TIST
April 2005
Wish you all a Happy and Prosperous Tamil New Year
CHEZHUMAI©
SGMR
TIST emphasizes all the small groups to keep their SGMR report ready before the Node Meeting starts, so that, during the meeting, the TIST official will then and there make an entry of their SGMR in the palm. This will enable the small groups to get their voucher payment in time. The hard copy of your SGMR will be signed and returned to groups immediately and the same should be kept as a record very safely. Groups, which submit SGMR continuously, will only get their voucher payment regularly.
Tree Spacing
Some small groups say it is better to put more than one tree seedling in a hole and to space trees closer together incase some trees die. However, we would like to remind you of the best practice, which makes your trees as strong and healthy as possible.
1. Plant only one seedling per hole.
2. Make sure you leave 2 – 3 m spacing between each trees each row of trees.
3. Do regular weeding
If you plant more than one seedling in a hole or you plant your seedlings too close together, your trees will not grow as well. There will be more competition for soil nutrients, water and sunlight and your trees will be weaker. The purpose of correct spacing is so that the tree will grow to be big in size, strong and absorb more carbon from the air. If you follow this best practice, you are giving your trees a better chance of survival. More important is that, TIST makes voucher payments to encourage the growth of big trees, so trees grown too close may not be worth as much. Please refer the Chezhumai (February 2004), i.e, the 60 tamarind trees planted by the Asseeaman Small Group of Kandoor, they have given more than 7 m spacing between the trees, so that the trees will grow well. With regard to Casuarina and Eucalyptus, there should not be more than 2,700 trees in an acre. 2,700 trees in an acre is the upper limit fixed by TIST for voucher payment.
Weeding
The most important aspect in growing a tree is weeding. Your trees need sufficient water, soil nutrients and light to grow strong. If there are thick weeds in between your trees, they will compete with your trees for water, soil nutrients and light and as a result, your trees grows week. One of the members of Balaji Small Group of Mel Kodungalur says that “if we grow a strong tree, that will stand life long as a life giving asset, but if we grow a weak tree, that will stand as a life long burden”.
In this Chezhumai, the following are the best practices projected by the Mojamthooki Small Group of Kattiampandal, Nelli Small Group of Vandhavasi and Saroja Small Group of Kandoor:
1. Regular weeding and utilizing the weeds in a productive manner
2. Multiple species of trees
3. Transplanting the seedlings in parts, so that good care can be taken.
Mojamthooki Small Group of Kattiampandal
This small group has more than 9,000 casuarina trees grown in two different groves. This small group members spend their time in shift system in removing the weeds regularly, moreover, they make use of the unwanted weeds / grass which is grown in their groves productively. The unwanted grass is cut regularly and used for their own cattle as fodder and if the quantity is more, they even sell to others. This is an additional earning other than TIST voucher payment and Conservative Farming.
Kattiampandal village groups received their first voucher payment from TIST. Mojamthooki Small Group will be getting approximately Rs.3,500/- by this month end as their one quarter payment. Vadakoli, Kummumodukalini, Valluvankalani small groups will also be getting their voucher payment along with Mojamthooki Small Group.
Nelli Small Group of Vandhavasi
This group has got their name by their trees. They have started their show with TIST in tree planting by planting more than 100 nelli trees (Amla, Indian Goose Berry). Nelli is used for making pickles and jam, it is also used in the hair dye industry. The spacing between the nelli trees is 4 –5 m and their height is approximately 1 m. From next three years, these 100 nelli trees will yield atleast Rs.40,000/- per year. TIST emphasizes all the small group members to be prudent in selecting the species like Nelli Small Group, so that they get good yield. There are more than 400 teak trees maintained by this group. In an area of 4 acre, they have more than 18,000 casuarina trees planted as a single grove. Groups should be little prudent in planting trees. Going in for more numbers of trees is good, but at the same time you should see your financial background. Maintaining 4-5 acres of land, by watering, weeding, and adding nutrients is highly difficult. The TIST Quantifier noticed that in few parts of this 4 acre casuarinas grove, the trees were not all that good, because of poor watering and weeds. This activity is not a good practice. Please do not go fast in planting and end in pathetic situation. This small group has got more than 1000 Pala seedlings in polythene bags, all arranged very neatly in front of their house.
Saroja Small Group of Kandoor
This small group of Kandoor has been maintaining casuarina & eucalyptus seedlings for more than 1 years, but it is only since 6 month they have realized the importance of growing trees. TIST extends a big thanks to the small group members of Chittoor for their propaganda about TIST tree planting. During the year end 2004, few members from Chittoor like, Sundaram (SindhuKavi) and Dhakhinamoorthy (Chamundi) had accompanied the TIST officials for the Kandoor Node Meeting and displayed their ideas and pleasure being with TIST, this had a great effect on all the small group members of Kandoor.
Saroja Small Group started a fresh grove with more than 24,000 seedlings (Casuarina & Eucalyptus) during the year end 2004. Now, since the seedlings are more than 4 months old, they have transplanted about 11,000 casuarina seedlings in an area of 3 acres. Though the spacing is only little less than 1 m, but still the transplanting is done in an organized manner, planted in equal rows. Ponnuswamy, who is a member of this small group is an active man and waiting for little shower for starting conservative farming in between the casuarinas trees, which are planted very recently. He also said that, once these casuarinas trees gets a hold over the soil, i.e., by next month, even the remaining causarina and eucalyptus seedlings will also be transplanted.
Question & Answer
Will TIST consider a better voucher payment for growing non-casuarina & non-eucalyptus trees, wherein, the spacing between the trees will be more than 10 m? (Chittoor Small Groups)
TIST India
Mr. Prabakar Srinivasan, Project Manager
Mr. A. Joseph, TIST Coordinator and Correspondent
Schedule for Node Meeting
Node Villages Covered Group Center Day Session From To Chamundi Chamundi, El Endathur, Agili Mel Kodungalur 1st Sunday 03.04.2005 01.05.2005 Morning 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Mel Kodungalur Singapalli, Ulundhai, Mel Kodungalur, Kattukolli Mel Kodungalur Kunnavakkam 1st Tuesday 05.04.2005 03.05.2005 Evening 5:30 PM 7:30 PM Peruvalayam Peruvalayam, Melapulam, Mottur Melapulam 2nd Saturday 09.04.2005 14.05.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Kattiampandal Kattiampandal, Vellaputur Kattiampandal 2nd Sunday 10.04.2005 08.05.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 12:00 AM Chitoor KeeraNallur, Chittoor, Molachur, Nandhimedu, Attuputtur, Singadivakkam, Marutham, Jambhodi Molachur, Marutham, Jambhodi 3rd Sunday 17.04.2005 15.05.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM Kandoor Sokandhi, Kandoor Molachur 3rd Sunday 17.04.2005 15.05.2005 Evening 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Aandiseruvallur Vedal, Aandiseruvallur, Kottavakkam, Melpadavur, Seruvallur, SeruvallurMettucolony Vedal 4th Saturday 23.04.2004 28.05.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM
