I had collected two upland varieties from tribal area Attapadi. These are being tried in small areas near home. Seeds were soaked in water for 12 hours and sown in soil by 1st week of may, when there was enough rain.
4 month old variety
on the extream right is the 6 months old variety
I also plant them around newly planted saplings so that saplings can be easily identified even after grass takes over
22-Sept-22
While searching for Happy Hill rice, I had come across United States Department of Agriculture Germplasm Resources Information Network (USDA GRIN) and there I could see that, they keep Happy Hill rice seeds and distribute to people who are interested. They keep germ plasm from different parts of world. I think, it was suggested by some one in permies.com. I ordered it and they said, it would be sent, but in the middle of Corona pandemic, nothing happened. I made request for a second time and they asked me to send seed import license to send seeds. Then I asked them if they can send it to my friend in California and they readily agreed for it.
They sent 10gm seeds of Happy Hill 1 and Happy Hill 2 and my friend in California gave it to my brother-in-law in Boston and they carried it to India when they travelled, there was no issues in bringing it. I kept it in refrigerator so that it could be sown in rainy season. I will be sowing it in a week's time.
Collected some indigenous mango varieties from Sakhil Ravi and Dr. Regi George of Nadan Mavukal facebook group. These will be planted this year and their growth will be monitored.
Perumbal (പെരുമ്പാൾ )
New Mundoor (ന്യൂ മുണ്ടൂർ )
30-June-2022
Finally planted some of them in the farm..
29-June-2022
Got few other mango varieties from Sakhil of Nadan mavukal group, this was completely free
From left - Rasakadali,Harrison,Rose moovandan,Kunjoos,Ebanaseer
Also bought 5 saplings of Kuttiattoor mango from Njattuvela chanda held at Olari temple ground,each costed 100/
Even though only few mango trees flowered this time, one moovandan mango tree have enough fruits. When fruits started falling, harvested few and used at home. Today harvested remaining ones. It was around 200Kgs, so where to sell was a big question. While my farm help, Palani was harvesting, I made few calls and some suggested, it should be brought in trays which I was not having. To collect trays first I have to go there and then it has to be packed in tray and again taken to the shop.
Later I decided that, I will just take it in the car and will see what happens. I took it to a place called 'Kamrathchalla'. They confirmed mango is of good quality and matured enough and offered 25/ per kg which was less, so went to the next shop which had ample parking space. They also told it is good quality and offered 35/ per kg. This shop's name is P.K.Haneefa,Pallam,Muthalamada (it is on the way to Kambrathchalla). They graded it and good ones were 153 Kgs and 3nd quality was 30Kgs, totally earned 5955/ good money considering a single tree.
My existing scythe handle was locally made, it was working nice, but after the snath saver had gone bad, handle started breaking when the blade hits a hard object. Ordered a new wooden handle with mini-cradle from Vikalp, costed 1800/- totally and they shipped it promptly and it arrived without any issues.
I have been hearing that Attapadi tribal people cultivates upland rice in hills just based on rain water. Few years back a friend had given few seeds, saying it is 'arie nell' from Attapadi and it tillers heavily, but those seeds didn't germinate.
During an agriculture online meet one x-navy person who is a farmer now, brought out that they cultivate upland rice, this retriggered my curiosity. Called him and he promised to give some rice seeds. Since depending on a single contact to get these seeds is bit risky since when you are going there, they may not be there or some such situations can arise. Contacted one more friend called Kunju chettan who was in Attapadi and he gave another agriculture officer Ambu's phone number and this office was very prompt and he gave Doraisswamy's contact. He used to pick up phone every time and he promised to give 1 kg of seed.
Another friend whose contact number I had collected from internet, also promised to give some seeds. So myself and another friend Paulettan started the Attapadi journey. I travelled to Mannarkkad by bus from there we started on Paulettan's bike, it was nice to see around while travelling in bike. We collected some cashew nuts seeds also on the way.
Two contacts gave the seeds while one person was not reachable on the phone. Doraiswamy didn't take money for the seeds, even though we compelled him. To my surprise both seeds were different...One given by Doraiswamy was slightly blackish in color and it was 4 months duration, and they started cultivating this between June and July after there is good rain. Unlike in the olden days, where they start the rice with first rain, they wait for rain to establish then sow the seeds. With good rain, soil will be more fertile and also for 2 months, it will receive good water and will grow without any problem.
The other seed was of 6 months duration, and still it is started in June after getting good rain.
Some photos...
