India's rice revolution

Below is very interesting article entitled “India’s rice revolution,” which appeared recently in the U.K. Guardian newspaper about revolutionary rice farming here in India. 

India's rice revolution 

In a village in India's poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice – with no GM, and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages? 

Sumant Kumar was overjoyed when he harvested his rice last year. There had been good rains in his village of Darveshpura in north-east India and he knew he could improve on the four or five tonnes per hectare that he usually managed. But every stalk he cut on his paddy field near the bank of the Sakri river seemed to weigh heavier than usual, every grain of rice was bigger and when his crop was weighed on the old village scales, even Kumar was shocked. 

Rice grains ripening in field

This was not six or even 10 or 20 tonnes. Kumar, a shy young farmer in Nalanda district of India's poorest state Bihar, had – using only farmyard manure and without any herbicides – grown an astonishing 22.4 tonnes of rice on one hectare of land. This was a world record and with rice the staple food of more than half the world's population of seven billion, big news. 

It beat not just the 19.4 tonnes achieved by the "father of rice", the Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan Longping, but the World Bank-funded scientists at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, and anything achieved by the biggest European and American seed and GM companies. And it was not just Sumant Kumar. Krishna, Nitish, Sanjay and Bijay, his friends and rivals in Darveshpura, all recorded over 17 tonnes, and many others in the villages around claimed to have more than doubled their usual yields. 

The villagers, at the mercy of erratic weather and used to going without food in bad years, celebrated. But the Bihar state agricultural universities didn't believe them at first, while India's leading rice scientists muttered about freak results. The Nalanda farmers were accused of cheating. Only when the state's head of agriculture, a rice farmer himself, came to the village with his own men and personally verified Sumant's crop, was the record confirmed. 

The rhythm of Nalanda village life was shattered. Here bullocks still pull ploughs as they have always done, their dung is still dried on the walls of houses and used to cook food. Electricity has still not reached most people. Sumant became a local hero, mentioned in the Indian parliament and asked to attend conferences. The state's chief minister came to Darveshpura to congratulate him, and the village was rewarded with electric power, a bank and a new concrete bridge. 

Click here to read full article and here to view video slide show.

Erythrina Indica – Coral Tree

The Erythrina Indica tree outside my house is currently in bloom and looks glorious. Erythrina Indica (Indian Coral Tree; Tamil = Kalyana Murungai) is a species of the genus Erythrina which contains approximately a hundred trees and shrubs. Erythrina is from the Greek word erythros, meaning red in allusion to the colour of the bloom and Indica to its country of origin. This tree which is commonly found throughout Tiruvannamalai District, is cultivated as a support for various climbing plants (particularly the betel leaf). As it is also an excellent nitrogen fixer, the Erythrina Indica is often planted in fields to improve yield.

Most resplendently adorned tree

The leaves of this tree fall once a year and is followed by the blooming of beautiful scarlet blossoms. This tree will now attract a multitude of bird visitors to its wonderful coloured leaves. Salim Ali in his, “the Book of Indian Birds,” positively identifies the Erythrina Indica as a tree with its seeds and brightly coloured leaves, that is strongly favoured by birds. When in bloom, the tree's scarlet red flowers attracts; crows, mynas, babblers, starlings and green parrots to feed upon the nectar inside the flower and thereby pollinate the tree. To view Salim Ali’s list of Indian trees favoured by birds, go to this link here. 

Wonderfully vivid scarlet flowers

This highly valued ornamental tree has been described as one of the gems of the floral world. It grows along the coastal and inland districts in deciduous forests. The Indian Coral Tree can reach sixty feet height and spread twenty feet. It has stout branches armed with black tiger's claw spine and curved prickles on its long leaf stalks. Though the timber of the tree is light and soft, it is durable when heavy woods are deemed unsuitable. 

Asian Pied Starling feeding on the flower

Mountain of Medicine Update

The Mountain of Medicine project has been underway since August 2003 and since then over 3,000 trees and shrubs of 170 different species have been successfully planted on the Hill, and a nursery has been started to provide the seedlings for the following years and for other reforestation efforts on the Hill. Seven local people are employed full time, with up to twenty-five being involved on a seasonal basis. 

Below is a pictorial representation of the current status of the Mountain of Medicine. Beautiful. 

Eventually the park will include: 

1. A fully functioning nursery. 

2. An area of cultivation of medicinal herbs of commercial value. 

3. An area of zero human interference to act as a control plot showing what natural regeneration is possible on Arunachala hill if biotic pressures are excluded. 

4. The creation of a showcase natural forest will full range of plant strata, with particular emphasis on medicinal plants. 

5. Cultivation of medicinal tree species and associated lianas and shade-loving herbs with a view to sustainable harvesting. 

6. An awareness and educational centre for the general public, farmers and young people. 

7. A living example of organic cultivation, pest control and maintenance. 

Acacia Arabica (Nilotica)

A tree which I commonly call ‘thorny bush,’ is very prevalent all around Arunachala. The indigenous variety of Acacia in these parts is, ‘Acacia Arabica—Karuvelamaram’ which is another name for the ‘Acacia Nilotica’. 

This tree which is popularly known as ‘Babool’ or ‘Babul’ in other parts of the country, is a small to medium tree, 7 to 13 metres tall, with a stem diameter of 20 to 30 centimetres. Its crown is low and spreads almost symmetrically. The bark is very dark brown to black with deep regular vertical grooves in older specimens. The thorns are almost straight, paired at the nodes of the stem and usually pointing slightly backwards. 

‘Acacia Nilotica’ is a slow-growing species but is moderately long-lived. The species will tolerate only light frost, but is extremely resistant to drought and heat. It is also tolerant of saline soil. Its particularly noted for its vigorous growth in seasonally flooded environments. This species can withstand extremely dry environments and can also endure floods. It thrives under irrigation however it is susceptible to a wide range of pests and diseases in native ranges.

‘Acacia Nilotica’ is multipurpose: it provides timber, fuel, shade, food, fodder, honey, dye, gum, fences as well as various environmental services including soil reclamation for degraded and eroded areas and barrier to desertification, soil fertilization, protection against fire and wind and a haven for biodiversity and ornament. It is widely used in ethno medicine. However it is considered a weed in some countries. This tree makes a good protective hedge because of its thorns. The tree's wood is "very durable if water-seasoned" and is used in the manufacture of tools and boats. Holosericea’ (see below) is here in India. 

‘Acacia Nilotica’ has a wealth of medicinal uses. It is used for stomach upset and pain, the bark is chewed to protect against scurvy, an infusion is taken for dysentery and diarrhoea. It has also been used to eliminate stomach worms, as an antiseptic for open wounds and as an expectorant for treating coughs. 

'Acacia Nilotica’ propagates by seeds carried in animal droppings or by direct seeding and is protected from severe grazing by the presence of long thorns. The pods are desirable as fodder for cattle, and the leaves, young shoots and young pods are thought to aid milk production. The leaves and fruits can be poisonous if eaten in large quantities. 

A serious limitation of this tree is that it is extremely invasive in exotic habitats. Ironically the ‘Acacia Nilotica’ which is regarded as a weed in Australia is as invasive and as damaging in that country, as their own import the ‘Acacia Holosericea’ (see below) is here in India.

 --- oOo ---

Below is an extract of a report which recently appeared in local newspapers about the dangers of the invasive import, the ‘Acacia Holosericea.’ 

Normally, environmentalists would give their voice for planting trees and not for cutting them. But an invasive tree species, Acacia holosericea, planted in Tiruvannamalai hill several years ago attract their ire. 

Colonies of these trees stand out among thick vegetation found in the southern slope of the hill as they have silvery phyllodes (flattened leaf stalk that looks like and acts as leaf). Real leaves of these trees are less in numbers and are short lived. Environmental activists, feel that the spread of this tree is detrimental to eco system and indigenous flora. Its is believed that Acacia Holosericea may be good in its native land, Australia, however, it becomes invasive in exotic conditions, like in India. 

It causes several problems. First, it spreads fast and dominate indigenous flora. Given a chance, it would eat into bio resources of the hill to a great extent. Second, phyllode litters strewn on the earth will not decompose easily, would not allow other plants to germinate from underneath and may contribute to easy forest fire. Hence these trees should be removed from forest, before its domination becomes irreversible as in Kerala and some other places. Previously it was grown in large numbers in Auroville but after it proved itself to be an invasive species people started destroying it. 

During seasons, parrots come in large numbers to feed on its seeds which exacerbate the vigorous spread of this tree. The popular opinion of NGOs and Forest officials is that the species of Acacia Holosericea is indeed problematic and can be removed. 

Propety Value Revision, April 2012

For those complaining about the increase in property prices in Tiruvannamalai, I thought it might be interesting to check out the property value revision of various areas in Chennai – which makes the prices at Tiruvannamalai seem comparatively modest! 

An extract from the property pages of a Tamil Nadu paper reads: 

“The real estate scenario is set to witness a sea change across the State with a property guideline value revision set to take effect from April. 

The proposed guideline revision, after the previous revision in 2007, envisages a steep increase in land costs in South Chennai with a seven-fold increase in several upmarket areas, while North Chennai areas will witness only a moderate two to threefold increase in their guideline values. 

For instance, a square foot of land costs Rs.2,365/- in Abhiramapuram 1st Street, a South Chennai locality, which, as per draft guideline value, has shot up to Rs.15,000/-, which is nearly seven times its present value.

After the release of the draft guideline values, there was a mad rush in registration offices, with property buyers mulling to register their properties as early as possible anticipating a drastic increase in documentation charges. On the other hand, property developers have been luring the buyers offering attractive terms resulting in State Government’s kitty swelling by several hundred crore rupees”. 

Guideline Values per square foot 

Boat Club Road Old Rs.4,500/- New Rs.23,000/-

Adyar Club Road Old Rs.8,400/- New Rs.23,000/-

Anna Salai Old Rs.10,500/- New Rs.19,000/-

Arya Gowda Street Old Rs.2,500/- New Rs.7,300/-

Tambaram Old Rs.2,500/- New Rs.7,000/-

MTH Road Old Rs.1,500/- New Rs.4,500/-

Thana Street Old Rs.3,000/- New Rs.8,500/-

Paper Mills Road Old Rs.900/- New Rs.6,000/-

Alice in Wonderland

For an Alice in the Wonderland story read the below narrative being currently reported in local Tiruvannamalai papers about a solar powdered school being fined for a faulty electricity meter.

In many countries, organisations and individuals are even paid by power companies for putting power back into the grid. But it seems here that self reliance is a cause of suspicion and punishment.

The below narrative is certainly an eye-opener for those planning to construct ecologically friendly homes in this area.







“The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), which oversaw an outrageous mismanagement of resources leading to an unprecedented power crisis in the state, has imposed a fine of 10,000 for a faulty electricity meter on a non-profit school that runs mainly on solar energy.

The board's slap-happy decision to take action against the Tiruvannamalai school flies in the face of rules that make TNEB responsible for the replacement of defective meters. To make matters worse, the board has pulled the plug on the school, leaving it without power.

Arunachala Village School in Vediyappanur village, Tiruvannamalai, 200 km from Chennai, was set up in 1999 with one classroom and 40 students, to provide education to poor children. It now has 203 students, from kindergarten to Class 5, who have access to computers.

The school spent 8 lakh on 29 rooftop solar panels in September 2009 so it could be self-reliant and save electricity. "Though there are eight hours of power cuts in the locality, we don't have any problem. We rarely use electricity from the grid," a school official said. "Since our consumption of electricity is very low, we have been able to save 3,000 annually on power bills."

"Last September, some TNEB officials came to our school and told us we would have to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/-. They said our meter had been defective for two years and recorded very low consumption. We tried to explain that we mostly use solar energy and that, anyway, the board has to replace the meter, but they refused to listen to us," he said.

The school officials refused to pay the fine, so the TNEB officials came around again. "This time they asked us to pay an amount based on average consumption since the meter became faulty in April 2009. When we protested, saying we regularly paid for the power we used, they removed the fuse," the official said.

When contacted, the TNEB Tiruvannamalai region superintendent engineer said he would look into the issue.

The school, however, is not holding its breath. "The government says it is promoting solar power in the state, but TNEB appears to be doing its best to discourage the use of this renewable energy source," the school official said.”

Plastic Waste -- Ecology

Many articles are now appearing in Tamil newspapers concerning the use of plastic waste for the making of road surfaces.

As any visitor to Tiruvannamalai will tell you, plastic is a blight and scourge on this hitherto rustic and unspoilt country town. We managed perfectly well before the advent of plastic and would be the better for it, if all plastic bags were hereto banned throughout the area. Discarded plastic kills both domestic and wild animals, blocks waterways, causes bad odours and the spread of disease, is ecologically unsound and in addition is aesthetically a blot on the land and town.





A friend of mine who used to be involved in the development of small businesses in Tiruvannamalai District told me that for many years she and her associates were engaged in discussions with various Government Departments trying to persuade them to ultilise plastic when preparing road surfaces. Supposedly the various bodies (at that time) were against her proposals because the efficiency of such roads would interfere with the yearly business of relaying traditional bad quality road surfaces around Tiruvannamalai.

But now that such roads will be actually laid around Tamil Nadu, I am feeling disappointed. Perhaps better than utilising used plastic for road making, the discussion should be more concentrated on the outright ban of the use of packaging plastic in Tiruvannamalai.

Related articles are reproduced below:-


Sell Plastic Waste
“The trash in your kitchen has now acquired value. To encash it, all you need to do is segregate the plastic waste at home and sell it to the Chennai Corporation for as much as Rs.20 kg. They want it for relaying the battered roads in the city.

The Corporation has already initiated the process to fix norms to procure plastic of low microns from the public for use with bitumen while relaying roads. That will kill two birds with one stone: your neighbourhood will be free of non-biodegradable waste and the roads will be able to withstand the wear and tear. It will also put some money in your pocket.

To complete road-relaying, the civic body estimated that it would need 800 tonnes of waste plastic and launched a special drive last month to collect it at its 200 ward offices. Yet, it has been able to collect only 110 tonnes so far. “We have about 10,000... staff and if they collect one kilo of such plastic, the civic body would be able to get 10 tonnes of plastic waste everyday.”


Cleaning Waste Plastic
“Corporation gets 20 tonnes of plastic every day from residents. The Chennai Corporation will soon call for expressions of interest from firms who have the know how to clean and dry plastic being collected for use in road re-laying.

“There are technologies available for cleaning plastic material. The plastic that we are getting presently is not very clean and we cannot use such plastic directly in road work,” said a civic body official. The Corporation gets around 20 tonnes of plastic every day from residents.

The plastic that can be used for road re-laying should be 20 microns - 80 microns thickness. Carry bags, milk packets, oil packets and plastic covers used to pack pulses, rice or other food items can be handed over to collection centres at ward offices. “These are materials that every home generates and disposes with other waste as old paper marts do not buy them. We want residents to collect and bring them to ward offices. However, pet bottles, PVC pipes of broken buckets would not be accepted,” said a civic body official. Work on re-laying roads and patching up potholes is in progress in several areas across the city. To ensure quality of the work done, the civic body is deputing engineers to supervise the work at all locations. To maintain the gradient, it is asking contractors to carry camber boards.

“We are ensuring that the heat of the asphalt mix is correct. In some locations we have even asked the contractor to re-lay the road if any of the norms are not being followed,” said a senior official.

Civic body officials carry digital thermometers and infra red guns to record the temperature of the mix.”

Ramana Nagar Plot Sales

The land photographs below are of plots located directly opposite the Ramana Nagar Post office and a two minute walk from Chengam road and Ramana Ashram.

Supposedly the land has been under dispute for some time, which I've heard is now resolved. Thus far this land is unquestionably the MOST expensive land being sold in the Ramana Nagar area (although I have heard of more expensive plots for sale that are located in the streets around the Arunachaleswarar Temple).

The land is being sold in 1,800 square feet plots (60 feet by 30 feet) at the rate of Rs.2,800/- a square foot. Which means before Registration and Land Tax, the current asking price for a 1,800 square foot plot comes to Rs.50.4 Lakhs. Even if your pockets are deep, remember to negotiate.

Expect the high price will ensure that the area will be populated almost exclusively by commercial ventures, large showrooms, National stores and hotels. I believe several pieces of land have already been sold.

Initiative to save Water Bodies

A very encouraging report has just appeared in Tamil Nadu newspapers about a state-wide initiative to save water bodies; which includes irrigation tanks, ponds and springs

Local NGO’s have described the state government’s proposal as ‘path breaking’ which is to restore water bodies across the state. According to media reports, the state government would undertake to restore around 70,000 water bodies comprising 21,000 minor irrigation tanks, 48,000 ponds and springs. The project proposes to target approximately 1,487 water bodies in Vellore and 3,277 in Tiruvannamalai district.

A plea to the state government, on the need for a restoration project, emanated, when the Chennai-based Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) (along with a group of NGOs from across the state) organised a special meeting which focused on the revival of tanks and water bodies and the strict enforcement of laws to protect water bodies.

Water bodies in Tamil Nadu used to provide irrigation to over 1.7 million hectares in the 1950s. Most of these structures still exist but the area irrigated by these sources has come down drastically to 0.7 million hectares as on 2002.

Tanks are traditional rain-water harvesting structures which not only provide irrigation, but also act as a buffer during droughts as they help recharge groundwater. Sadly, hundreds of tanks, foreshore areas and their catchments have been encroached upon by private individuals while many others have been occupied officially for various urban activities such as housing, industrial estate, government buildings, etc. At the present pace of industrialisation and urbanisation in the state, most of the tanks may disappear in the next couple of decades.

Environmental activists welcomed the government’s move to restore water bodies, but wanted rivers to be included, as tanks had a direct bearing on river systems. Citing the case of the Palar river which is on the verge of dying due to lack of surface water, illegal encroachments, and unabated sand mining, it was suggested that the state government present a white paper on the status of all rivers in the state.

Solar-powered houses

The below interesting information on the development of Solar-powered houses by the State Government, recently appeared in State newspapers. Its certainly heartening to see such an ecologically-friendly initiative from the State Government.

The articles state that:

“Six months after the announcement in the Assembly, the chief minister’s solar-powered, green-powered scheme, that replaced the previous regime’s ‘Kalaignar housing scheme’, has gained momentum with the government issuing work orders to 60,000 rural beneficiaries. Many of them have also started constructing their dream houses.

“In the first phase, we have identified 60,000 beneficiaries across the state for 2011-2012. With 4,333 identified beneficiaries in Villupuram, which has more number of huts in the state, tops the beneficiaries list and 3,719 beneficiaries have been identified in Vellore district, while Tiruvannamalai district stands next with 3,038 beneficiaries,” sources in the government told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday.





Similarly, 1,897 beneficiaries in Madurai, 2,801 in Salem, 2,427 in Tirunelveli, 1,531 in Thoothukudi will soon start constructing their houses.

Green houses will be constructed either replacing the existing structure or on land owned by the beneficiary elsewhere in the village panchayat.

Under this scheme, Rs 1.80 lakh will be allotted for each beneficiary with Rs 1.50 lakh for constructing a house measuring 300 square feet and the remaining Rs 30,000 for purchasing a solar-powered home lighting system, which will be installed by Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA).

All the houses must have rainwater harvesting system and be in cream and maroon colour. Unlike earlier schemes, this one provides for the entire cost to be borne by the state government.”

Arunachala Homes

There are currently many recently constructed homes ready for purchase located in areas close and convenient to Ramana Nagar and the central point of Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram.

To view a selection of these one and two storey homes, please view this album at this link here.

All the houses in the album are moderately priced, have been recently completed and have straight-forward title. If you wish to meet with an agent and arrange to view any of these homes, please email at the above address.

If you wish to see more photographs of any of the homes, or wish to see photographs of the interiors, please email at the above address.

Devyandal Farm

This week visited a very beautiful land parcel comprised of two adjacents farms and totalling just under 5 acres in size. The land is to be sold in one unit, but has an electrical connection and water tanks (driven by petrol motors) on both pieces of land.

One Tank

Two Tank

The land is close to a water catchment area and government land that can never be built on, thus providing a secure buffer zone on one side of the land parcel. Open hills are a short distance to the land parcel.

For more specific details and pricing, use the 'contact me' facility at top left hand corner of this page.

The land is located on the northwest side of Arunachala abount one kilometre west of Adaiyur.

Tree Species for Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Forest Department has listed the below trees species as highly suitable for cultivation in Tiruvannamalai District. To find out more about tree research in the forests of Tamil Nadu, go to this link here.

Right click on photographs to view enlargement. Under each photograph right click on tree name to be guided to relevant link with additional information on that particular tree.

Anthocephalus Cadamba

Khaya Senegalensis

Ailanthus Excelsa, Tree of Heaven

Melia Dubia, Golden Neem

Casuarina Junghuniana

Melocanna Baccifera

Alstronia Scholaris, Devil Tree

Albizia Richardiana

Acrocarpus Fraxinifolius, Pink Cedar