At 78, Eyyo Kuriakose from Kottayam, Kerala, has advanced a patented, sturdy develop bag with an built-in drip irrigation machine, which he claims reduces water utilization and complements crop well being.
Within the lush landscapes of Malabar, amidst sprawling espresso, cocoa, and rubber plantations, Eyyo Kuriakose’s interest for farming blossomed. Rising up, he spent numerous hours helping his father and grandfather on their farm, an revel in that sowed the seeds of an entire life dedication to agriculture.
Now at 78, Eyyo has witnessed vital shifts in farming practices, pushed via alarming adjustments in soil high quality and greater pest assaults, that have impacted the standard and amount of produce.
This commentary kindled in Eyyo a deep pastime in natural farming, pushing him to discover sustainable and fitter strategies of crop cultivation. Not like standard practices that regularly depend closely on chemical inputs, natural farming gifts a harmonious selection, promising a go back to eco-friendly practices with out sacrificing productiveness.
Eyyo’s method was once all the time to stick abreast with the newest agricultural inventions, adapting and enforcing new strategies that might fortify the surroundings and yield wholesome plants.
This Kottayam resident made the transfer to natural farming after relocating to Nedumkandam, pushed via a dedication to keep away from inorganic greens usually to be had in markets. Beginning with fundamental gardening the usage of same old develop baggage, he quickly came upon the constraints of those merchandise — they had been at risk of tearing and decayed inside of a couple of months.
Made up our minds to discover a answer, he launched into a adventure to create a greater develop bag that wasn’t simply sturdy but in addition built-in a suave drip irrigation machine.
His efforts ended in the introduction of a patented develop bag that says to change into the best way greens are grown. Those specifically designed baggage require handiest two litres of water to nourish the crops successfully, making them now not handiest water-efficient but in addition cost-effective. Moreover, the cutting edge design of those develop baggage reduces the chance of bacterial and fungal infections, making sure fitter plant expansion.
The have an effect on of those sturdy develop baggage might be vital in selling sustainable agriculture practices. By means of lowering water utilization and adorning the longevity of the develop fabrics, those baggage constitute a step ahead in fixing probably the most chronic demanding situations in vegetable farming.
An natural adventure resulting in a patented develop bag
Eyyo was once first presented to natural farming whilst nonetheless in Malabar, the place he experimented with herbal fertilisers to resolve what labored absolute best for more than a few plants. After relocating to Nedumkandam, he expanded his natural farming practices to incorporate farm animals. On his three-acre farm, cows and goats coexist with greens. He notes that cow dung serves as a very good fertiliser.
“I didn’t like eating the greens that had been to be had available in the market. Studying in regards to the unwell results of eating meals with insecticides brought on me to start out rising them myself,” Eyyo tells The Higher India.
Whilst develop baggage are most often used for indoor farming, the septuagenarian determined to check out them outdoor. His preliminary experiments with conventional plastic develop baggage had been unsatisfactory. Similtaneously, he was once involved in regards to the rampant disposal of plastic bottles. This led him to marvel — may just a plastic bottle be used to water his crops slowly, mimicking a drip irrigation machine? The solution he came upon was once a convincing sure.
He first of all started via editing conventional plastic develop baggage, making holes so as to add water. Alternatively, those baggage didn’t final lengthy. After months of trials, he discovered his answer in silpaulin — a sturdy, water-proof subject matter.
“I sought after the bag to thrive in all climate prerequisites whilst retaining pests at bay. Develop baggage are probably the most tremendous how one can develop greens and I sought after to make it even higher. I designed the bag in this sort of approach that it wishes much less water and gives a just right harvest,” stocks Eyyo.
The oblong develop bag options two massive holes at the most sensible for plastic bottles and smaller holes at the backside and aspects for extra water drainage. It’s spacious sufficient to permit crops to develop freely. To make use of it, you fill a water bottle, flip it the wrong way up, and briefly position it within the hollow to forestall leakage. The farmer advises making sure no air enters the bottle whilst urgent it into the soil. This system guarantees that water is directed exactly to the roots.
“It reduces water wastage and secures a constant provide of moisture to the plant roots. All you wish to have to do is go away the bottle after placing. The water will slowly percolate as consistent with the requirement. I usually use a one-litre bottle, which suffices for no less than every week,” explains Eyyo.
This additionally supplies an optimal use of plastic water bottles. “If many use this system, we will be able to save you many plastic bottles from finishing up in landfills,” he provides.
Eyyo prepares a particular combine for his develop baggage. He begins via ploughing some topsoil and combining in some lime powder (kummayam). He then leaves this mix out within the solar for 10 days, incessantly sprinkling water on it.
In the meantime, he prepares some other combination the usage of powdered cow dung, powdered bone meal (ellupodi), neem press cake (vep pinnakku), groundnut cake (kadala pinnakku), trichoderma, and tremendous phosphate or mussoorie phos.
This combination is stirred day-to-day for 6 to seven days, with water added periodically. In spite of everything, the 2 combos are mixed and transferred to the develop bag.
The develop bag is designed in order that the mix does now not come into direct touch with the soil underneath, successfully fighting bacterial and fungal infections from spreading. Eyyo stocks that this develop bag is patented and a lot more sturdy than same old ones, lasting a minimum of six to seven years, and probably even longer when utilized in house gardens.
Each and every bag is priced at Rs 100.
Along with those develop baggage, Eyyo has advanced a UV sheet that may offer protection to plants from harsh climate prerequisites.
Along with being an cutting edge farmer, Eyyo is a beneficiant instructor who likes to proportion his wisdom. Even supposing he has diminished his farming actions with age, he’s all the time satisfied to host guests and supply recommendations on natural farming. “It’s crucial to eat natural meals. Have in mind of what you’re consuming; attempt to develop some fundamental greens at house. Use neem as a fertiliser to your kitchen lawn,” he concludes.
Edited via Pranita Bhat; Pictures Courtesy Eyyo Kuriakose