A Report On Rural Agricultural Work Experience
A Report On Rural Agricultural Work Experience
A Report On Rural Agricultural Work Experience
Group Members
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Contents
1) Introduction
2) Acknowledgement
3) Survey And Study of the Village
4) Work Experience with Farmers
5) Work Experience with State Department of
Agriculture
6) Work Experience with NGO
7) Other Commendable activities
I.Visit to Agricultural input shop
II.Visit to Sugar factory
III.Visit to Farmers market
IV. Visit to Research station
1. TNAU Soil, Water Management Research Institute,
Kattuthottam.
2. Tamil Nadu Rice Research institute, Aduthurai.
V. Visit to Jaggery preparation unit
VI. Preparation of Herbarium and collection and preservation
of notorious pest
8) Conclusion
9) Photographs
10)Paper Clippings
11)Pamphlets, Booklet &CD
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Introduction
3
Acknowledgement
4
Survey and Study of the Village
(A) General Particulars:
1) Name of the Village: Illuppakkorai (Revenue village). Panchayat:
Iluppakkorai.
2) Block: Papanasam
3) Taluk: Papanasam
4) District:Thanjavur
5) Physical Environment:
Boundaries: North, North-east and North- west-Ganapathy
agraharam
East- Ayyampet
South-Pasupathy koil,
With River Cauvery in North and West.
Topography:Plain
(B) Demographic details:
1) Males- 822
2) Females-861
3) Total= 1683
4) Literate males -760
5) Literate females- 720
6) Mainly land owned families-69
7) Mainly land un owned families-280
8) Agricultural labourers: 620
9) Non-agricultural labourers-75
10)Small farmers-41
11)Marginal farmers-15
12)Scheduled castes/Tribes-1100(including children)
13)Religion: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.
(C) Climatic Factors:
1) Normal annual rainfall-1015.05
2) North east monsoon-531.33mm
3) South west monsoon-309.59mm
4) Summer and winter season-111.03mm
(D) Farming Situation:
1) Soil-Kalattur and Alangudi series (clayey with sand)
2) Irrigation sources
i)Canal-73 ha 34.5 ars
ii)Tube wells-94(55ha)
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3) Area under different crops in ha.
Paddy-20 ha 63.5ars
Pulses-4ha
Gingelly-2ha; Palm tree-0.14ha
Sugarcane-25 ha
Banana-19.98ha; Jackfruit-0.12ha; Mango-2.05ha; Lemon-0.02ha
0.5ars; Bhendi-5cents
Rose-5acres; Jasmine-1acre; Crossandra-1acre
Coconut-17.84ha
Betelvine-0.5acres; Pepper-very small scale; Bamboo-1.82ha;
Teaks-0.47ha; Illuppai oil-0.59ha; Tamarind-0.03ha
(E)Communication facilities:
a) Telephone: Landline-35; Mobile-20.
b) Newspaper: Dinamatandi(Tamil,5 copies),Dinamalar(Tamil,5
copies),Dinakaran(Tamil,7 copies),Hindu(English,1 copy)
c) Television set-90
d) Radio sets-70
e) Cycles-150
f) Motor cycles/scooters-25
g) Car-3; Tractor-7
(F) Infrastructural Facilities:
a) NGO office-1(M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Village
Knowledge Centre)
b) Railway station- (at Ayyampettai-8 Km)
c) Police station-(at Ayyampettai-5 Km)
d) Dispensary Health centre-(at Ayyampettai-5 Km)
e) Veterinary Hospital-(at Ayyampettai-5 Km & at Ganapathy
agraharam)
f) Seed/Fertilizer/Pesticide Store-( at Ganapathy agraharam-4 Km)
g) Post &Telegraph Office- 1 small post office.
h) Banks-(at Ayyampettai-5 Km)
i) Cooperative society-( at Ganapathy agraharam-4 Km)
j) Money lenders- nil
k) Schools-Primary school up to 8th Standard, (Private school-4 Km)
l) Market centers:
Grains, Oilseeds, Fruits, Vegetables, Cattle-at Ayyampettai-5 Km
Cattle- at Chakrapuram-6 Km
m) Artificial insemination centre- -(at Ayyampettai-5 Km & at
Ganapathy agraharam)
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n) Community centre-nil
o) Village Industries- Jaggery Preperation unit-5, Coir rope
preparation unit-1, Trichoderma and Pseudomonas preparation
unit-1, Food products like banana chips.
p) Youth club-1
q) Women club/SHGs-1(Anaithu Magalir Uzhavar Mandram)
r) Recreational facilities:
1) Cinema theatre-(at Mahalipuram,4 Km)
2) Library-1 govt. local library
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12) Women’s role- women are active, participate in decision making
and are considered on par with men. There is a very active woman
SHGs in the village. Youths and men are not so much organized.
13)Egoism is also very common in the people.
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k) Trucks-(Mini truck, tempo model) 5
(K)Miscellaneous:
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3
1 Caution about health regards due Highly cautious. Preventive methods for safe
4 to pesticide application, handling are adhered to.
1 Migration To get employment and to acquire education. It
5 is perennial.
1 Off farm vocational interests. Discussing with each other
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1 Persistency of Indigenous Partly persistent
7 knowledge
!8 Intensity of technology diffusion High
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f) Sugarcane red rot: Sett treatment with carbendazim along with
urea. Co86032 is tolerant variety.
5) Agricultural labourers: Scarce during field operations (peak seasons).
Difficult to get. Also they become very costly during peak
season.(Rs100/labour/day)
6) Electricity: Supply is with lots of voltage fluctuations. Not regular
supply.
7) Transport: The village is having one way, narrow road. Only mini-
buses and small vehicles move across the village. Frequency of mini-
buses is not adequate. So transport is problem. When there is more
water in river Cauvery transport becomes very difficult. Construction
of more bridges across the river will link the village to nearby
national roads and will allow the people to easily travel to the
villages like Pashupathikoil and Ganapathiagraharam.
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III. Co43-5200kg/ha (yield potential)- medium slender grain.
IV. ADT38- 6200 Kg/ha (yield potential)- long slender grain
V. Majority of farmers- Co43, ADT36, ADT38- Good taste, good
market value.
VI. Less farmer-BPT5204 – good market value, but susceptible to
pest and disease like Bacterial leaf blight.
Gingelly: Most of the farmers: TMV3 –suitable for all season,80 to 85 days
duration.
Sugarcane: Almost all the farmers- Co86032-tolerant to red rot, good yield
and sugar recovery.
b) Seed materials:
• Seed is mostly obtained from government depo. Also from
private vendors (mostly horticulture crop seeds).
• Seeds are planted by broadcasting and by direct sowing.
• Planting time: Rice- June/July (samba), Sept./Oct.(thaladi);
Pulses-as rice relay crop.; Sugarcane- Early (December-
January), Mid (February-March), Late (April-May) season.
Banana- January/February. Gingelly- June-July (Adipattam)
• Optimum time of planting of rice is Kuruvai- July 15th, Thaladi-
October 10th& 24th , Samba- September 3rd week. Sugarcane-
early season.
• Seed rate:Sugarcane-4 tons/acre:Rice-20 Kg/acre:Banana-1000
sucker/acre: Pulses-10 Kg/acre
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• If establishment is poor then, gap filling by purchasing
seedlings or preparing extra seedlings (pocket nursery in
sugarcane) is done.
• Farmers are not much concerned about seed purity.
• Seed treatment is done with Trichoderma, Pseudomonas,
Azospirillum, Phosphobackeria, etc.
c) Storage:
• Grains are stored in local wooden structures (kudru). Mostly
rice and pulse grains are stored.
• Farmers stores on the basis of his average requirement.
• Most of the farmers wants and tries to sell their produce
immediately after harvest.
• There is no much loss in storage.
• To protect the grains from pest and disease, Neem leaf is kept
along with the grains, rarely aluminium phosphide tablets are
used. Seeds are stored at optimum moisture level after
treatments.
e) Farm forestry:
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7 Tamarind Pulli Fruit as spice.
8 Eucalyptu Karpoora Sold to paper industry
s thaila
maram
9 Casuarina - Wind break,input for paper industry, support
for betelvine.
(P) Leadership:
Government level: Village administrative officer (VAO).
Panchayat level: Village president selected by general election in the
village.
(Q)Feed back:
1) Villagers accept that our Rural Agricultural Work Experience
programme is useful for both of us.
2) Many of them knew about the new technologies like root feeding in
coconut, but were not confident in themselves performing it. Our
demonstrations helped them to practically handle the technology.
3) Villagers used to take us for different field-visits with great
enthusiasm and used to feel proud in relating their successful
management techniques of field problems.
4) The work experience in the village was very useful to us :
o We learnt about practical difficulties in propagating a new
technology.
o We observed and experienced practical field situation.
o We study the crops while farmer cultivate the crops. Our aim is to
gain knowledge and experience, while their aim is to run their
livelihood and maintain there social status. This course tries to link
the two objectives.
o We studied about village infrastructure, characteristics of the
farming community, and problem faced by them. In this course we
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were able to apply our theoretical knowledge into practical
situation.
o This course combines the essence of the research from all the
department of agriculture and tries to make us a full fledged
practically oriented agricultural graduate.
o We were able to experience the agriculture extension system at
state level and its linkage with the Agricultural University.
5) Farmer’s innovations:
o Experiments with Panchagavya to increase its effectiveness.
o Trapping Red Palm Weevil with banana and buttermilk.
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Another member of All women Uzhavar Mandram, M.Bhanumati,
who stays near to the house of A.Neelaveni is also a fellow of NVA,
MSSRF. She gave us a copy of very useful CD on groundnut and
sweet sorghum production. She had received the CD from ICRISAT,
Hyderabad.
They have also taken trainings in our college.
New technology: Cultivating Grand 9 (G9), tissue cultured banana in
their field. Use of Bacillus thuringiensis, Azadirachtin, granulosis
virus in control of pest and disease.
Indigenous methods: Panchagavya preparation with cow dung. Cow
urine, milk, curd, ghee and coconut water.
We with our contact farmer prepared Dapog nursery of ADT-43
variety of rice and Panchgavya. We used to daily observe the crop
growth.
2) Name and Address: S.Chandramoli, 6/87, south street, Ganapathi
Agraharam-614202. Phone No: 954362-242739 : Marginal farmer.
Special skill: Charter accountant, can communicate in English.
New technology: Provides packed feed(Godrej feed @Rs 500/70 Kg.
to his cattle.
Indigenous methods : Application of castor oil cake in rice field
promotes growth and prevents many pest and disease. Applies his
knowledge of astrology in selecting suitable time for each field operation.
Intercrop of turmeric in banana.
3) Name and Address: G.Srinivasan, GanapathyAgraharam. Phone No:
9443108174: Big farmer
Special skill: BSc.Maths. can communicate in English.
New technology: Pocket nursery of sugarcane for gap filling. In
jaggery preparation ,Decolite chips and superphosphate is added to
maintain light golden colour for long time. Application of Atrazine
herbicide in sugarcane, 3 DAP of setts. Applying fertilizer on the basis of
recommendation of Mobile soil test lab. In clayey soil, more frequent
irrigation after planting of sugarcane will lead to failure of the crop.
Indigenous methods: By keeping castor oil ,oil cake , and seed coat in
a pot near coconut tree will attract Rhinocerous beetle which will fell in
the pot and die. Use of Tanjore bow trap to kill the rat. Has a jaggery
preparation unit.
4) Name and Address: M.Kumeresan, Illuppakorai.
Special skill: Big farmer, can communicate in English. His wife is
knowledge worker of MSSRF.
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Indigenous methods : Spraying of garlic and small onion juice (1Kg.
each) after immersing for 24 hrs in water for controlling rice ear head
bug.
5) Name and Address: V.Jay Shankar, A-175, Pattukudi, Puthur,
Papanasam-614202. Phone No:9345008873.
Special skill: Big farmer, can communicate in English.
6) Name and Address: G.Gunoshekaran, GanapathiAgraharam.
Special skill: Small farmer, enthusiastic farmer.
New technology: We practiced demonstration of root feeding of
coconut with monocrotophos in his field to control red palm weevil.
7) Name and Address: S.VijayAmaritharay, Illuppakorai. Phone No:
04374-241320.
Special skill: Big farmer, can communicate in English.
8) Name and Address: S.pashupathi., Iluppakorai.
Special skill: Landless labour, can communicate in Hindi. The
agricultural labour tried to build a proper house through Indira Awas
Yojna, but somehow he couldn’t get the benefit of this project. He feels
that he is discriminated on the basis of his caste (Barber). His children
have deserted him. He worked for 20 years as labour in Mumbai.
New technology: We advised him to go for goat rearing.
9) Name and Address: G.Rita, Illuppakkorai.
Special skill: Marginal farmer. Retired professor of economics. Can
communicate in English. Social worker.
New technology: Mass production of Trichogramma chilonis card.
Bio gas plant.
Indigenous methods : Organic farming.
10) Name and Address: T.Mohan Ravi , Illuppakkorai.
Special skill:Helping tendency. Took us for many field-visits.
11) Name and Address: Balakrishnan, Iluppakkorai
Special skill: Can communicate in English.
12) Name and Address: Hema, Ganapathiagraharam.
New technology: Integrated farming system- Pisciculture(Rohu,
Mrigala, Catla, etc.). Trees and crops such as Teak, Rose wood,
Eucalyptus, Bamboo, Sesbania grandiflora on the bank of the pond.
Cultivation of milky mushroom.
13) Name and Address: Nagarajan Pillai, Illuppakkorai .
Special skill: Big farmer
New technology: Spray of GA3 in Gingelly to increase production.
The farmer was applying fungicides to a unhealthy Banana crop we
attended the crop and found that the damage was due to the Banana
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pseudostem weevil (Odoiporus longicollis), and suggested him to go for
stem injection with monocrotophos.
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Special skill: Can communicate in Hindi. Small farmer.
23) Name and Address: Kalaivani Rajendran, North Kadavarayer street,
Kallar, Pashupathi Kovil,Papanasam.
Special skill: knowledge worker of MSSRF, Thruvaiyaru.
New technology: SRI, Use of Pseudomonas, Trichoderma and Neem
cake in paring and prolinage in banana instead of carbendazim and
carbofuran.
Indigenous methods: panchgavya.
24) Name and Address: M.Tamil selvam, cane assistant, 1/15 Agraharam,
Thamdamkorai, Thanjavur-614206. Phone No: 04374-241863
Special skill: Also a farmer.
New technology: Use of acetobacter instead of urea in sugarcane.
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Organizational structure:
Agriculture:
Field Visit:
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Experienced farmers, AO, ADA, AAO, ADO and JDA were trainers.
Training method adopted was sharing of experience, demonstration
charts, vermicompost samples, etc.
Now Training and Visit (T&V) system is not in action.
On 2-8-06, we met our AO, Uday kumar previously associated with
T&V system. One farmer came with a rice sample affected with a
problem we identified the problem as rice mite (Oligonychus oryzae
:Tetranychidae:Acarina) attack. The affected leaf appeared whitish
along the interveinal areas on the dorsal surface. Wettable sulphur @ 1
Kg/acre or Dicofol @500ml/acre spray was recommended to control
the problem (The chemical shop had suggested Phosphomidon
chemical). Seeds of different rice varieties were shown to the farmers.
AO showed us tour diary register, yield level of different crops
(Biometric evaluation), record or adaptive research trial record, and
disease and pest inspection record.
On evening of the same day, a demonstration on seed treatment of rice
with Azospirillum and use of LCC in rice for integrated nutrient
management was done at Kabisthalam village by AO, Papanasam,
Thiru Uday kumar and AAO of that village. The active participant of
the demonstration was 12 members of TANWBE (Tamil Nadu women
in agricultural extension and agribusiness .We too participated in that
demonstration.
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9) August 15-20 is best sowing time for samba rice.
10)Director of agriculture has given more importance to seed production.
11)Leaf colour chart (LCC) is to be distributed free of cost to the farmers.
In new LCC number of colour shades has been reduced to 4 from 6.
Recommendations are given in Tamil.
12)There is more scope to increase yield of pulses and oilseeds.
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Offices centers are at Thiruvaiyaru, Tanjore, Chempatti in Dindigal,
Tangachi in Ramnathpuram, Annavarasan in Pudukottai. New centers are
to be started in Nagapattinam, Pondicherry , Chidambaran, Nagarkoil,
Pokharan in Rajasthan, Adahal in Hyderabad,Yafad (Andhra Pradesh).
Each centre may have some sub centres (6 village knowledge centre
(VKC) under Thiruvaiyaru- Iluppakorai, Velangudi, Marur,
Konerirajapuram, Thirupalanam, Rajendram Ammanpettai)
Each VRC has a project director, under him there is a project associate,
under whom many workers like sociologist (1), network programmer (1),
1or 2 field assistant (diploma in agriculture), 1 computer knowledge
trainer, 1 statistician, etc. are there.
VKC is looked after by knowledge workers along with project associate
of VRC and field assistants.
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papers- Paring and prolinage in banana, mass production Trichoderma and
Pseudomonas, Trichogramma chilonis card, intercropping of pepper and
turmeric in coconut, root feeding in coconut, wind barrier crops like
Casuarina equisetifolia, C.junguliana, in banana, etc.
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Anna sugar mills,Karungulam
27 Azadirachtin 0.15%W/W 162 250 ml
28 Azadirachtin 1%EC-1000ppm(Margo Eco neem 75 100 ml
plus)
29 Paddy seeds 15 1 kg
30 Black gram seeds 65 1 kg
31 Banana sucker 3 1 sucker
32 Gingelly seeds 35 1 kg
33 Gingelly oil cake 10 1 kg
34 Coconut oil cake 5 1 kg
By Products:
1) Pressmud (Filter mud): It is composted in compost yard.
2) Bagasse: It is fired in Boiler. Steam generated is used to
produce power (Cogeneration-29M Watt). 3 lakhs unit of
power is sold per day to Tamil Nadu electricity board.
3) Molasses: Rich in sugar other than sucrose. It is used to
produce ethanol etc. 65000 kilo liters of spirit is produced per
day, 1 lit. Spirit costs Rs.18-20.
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fermentation process in the cane is accelerated and the quality
will deteriorate quickly.
We observed functioning of different components of the factory.
They provided us a very delicious lunch, free of cost and then
took us in their vehicle to the compost yard, where spent wash
and pressmud is mixed to produce compost. Tractor operated
tillering machine is used to mix the compost. Compost is
prepared in 35-40 days, it is enriched with Azospirillum and
Phosphobacteria and sold @ Rs 1000/ ton. (@ Rs 500/ton to
farmers). They produce biogas @ 6000 tons gas /day.
Organizational structure:
General Manager
↓
Cane department, engineering department, Processing department, Stores
department, Administrative department.
Cane department
↓
Cane HOD,
Deputy Manager (2) →Divisional heads (BSc.Agri.)→ Cane
Account Department assistants
Processing Department (Field
Staff,
Diploma
in Agri.)
Administrative department: Directly under GM with private
↓ Security guards.
Personal department (HRD)
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administrative officer (AAO horticulture and agriculture). 3
securities and 1 sweeper.
• Horticulture department issues a card to the farmer by which
bus conductor gives free transport facility.
• There is no storage facility. 5 kg weighing machine is provided
to the farmers.
• They issues local prices to the news papers and give daily
report to the JDA and horticulture department.
• Seeds and some other inputs are also given to the farmers.
• Profit to the farmer- 20% above the wholesale price.
• Rs.4/day is taken from TANWA and other SHGs for selling
their produce.
• Holidays are only during Election time.
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27 Moringa 10-12 1 Kg
28 Cluster bean (Kothranga) 5 1 Kg
29 Ribbed gourd (Pikanga) 7 1 Kg
30 Tomato 6 1 Kg
Seeds
1 Pumpkin (TLS-Ashoka) 10 50 gm
2 Bitter gourd-MBTH-101(Mahyco) 102 50 gm
3 Snake gourd MHSN-1 127 50 gm
4 Bhindi No.10(Hybrid)(Mahyco) 125 100 gm
5 Ridge gourd(Jaipur long)(Mahyco) 40 50 gm
6 Cluster bean (Certified) 150 1 Kg
7 Awarai (Goudi) 300 1 Kg
8 Brinjal (Ravaiga)(Mahyco) 66 10 gm
9 Bottle gourd(Ashoka) 40 50 gm
10 Radish 230 1 Kg
11 Brinjal Ravaiya Hubrid(Mahyco) 1650 250 gm
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• Sofit (pretilachlor+fenchlorine(safener)) is an effective
herbicide in rice. It is applied @500 ml/acre. Charcoal is also
an antidote.
• Alternate wetting and drying should be done for 15 days.
• Basal application of DAP@40 Kg/acre.
• Top dressing with 35 Kg of urea on 20, 40, 55, 70 DAS.
• Muriate of potash on 28th and 55th DAS @27 Kg/acre.
• Thinning and gap filling on 28th day to get assured population.
• In line sown crop 20 cm should be between the rows.
• Rotary weeder is used in corporate emerging weed and to have
stirring effect.
• In pit method of sugarcane planting, spacing between two pits
are 4 feet to 4.5 feet.
• 1700 pits should be in 1 acre. 2 budded, 16 setts are placed
per pit of radius 45 cm. Drip irrigation is easy in this method.
• Fertilizer for sugarcane-NPK:: 275:62.5:120 Kg/acre.
• High density planting in banana-3 to 4 suckers is planted in
one pit.
• Relay cropping is suitable in clayey soil.
• Casuarina juligana has been introduced from Australia. There
is rapid increase in biomass. Rs,2.5 to 3 lakhs can be realized
in 3 years. 1700 saplings are to be planted in 1 acre at 4 ft ×4 ft
spacing. Weekly irrigation should be given. Saplings are
available at the rate of Rs.5/sapling.
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colloidal material in the juice and its removal. This will result
in realizing better coloured jaggery.
• Lime sucrate is another clarificant which facilitates getting
better coloured jaggery.(prepared by soaking one unit of lime
in 5 units of water and filtering the supernatant lime water
through a thick cloth. The filtrate is mixed with cane juice in
the proportion of 18:100. this filtered lime cane juice mixture
is stirred and kept for some time. The supernatant liquid of
thus mixture is called lime sucrate and used as a clarificant.
• When lime or lime sucrate is applied to the raw juice to the
required extent, this will facilitate flocculation of colloids and
the scum that rises to the surface of the juice is skimmed off.
• If initial juice boiling is done rapidly, it is likely that the scum
that flocculates will be dissolved again and impairs the colour
of jaggery ultimately. After removal of the first scum, it is
desirable that the juice is boiled as quickly as possible and
charge brought down. The temperature of the magma when it
is about to be brought down will be between 118-124ºC. If the
juice is mature the temperature will be 118-119ºC only. As
soon as the charge is brought down, it is stirred slowly in the
pan itself to facilitate quick cooling.
• The jaggery is moulded and made into balls by hand.
• Many farmers add sodium chloride, sodium hydrosulphite,
super phosphate, Decolite chips, alum etc. to get very light
yellow coloured jaggerey.
• Jaggery is sold @ Rs.15-20/Kg
• One labour receives Rs.160/day.
• Crusher→ Juice→ Pipe→ Tank→ Pipe→ Heated in large pan
for 2 hours→ Throwing the floating scum into nearby tank→
Drying the clarified juice in nearby wooden pan and moulding
into jaggery
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We collected and preserved insects like Rhinoceros beetle,
Pseudostem weevil in banana, Nut weevil of mango, etc.
Conclusion
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context, anticipating and coping with changes, etc. We learnt by
working with people and came up over our ego.
The difference between the regular class room teacher and the
farmer teacher is that the farmer is not curriculum oriented, instead
he is problem oriented. He is not theoretical oriented but practical
oriented. He is not time oriented but subject oriented. The major
difference between the classroom teachers and farmer teachers is the
rich experience of the farmers which the regular classroom teachers
lack.
Photographs
Paper Clippings
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