January 11, 2012
Agriculture provides the principal means of livelihood for over 58.4% of India's population. It contributes approximately one-fifth of total gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture accounts for about 10 per cent of the total export earnings and provides raw material to a large number of industries. Low and volatile growth rates and the recent escalation of agrarian crisis in several parts of the Indian countryside, however, are a threat not only to national food security, but also to the economic well-being of the nation as a whole.
This article on sprinkler irrigation is specially written to empower and stimulate the imagination of the Country’s farming community in helping them realize that “WINNING IS ONLY A STATE OF MIND “. The article provides a glimpse to enable farmers to think globally and provide in house solutions, so that they are competitive worldwide.
May 26, 2011, was a red letter day for the Indian Coffee Plantation Industry, because on this very special day, the Chairman of the Coffee Board, Mr. Javid Akthar inaugurated the Country’s “First of its kind State of the Art Innovative & Energy Efficient Sprinkler System at Joe’s Sustainable Coffee Plantation, Kirehully Estate, Sakleshpur, India.
Irrigation is the backbone of agriculture, irrespective of size of holding. This aspect is of critical importance for the success of coffee cultivation. The concept of sprinkler irrigation has gathered momentum in the recent past because of two important factors, namely impact of climate change resulting in unpredictable showers and long periods of drought and second due to the non availability of labour.
The theory of sprinkler irrigation is to supply the water at the proper time and in sufficient quantities. The timing and the quantity of water is of prime importance in determining the fruit set. If the sprinkling is carried out too early or too late, it will adversely affect the yield. The same thing will happen, if the water is either too little or too much.
We have pioneered a whole new concept of efficient sprinkling for coffee plantations using both impact and non impact sprinkler systems with the following objectives.
- To bring about a new awakening. This should lead to the adoption of new and superior sprinkling technologies and a trend towards modernization.
- To pump out large quantities of water and sprinkle it uniformly over a large area in a short period of time. Time is the essence for efficient sprinkling. (Quantitative and Qualitative change)
- To design and evolve cost effective strategies that has a direct bearing on farmer’s livelihood.
- To make the entire sprinkler operation eco-friendly and worker friendly.
In May, 2011, we organized a live demonstration for over 700 coffee planters from various plantation districts on the unique and highly energy efficient and labour saving sprinkler system which had the capacity to sprinkle an area of ten acres for every two-hour shift and sprinkle an area of forty acres in one single day, with the help of only five men workers, inside shade grown eco-friendly coffee forests. To simplify the matter, we were the first to sprinkle an area of 100 acres in just three days with a workforce of only 15 men. This level of mechanization, both indigenous and foreign was unheard off in India’s coffee plantation sector. Earlier to this, with the existing technology, planters could cover an area of approximately ten acres per day. The newly installed 254 H.P. Kirloskar turbo charged diesel engine coupled to a custom made high discharge RKP pump, discharging in excess of 7000 liters per minute was capable of operating rain guns covering an area of ten acres per shift. (One acre = 43,560 square feet)
MECHANIZATION
We are of the opinion that India’s shade grown eco-friendly coffee is unique when compared to the rest of the world, because India is the only country on the world map growing all its coffee under the canopy of forest trees, both introduced and indigenous. Mechanization is not only about coffee planters and machines. In fact, the relationship goes much beyond. Mechanization should be an unbroken partnership among coffee planters, machines and the conservation of the biodiversity of the coffee forests. All things big or small, living or non livings are interconnected beyond human understanding. It is our responsibility to uphold this delicate balance of nature. We simply cannot view mechanization in isolation.
KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
Time and again, we remind the coffee planters that we are living in a knowledge economy, where winning is only a state of mind. To win the race, one needs to constantly upgrade his or her knowledge. The first step in winning the future is by encouraging innovation. Innovation is the key to the future of coffee plantations.
How then do we innovate?
We at Joe’s Sustainable Coffee Plantation, work with a simple philosophy. We have made it a point not to compete with the coffee planters of the taluk, district or State, for that matter, we are not in competition with the coffee plantation community from India, but what we intend doing is to compete with coffee planters at the global level in setting up the world’s best sprinkler system. Even though, we have taken baby steps in this direction, we are hopeful that in the coming years, we will achieve our goals.
Facing Challenges?
Farmers face two great challenges, irrespective of size of holding:
1. Decision making
2. Anticipation.
Decision making refers to the thought process - whether to invest in plant and machinery and anticipation refers to the expectations of the future crops.
VISION 2020
In view of these common challenges, we have formulated a vision, normally referred to as VISION 2020, with long term strategies and short term goals. The blue print is programmed for the next 20 years with the help of professionals from manufacturing industry as well as Institutional support.
RAIN GUN TECHNOLOGY
Rain guns provide a promising possibility for sprinkling of small and large holdings in a short time, in situations where the supply of labour is scanty or expensive. Large quantities of water are sprayed on an increasing scale with the help of towers spread out inside the plantation.
SAVINGS ON COST OF LABOUR
In the course of technical progress, every possible saving on labour by the use of efficient sprinkler systems has become an obvious necessity on account of the ever increasing cost of labour. Also due to the fact that men workers are difficult to find during the sprinkler season, it is more appropriate to find ways and means of alternate technology that reduces the requirement of labour. A single rain gun can cover almost 2 to 4 acres, thereby eliminating the laying of hundreds of lateral lines and jets.
FUTURE STRATEGIES
We have made an attempt to look into the distant future and devise a sprinkler system that will be both practical and economical. Our imagination has run wild and we have dared to dream big! We plan to install permanent towers in steep terrain and set up mobile towers in blocks having gentle gradients. Then, with the help of pneumatic controlled high pressure systems we intend to sprinkle 100 acres in 24 hours.
Acknowledgement
We would like to specially thank Michael and Sunil Baptist, WaterJet Engineers, Chikmagalur, for designing and fabricating the entire sprinkler system.
Dr Anand & Geeta Pereira - Archives
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