Sunday, January 24, 2010

MAJOR AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTIONS IN INDIA
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1.GREEN REVOLUTION(WHEAT ,CEREALS2LEGUMINOUS PLANTS
FATHER OF INDIAN REVOLUTION.DR M.S.SWAMINATHAN
2.WHITE REVOLUTION(MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS:-KNOWN AS OPERATION FLOOD IN INDIA .FATHER OF INDIAN WHITE REVOLUTION:-PROF VARGHESE KURIEN
3.SILVER REVOLUTION (EGG AND POULTRY)
4.YELLOW REVOLUTION(EDIBLE OIL)
5.BLUE REVOLUTION(FISHERY)
6.PINK REVOLUTION(PRAWNS)
7.GOLDEN REVOLUTION(HONEY)
8.GOLDEN FIBRE REVOLUTION(JUTE)
9.SILVER FIBRE REVOLUTION(COTTON)
10.BROWN REVOLUTION(COCOA)

ONE STRAW REVOLUTION

Masanobu Fukuoka (福岡 正信 Fukuoka Masanobu February 2, 1913 – August 16, 2008) author of The One-Straw Revolution, The Road Back to Nature and The Natural Way Of Farming, was one of the pioneers of no-till grain cultivation. His system is referred to as "natural farming", Fukuoka Farming, or the Fukuoka Method.

Fukuoka practices a system of farming he refers to as "natural farming." Although some of his practices are specific to Japan, the governing philosophy of his method has successfully been applied around the world. In India, natural farming is often referred to as "Rishi Kheti."

The essence of Fukuoka's method is to reproduce natural conditions as closely as possible. There is no plowing, as the seed germinates quite happily on the surface if the right conditions are provided. There is also considerable emphasis on maintaining diversity. A ground cover of white clover grows under the grain plants to provide nitrogen. Weeds (and Daikons) are also considered part of the ecosystem, periodically cut and allowed to lie on the surface so the nutrients they contain are returned to the soil. Ducks are let into the grain plot, and specific insectivorous carp into the rice paddy at certain times of the year to eat slugs and other pests.

The ground is always covered. As well as the clover and weeds, there is the straw from the previous crop, which is used as mulch, and each grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested. This is done by broadcasting the seed among the standing crop. Also he re-introduced the ancient technique of seed balls (粘土団子,土団子,土だんご,Tsuchi Dango (Earth Dumpling). The seed for next season's crop is mixed with clay, compost, and sometimes manure, and formed into small balls. The result is a denser crop of smaller but highly productive and stronger plants.

Fukuoka's method and philosophy is about small scale farming, yet he claims "With this kind of farming, which uses no machines, no prepared fertilizer and no chemicals, it is possible to attain a harvest equal to or greater than that of the average Japanese farm.


Friday, January 22, 2010

kallumala samaram

Behind the sparkle and lustre of these ornaments lie some cold and unpleasant realities, reflecting the social customs and practices that prevailed in Kerala.

The social revolutions and reformations that took place in Kerala during the past century and the uprising of the downtrodden and marginalised sections of society against caste discrimination also influenced the patterns of use of ornaments.

During the early days, precious stones and gold ornaments were the prerogative of the elites and the socially marginalised sections were not permitted to wear them.

`Kallumala samaram' is an agitationthat took place in Kanjaveli, near Kollam, where the Pulaya community members fought the caste elites by breaking their chains to win the right to wear ornaments.

According to historians, the rights enjoyed by the sections outside the caste system to wear ornaments were won after prolonged social struggles like the struggle by the lower caste women to cover the upper part of their body.