FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
A farmer develops a herbal pest repellent after suffering from chemical pesticides
M.J. PRABU
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The farmer suffered a severe paralytic stroke for nearly three years
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— Photo: By special arrangement
Low cost: Chellamuthu spraying the bio pest repellent in his field.
Though agricultural discoveries by farmers get dubbed ‘accidental,’ they are born out of a creative restlessness.
“It is this restless feeling within me which guided me to find an alternative — a herbal pest repellent —safe for both crops and the person spraying it.
“I did not want another person to undergo the same suffering I underwent after I fell sick because of continuous usage of chemical pesticides,” says Mr. K.M. Chellamuthu, an agricultural labourer in Kodumudi village in Erode District of Tamil Nadu.
Today more than 20 villages in the district are using the herbal spray developed by him.
Good example
Mr. Chellamuthu stands out as a classic example of how chemical pesticides cause a devastating effect on the health of those spraying it.
“For nearly a decade my work involved spraying these’ toxics’ on other people’s fields for a living, and about three years back I suffered a severe paralytic stroke which left me bedridden.”
Dr. K. Kodumudi Natrajan, (inventor of Panchagavya) a civil surgeon in Erode who treated Mr. Chellamuthu says:
“There are a number of similar cases which come to my hospital. Most of themare labourers who earn a daily income of Rs.40-50 for spraying the chemicals.
"Especially in Erode and surrounding areas turmeric and other crops are grown on an intensive scale commercially, and use of chemicals becomes very extensive. While spraying the chemicals, they inhale the vapours and over time, fall sick. Many of them also suffer from rashes on the skin.”
Protective gear
Do they not wear any protective gear while spraying these chemicals?
“Practically nobody in these areas wears them. Severe sweating, and inability to move freely with the protective gear are the common complaints of these people," says Dr. Natrajan.
Being a strong supporter of organic practices, Dr. Natrajan advised Chellamuthu to use bio pesticides and other locally available safe pest repellents. “On the doctor’s advice I seriously started thinking of using bio pesticides. Before that I never knew anything about them,” says Mr. Chellamuthu.
Based on guidelines from Dr. Natrajan, Mr. Chellamuthu developed a herbal pesticide which he advocates as “ideal for any crop”.
Giving details on its manufacture it he says: About one kg of garlic, 500 gm of ginger, green chillies and tobacco each, 200gm of pepper, 200ml neem oil and 30 gm khadi soap are required.
Soaking overnight
The garlic should be first soaked in 100 ml of kerosene overnight, and ground with green chillies and pepper the next day.
Tobacco is to be soaked in water for a day and then filtered and mixed with 200 ml of neem oil. The two solutions must be mixed together. Finally, khadi soap should be added and the mixture stirred well.
For an acre
The total quantity of the mixture will be about seven litres. This entire quantity is sufficient for an acre.
For an acre, 700 ml of the mixture must be diluted in 10 litres of water and sprayed. About 10 tank sprays (10 litres capacity) are sufficient for an acre.
Initially, many farmers did not want to use this spray as they were afraid that it might damage their crops.
“I sprayed it secretly on my uncle’s field on his turmeric crop. On seeing the result, my uncle was surprised and asked me what I had sprayed. It was then that I told him about my finding,” he says.
Encouraging feedback
Slowly other farmers also started enquiring and Mr .Chellamuthu taught this practice to several farmers and the feedback is quite encouraging.
“It costs only between Rs,100-200 to make this herbal spray. If one has to buy chemicals, then you have to spend Rs 600 toRs.700 for an acre,” he explains.
Mr. Chellamuthu also sells the herbal pest repellent in bottles priced at Rs.50 each. The National Innovation Foundation, honoured the farmer for his work.
For more information readers can contact Mr. K.M. Chellamuthu at Karukkamapalaym, Oonchalur Post, Kodumudi via, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, phone: 04204-266127, mobile: 9486602389.
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