery protection are controlled by a microcontroller in the control unit. Mounted on an acrylic sheet, the solar panel does double duty, as a roof providing protection from the sun and charging the battery. The vehicle is built on a steel chassis. Two tapered roller bearings are used to rotate the seat assembly by 180 degrees. Cables control the brake and steering system. "The students have succeeded in developing a model that promises an eco-friendly mode of urban transport. Taurus is a zero-pollution, noiseless, highly manoeuvrable vehicle using simple technology. It can be parked even in crowded places," says Mr. Shyamkumar.The students claim that Taurus is ideal for daily commuting up to a distance of 10 km. "It can also transport employees across a factory floor or be used and in forest areas for viewing wild animals without disturbing them. With a little modification, the vehicle can also be used by the physically challenged," Mr. Shyamkumar said.

The Hindu, 12^th September 2008

Organic farming brings rich dividend to paddy growers

A group of farmers in Vadakkencherry, near here, is elated by the high yield from their farms after they switched over to organic paddy cultivation last year. The crops are more resistant to pest attack and water usage is less.The jubilant mood among the farmers was evident at the Vadakkencharry padasekharam, comprising a group of 40 farmers, as their second organic paddy harvest festival began on Friday on a 75-acre farm land, which has secured 'C-1,' the first stage certification, of Indocert, the Indian organic certification agency.The initiative promoted jointly by the Vadakkencherry grama panchayat and the State Agriculture Department and backed by technical assistance from the POABS Group which introduced a buy-back scheme ensuring a premium price for the growers, has already spread to over 200 acres covering Palakkad and Alappuzha districts, the granaries of Kerala. The POABS Group expects to bring at least 500 acres under organic paddy cultivation in Kerala in a phased manner, said POABS Group director Joseph Jacob.Promotion of large-scale organic paddy cultivation in Kerala is part of the efforts of the Group, which owns the country's largest multi-crop organic plantation at Nelliampathy in the district, to ensure a buffer zone to support its policy of organic product exports to the world market.The harvest festival was inaugurated by M. Chandran, MLA. Principal Agriculture Officer A.K. Sivanandan; K.E. Usha of Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy; and Mr. Jacob, among others, attended the festival. Vadakkencherry Padasekhara Samithi treasurer R.N. Sankaran presented the report and secretary P.K. Madhavan welcomed the gathering.Mr. Chandran handed over the harvested paddy to Mr. Jacob, as part of the latter's paddy buy-back scheme. The farmers are offered Rs.12.50 a kg, which is 25 per cent above the market price.Vadakkencherry grama panchayat president P. Gangadharan presided over the event.

The Hindu, 6^th September 2008

Periyar Tiger Reserve turns 75

 
Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), the first wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, has turned 75. the year-long platinum jubilee celebrations of the sanctuary eill begin with a two-day national seminar on "people and Tigers Shifting Trajectories of Ecology and Co-existence" at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for nature Education and Research in Thekkady on September 22 and 23. The subject to be discussed at the seminar are: Status and distribution of Tigers and co predators at national and regional and local levels, threat to ti tiger conservation at national regional and local levels abd technology for investigation of wildlife crimes and related trade, emerging trends and recet advances in estimation techniques of monitoring tigers, co-presators and prey and their habitat, participatory management of tiger reserve, eco-tourism, its livelihood potentials and conservation significance and critical tiger habitats and conservation at the level of landscape. The seminar being organized jointly by the PTR and the Periyar Foundation Society, will be addressed by national and international experts on the subjects. Around 200 delegates from across the country will attend the seminar. The other highlights of the celebrations are: Workshops, nature camp, conservation campaigns, research activities and community-centered initiatives. It was a gentile revolution brought about by hard-work, innovation and dedication of three generations if foresters and individuals who strove hard to maintain the unique identity of the Periyar. But the present changes and potentials arising out of globalization, peopl'es movement, global-warming and food security can be effectively managed only by collective thinking and action, say the PTR and the Foundation.

The New Indian Express, 2nd September 2008