Report November 08

Summary of VK Activity by Arun, Rohit & Shantanufrom 10th To 23rd November 2008

Arun has gone for ARTI training to Phaltan from 10-14th November 2008. Shantanu joined same training on 13th & 14th November 2008.
10th Nov 08: The first day of training was on Kandi Kolsa, Sarai cooker and general introduction to ARTI techniques Biogas.
Kandi Kolsa: The light biomass in collected together and subjected to partial combustion in steel drum. The carbon powder obtained from this is mixed with cooked wheat paste and put in mold of appropriate size. This is then dried under sun to get fuel; which can be used for cooking food in an efficient sarai cooker.
The basic biomass is available at VK Pimplad need the infrastructure and basic training.
Sujata tai and Amit are in process of making the unit. We can call ARTI person for training or Arun can train Suresh and student during his visit to Pimpald.
Sarie Cookers are the cooker designed to cook food at lower temperature. The main advantage of this cooker are they are highly fuel efficient as there is minimum loss of water vapors. Food is cooked at lower temperature as compare to normal heating and pressure cooker this can lead to better food value. ARTI does not support there claim of better food value with any data. One cooker is with Sujata Tai at Pimplad. Need to use it on regular basis. We can purchase jumbo cookers if we get our own kandi lolsa
Bio-gas: Bio gas is useful technique and should be active at VK pimplad. Bio gas will work very well during summer. But can work reasonably well during winter season. We have to modify our working style for effective utilization of bio gas we have. In this process methane is generated form carbohydrate rich biomass. It can be waste food or waste wheat floor form floor mill. Used tea powder, umbrachi fale, kardaliche kanda. Need to feed only 1.5 kg of crushed biomass with 1 12-15 lit water as slurry. Overdoes hampers the process. We have all infrastructure ready needs proper training and mangment.
11th Nov 08: Bamboo treatment, solar dryer, smock less wood stove and wormy bed was covered on second day.
Bamboo Treatment: Bamboo can be used for various purposes like the structure for climbers; furniture e.g. chairs, cots, racks; solar dryers; bamboo water storage tanks; wormy beds etc. Bamboo life can be improved if bamboo is treated with some chemicals. Bamboo immediately after cutting should be treated with sodium chromate, boric acid and copper sulfate solution. These treated bamboos can be used for 10years.
The other treatment is less effective and should be done on the dry Bamboos. We at VK Pimpalad should aim at bamboo plantation and treatment as long term project and use of treated bamboos as short term option.
Solar Dryer: Solar dryer is a pyramid of bamboo and back plastic. This can be used for drying vegetables and fruits. When vegetable are cheap in market they can be purchase and can be used when not available or very costly. We can either arrange training for making solar dryer or Arun can train students and Suresh during his visit.
Smoke less Chulas These are based on two important factors a) Wood is burned on a MS gauze so that it has much better supply of air this leads to low smoke. b) the construction is made in such a way that the energy losses are minimized. Different chulas are available. Chulas can be made from concrete or soil. Mode for these chulas are available with ARTI for 1000/- .
NARI Visit: Arun also visited NARI on this day. NARI has a verity of sheep which can give about 2lit of milk in a day. This can be good option to cow. Need further study and discussion. They have a glass called Dasharth ghas which can survive in very low water availability. This is good food for cow and ships. A packet of seed has been purchased for VK pimplad.
12th & 13th Nov 08 Shantanu joined for ARTI training. Next two days training was on nursery technique & raise beds; high humidity chamber; hardening chamber.
Raised bed is technique developed by ARTI for seasonal plants preparation and making use of soil which has problem. This is base on high aeration of roots, appropriate amount of required fertilizers either organic or chemical. This can yield in high production.
High humidity chambers are useful for asexual propagation of plants. This technique leads to low mortality of cuttings. The plants can not be shifted from high humidity chamber directly to normal atmosphere hence need slow and controlled exposure to normal conditions this is done by hardening chamber. Arun and Shantanu can train students for this.
14th Nov 08 Arun, Rohit & Shantanu had discussion at Pune.
Pabal Visit Arun and Shantanu visited Pabal to meet Arjun & Kalu Mahale. This meeting was quite satisfactory. Both VK students are doing well at Pabal. and completed one course each. Both are well aware of the expectations from VK Pimpald. Arjun has some ideas about water storage tank and wants to implement it at Pimpald. Kalu said Sujata tai has told him to concentrate on motor winding so that we can start similar course at VK Pimpald next year. Both seems to be agreeing with spending there time with VK for their individual and society betterment. We asked them to make their plan for 3 years. The plan should take care of
Family needs and expectations
Society & VK needs and expectation
Efforts to build their own business
Individuals liking
We will have the next round of discussion with them after completion of their course and counseling by VA authorities. Shantanu will be in touch with VA on this issue. Sujata tai should send formal request to VA after Shantanu’s initial approach.
We also visited Agricultural exhibition at Agriculture College ground Pune. Few interesting things are: Pump on swing; grinder on cycle. We purchase banana saplings and seeds of Dudhi, Karla, Ghosali, Dodki Diary of Dapoli Krishi Vidyapeet etc. Rohit and Arun traveled to Nashik on same day.
15th November 08: Rohit and Arun visited Pimpald on 15th and 16th November 2008. Purpose of this visit was to update link Rohit’s work plan with Shantanu’s work. Arun was with Shantanu for his last two days at Pimpald. 15th morning Rohit & Arun visited Mr. Joshi in Nashik to explore the possibility of his involvement in VK Pimplad project. This was attempted because Amit has limited time available and we need a local support for VK project.
Then we visited Pimpald. We had good discussion with Suresh. Arun had explained Rohit how to take further what Shantanu has started. Shade net needs completion. Plot which is ready need plantation. Drip system work need to go further; Sugam Patil needs to be tapped for the same. Raised bed need to be build. Trays for vegetables with coco pit. Wormy bed, Jeevamrut, dryer initial purchases are the main things on Rohit’s list. Very important expectation form Rohits stay is student’s involvement in project. Suresh to be establish as trainer and farm manager. Rohit has limited time and will not get in to waste water recycle project. This project was initially was main part of Rohit’s work. But after taking account of situation this was dropped form Rohit’s list.
This evening we had meeting with Jayant dada and explained him the plan. Jayant dada also discussed about the fencing issue. We agreed to make plant for our own plantation. 1) fencing plants 2) karanja. He also discussed about the planning for next year course. Group has to decide and make a thorough proposal for the same. Late evening we had meeting with Rohin (Arun’s Cousin) & Vivek Achawal both of them have shown interest in VK project and promised support. Arun, Rohit and Shantanu need to take further action to keep in touch & involve them in positive way.
16th November 08: Rohit and Arun visited the Borha nursery. This was quite a useful visit. Mr. Borha promised to purchase any plant from us except Nilgiri, Akesha & subhabhul. He has low cost vermin wash technique. He suggested to collect seeds form forest in our area and made sapling form it. He suggested Boganvela for the compounding. Following this visit we went to buy Flower & vangi saplings. This afternoon we had a group meeting Rohit, Arun, Jayanydada, Sujata Tai and Chitra tai were present in the meeting. We had agreed on
Suresh will have one holiday per week. 8 festival holidays and no leave for first 6 months. He can get compensatory off or can adjust leave by compensation.
We will pursue Bhora nursery plan. We will make vegetable sapling for our consumption and sell. We will also make sapling of boganvela and karnja for our own consumption
Solar dryer is a good option and should be taken on priority.
Nursery need to be functional. Raise bed and tray with cocopit should be pursued.
We need another cow sakwar should be contacted.
Drip is agreed in principle. Initial estimate is Rs. 500/- Pravin Vetal will visit VK and give the final estimate.
Jeevamrut is another priority item
Wormy culture is next item with out which we can not go further. All worm is our present culture are dead.
From 19th Nov 2008 Rohit was at Pimplad the accomplishments during his stay are as follows:
Vegetable Farming : Plot were made ready for plantation. Actual plantation of Flower and vangi was done. Bananas were planted.
Drip Irrigation Priveen Vetal visited VK gave list of the requirement for drip which we have to arrange. Rohit with help of students and Suresh got the necessary infra structure. Pravin promised that he will involve students and install drip system. There won’t be installation charges. He estimated total cost to be about Rs. 1400/- The drip cost will be about 600 and rest is supporting material which his company do not sell.
Students Involvement Rohit, Sujata Tai, Nikhil and Suresh made a good time table of students where they work in field batch wise. Rohit found that enthusiasm of students is quite high.
Plant Protection Crabs were another serious problem and Rohit and Suresh got the required remedy for the same. Students with help of Suresh did the needful.
Nursery Rohit with arranged to get a trolley load of sand. This came as complementary gift from Mr. Rajesh Dixit. With help of sand and available recourses model raise bed was made in nursery which will be tried for sapling preparation of cabbage and Karnja. Coco pit and trays was purchased mixed with wormy manure sample trays were made ready. Can be used for sapling preparation of Dudhi, Karla etc.
Jevamrut : Necessary material for Jeevamrut was purchased and first model batch was done in Rohit’s present. Fortunately Kishorji’s also guided students in this event.
Shade net: Net construction was complete in all respect before Rohit left Pimpald.
Sarai Cooker: Rohit demos rated the way to use Sarai cooker.
Pending Jobs: Solar dryer, wormy beds, Bio gas
Post Rohit’s visit drip system was installed and it came as complementary gift to VK project.