February 2020
Dear Small Group Farmers Participants, Seasons Greetings! It gives us great joy in reaching you all through TIST Chezhumai Newsletter once again, though we are meeting regularly through Node and Training Programs. To start with, we would like to share with you a good news that TIST India is now a member of Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry, an institutional mechanism started by the Forest College and Research Institute (FC&RI), Metupalayam, to connect all the stakeholders under one roof. This will help TIST India and TIST India small groups in developing agroforest thereby help to augment the tree cover and mitigate climate change. We can get help and expertise from this consortium for our agroforestry works.
Chezhumai TIST Tree Planting India Pvt. Ltd Flat A, Plot 69, 26th Street, Sankar Nagar, Pammal, Chennai 600075. Mobile : 9840299822 Email: josephrexontist@gmail.com Skype: a.joseph.rexon Web: www.tist.org The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program TIST - Planting Trees and Improving Agriculture for Better Lives What is tree stipend? You all know that planting trees gives various benefits, it also reduces carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The leaves work as kitchen for the tree to cook energy-rich organic compounds for the tree to grow, this cooking process is known as photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, light energy is captured and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds. Trees consume carbon dioxide and turn it into cellulose – woody biomass. The amount of wood is directly correlated to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed. To make it sound simpler to understand - trees are about 50% water and 50% wood. Since wood is about 50% carbon, each tonne of live tree mass contains about a quarter tonne of carbon. The more a tree grows the more amount of carbon is stored in the tree which is called the carbon credit in carbon market. As the trees grow, TIST measures the size of the tree and using approved methods calculates the amount of woody biomass, and then calculates the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed. All these procedures are standard and approved methods. TIST computes the carbon in each tree grove on each farmer’s land, then aggregates the tonnes. In addition, the third-party validation and verification process reviews and verifies the calculation and measurements done by TIST and finally TIST gets the approved carbon credits which can be sold to entities that wish to offset its business emission. TIST in India is subsidised company of Clean Air Action Corporation (CAAC) based at USA and due to the agreement between TIST India and CAAC all the approved credits that comes of TIST India project is owned by CAAC. CAAC markets the credits, sells and pays to TIST India. TIST India uses this amount to pay the small groups as tree stipend for all their live trees. We are requesting all small group participants to understand this process, as and when CAAC pays to TIST India, TIST India would use the money received from CAAC to pay tree stipend. Poor landless men and women find job and income in TIST
TIST encourages school children on environment conservation works Fish amino acid, easy and cheap plant booster Fish amino acid (FAA) is a liquid made from fish waste. FAA is of great value to plants and microorganisms in their growth because it contains and abundance of nutrients and various amino acids. Any fish can be used including blue back fishes Required Ingredients Fish or fish wastes 2 kgs / Solid Jaggery 2 kgs Method of Preparation Cut the Fish or Fish Waste into small pieces and place it in an airtight container. Crush the solid jaggery into small pieces and place it as well in the container. Mix them well and store in a cool place. Avoid direct sunlight. The solution can be used when the solution looks like honey. This will take 20-30 days of fermentation. Remove the solid fish waste by filtering the same. Method of Storage The manure should be kept in the shade and kept it in an air tight container. How long can we store the Manure? The manure can be stored for 6 months. How to use the Manure? ▪ Spray System - The manure can be applied as a foliar spray. ▪ Flow System - The solution of manure can be mixed with irrigation water, either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation. Note: Dilute 2-5 ml of the manure with 1 litre of water before use. When to use the Manure? ▪ Generally, the ideal time for spraying is during 6 am to 8.30 am and between 4 pm and 6.30 pm. ▪ Generally, it is accepted that every 15 days the manure can be applied. Never use chemical fertilizers Ponniyamman Small Group We the members of Ponniyamman Small Group have 6 acres of land in Irumbedu Village, Vandavasi Circle, Thiruvannamalai District. We were cultivating peanuts and rice in our land. In 2016, TIST employees approached us and informed about TIST Program and its benefits. They talked about the importance of planting trees. Then we planted 2,500 redsander trees on four acres of land. In the TIST training sessions, we have learned about the tree maintenance process and maintaining all the trees planted accordingly. We are practicing peanuts and paddy (rice) in the remaining 2 acres of our land. As we planted trees through TIST Program, we get the opportunity to participate in TIST Node and Training Programs and we have learnt lot like, natural pest control and the procedure to make natural pest control and management system and seed management/treatment. Requesting all other small group participants to understanding the importance of natural farming, know the benefits of it and the practice the natural farming system. We are grateful to TIST India for encouraging us through various training programs. We cultivate both trees and food crops on our land. If other small group members want to see and learn about our activities, we would like to discuss this Node meetings and we also invite other small group participants to come and visit our land directly. Thank you.