A Case Study - Application of Engineering Skills to Sustainable Farming Development

INTRODUCTION

Principles of sustainable development are well understood in the field of engineering, which generally mean that the needs of the present generation should be met in such a way that fulfilment of the needs of future generations are not jeopardised. Farming industry has different priorities, where the practices have to suit production of goods using live animals and plants, as opposed to the material objects associated with the engineering industry. However, when an engineer chooses to passionately indulge in farming, there should inevitably be some influence of engineering way of doing things, i.e. dealing with animals with their welfare and safety in mind and growing plants in a pre-planned manner, with judicial use of water, avoidance of waste and recycling of waste. Additionally, an engineer's determination and problem-solving skills could result in fresh solutions to problems, where any authoritative guidance may not be available or may not apply to the specific location, climate, soil conditions, water supply, etc. I found this to be the case when I visited "Raikar Farm", situated at about 80 miles from Chembur, a suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra State, Southwest India. The farm is located near the Wadivale dam in a village called Govitri-Kamshet in Pune District, some 6 miles from Kamshet Junction on the old Mumbai-Pune highway and some 16 miles from the well-known Lonawala hill station.

THE DEVELOPMENT

The land was purchased in 1986 and the development started in 1990, virtually from scratch as regards removing boulders and levelling off the land with good topsoil. Work on access, water supply, electricity supply and building of sheds and houses followed. It is continuing to accommodate new initiatives, which may be completed by 2010. Salient aspects of the work are described below.

Sustainable water Supply

Water can be extracted throughout the year from upstream side of the Wadivale dam reservoir, which would normally ensure adequate water supply for the establishment. However, Mr Raikar was not content with dependence on the external water supply that would be shared with the local people. His continued search for a sustainable source within the farm did result in location of a natural stream on the rear side of the farm. This led to construction of an underground tank with pipelines providing perennial water supply for the establishment. The main reservoir (250,000 litres) and the secondary reservoir (50,000 litres) are located in such a way as to make the best use of gravity for circulating water to various parts of the estate and to minimise consumption of electrical power for pumping water.

Sustainable construction of fence, housing and sheds

The establishment provides houses built with load-bearing stone masonry for some twenty families of workers, who are essential for maintenance and running of the farm. The place is surrounded by a continuous stone masonry wall. Most shallow open-air tanks and masonry walls for the sheds up to plinth level are built in the same way. The buildings are aesthetically pleasant and of robust construction, comprising twenty staff quarters, one office, one large shed for tools and machinery, and two large sheds for storage of fodder and other equipment for animals.

The stones have been recovered from the land, dressed and made suitable for buildings on the site. This has avoided the cost and fuel consumption for importation of material through the difficult external road system, thus serving principles of sustainable development.

Staff and workers forming a sustainable community

The permanent staff members are based on site, including agricultural supervisors (including graduates), truck drivers, watchmen, electricians and plumbers. In addition, some 100 local workers have secured employment in the place. There are no industries in this area and most people travel to far off cities for work. The farm has created invaluable opportunities for work and training for local people. There are primary schools and playground facilities for children on the farm premises.

The establishment has succeeded in creating a stable community of people, taking care of needs of the families. Mr Raikar has paid attention to many other details. For example, he has recognised the difficulties for the village workers in climbing up the hill through muddy fields and built immaculate series of masonry steps for the workers to reach the farm level. The hygiene, drinking water and rest places are excellent. All this has resulted in a stable, loyal and motivated work force that has contributed to the success of the enterprise.

MANAGEMENT AND RUNNING OF THE ESTABLISHMENT

There are three main activities on the site, fruit plants and trees, flowers and animals, which reveal keen attention to sustainability principles, practised in the best possible manner achievable in a remote and developing part of the countryside. These activities are complementary to each other. For example, cow dung and other waste products provide organic fertilisers for the plants. These materials are also used to make domestic gas as fuel for the housing on site. Plants provide food for the animals and some timber as a part of the building material.

Fruit Plants and Trees

The plantation is unbelievably vast, comprising some 19,000 trees and plants producing fruit (mangoes, coconuts, jackfruit, etc.) and spices (cardamom, black pepper, etc.). Some 500 bamboo plants are harvested by rotation to meet the local demand for platforms in the flower sheds.

Flowers

Existing poly-houses cover some two acres of flower plants, mainly Gerberas of different colours and varieties. Three more poly-houses (1000 square metre) are under construction, which will have Orchids, Lilium and Antharium.

Open air plants produce exotic flowers that bring good income, e.g. Bird of Paradise. Heliconise and Tuberose. There are other open air plants such as Foxtail, Spring Jerry and Areka Palm, which are useful as filler material in high quality bunches of flowers.

Animals

Population

This section perhaps represents the most impressive activity on the establishment. The population of animals includes:

1. 120 cows, buffalos and calves

2. 300 goats, sheep and young lambs

3. 120 pigs

Upkeep

This farm is phenomenally different to some stall-fed places where animals are made to stand for all their lives. All cows, buffalos and pigs are impeccably clean. All animals, including goats and sheep, have enclosures to roam freely for some periods. Some cows are taken to graze under supervision.

Main features of the upkeep are listed as follows

· The sheds and the animals are washed and cleaned three times a day, after removing all the excretion manually, which is transported to gas plants and sheds for making fertilisers. The water used for cleaning is channelled for straining away the solids and for its reuse for watering plants. The channels are carefully laid to slope to facilitate flow of the fluids without any need for mechanical means.

· "Vermiculture" is being developed on site, both deep burrowing variety and surface variety, using earthworms. There are four sheds at different locations in the farm, which produce large quantities of "Vermicompost", which is the best nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. The staff had to do various experiments using trials, before arriving at the optimum way of maintaining supply of compost required on the farm.

· Animal feed is produced on the farm, using specific areas planted with special grass like Napier, Paragrass, etc. There are machines to cut the grass into small pieces to feed the animals in a most effective manner and without wastage.

· Production of Azzola plants is a specialist way for producing feed for the animals. This plant grows naturally in pools of water but it can be produced in special open air shaded tanks of water, where the plants can grow floating on the surface. A kilo of the feed is believed to add one kilo of extra milk from the cow. Mr Raikar has developed the scheme after some years of research, in the absence of any guidance documents. For example, the depth of water and shade in the form of translucent covering has to be optimum for the growth of the plant.

PROPOSAL FOR AN AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL

With such novel ideas developed over the years, including exercising of sustainability principles, Mr Raikar would like to develop a knowledge base in conjunction of the agricultural researchers at Pune and other nearby places. A school would indeed serve the purpose, with residential facilities available for students to enable them to gain theoretical and hands-on practical knowledge and experience. The roads and transport facilities are being improved presently, which could make the location suitable for people from the surrounding towns and cities.

An application for approval for commencement of a school has been launched with the authorities. One hopes that it succeeds soon and Mr Raikar can have the opportunity to disseminate the knowledge gained over the years through hard work and dedication on his part and that of his motivated experts working with him.