Mid December update

Hello Friends,

Here are some visual updates for you. We have commenced fertigation of all the crops now that the rains have subsided and weeding has been completed, videos of which will come up here in the next update.

Weeding mid December

Soil treatment and Gap filling

Await more updates next week.

Rajesh

October to December 2010

Hello Friends,

For those who wish to get a feel of the field level operations, here are some videos covering the various farming activities we have completed starting preparation of the field and planting. We now wait for the rains to subside to commence our fertigation schedule which should start from next week the rain gods permitting. Plant growth would be rapid after commencement of fertilizer application through the process of fertigation. Check this site out to keep abreast of progress.

FIELD PREPARATION

                      

COMMISSIONING SYSTEMS

PLANTING THE SEEDLINGS

 

Fifteen days on...WEEDING

                        

By the 20th of November

                        

Hope you have now got a feel for what we do.

Rajesh

Inspiration And Targets

Hello Friends,

We are inspired by what farmers of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri have achieved under the guidance of The Tamilnadu Agricultural University and we would like to replicate their success at our member fields. This report hosted on  the TNAU website is very informative. Do spend a few minutes viewing this video report.

Precision Farming Technology

From the experience of farmers across Tamilnadu, the university officials tell us what yields we can expect and what costs we would incur and what a farmer can earn if we take prices at the bottom end of the price range. Hosted again on the TNAU website are the Economics of Precision Farming. Those interested to know more details can follow the link below and peruse this report. However our target is to take our member produce direct to consumers and take our realization closer to the top end of the price range recorded in the document.

Precision Farming Economics

Hope you have enjoyed the information and you leave this session inspired and wiser to the possibilities in Agriculture today.

Rajesh

The Farming Landscape

Hello Friends,

Member farms are located in a fertile and quiet corner of The Cumbum Valley and the local villagers had been growing vegetables there for many years. A salubrious climate and fertile soils make this stretch ideal for vegetable farming using bore wells as a water source. The enclave is surrounded by mountains on three sides with dams nestled in each of the mountain ranges. The Mullaperiyar river flows parallel to these fields about two kilometers to the west of the member farm lands. Thekkady the famous hill station of Kerala and Kumily the tourist town are just under twenty kilometers from the farm lands.

A birds eye view of the location can be had by viewing the location on Google Maps

View Grendale Farms Project Site in a larger map


Beyond the mountains to the west lies Meghamalai the popular tourist get away from Madurai. Only a forty five minute trek if you were to go up the mountains bordering the farm land or about two hours drive if you were to drive up the regular road via Chinnamannur. All these and more can be explored on the map given above so that you get a feel for where the farm lands are located.

Rajesh

The Vision of Cumbumfresh

Hello Friends,

The Cumbum Valley Fruits And Vegetables Producer Company Ltd was incorporated by members owning two acres or more farm plots at Keezhagudalur Village in The Cumbum Valley of Theni District in Tamilnadu. The certificate of incorporation was obtained on the 17th of June 2010 and is reproduced below for your viewing convenience.

The Company was formed to take up vegetable farming following the precision farming methodology being promoted by The Tamilnadu Agricultural University. The Company would on behalf of its members source the best inputs, the best technology employing the best consultants and professional agriculturalist practitioners to maximize yield of vegetables in the fields of its members. Once the produce starts becoming available The Company will also create the supply chain and distribution systems to take the produce directly to the consumers under its own brand and realize the best possible pricing for the produce of its members.

The Company had also contracted out to develop a brand name and logo for this operation and this has resulted in The Directors choosing "Cumbumfresh" as the brand under which the produce would be marketed and the following emblem also has been selected for subsequent registration of the brand.

Further plans are on the drawing board to develop display stands to carry Cumbumfresh prepacked vegetables at retail outlets and this will be covered in later postings as we make progress on this front.

Rajesh