C.V.VARGHESE: GROWING VEGETABLES USING VERTICAL WIRE MESH TOWERS AND DRY LEAVES
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C.V.Varghese, Wayanad 9744367439 |
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Two
constraints
inhibit agriculture in cities: lack of space and absence of soil. For both these, the method adopted by C.V.Varghese, a vegetable farmer
from Wayanad, could be a solution. He uses
a vertical tower of wire mesh and dry
leaves to overcome these challenges.
First, he
procured 5 feet tall wire-mesh with 2-inch gaps. Before filing it, he
placed a perforated
PVC pipe with holes at 3.5 inches intervals to let water into it. Next, a layer of dry hay was spread at the
bottom to prevent leaking of the potting mix.
This was
followed by a 50 cm layer of dry leaves, followed by a layer of wet cow
dung. The next layer was that of organic
dry mix. In this mix, he planted potatoes. And then added a layer of dry leaves.
The process
was repeated with more layers of dry leaves, cow dung, organic mix and
potato
sprouts. Potatoes, carrots, capsicum and
tomatoes were the ones he planted in November.
As he watered them regularly, within a month, the leaves
started peeping
through the mesh.
By January
he was able to harvest the vegetables.
Though he didn’t count how many saplings were planted, he
could get 120
potatoes from 10 towers. The other
vegetables were also more than sufficient for the family.
“After taking what we needed, we shared the
rest with the neighbours,” says his son Akhil Varghese.
Though his
farm in Wayanad isn’t lacking in either space or soil, his innovation
could be
more beneficial to those in cities where these things are at a premium.
Roshni Muthukumar (text), The betterindia.com, March 8, 2021
