Pesticides - Sukku Asthira (சுக்கு அஸ்திரா)

As part of our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see Sukku Asthira (சுக்கு அஸ்திரா) which is an organic pest repellent.

Required Ingredients

S.No.	Ingredient Name	Qty in Litres/Kgs
1	Sukku (Dry Ginger)	200 Grams
2	Cow's or Buffalo Milk	5 Litres
3	Water	202 Litres

Method of Preparation

1. Crush the Dry Ginger into a fine powder.
2. Add the Dry Ginger powder to 2 Litres of water.
3. Boil the water until the water becomes 1 Litre.
4. Allow the water to cool down to room temperature.
5. Boil the Milk well in a pot.
6. Allow the milk to cool down to room temperature.
7. Remove the layer (cream) at the top of the milk.
8. Finally, add the both the Dry Ginger water solution and the Milk solution to 200 Litres of water.

Method of Storage

1. The pesticide should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots (worms) in the solution.  This is applicable during the preparation as well as during the shelf life of the pesticide as well.

How long can we store the Pesticide?

1. The pesticide can be stored for 21 days.

How to use the Pesticide?

1. Spray System - The pesticide can be applied as a foliar spray.

When to use the Pesticide?

1. Generally, the ideal time for spraying is during 6 am to 8.30 am and between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.

Which pests are controlled by the Pesticide?

1. The pesticide is effective in controlling fungus.

Pesticides - Bramhastra (பிரம்மாஸ்திரா)

As part of our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see Bramhastra (பிரம்மாஸ்திரா) which is an organic pest repellent and is popularised by Subhash Palekar.

Required Ingredients

S.No.	Ingredient Name	Qty in Litres/Kgs
1	Cow's Urine	10 Litres
2	Neem Leaves	3 Kgs
3	Custard Apple	2 Kgs
4	Papaya Leaves	2 Kgs
5	Pomegranate Leaves	2 Kgs
6	Guava Leaves	2 Kgs
7	Lantena Camella Leaves	2 Kgs
8	White Dhatura Leaves	2 Kgs

Note:

• Cow's Urine should be from Local Cows and not from cross-bred or foreign breeds.
• Lantena Camella Leaves & White Dhatura Leaves can be added, if available.

Method of Preparation

1. Add the Cow's Urine in a pot.
2. Crush the Neem Leaves well and add the Neem pulp to the pot as well.
3. Similarly, crush the other ingredients (No.3 to No.8) one by one and add them to the pot as well.
4. Boil the content of the pot for 5 times.
5. Filter the content of the pot using a cloth.
6. Allow the pesticide to ferment for 24 hours.

Method of Storage

1. Not Applicable

How long can we store the Pesticide?

1. Not Applicable

How to use the Pesticide?

1. Spray System - The pesticide can be applied as a foliar spray.

Note:

• Dilute 2 Litres of the pesticide with 100 Litres of water before applying.

When to use the Pesticide?

1. Generally, the ideal time for spraying is during 6 am to 8.30 am and between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.

Which pests are controlled by the Pesticide?

1. The pesticide is effective in controlling sucking pests, pod borer and fruit borer.

Choosing the Right Number of Crops - Approach One

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see how to choose the Right Number of Crops.


We have discussed previously about

• Choosing the Right Crop
• Choosing the Right Variety within a Crop

In continuing with the similar topics, we are going to discuss about the Right Number of Crops.

Generally, it is advised to go for 20 to 40 range of Crops for diversification.  How is this number arrived at?

If we need to maintain the diversity as well as minimize the risk, it is better to allocate only 2.5% to 5% of the total land available for farming (excluding land for Fences, Livestock etc).

In this case, some of the crops may get more money for the same land allocated, while some others may get less money and hence it will average it out by itself and also there will be a continuous flow of cash in our hands. (Will be discussed further in future topics)

While the % or the range may be easily valid for long duration crops like Plants, when it comes to short duration crops like Vegetables or Floriculture, we need to have another 20 to 40 range of crops within these.  The reason being Vegetables or Floriculture produces more in a short time and hence there may be over production if we have only 1 Vegetable or Floriculture crop and hence the risks of market will be there.

As a thumb rule, keep the above in mind.  Its not that we have to strictly maintain this range. Depending on the specific situation of the farmer, it may go up or come down.  A farmer having a small holding (1 Acre) cannot go for 20 different Plants but may be possible to go for 20 different Vegetables including Green Leafy Vegetables.

We have seen the general model, but what about Integrated Farming?  Lets for a moment assume we want to go for Integrated Farming. In Integrated Farming, we normally would have atleast some of the following in our farm.

1. Cattle (Cows, Sheep, Goats etc)
2. Poultry (Chicken, Ducks, Pigeons etc)
3. Fisheries
4. Apiculture and may be more depending on the interest of the farmer.

If we plan to include one or more of the above options, we may need to allocate enough land for hosting them as well as enough land for producing the feed.  After subtracting the land needed for the Livestock, use the remaining land for other crops.

We need to keep in mind that Cereals, Millets etc are also need to be considered as a crop and hence they can be part of the 20 to 40 ranges of crops.

Manures - Amudha Karaisal

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series,  we are going to see Amudha Karaisal.  This is known as Amruthpani in Hindi.


Required Ingredients

S.No.	Ingredient Name	Qty in Litres/Kgs
1	Fresh Cow Dung	1 Kg
2	Cow's Urine	1 Litres
3	Jaggery	25 Grams
4	Water	10 Litres
5	Ipomoea Cornea	1 Kg

Note:

• Ipomoea Cornea is known as Neiveli Kattamanakku in Tamil and is an Optional Ingredient.

Method of Preparation

1. Mix all of them and stir well (3 times a day).
2. The manure should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots (worms) in the solution.

Method of Storage

1. Not Applicable as the manure can be used after 24 hours itself.

How long can we store the Manure?

1. Not Applicable as the manure can be used after 24 hours itself.

How to use the Manure?

1. Spray System - The manure can be applied as a foliar spray.
2. Flow System - The solution of manure can be mixed with irrigation water, either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation.

Note: Dilute 1 Litre of the manure with 10 Litres of Water before applying.

When to use the Manure?

1. Generally, it is accepted that every 15 days the manure can be applied.

Manures - Herbal Tea

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see Herbal Tea.


Required Ingredients

S.No.	Ingredient Name	Qty in Litres/Kgs
1	Fresh Cow Dung	5 Kgs
3	Jaggery	250 Grams
2	Medicinal Plants	Required Qty
4	Big Stone or Brick	1 Number
5	Water	3/4 of Drum size

Note:

• Any Medicinal Plants like Neem, Nochi, Custard Apple leaves.

Method of Preparation

1. Have a Water Drum filled with 3/4 of water.
2. Place all the above mentioned items (1 to 4) inside a jute sack, tie the mouth of the sack tightly with a rope and immerse it inside the water.
3. Shake the sack, holding the free end of the rope two times everyday in such a way that the contents inside the sack mix well with the water (similar to the tea bags immersed in milk).

Note:

• Water Drum can be made of Iron, Plastic or Cement Tank.
• The manure will be ready after 1 week.

Method of Storage

1. The manure should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots (worms) in the solution. This is applicable during the preparation as well as during the shelf life of the manure as well.

How long can we store the Manure?

1. Not Applicable

How to use the Manure?

1. Spray System - The manure can be applied as a foliar spray.
2. Flow System - The solution of manure can be mixed with irrigation water, either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation.

Note: Dilute 1 Litre of the manure with 9 Litres of water before applying.

When to use the Manure?

1. Generally, it is accepted that every 15 days the manure can be applied.

Pesticides - Vasambu Karaisal (வசம்பு கரைசல்)

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see Vasambu Karaisal (வசம்பு கரைசல்) which is an organic pest repellent.

Required Ingredients

S.No.	Ingredient Name	Qty in Litres/Kgs
1	Vasambu	300 Grams
2	Cow's Urine	0.5 Litres
3	Khadi Soap	100 ML
4	Water	2 Litres

Note:

• Vasambu is known as Sweet Flag in English and its botanical name is Acorus calamus.

Method of Preparation

1. Dry the Vasambu in sunlight.
2. Crush the Vasambu into a powdery form and soak it in the water for one night.
3. Stir the solution by using a stick.
4. Filter the solution using a cloth and use it.
5. Mix 2 days old Cow's Urine at the time of use.
6. Mix 100 ml of khadi soap solution at the time of use.

Note:

• Please note that the stick (neem stick is better or any pole) used for mixing the ingredients should be cleaned before & after the usage so as to avoid maggots formations in the pesticide.
• The pesticide should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots (worms) in the solution.

Method of Storage

1. The pesticide should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots (worms) in the solution.  This is applicable during the preparation as well as during the shelf life of the pesticide as well.

How long can we store the Pesticide?

1. Not Applicable

How to use the Pesticide?

1. Spray System - The pesticide can be applied as a foliar spray.

When to use the Pesticide?

1. Generally, the ideal time for spraying is during 6 am to 8.30 am and between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.

Which pests are controlled by the Pesticide?

1. Information not available

Manures - Fish Amino Acid (மீன் அமினோ அமிலம்)

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see Fish Amino Acid ((மீன் அமினோ அமிலம்)) which is an organic fertilizer.



Required Ingredients

S.No.	Ingredient Name	Qty in Litres/Kgs
1	Fish / Fish Wastes	2 Kgs
2	Solid Jaggery	2 Kgs

Method of Preparation

1. Cut the Fish or Fish Waste into small pieces and place it in an air tight container.
2. Crush the solid jaggery into small pieces and place it as well in the container.
3. Mix them well and store in a cool place.  Avoid direct sunlight.
4. The solution can be used when the solution looks like honey.  This will take 20-30 days of fermentation.
5. Remove the solid fish waste by filtering the same.

Method of Storage

1. The manure should be kept in the shade and kept it in an air tight container.

How long can we store the Manure?

1. The manure can be stored for 6 months.

How to use the Manure?

1. Spray System - The manure can be applied as a foliar spray.
2. Flow System - The solution of manure can be mixed with irrigation water, either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation.

Note: Dilute 25 ml of the manure with 1 litre of water before use.

When to use the Manure?

1. Generally, the ideal time for spraying is during 6 am to 8.30 am and between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
2. Generally, it is accepted that every 15 days the manure can be applied.