PLANT A FRUIT TREE THIS MONSOON; YOUR GRANDCHILDREN MAY BE GRATEFUL Compiled by Frederick Noronha
This is a compilation of information from various sources and is an attempt to share useful plant-related information with others in Goa. Please send a copy of this (if needed, a printout) to anyone whom you think might gain from it. While we in the computer generation have indulged in work which has cost a lot of trees, let's show that we care too! FN has tried to credit all sources of information; any lapses may please be pointed out. Miguel Braganza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> who is an agricultural officer turned writer/editor, put together a useful amount of information and a list of nurseries in Goa from where one can obtain plants: Below is his list of nurseries from where one can purchase plants in time for monsoon planting: * Viraj Nursery, Opp Binani, Carrasvaddo/Colvale. Ph.5623013 * Vikas Nursery, NH-17 Dhargal/Porvorim Ph.5622088, 9326105043 * Mr.Farmer, NH-17, Guirim Ph.9822100498 * Kakoda Farms/Goa Horti Centre, Behind MMC Bldg. Margao * Rodney's Roses, Nr.Rly.Stn, Seraulim Ph.2780696, 9822122974 * Aadhya Nursery, Margao * East-West Nursery, Ambaji, Near KTC Bus Stand, Margao. * Nisarg Nursery, Verem-Candolim Road, Verem * Green Triangle, Opposite Post Off, Arpora-Saligao Jn., Parra SOME TIPS FROM MIGUEL: Fruit trees like jamun (Syzygium jambolana), zaam (Syzygium aquem), guava, cashew, mango, jackfruit, tamarind, brindao/bindna/kokum (Garcinia indica), aonla (Phyllanthus emblica), West Indian fig, West indian cherry (Malphigia), Indian cherry/kantam (Carissa carandas), bor (Zizypus sp.), churna (Zizypus rugosa), bael (Aegle marmellos) and false bael or wood apple (Feronia sp.) are best planted to attract children to the hills. Animals, squirrels and birds will come too. Some grasses like lemon grass or ganjan and khus or valerr can be planted by the course of the spring. Periwinkles (vinca/perpet/sadafuli) and tulsi plants can add beauty at low cost. The plants are self-propagating. One or two rain trees would provide extensive shade within three or four years. (These tips were given in the context of the Salmona spring in Saligao, which is coming under increasing "development" and concretisation, but would probably make sense elsewhere too.) Nisarga Nursery has a few tall-grown tree species in cement bags. The Forest Department also has some species. Can community-based organisations (CBOs) come together to do tree planting with the onset of monsoons? Schools re-open on June 6. Tree planting is best done before June 30. Some labour needs to be employed. Students cannot do the heavy work. The community needs to contribute some funds. Miguel also made this point: "The Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) has spread the green message through its member schools, higher-secondaries and colleges. It is having a ripple effect. This month the Centre for Environmental Education, Botanical Society of Goa and Nisarga have decided to come together to celebrate the World Environment Week beginning 05 June. The BSG, Western Ghats Kokum Foundation and World Wildlife Fund for Nature are already working together." "There is renewed interest in planting what used to be called 'minor fruits'. The Agriculture Officers' Association (AOA) is coming up with a new book on these plants. The one was compiled and edited a decade back has been out of print and become a little outdated too," says Miguel. AN INITIATIVE AT THE GOA UNIVERSITY: The Western Ghats Kokum Foundation (WGKF) has signed a MoU with the Goa University to plant different tree species on the varsity campus and the road leading to it from NIO Circle, Dona Paula. The State Bank of India, which had funded a mini orchard at Goa University in the early 1990s, has loosened its purse-strings again. The funds are routed through the WGKF. The Multi Commodity Exchange of India [MCX] is also funding the project. The Chowgules (Ravi Chowgule) have assured that they will make rock breaker JCB and other equipment available for excavating pits on the rocky campus. To support the venture, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you would like to contribute to the building up of the Goa University's environment. NOTE TO PLANT LOVERS: Please click on the link below to visit the webpage on Plant Utsav 2003. http://www.goa-world.com/goa/plant/ This year the Plant Utsav (plant festival) is proposed to be held in Margao from 18 to 20 November, 2005 at BPS Club, Margao. the date and venue will be confirmed. SEEDS IN GOA (Source: Miguel Braganza): One option is to try Ela Farm (Ph.2285329) or contact Deputy Director (Horticulture) Satish Tendulkar (Ph.2436851) at the Agriculture Department HO in Vidyut Bhavan,4th Floor, Panjim. The other option is to try M/s K.S. Bhonsule (Shop No.26,if I remember right) on the ground floor of the new Panjim Market next to INOX. Between 9 AM and 1 PM, Ashish Agro Associates run by ex-Director of Agriculture, Mr.P.K.Desai (opposite CCP crematorium in Kamat Arcade, St.Inez-Panjim) is value for money.... with technical advice for free and pesticides at very competitive rates. The neem cake is more expensive but still value for money. No one else in Goa has comparable quality neem cake. He knows his job and comes from a farming family. Sorry, AAA is not open in the afternoons. Goa government promises vegetable cultivation drive. Agriculture Department has started distributing fruit trees grafts at a subsidised rate. Agri Director R G Joshi says they have a target for distributing 200,000 cashew grafts, 60,000 coconut saplings, 25,000 to 30,000 mango grafts and 10,000 grafts and seedlings of other fruit. Spices like jaiphal, kali miri (pepper), and kokum (binn'a), awala, jambul and tamarind are also included. (Navhind Times) JATROPA: Plants are available at Pilar Nature Farm. At a seed rate of 6 kg per hectare and seed cost of Rs. 6 per kg, one needs only Rs.36 per hectare towards seed cost. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF GOA: The BSG is an association of plant lovers (age, gender, education, profession no bar) that helps to green the minds and to green the land with the green hands. Check out http://bsg-goa.swiki.net or http://konkanfruit.swiki.net or http://www.goa-world.com/goa/fruitfest Visit these three websites to know more about BSG and how you can gain by associating with it....even if you are not a paid member. For details you can email [EMAIL PROTECTED], or to the BSG secretary at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Says the BSG: "We can help you organise an event in your school, higher-secondary or college this year (upto October) and build up an existing nature/eco club or help create a new one to organise activities in your institution. We like a lasting relationship... not seasonal blooms that fade after the event." Says Miguel: "There are many plant nurseries registered with the Directorate of Agriculture which sell genuine plants. Buy plants from one of them and obtain a bill. Upto five years later, you can complain if the plant is not what you were told it was. That is the guarantee that a registered nursery has to give. The bill is your guarantee. Ensure that it has details of the variety and type of plant you buy." Dr Ajit Shirodkar, the force behind the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- is eager to promote the kokum ('binna' or 'bhirand') plant in Goa. "Making seedlings available is no problem. To make it a sustainable drive, roping in other groups is a must. But hurry up," says he. Kokum (Garcinia indica) needs nurturing, and attention during the first two years after planting. Miguel Braganza suggests that St.Xavier's College has a net house and space for a nursery. "Perhaps we could rope it in. It does conduct non-formal courses in orchid and anthurium cultivation," he adds. ------------------------------------------- FRUIT-BEARING AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTS are available at Zonal Agricultural Offices in Goa, apart from private outlets. One option is the Duler Farm, run by the Goa government, where the price of plants is amazingly low, no wonder the stock gets over so fast. A nutmeg graft costs Rs 50, a binn'na (kokum) graft Rs 20, amla grafts Rs 30, and mango grafts Rs 32. There were some banana suckers priced at just Rs 6 each (only when stock is available) on Friday afternoon. Saturday and Sunday closed. Timings 9.30 to noon and 2 to 4 pm. Phone enquiries: 226 2368. You can also get such plants from Ela (near Old Goa) and other ZAOs, including Margao, at this time of the year, the monsoon planting season. Don't forget to check out the vegetable seeds available in small packets, priced Rs 3 to 10 including the sweet-corn seeds. Goanet News Bytes supports a green Goa. http://newsfromgoa.swiki.net and http://www.goanet.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Voices from here and there --------------------------------------------------------------- "When everything, including trees, are cleared, there is a multi-storeyed structure, there is a parking lot and there is an area, which is tiled. but there is hardly any planning to do tree planting," -- Sandeep Azrencar, co-ordinator of the Nisarga Nature Club, of Margao and Mapusa. His group which has been working for years to spread the tree-growing culture. Check out the interesting work they're doing. "Trees can change the ecology of a place," says botanist Prof B F Rodrigues, "and the moment we prefer exotic ones, we develop a mono-culture." According to Rodrigues, people complain of pollen allergy when there is maximum bloom of acacia trees, resulting in respiratory problems like a cough. Trees like eucalyptus drain the water table while casuarina is also know to choke waterways. Acacia trees are tall but cannot match local varieties, much less for timber. They may not be conducive for birds either. "A denser crown, which the stately trees have, means more leaves and more leaves means more is the oxygen released in the atmosphere", -- horticulturist Rosendo Mendonca. "If you see the previous pattern, every house was a ground dwelling structure. All houses had traditionally what is called the 'porsum' (backyard plantation). Besides, there was a verandah and, in front of that, a garden. Hence every house was a eco-friendly dwelling." Trees are felled for construction but the element of compensating or replacing the lost tree is missing. "The only sweet exception is the trees which were planted by CCP as part of Together for Panaji programme during the tenure of then Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues. "In the multi-storeyed building, every one is boxed in. The affinity with trees is gone," says Sandeep Azrencar. -------------------------------------------------------------- Useful tips to share with others, about tree planting in Goa: -------------------------------------------------------------- Below is some information available from the Net: o http://www.treesforlife.org/ An interesting initiative to promote trees. Trees for Life is much more than just planting trees. When villagers in developing countries succeed in growing fruit trees, they often want to to do more to serve their communities. Trees for life is a non-profit, people-to-people movement that helps plant fruit trees in developing countries. These trees provide a low-cost, self-renewing source of food for many people and protect the environment. o http://www.texasgrown.com/pages/articles/plant_fruit_tree.html How to plant your fruit tree. By Steve Bridges. o http://www.recipegoldmine.com/childgarden/childgarden8.html How to Grow an Avocado Plant: Remove the pit covering from the avocado. This is a little difficult to do, but if you slip the tip of a paring knife under the thin side just right, it makes it a little easier. Use toothpicks to suspend the avocado pit, flat side down, over a glass. Add water until the base of the pit is immersed. Keep it in a warm, dimly lit spot. The pit will crack eventually, and a root will emerge, followed by a stem shooting upward. To encourage branching, cut the stem halfway down when it's from 7 to 8 inches high, cutting directly above the spot where a tiny leaf is forming. The stem will branch at this spot. Put the plant in bright sunlight. As branches grow, periodically pinch off the growing tips to promote fullness. Avocado plants can be started and grown in soil or water. Keep the soil evenly moist. Leaves will brown if the soil dries out. [For avocado seeds, contact FN [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 2409490 at Saligao. Might have a few in season.] http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=how-to+plant +a+fruit+tree&spell=1 Google links on how to plant fruit trees (long URL) o http://www.winrock.org/forestry/FACTPUB/AIS_web/AIS17.html Tamarindus indica -- a widely adapted, multipurpose fruit tree Tamarindus indica is best known for its delicious fruit. The brown, sticky, sour-sweet pulp is used widely as a flavor in a variety of dishes and drinks. The usefulness of the tamarind tree does not end with its fruit. Sometimes compared to the coconut as another "tree of life", it is widely adaptable and easily managed. It produces many valued food, medicine, wood and construction products. Drought resistant and strong, it performs well as a windbreak, preventing soil erosion and protecting people, crops and animals in harsh environments. Tamarindus also provides a handsome element in thousands of park, garden and roadside landscapes. o http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/jun/env-iimkozhl.htm IIM Kozhikode runs on rain-water o http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/ Other rain-water harvesting site o http://www.farmedia.org/ Farm-media site http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/conservation/shreePadre.html A journalist's work in water conservation -------------------------------------------------------------- Comments from Sanjit Rodrigues, senior Goa official -------------------------------------------------------------- Excellent initiative, the links given are interesting and encourages one to replicate success stories and best practices. In my opinion we could list success stories in Goa so that interested people can make a quick trip and see for themselves. Seeing is believing and Goans generally activate only once they see for themselves.We may need to give examples of success stories/best practices in Goa to make such visits possible. I would amateurishly put down in certain groups. Nothing hard and fast. Can evolve: INDIVIDUAL FARMS: This is an important segment to help individuals with even small holdings go in for plantation. Once the technique, method and the success is seen and the returns known,an individual may take up platation of revenue generating trees seriously. We may tabulate information on individual farms in a simple format like: farm and owner; agricultural speciality; address, telephone, fax, email contacts. For example: Pilar Farm, Pilar; Don Boscos, Sulcorna; Dr Ajit Shirodkar, Santa Cruz and Ratnagiri; Florence Flora, Cuncolim and scores of other good ones. Miguel will have this data for sure. AFFORESTATION: Comunidades having large tracts of land should go in for Social Forestry on a large scale through the forest department or even on its own. It is worth it. Eg. Saligao hill, Olaulim hill etc. We should go for it even if it is Australian Acacia mono-culture. At least the green cover is assured. Soil erosion is prevented and less chances of encroachments on Comunidade lands. In Olaulim we have achieved this in addition of getting back peacocks, rabbits and foxes. MINING AREAS REGENERATION: Some mining cos have done good work in this aspect.... Examples have been set by mining cos in reject dump afforestation and regenaration of vegetal cover and top soil. Listing of exceptional efforts is essential. Eg.Sesa mines..... URBAN TREE COVER: In Panjim, we had taken up colony open spaces. An oasis between buildings can be easily created. And such areas really serve as pockets of fresh breath. Eg. CCP developed open spaces at Caculo Colony (Rain Tree Forest); around Lake View; St. Marys Colony; Patto Plaza. Trees may be small but will come up and form effective urban green lungs. Colonies in all areas can take up this simple exercise in their open areas rather than going in for just ornamentals and lawns. RAIN WATER HARVESTING: This is the need of the hour. People need to see such works. There is some work done in Balli area of South Goa. It is new to Goans but sites should be publicised so that awareness is created. If IIM Cochin can do so can Goa University, Goa Engineering College, IHM, BITS Pilani-Goa etc. Young students seeing these experiments will help in more than one way. Have heard the Dr. Reddy's Labs in Verna has a huge RWH facility. In my opinion, RWH is a lasting solution for Panjim's water-logging. The runoff from an over built Altinho hillock is so huge and fast that if we just reduce the velocity of the flow by half it will solve half of the water logging problem. After all, Altinho was acting as a sponge for Panjim, but no longer. Further simple RWH measures along the hill will tremendously ease water-logging. We wanted a "rain water harvesting for no flooding" campaign ... including tapping of Boca De Vaca spring water with help of Auroville, Pondicherry and had submitted it to the European Union as part of their AsiaUrbs programme for funding..... Send in your feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ d88888b d8b db Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa India 88' 888o 88 f r e d @ b y t e s f o r a l l . o r g 88ooo 88V8o 88 http://www.bytesforall.org 88~~~ 88 V8o88 Phone 0091.832.2409490 Mobile 09822 122436 88 88 V888 784 Nr Lourdes Convent, Sonarbhat Saligao Goa 403511 YP VP V8P Writing ... with a difference, on issues that matter