Of moisture retention and manure
Farmers in North Karnataka are busy layering their fields with manure, before the rainy season sets in. We spot Channaveeragouda busy heaping manure on his field. He is not the only one.
Farmers in Haveri, Ranebennur, Byadgi, Hirekerur, Shiggaon-Savanur, Hanagal, Hubli-Dharwad, Gadag, Shirahatti, Nargund, Navalgund, Gajendragad are all busy filling their fields with manure. This task, which was taken up in March, will continue till the end of April and May.
They then accumulate the manure is small heaps in corners of their fields. However, what farmers have failed to realise is that the nutrients in the manure may be lost because of the intense heat.
There is need to create awareness among farmers about this, explains Dharwad Agriculture University's agri-scientists P L Patil and Chandrakanth Kalibavi.
The manure is composed of organic waste, such as dry leaves, roots etc. For these nutrients to work their magic in the fields, it is important that there is some amount of moisture in the soil. If not, they become a waste.
Farmers need to ensure there is moisture, experts say.The solution, they say, is that the manure should be brought to fields only after it rains. Also, manure should be protected from heat, they explain.
R S Patil
No festivities on Ugadi for them...
Located near Mulbagal, famous for its historic Ganesha and Someshwara temples, Kurudumale is also known for a residential locality consisting of about eighty families who have never celebrated Ugadi festival for generations.
They don't celebrate Ugadi festival to mourn the death of a young pregnant woman belonging to their village. It has been a community tradition started hundred years ago, on the festival day of Ugadi when the pregnant women is said to have been gored to death near the village well by a beastly bull.
The ghastly death of the woman, which locals regarded to be a bad omen and inauspicious for any festivities, prompted them to observe Ugadi as a day of mourning. The residents end their mourning after nine days of Ugadi festival by celebrating Ramanavami as a community feast.
S V U C