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Integrates technology in farming to overcome water scarcity and improve productivity
“Water is a huge problem in agriculture but it can be re-solved using technology. In our farm we have close to 100 cows and feeding the cattle was a critical concern in drought conditions. Hence I have developed “Automized Hydroponic Fodder System’. Also we are consistently working on a customized hi-tech hydroponics to grow vegetables in minimum water,” says Mr. M.M.Tharakesh. He owns and manages Kannimaar Farms along with his father Mr. M.R.Murali Krishnan.
Mr. M.M.Tharakesh
Kannimaar Farms spreads in 100 acres. It is located at Kottanatham village, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. It is an integrated farm having fruits orchard and livestock farming. “We have 100 Kangeyam native breed cows in the farm. We raise the cattle only for its dung and urine and not for milk! Cow’s milk is exclusively for its calves,” asserts Mr. Murali. In the fruit orchard different varieties of mango are grown primarily alphonso along with cashew nuts, coconuts, VNR guava, amla (Indian gooseberry) and moringa. “It was the idea of Tharakesh to grow VNR guava in the farm. With his initiative we were the first farm to have VNR guava plantation through high density farming in South India.” Mangoes, VNR Guava and cashew nuts are cultivated using high density farming method. In addition the farm has a designated area of 10 acres for growing seasonal and short duration crops such as vegetables, millets, paddy etc.
Mr. M.R.Murali Krishnan
To cope with water scarcity drip irrigation is used to effectively utilize every drop of water. “Also we do lot of natural mulching using coconut tree waste. We never use plastic mulching in our farm. Natural mulching in the orchards prevents weed growth and the water required for irrigation is reduced substantially. Earlier without mulching we used to water the trees everyday but now we do it only once in four days,” says Mr. Tharakesh. Cow based manure is another measure to fight water problems in the farm.
“Kangeyam breed is native to our region but unfortunately almost on the verge of extinction. Hence we started breeding this indigenous breed. We want to popularize the breed in our locality as it is ideal for chemical free farming,” highlights Mr. Tharakesh. Kangeyam breed cows are boon for farming as its excreta is enormously rich in beneficial microbes. It not only improves the quality and quantity of the produce but also makes the soil fertile and improves water retention capability. The cow dung is turned into vermicompost at the farm itself. “The produced compost needs to be filtered before using it as manure for the trees. So far there is no machine available so we have developed our own vermicompost filtering machine locally at the farm.”
The cow urine is too processed on the farm to remove the methane gas in an air blower tank. Later it is used for making natural fertilizers like panchgavya, jeevamrutha etc to be fed to the plants and trees. Besides cow rearing farm also has 100 sheep, 50 goat and 70 kadaknath poultry birds. “We process the dung of these animals and birds as well into natural fertilizers. Poultry chicks are sold regularly at the farm. We consciously had all the native breed of livestock in the farm as they are more disease resistant and their excreta is power pack of nutrients for horticulture crops,” he adds.
When asked about the automized hydroponic fodder system Tharakesh replies, “It is 2 ton capacity fodder producing system. We grow maize and wheat fodder. It works out quite economical when being run on day-to day basis. Further it saves considerably on water and space. It helped us immensely to cope with low rainfall issues.”
Entire farm produce is sold to wholesalers in Bangalore and Chennai. Occasionally it is sold in the local market as well. Speaking on the price exploitation he says, “Yes it does exists but it is beyond control for now. The desirable change would come only when more educated youth become part of agriculture. It will take a long time!”
In time to come father-son duo soon shall set up a model farm of hydroponics to grow vegetables. “It would have vertical farming system and will be aimed to produce best quality produce in limited water,” he shares.
Mr. Tharakesh did his mechanical engineering from Chennai and worked with TCS for two years before turning into full time farmer and agripreneur. “I joined TCS for gaining corporate experience while my ultimate goal is to be pioneer in farming technology. I had always been inclined towards agriculture. With no prior exposure to farming I am able to develop the farmland through practical experience and common sense. I strongly feel agriculture is a fabulous field as it is everyday learning that is irreplaceable in any other industry. I shall continue to explore, learn and apply latest technologies to make farming more and more sustainable!” he signs off.
Contact details:
Kannimaar Farms
Farm: Kottanatham Village, Dindigul District - 624620, Tamil Nadu
Correspondence: Mr.M.M.Tharakesh, Jawahar Bazaar, Karur - 639001, Tamil Nadu
Phone: 09962294547
Email: mmtharakesh@gmail.com
“Water is a huge problem in agriculture but it can be re-solved using technology. In our farm we have close to 100 cows and feeding the cattle was a critical concern in drought conditions. Hence I have developed “Automized Hydroponic Fodder System’. Also we are consistently working on a customized hi-tech hydroponics to grow vegetables in minimum water,” says Mr. M.M.Tharakesh. He owns and manages Kannimaar Farms along with his father Mr. M.R.Murali Krishnan.
Mr. M.M.Tharakesh
Kannimaar Farms spreads in 100 acres. It is located at Kottanatham village, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. It is an integrated farm having fruits orchard and livestock farming. “We have 100 Kangeyam native breed cows in the farm. We raise the cattle only for its dung and urine and not for milk! Cow’s milk is exclusively for its calves,” asserts Mr. Murali. In the fruit orchard different varieties of mango are grown primarily alphonso along with cashew nuts, coconuts, VNR guava, amla (Indian gooseberry) and moringa. “It was the idea of Tharakesh to grow VNR guava in the farm. With his initiative we were the first farm to have VNR guava plantation through high density farming in South India.” Mangoes, VNR Guava and cashew nuts are cultivated using high density farming method. In addition the farm has a designated area of 10 acres for growing seasonal and short duration crops such as vegetables, millets, paddy etc.
Mr. M.R.Murali Krishnan
To cope with water scarcity drip irrigation is used to effectively utilize every drop of water. “Also we do lot of natural mulching using coconut tree waste. We never use plastic mulching in our farm. Natural mulching in the orchards prevents weed growth and the water required for irrigation is reduced substantially. Earlier without mulching we used to water the trees everyday but now we do it only once in four days,” says Mr. Tharakesh. Cow based manure is another measure to fight water problems in the farm.
“Kangeyam breed is native to our region but unfortunately almost on the verge of extinction. Hence we started breeding this indigenous breed. We want to popularize the breed in our locality as it is ideal for chemical free farming,” highlights Mr. Tharakesh. Kangeyam breed cows are boon for farming as its excreta is enormously rich in beneficial microbes. It not only improves the quality and quantity of the produce but also makes the soil fertile and improves water retention capability. The cow dung is turned into vermicompost at the farm itself. “The produced compost needs to be filtered before using it as manure for the trees. So far there is no machine available so we have developed our own vermicompost filtering machine locally at the farm.”
The cow urine is too processed on the farm to remove the methane gas in an air blower tank. Later it is used for making natural fertilizers like panchgavya, jeevamrutha etc to be fed to the plants and trees. Besides cow rearing farm also has 100 sheep, 50 goat and 70 kadaknath poultry birds. “We process the dung of these animals and birds as well into natural fertilizers. Poultry chicks are sold regularly at the farm. We consciously had all the native breed of livestock in the farm as they are more disease resistant and their excreta is power pack of nutrients for horticulture crops,” he adds.
When asked about the automized hydroponic fodder system Tharakesh replies, “It is 2 ton capacity fodder producing system. We grow maize and wheat fodder. It works out quite economical when being run on day-to day basis. Further it saves considerably on water and space. It helped us immensely to cope with low rainfall issues.”
Entire farm produce is sold to wholesalers in Bangalore and Chennai. Occasionally it is sold in the local market as well. Speaking on the price exploitation he says, “Yes it does exists but it is beyond control for now. The desirable change would come only when more educated youth become part of agriculture. It will take a long time!”
In time to come father-son duo soon shall set up a model farm of hydroponics to grow vegetables. “It would have vertical farming system and will be aimed to produce best quality produce in limited water,” he shares.
Mr. Tharakesh did his mechanical engineering from Chennai and worked with TCS for two years before turning into full time farmer and agripreneur. “I joined TCS for gaining corporate experience while my ultimate goal is to be pioneer in farming technology. I had always been inclined towards agriculture. With no prior exposure to farming I am able to develop the farmland through practical experience and common sense. I strongly feel agriculture is a fabulous field as it is everyday learning that is irreplaceable in any other industry. I shall continue to explore, learn and apply latest technologies to make farming more and more sustainable!” he signs off.
Contact details:
Kannimaar Farms
Farm: Kottanatham Village, Dindigul District - 624620, Tamil Nadu
Correspondence: Mr.M.M.Tharakesh, Jawahar Bazaar, Karur - 639001, Tamil Nadu
Phone: 09962294547
Email: mmtharakesh@gmail.com