Community

Organic Farming

Besides the Ettimadai Campus which consists of around 500 acres, the University has a 40 acre farm in Walayar bordering Kerala state. Both Ettimadai Campus and Walayar Farm are “zero-chemical” zones where no inorganic fertilizers or pesticides are applied to crops and other types of plants. In addition, bio-control methods for implementing insect pest and disease management have been adopted.

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The main crops of the Ettimadai Cmpus are coconut and medicinal trees as well as plants and fruits like mango and chickoo. At the Walayar Farm, the main crops grown are banana, tomato, chilly, drumstick, leafy vegetables, beetroot, brinjal, ladies finger, coconut and other trees.

Insect, Pest and Disease Management

The following bio control methods are adopted to control pest

The pheromone solution is placed in vials suspended inside a bucket trap. The bucket’s lid is kept slightly raised on one side for weevil entry. The bucket contains a mixture of mashed banana fruit mixed with water. The trapped weevils are removed daily and disposed of. An 800 mg pheromone solution is required every three months to meet the needs of a three acre plantation area.

1. Mites: Affected trees are sprayed with 2 liters of a solution containing garlic paste, mixed in neem oil and soap solution. This is prepared by mixing 2 liters of neem oil, 2 kg of garlic paste and 100 g of soap powder in 100 liters of water. The solution is then diluted and applied by spraying every three months.
2. Red Palm Weevil Control: Pheromone, a synthetic chemical, is used for collecting Red Palm Weevils. This compound sends a smelling signal which attracts the weevils, trapping them in a container.The pheromone solution is placed in vials suspended inside a bucket trap. The bucket’s lid is kept slightly raised on one side for weevil entry. The bucket contains a mixture of mashed banana fruit mixed with water. The trapped weevils are removed daily and disposed of. An 800 mg pheromone solution is required every three months to meet the needs of a three acre plantation area.
3. Rhinoceros Beetle: Adopted biological control has been found to be very effective. Rhinoceros Beetle larva is inoculated with Baculovirus (baculovirus oryctes) which infects the epithelium of the larva. The virus-infected larval extract is mixed with the leaf coated with proliferated virus and fed to beetles in the larval stage. The adult beetles are infected and their longevity is reduced. Diseased beetles cross infect during group breeding, thus transmitting viral infestation to the new generation.