Selling mango from a single Moovandan tree

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.

New scythe handle from Vikalp

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.

Cutting is much easier now...grip is quite good and makes cutting much easier

Two upland rice varieties from Attappadi

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...

Doraiswamy and his wife with me

Met two persons..Rangan and Konan...they were saying people lost interest in agriculture after government started supplying rice through ration shops. Also to our surprise they could identify the seeds which is 6 months and which is 4 months