When buyers and sellers from several countries converge here in November for ‘BioFach India together with India Organic 2014’, a niche trade fair on organic products in India, to scout for organic products, actor Sreenivasan will have something to offer. The harvest from 40-acre paddy fields near his house in Kandand near Tripunithura will be up for grabs.
Sreenivasan says the move is not to make profits. Rather, it is an attempt to promote agriculture and marketing. “I started paddy cultivation not for profit. The land that we took on lease has been lying barren for the last two decades. If we run it profitably, the original owners of the land may return to agriculture,” he said.
As of now, many have abandoned agriculture as they cannot profit from it. “Marketing is a major headache for farmers. The organizers of ‘BioFach India together with India Organic 2014’ have offered to help us in marketing paddy from our field,” said Sreenivsan.
“Major buyers of organic products from countries such as Germany will be attending the fair. They are interested in the promoting organic farming in Kerala. They seem to be attracted by the lush and fertile land of Kerala,” he said.
But Sreenivsan aired concerns on huge rates charged for organic products in the state. “Gandhagasala, a major brand of organic rice produced in the state, is priced at Rs 400 per kg. Such high prices drive buyers away. Middlemen are profiting by selling products under the cover of organic products,” he said.
The organizers have also plans to make Sreenivasan the brand ambassador of the organic movement in Kerala. The actor said the discussions were at a preliminary stage.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / TNN / September 14th, 2014
For the first time, Onam special banana bunches will be offered to the presiding deity at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on the Uthradam day on Saturday. Following that on Thiruvonam on Sunday, Onavillu offering will be held. Additional security arrangements are in place for the Onam festivity at the temple.
“On the Uthradam day, banana bunches will be offered to the Lord by the temple staff and by the devotees. It will be followed by the customary ritual of ‘Onavillu Charthal’ held every year on the Thiruvonam day,” temple administrative committee chairperson and additional judge KP Indira said.
The banana bunch offering will be held from 8am to 11am on Saturday for which the devotees are expected to get a ticket worth Rs 20. It is left the devotees to decide on the number of bunches that they wish to offer, said temple executive officer KN Satheesh.
On Sunday, ‘Onavillu charthal’, the dedication ceremony of offering the ceremonial bows to the deity, will be held symbolising the birthday of Lord Mahavishnu. Onavillu will be brought in through the South gate of the temple. The Nambi priest will offer it to Sree Padmanabhaswamy.
“Security arrangements at the temple will be fool-proof with bollards and blockers to regulate the vehicular traffic. An additional posse of 200 security force personnel will be deployed around the temple precincts for six days till September 11,” city police commissioner H Venkatesh told TOI.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / September 06th, 2014
The April-June 1955 cover of the agriculture magazine, Kerala Karshakan. — PHOTO: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Kerala Karshakan also has the distinction of being the second oldest farm magazine in India
Kerala Karshakan, a constant companion to and a commentator on Kerala agriculture, is 60.
This is a memorable year for those in the State still “romancing” farming, the magazine’s first full-time editor R. Hali has said in his introductory remarks in the diamond jubilee edition.
Kerala Karshakan also has the distinction of being the second oldest farm magazine in India, the oldest being Indian Farming published by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said Mr. Hali.
The monthly is now a sine qua non for farmers across Kerala, who have taken its paid circulation to about 1.25 lakh a month. Kadakkarappally panchayat in Alappuzha district is an example of the magazine’s popularity. Its editors were surprised to find in 2012 that the panchayat, with about 3,500 farming families, had a subscription base of over 3,000. Kerala Karshakan, more than anything else, had made agricultural schemes, programmes and their implementation more transparent, said an agricultural officer. he magazine has its strongest subscriber bases in Kannur, Kozhikode and Thrissur, said an official.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – September 09th, 2014
Apitherapy being performed on an arthritis patient at the Bee Venom Therapy Centre in Kalpetta | K Shijith
Kalpetta :
A bee sting is definitely not something pleasant or enjoyable, but one will be surprised to see people queuing up to get stung by bees at the ‘Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) Centre’ here.
They believe that the venomous sting of honeybees is a virtual panacea for all their ailments and it can even cure chronic diseases such as psoriasis and arthritis. The stings are also said to be effective in speeding up the recovery process after a stroke.
Between 10 am and 12 noon every Tuesday, patients suffering from various ailments swarm the centre, temporarily functioning in a private auditorium, to undergo the painful technique.K M Sankarankutty, head of the Bee Research and Training Institute under the Kerala Khadi Grama Vyavasaya Board, who supervises the proceedings, will tell you how the ‘sting’ works and unfurl interesting instances and will give you ample evidence to back up his case.
Still if you are not convinced, he will hand you a copy of a pamphlet titled ‘The Miracle and Wonders of Treatment from Bee Venom’ to enlighten yourself.
The black-and-white notice also carries a disclaimer that the centre will not be responsible for any adverse effects that may be associated with the therapeutic treatment, which is also know as apitherapy.
“Certain compounds in bee venom, namely melittin and adolapin, help reduce inflammation and pain, especially in arthritis patients. Apis cerana indica is the bee species used for the treatment,” says Sankarankutty, as he takes a live bee out of a wooden box and places it on the knee of a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
“After keeping the bee on the affected area, you need to give the insect a small pinch so that it gets agitated and injects venom into the patient through the needle-like portion of the sting apparatus,” elaborates Sankarankutty, who underwent the necessary training at the Central Bee Research & Training Institute, Pune, in 1987. The treatment is not offered to pregnant women and patients with hypertension, kidney and heart ailments, and psychiatric disorders.According to him, ancient Egyptians had used the method as a homoeopathic remedy for arthritis, and reference to the treatment can also be found in ancient Chinese and Greek medical writings. “It’s a century-old practice which is simple and cost-effective. People who are convinced of the medicinal uses of bee venom will be given training in bee-keeping. Bee-boxes will be provided to them by charging `2,000 per box so that they can undergo the therapy in the comfort of their homes. So, more than the monetary benefit, our aim is to create a society sans arthritis patients.” At the centre, bee venom is given as a shot for rheumatoid arthritis, nerve pain (neuralgia), multiple sclerosis (MS), swollen tendons (tendonitis), and muscle conditions such as fibromyositis and enthesitis.
The treatment is being offered as per guidelines provided by the American Apitherapy Society.“I had been bedridden for almost nine years following a stroke in 2005.
“ I tried both ayurveda and allopathy to get back to normal life after being paralysed. But nothing worked. I was being carried to the centre by my relatives, but right after I got the first injection of bee venom, I had sensation in my arms and legs. The following week, I came here walking, to the surprise of many,” says Rajarajan, a 53-year-old farmer from Ambalavayal.
According to Dr Rajmohan P R, an ayurveda practitioner based in Meppadi, the bee venom therapy in arthritis patients could be compared with the practice of ‘Agnikarma’ (thermal cauterisation) in ayurveda. “This method has been proved to be effective when patients do not respond to conventional medical care.
The combination of all the ingredients in bee venom could help the body release natural healing compounds in its own defence. However, a comprehensive research is required to establish the healing power of bee venom in treating other diseases.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Aadarsh / September 02nd, 2014
T.P. William Rajan, a traditional dairy farmer in Peerumade, Idukki, is trying to make an entire village free of packet milk.
A traditional dairy farmer in Peermade is trying to make an entire village free of packet milk.
T.P. William Rajan, a traditional dairy farmer, is the milk-delivery man for almost the whole of the Peerumade grama panchayat.
His cowshed has 12 cows of different varieties. He is trying to revive and an old system of milk delivery. His cows graze on the nearby grasslands during the day and return by evening. The milk has not been ‘branded’ but it is already a brand in itself.
“Now, I supply 45 litres of milk and the milking is done two times daily,” he says. His wife, Philomina, supports him in the endeavour.
The cowshed has Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and other varieties and the selection is done through a ‘trial-and-error method.’ “Local milk delivery is an old system which was prevalent here. I supply milk in bottles, half litre and above, to restaurants and houses,” he says. The average yield is low as far as the total production is concerned.
“This is because the cows and their calves are allowed free grazing and they eat natural grass alone. We provide pure water to our animals,” he says. His dog Pakru herds the cows and leads them back to the cowshed in the evening. “The cows give us a regular income and we get a price higher than the market rate. This is because the milk is farm fresh and delivered at the doorstep,” he says. His work begins at 5 a.m. with the cleaning of the cattle and milking. The work ends by 9 a.m. and the cowshed is opened for Pakru to lead the cattle out. Santhosh, a customer, says the delivery is prompt and the product fresh and pure.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Giji K. Raman / Peermade (Idukki District) – September 01st, 2014
Jeemon Kaaraadi, a dairy farmer from Kottayam, protesting with his cows in front of the Milma Bhavan at Pattom in the city. Photo: S.R. Praveen / The Hindu
Jeemon Kaaraadi, a dairy farmer from Kottayam, decided to act after several representations sent to the Milma officials drew a blank.
He, along with a cow and its calf, boarded a pick-up truck to the capital city. For the past 10 days, the three of them are living in a small ‘two-storey’ tent in front of Milma Bhavan at Pattom, with the ground floor occupied by the cow and the calf, and Jeemon sleeping on a cot attached to pillars just above them. One of his demands is restructuring of the milk price charts so that dairy farmers would get minimum prices. “The price of milk has increased in recent times. But it is hardly reflected in payments to dairy farmers. There has been only a nominal increase in our earnings. Also, the lack of clarity in the norms for fat content and Solid Not Fat (SNF) in milk collected from us means that the respective cooperative society can bring down the prices at will,” says Mr. Jeemon. Amid the protest too, he regularly milks the cow. He has stocked up on cattle feed and grass.
“I distribute the milk to the tea shops nearby. A few local people have also begun asking for it, as milk straight from the udder is almost non-existent in the city,” he says.
Some of those who came to the Milma counter close by were seen enquiring if they could buy milk from him.
But his grouse is that none of the officials who pass through the gates daily has asked him why he is sitting here. “Perhaps, they think I will leave this place if there is no response. But, I have just started boiling the milk, and it will take some time to rise and spill over,” he says.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / S. R. Praveen / Thiruvananthapuram – August 25th, 2014
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: S. Mahinsha / The Hindu
Explore the world of Ayurveda at an exhibition on the premises of Government Ayurveda College
It is a journey through facets of wellness and good health that is practised and advocated by an ancient system of treatment. ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014’, a mega exhibition currently on at Government Ayurveda College to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the college, gives a wealth of information about this indigenous system of healing. From baby food and kits for the new born, the exhibition is a delightful discovery of methods and medicines that were once used by our ancestors to take care of their health and well-being.
“Each of the 14 departments of the college has set up separate stalls, explaining their area of study and work,” says Jayan Damodaran, associate professor and an office-bearer of the expo.
Through charts, models and posters, a stall put up by the Department of Prasoothitantra and Sthreeroga (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) has explained various aspects related to pregnancy and child birth, breast-feeding techniques and so on.
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) at Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M.
A highlight of the stall is a model of Soothikagaram or a separate house constructed for a pregnant woman for delivery and post-pregnancy care during the seventh century BC. “This house used to be constructed when the woman was in her ninth month of pregnancy. She would stay there till her delivery,” says Dr. Prajitha.
Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) has showcased different aspects related to child care, including baby food, home remedies, and toys for different stages of growth.
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
An Ayurveda baby care kit has skin powder, massage oil, kaajal, and medicinal drops, all of which have been manufactured in the department. At a separate counter, visitors get to know and taste nutritious food for infants. No more tinned stuff for your little one. Check out Sriratna Modaka (made of dates, banana, ghee, honey and cardamom), mango syrup, sandal syrup, tulsi halwa, date syrup, cucumber halwa, healthy cutlets and soups. Recipes are happily shared with curious parents who want their little one to have organic food.
If you thought Ayurveda was all about herbs and plants with medicinal values, think again. The college has an open snake park under its Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) on its campus at Poojappura. The department has showcased specimens of poisonous and non-poisonous reptiles, besides giving exhaustive information about the kind of toxic substances found in households and toxic minerals and plants which also has medicinal properties. There is even a stall on forensic science.
Department of Salyatantra (Surgery and Orthopaedic) has arranged video documentation of successful stories of marma treatment, and exhibited ancient surgical instruments, bandage techniques and suturing methods.
While Department of Shalakya Tantra (ENT and Ophthalmology) has focussed on dealing with refractive errors, Department of Panchakarma tells about various treatment modalities along with pre and post operatory regiments for various diseases.
Department of Sanskritha Sidhantha and Samhitha, besides explaining the basic tenets of Ayurveda, has also stocked its various publications, some of which are rare books and palm leaf manuscripts.
Department of Swasthavritha (Social and Preventive Medicine) stresses on the Ayurveda nutrition and dietetics, with reference to various seasonal changes. A naturopathy food counter has also been put up by the students, where visitors get information on carrot tea, beetroot sweet and various other naturopathic food items.
Department of Kayachikitsa (General medicine) has set up the model of a ‘Rasayana griham’, that is a house where the patient would stay for months taking treatment, cut out from the outside world.
Ancient utensils used to make medicines exhibited at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
The stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) stands out from the rest in that the department has traced the evolution of the medicine with matching interiors. Ancient utensils in which the medicines were prepared, which include a century-old huge vessel handed over by the royal family of erstwhile Travancore when the hospital was opened, different steps of preparing medicines, fermentation process and other activities of the department have been showcased.
The expo ends on August 12. Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Athira M. / Thiruvananthapuram – August 07th, 2014
P. Gopalakrishna Swamy has not heard of the Stockholm Convention on the Environment or about ‘Our Common Future’—a report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The 78-year-old ascetic may not be well-read or travelled, but his work speaks volumes. He has converted a rocky hill top, 850 feet above sea level, at Thirichittapara, in Kerala, into a garden of rare species of trees.
“I purchased an acre from a Dalit family,” he says. “In return, I had to buy a piece of land and house for them at a nearby place.” To ensure that he has a regular supply of water, Gopalakrishna dug a twenty-feet deep pit on one side of the rock for rain harvesting. Thanks to Kerala’s healthy monsoon, the pit has enough water for watering the trees and other requirements.
As the rocky hill top was not suitable to grow plants he pressed down a layer of earth on the rock surface to allow the tree saplings to take root, and hold firm against the winds.
The rare trees and plants include koovalam (bael tree), sandalwood, red sandalwood, kunthirikkam (white dammer), pachotti (bodhi tree), neelakadampu, arassu, kallarassu, kattikodi (the plant which dilutes water), kallal, arayal (sacred fig), ithi (Indian laurel), neer maruthu (arjuna tree), and even alien plants such as the African cherry and rudrakasha.
Gopalakrishna lives alone on the hill top.
Some 16 years ago, he had set up a Lord Hanuman temple here. “I wanted to experience the bliss of solitude and meditate under the shade of rocks,” says Gopalakrishna, who retired as an employee of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation 23 years ago. “I rarely leave the hill to meet my friends and relatives.”
But the life of an ascetic is not easy, and he has a hard time meeting his expenses. “I have also not collected any money from anybody,” he says. “So far, I have used my retirement benefits.” To save more, he does manual labour along with the workers.
And he ensures that no pesticides are used in the garden. “I am planting saplings which are found in forests, so it does not need any extra nutrients or pesticides,” he explains.
Gopalakrishna is keen to pass on his knowledge about rare trees. Pointing towards a tree called ‘Punk’, he says sitting under it helps one live longer. He is ready to cut its branches, to hand them out to visitors.
“Even if my plants get destroyed, they will grow somewhere else,” he says, pointing at a dried-out Rudraksha tree. “So I don’t mind giving branches to the friendly visitors.”
But the local people are not so friendly towards him. One reason for their resentment is that Gopalakrishna has been unwilling to part with the control of the temple. The second reason is tragic. A few years ago, a child fell into the water pit and drowned.
“I had to face the anger of the people, although it was not my fault,” says Gopalakrishna. “My aim is to serve Mother Nature without making complaints or demands.”
Despite the difficulties, Gopalakrishna says the panaromic view from the hill top offers him solace. “Standing on the top of the rock, I can see the sunset with the left eye and the sunrise with the right one.”
Eden on a hill
The rare trees and plants include koovalam (bael tree), sandalwood, red sandalwood, kunthirikkam (white dammer), pachotti (bodhi tree), neelakadampu, arassu, kallarassu, kattikodi (the plant which dilutes water), kallal, arayal (sacred fig), ithi (Indian laurel), neer maruthu (arjuna tree) and even alien plants such as the African cherry and rudrakasha.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by N. V. Ravindranathan Nair / August 10th, 2014
Have you ever visited the hills twined with waterfalls during the monsoon? If you haven’t, this is just the right time to plan a trip to various scenic retreats at Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Malakkappara region, bordering Tamil Nadu in central Kerala, as the sight of the picturesque hills coupled with the cascading falls is soul-nourishing fare and can send you in raptures of glee.
The revival of the south-west monsoon has provided thousands of tourists a tryst with nature at Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Malakkapara as the hills and falls in the region offer some of the most beautiful and astonishing sights during rains.
While water courses through the ravines at the peak of the monsoon, the falls and hills come alive as the rains enrich the lives of the mountain folk along with the endless variety of flora and fauna it supports in the region.
Athirappilly, Vazhachal, Charpa and Thumburmuzhi falls are in their full splendour after KSEB authorities opened the shutters of the Peringalkuthu reservoir following heavy rains. The gigantic surge of water along the breadth of the Chalakudy River just before it takes a dramatic plunge of 82 ft from a cliff is a sight not-to-miss at Athirappilly.
The grandeur of the waterfalls provides breathtaking views to the tourists with the waves of spray appearing like white smoke seeping from the rocks.
The amount of water flowing is now around 14,000 litres per second during daytime and 36,000 litres per second after 9 pm with Peringalkuth reservoir releasing an average of 1.2 mcm of water per day from the reservoir. At the same time, the slippery boulders in the area are also equally infamous for the number of lives they have claimed in the last few years.
B D Devassy MLA said the government has arranged measures at the renowned spot to woo more tourists to the region. Around three dozen toilets are constructed in the tourist area. Besides arranging sanitation and drinking water facilities, the authorities have also been neatly maintaining the area with the association of Athirappilly Puzha-Vana Samrakshna Samithi members and local tribal people effectively carrying out a plastic-free project in the reserve forest area, he said. Sarah Dizon, a foreigner who visited the spot, told ‘Express’ that the forest region’s endless panorama of amazing wonders is nothing short of romance with pristine nature itself, since the natural beauty is at its best in the area during the monsoons.
The breathtaking views of mountains shrouded in clouds and the beauty of the unpredictable weather either pouring down heavily on the hills or the clear blue skies have its own magical charm and beauty, she said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / home> States> Kerala / by Dhinesh Kallungal / August 09th, 2014
Jazeera along with her children protesting in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Kaavya Pradeep Kumar / The Hindu
Jazeera is on a silent campaign, in defence of the Neerozhukkumchal beach in Kannur
The so-called sand mafia of a little taluk in Kannur rues the day Jazeera returned home. Dismissed as an insignificant voice of protest against the rampant exploitation of a stretch of shoreline near Pazhayangadi town, this woman has soon come to be known as a force to be reckoned with. All the way from the northern district of Kannur, she has brought her silent campaign to the State capital, as she sits in front of the Secretariat with her three children — protesting without loud sloganeering or politically coloured flags or leaflets.
Entering the fifth day, Jazeera’s protest has thus far been eclipsed by a far more populous Left protest.
Now that they have left, the presence of this family has become more conspicuous, leading the Chief Minister to meet them briefly on Monday afternoon on the issue of sand-mining in her hometown. For Jazeera, the cause is intensely personal, as the Neerozhukkumchal beach is the canvas all her childhood memories are painted upon.
She is an autorickshaw driver, a profession she has struggled to be part of, in a conservative society. She does not let herself to be affected by such taboos and continued working until after her marriage in 2004, when she moved to Kottayam with her husband.
She has found the new district far more accepting. It was only one and a half years ago, when she returned home during the final month of her third pregnancy, did she see to her shock the daylight robbery of a natural landscape.
Countless visits to the Kannur collectorate and police stations have proved futile.
And for the past one and a half years, her silent protest has involved a sit-in, along with her daughters Rizwana, Shifana and her son Mohammed. The two girls, aged 12 and 10, know everything about the case and have flanked their mother every step. Her husband, Abdul Salaam, is a teacher at a madrasa in Kochi.
While he has not been a visible part of Jazeera’s protest, his support, despite pressure various quarters, has been a huge boon for her.
She is clear about her objective despite the obstacles strewn before her in terms of muscle and money power. Even the police, she says, have pleaded with her to give up. “Their greed is despicable. In broad daylight they commit this heinous crime of emptying our lands, oblivious to the fact that there are so many creatures that depend on it. The sudden depth of water is dangerous as well,” she says.
She is glad to have met the Chief Minister personally and she said he assured her that he would ensure that the vehicles carting away the sand would be immediately dealt with.
She will leave once she obtains something in print promising a complete halt of the activities.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Kaavya Pradeep Kumar / Thiruvananthapuram – August 08th, 2013
