Anju Pavan Farms

25/02/2022

09/01/2022

Panchagavya - A Living Elixir to the Soil

Panchagavya is a growth-enhancing mixture prepared using cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd and ghee, and considered to be the living elixir to microorganisms present in the soil. Pachagavya is extensively used in organic farming as it plays a major role in the growth and immunity of the plants to resist the pests and diseases. It also induces dense flowering, ensures regular fruiting, increases the yield by 20 to 25%, increases the shelf life of the produce, crops mature early and reduce water requirement by 25 to30%. Specialty of Panchagavya is it has both macronutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium as well micronutrients, various other vitamins, microorganisms, and amino acids. It is recommended to add coconut water, banana and jaggery to the Panchagavya mixture. to improve and to speed the fermentation process.

When taken orally by animals and human beings, the living microorganisms in the Panchagavya stimulate the immune system and produce lot of antibodies against the ingested microorganisms. It acts like vaccine. This response of the body increases the immunity of animals and humans and thus helps to prevent illness and cures disease. It slows down the aging process and restores youthfulness. The other factors present in Panchagavya improve appetite, digestion and assimilation and elimination of toxins in the body. Constipation is totally cured. Thus, the animals and humans become hale and healthy with shining hair and skin. The weight gains are impressive.

23/12/2021

ZBNF Practices at Anju Pavan Farm

4 Pillars of ZNBF

1. Jivamrita/jeevamrutha is a fermented microbial culture. It provides nutrients, but most importantly, acts as a catalytic agent that promotes the activity of microorganisms in the soil, as well as increases earthworm activity; During the 48 hour fermentation process, the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria present in the cow dung and urine multiply as they eat up organic ingredients (like pulse flour). A handful of undisturbed soil is also added to the preparation, as inoculate of native species of microbes and organisms. Jeevamrutha also helps to prevent fungal and bacterial plant diseases. Palekar suggests that Jeevamrutha is only needed for the first 3 years of the transition, after which the system becomes self-sustaining.

2. Bijamrita/beejamrutha is a treatment used for seeds, seedlings or any planting material. Bijamrita is effective in protecting young roots from fungus as well as from soil-borne and seed borne diseases that commonly affect plants after the monsoon period. It is composed of similar ingredients as jeevamrutha - local cow dung, a powerful natural fungicide, and cow urine, a strong anti-bacterial liquid, lime, soil.

3. Acchadana - Mulching. According to Palekar, there are three types of mulching:

a. Soil Mulch: This protects topsoil during cultivation and does not destroy it by tilling. It promotes aeration and water retention in the soil. Palekar suggests avoiding deep ploughing.

b. Straw Mulch: Straw material usually refers to the dried biomass waste of previous crops, but as Palekar suggests, it can be composed of the dead material of any living being (plants, animals, etc). Palekar's approach to soil fertility is very simple – provide dry organic material which will decompose and form humus through the activity of the soil biota which is activated by microbial cultures.

c. Live Mulch (symbiotic intercrops and mixed crops): According to Palekar, it is essential to develop multiple cropping patterns of monocotyledons (monocots; Monocotyledons seedlings have one seed leaf) and dicotyledons (dicots; Dicotyledons seedlings have two seed leaves) grown in the same field, to supply all essential elements to the soil and crops. For instance, legumes are of the dicot group and are nitrogen-fixing plants. Monocots such as rice and wheat supply other elements like potash, phosphate and sulphur.

4. Whapasa - moisture: Palekar challenges the idea that plant roots need a lot of water, thus countering the over reliance on irrigation in green revolution farming. According to him, what roots need is water v***r. Whapasa is the condition where there are both air molecules and water molecules present in the soil, and he encourages reducing irrigation, irrigating only at noon, in alternate furrows ZBNF farmers report a significant decline in need for irrigation in ZBNF.

Important principles of ZBNF and points to note

1. Intercropping – This is primarily how ZBNF gets its “Zero Budget” name. It doesn’t mean that the farmer is going to have no costs at all, but rather that any costs will be compensated for by income from intercrops, making farming a close to zero budget activity. Palekar explains in detail the crop and tree associations that work well for the south Asian context.

2. Contours and bunds – To preserve rain water, Palekar explains in detail how to make the contours and bunds, which promote maximum efficacy for different crops.

3. Local species of earthworms. Palekar opposes the use of vermicompost. He claims that the revival of local deep soil earthworms through increased organic matter is most recommended.

4. Cow dung- Accroding to Palekar, dung from the Bos indicus (hu**ed cow) is most beneficial and has the highest concentrations of micro-organisms as compared to European cow breeds such as Holstein. The entire ZBNF method is centred on the Indian cow, which historically has been part of Indian rural life.

Outcomes of the practices
A survey carried out by LVC suggests that ZBNF works not just in agronomic terms, but also brings about a variety of social and economic benefits. A majority of respondents reported that by adopting ZBNF, over time they saw improvements in yield, soil conservation, seed diversity, quality of produce, household food autonomy, income, and health. Most experienced reduced farm expenses and a reduced need for credit, one of the major problems plaguing Indian farmers.

07/12/2021

Natural and Organic Seed Treatment

Seed Treatment is a microbial coating the seeds to provide nourishment to stimulate growth and to protect the seed from seed and soil borne diseases, pathogenic organisms and storage insects.

Bijamrita/beejamrutha is a treatment used for seeds, seedlings or any planting material. Bijamrita is effective in protecting young roots from fungus as well as from soil-borne and seedborne diseases that commonly affect plants after the monsoon period. It is composed of similar ingredients as jeevamrutha - local cow dung, a powerful natural fungicide, and cow urine, a strong anti-bacterial liquid, lime, soil.

Vermicompost is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. Vermicompost is richer in many nutrients than compost produced by other composting methods, ideal for nursery. Compost is used as an additive to soil, or other matrices such as coir and peat, supplying humus and nutrients. This process is called vermicomposting, while the rearing of worms for this purpose is called vermiculture.

Cocopeat is natural fiber made out of coconut husks. The extraction of coconut fiber from husks gives us this byproduct called coco-peat, which is a 100% natural growing medium. Used for propagating vegetables and flowers and other plants from seed.

29/11/2021

Open Pollinated/Indigenous/Natural Seeds Vs Hybrid/GMO Seeds

Is your shopping cart full of naturally and organically grown food? but be cautious your food could be GMO or Hybrid

How natural seeds could be a game changer for a farmer and a consumer?

Seed is the lifeline of agriculture. Agriculture is the basis of our civilization. An idea of civilization was possible, only because of our ability to grow and store food, this is when we started to think and focus on other wider aspects of life beyond survival. This is when hunter gatherers turned farmers when they discovered this magical phenomenon of turning mud into food.

Seeds are the basis of food production. A contaminated seed means a contaminated food chain. Seeds which have been integral part of our lives for an over 15,000 years, were lost in last 50 years due to rapid commercialization of Agriculture with primary focus being yield. Local farming communities have preserved and reused their diverse indigenous seed varieties over generations. These seeds are vigorous, adapt to droughts and flood resistant and yield can be equivalent to hybrid variety given the soil health and nourishment.

Today, Farmers opt for hybrid seeds to get high yield, but this comes with irreversible loss of OP seeds which stood environmental conditions for many thousands of years. Hybrid varieties cannot adapt unless chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are used. These chemicals are harmful to humans and other life forms too. Every year, more and more insects die due to poisoning. 35% of global food production is directly dependent on pollinators. 80% of plants need pollinators to multiply. If they disappear, it will be a huge loss for humans and nature. The whole ecosystem which was in absolute harmony will suffer tremendously leading to the very destruction of the food chain and diversity.

Monoculture is the focus of mainstream agriculture today. This makes the soil poor and unhealthy. Every year, India is losing 5.5 million acres of top soil due to wind and water erosion. If we don’t take step now, it is believed that by 2050 all Indian arable land will become desert.

Thanks to the Seeds Savers, Tribals, Seed Farmers and Seed Banks in taking first step to conserve OP seeds by fighting against all the odds and for sowing the seeds across the planet.

Types of Seeds

1. Open-Pollinated Seeds
Seeds pollinated by natural means (wind, insects, birds). Either within the same flower or between 2 flowers of the same plant. Also known as Indigenous, Desi/Natti, Heritage and Heirloom seeds.
These seeds can be preserved and saved for 1000s of years and are similar in characteristics to the parent plant. As these seeds flourishes with the Natural Intelligence (poses the freedom and ability to grow as they want), we can easily integrate the food within our body unlike hybrid and GMO.
OP seeds are Vigorous, need less water, high-yielding in right conditions, cost-effective, characterized by polygenic resistance to fight pest and diseases while being genetically diverse. They insure the farmer against pest outbreak, crop losses, biotic and abiotic stresses.
OP seeds contain more micro-nutrients that combat malnutrition and micro nutrient deficiency. Traditional varieties are very tasty and nutritious.

2. Hybrid / Improved Seeds
Produced by pollinating two or more OP seeds in the laboratory to bring specific characteristics of the parent plants.
• Usually high-yielding compared to the parent, due to plant’s energy being used for growth and avoid reproduction.
• Hybrid varieties do not reproduce true-to-type and cannot be saved.
• Expensive as they need to be purchased for every sowing.
• Results in loss of biodiversity as they do not preserve the properties of the parent OP plants.
• Hybrids typically require corrosive chemical fertilizers and pesticides with intensive irrigation.

3. Genetically Modified
A gene of a plant, animal or microorganism is added to the DNA of an existing open-pollinated seed to achieve specific features.
• Cannot be saved
• Against Nature
• Not proven safe as food
• Expensive
• Mutates biodiversity
• Resistant to disease and pesticides

18/11/2021

Natural Farming Vs Conventional Farming

Transforming mud into food is agriculture. Human beings discovered this phenomenal process by observing plant life and harnessing it. India is the one and the only country on the planet except few parts of South America with over 12,000 years of agricultural history.

Today’s Agriculture Sector is predominately dominated by the model pushed by the commercial enterprises during the Green Revolution. While there are many aspects to the Green Revolution, one major factor was the move away from self-sufficiency model, towards increased inputs into a piece of farmland through irrigation, pesticides, fertilizers, machinery, and hybrid seeds that could not consistently breed well from generation to generation.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. – said by Masanobu Fukuoka (Japanese Natural Farmer)

Industrial revolution gave birth to commercial and conventional farming. Conventional farming is the method of farming using various commercial inputs such as synthetic fertilizers and manures, pesticides, weedicide, hybrid and GMO seeds, heavy and gigantic machinery (which disturbs the ether and various other microorganisms present in the soil) and usage of various other chemicals to get the highest possible yield.

These chemicals seep into the soil and enter the food chain at multiple points. Conventionally grown food that lands on our tables may also be laden with pesticides that are harmful to our health. Conventional farming’s goal is to ensure food security, even if that can be achieved through genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

On the other hand, natural farming relies on sustainable way of growing crops to get higher yield by using natural fertilizers made out of plant and animal waste, natural pesticides and natural ways of pest controlling techniques such as fostering natural insect predators, usage of indigenous and open pollinated seeds, traditional ways of tilling, mulching and irrigating the land and following traditional farming techniques. There are numerous benefits of following natural farming some of these are improves the soil fertility, increase microbial activity in the soil, health of farm livestock improves, water retention capacity of the soil increases, less dependency on external inputs and much more.

02/11/2021

Do you know what is Agroforestry ? Why Agroforestry is win on win model to economy and ecology ?

Agroforestry is the practice of growing fruit or timber or fodder based trees along with conventional crops fully or partially. Agroforestry is an alternative to crop-based agriculture.

Benefits of Agroforestry
1. Farmers income increase 3 to 8 times compared to the conventional crop farming in less than 4 to 5 years from the time of cultivation.
2. Protects the 'Top Soil' from the harsh sunlight which in turn increases the microorganisms, earthworms, insects and organic content of the soil.
3. Tree-based agriculture in riparian regions is the best solution to reduce water stress and revive dying rivers as tree roots acts as natural purifiers, filtering sediment and improving the quality of water that flows into rivers and streams.
4. If larger areas of river banks and basins are cultivated with trees, this will retain more water, replenish aquifers and recharge groundwater levels, thus increasing water flow levels in rivers.
5. Fodder trees are extremely lucrative as it set off a domino effect on wealth creation for many allied industries also enriches soil quality at the same time.
6. Livestock gradually increases with organised fodder tree cultivation and livestock in turn returns the best nutrients to the soil in the form of animal waste, which greatly enhances soil microbial activity, an indicator of soil health.
8. Agroforestry comes up with very low investment, minimal maintance cost, less labour intenstive compared to conventional farming and genrates maximum income to the farmers. Agorforesty model output helps various allied industires to soruce the primary raw materials and boosts the economy by creating more numbe of jobs and also earn foreign exchange to the nation.

19/10/2021

Do you know why India is the largest producer of Sapota ? although Sapota is native to Central America

The word Sapota derives from the Spanish word 'Zapota' and Aztec's word Tzapota.

Sapota was first introduced by the European Colonist in thier colonies as a part of exotic trade in exchange with the native produce. Huge plantations were setup by the colonists across Asia and Europe, but the crop survived and flourished only in India and in few Asian countries as Sapota demanded warm tropical clilmate with the latitude and longitude spread that of central hemisphere.

Today, there are over 41 varieties of sapotas in India alone and some of the most well-known varities are Kalipatti, Baramasi, Cricket Ball, Dwarpudi, Oval, DHS, PKM and CO types.

09/10/2021

Why Bananas are claimed to be ‘The Ultimate Super Fruit’?

First farmed over 7000 years ago, it is the world’s largest fruit crop and the fourth largest produce cash crop after wheat, rice and corn. Bananas are one of the most interesting fruit on the planet. Botanically, banana is a berry and a banana tree is not a tree at all, instead it is world’s largest herb.
Here is the fact and reason to go over bananas.

“An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away”. Do you know the word “apple” meant “fruit” in old English saying?

Bananas improves overall Health and Wellbeing by keeping Colon clean and serves as an excellent source of Prebiotics. There are around 40 trillion bacteria in our body, most of which live in our intestines. Collectively, they are known as gut microbiota and play a huge role in determining our health. As bananas are an excellent source of prebiotics which create the right conditions for gut bacteria to flourish. The high amount of resistant starch, especially in green bananas, is not absorbed in the small intestine but passes into the large intestine where it acts as food and fuel for microbiota to grow.

07/09/2021

Do you find hard and challenging to find “Naturally Ripened Bananas” in the market?

Here are the naturally ripened Bananas for you.
Usually, commercial Bananas are ripened with ethylene gas in air-tight gas chambers to stimulate ripening. The vivid yellow color indicates that the bananas are due to artificial ripening process which affects both flavor and texture of the fruit. Bananas are refrigerated between 13.5 and 15 °C during storage and transport. At lower temperatures, ripening permanently stalls, and the bananas turn gray as cell walls break down.
So, what are you waiting for? Add some banana to your diet and reap rich rewards in terms of health and wellbeing!

25/08/2021

Custard Apple is known for it's unique trait, suitable to grow in drought-resistant, extreme climatic conditions and rocky terrian. This fruit comes with loads of health benefits such as, acts as a instant energy supplement, treats skin infections, improves congivitive ability, improves heart function and eye helath.

08/08/2021

Have you heard of Coconut Sprout and haven't tried ?

Coconut Sprouts are the edible sponge-like substance of germinating coconut which is crunchy, juicy and sweet by taste. It takes around 24 weeks to germinate fully to its maximum size. Coconut Sprouts are also known as coconut pearl, coconut embryo and coconut apple. Coconuts Sprouts are considered to be highly nutritious, rich in dietary fibre and minerals with numerous health benefits associated with it.

29/07/2021

Morning harvest of Bamboo Shoots

Bamboo Shoots are the edible shoots of bamboo which sprouts up usually during monsoon. Shoots are considered to be rich in fiber, copper, vitamins B6 and various other essential nutrients and most important of all it promotes the gut health. Folk medicine recommends to consume Bamboo Shoots at least twice a year to build stronger immune.

Bamboo Shoots are used to prepare stir-fry, curries, pickle and much more.

25/07/2021

Niu Vai form of Coconuts and Copra

Do you know there are two distinct forms of the coconut? known as Niu Kafa and Niu Vai. Niu Kafa variety of coconuts are triangular in shape and oblong with a large fibrous husk. Niu Vai variety of coconuts are round in shape and contains abundant sweet coconut water when unripe.

Coconut Trees are one of the most useful trees on the planet and is often referred to as the "tree of life" as each part of the tree is used in various industries to manufacture diverse range of products from food to furniture.

14/07/2021

Mango Season ends with last batch of Rumani harvest for this year!

A mango which is almost round in shape, juicy and creamy appearance by its texture. These mangoes are excellent source of carotenoids which is a precursor of vitamin A & E. Rumani is widely used to prepare ice- creams, milk shake, jams, flavored white grass pudding and flavored yogurts. Rumani is also known as Apple Mango or Ice Cream Mango. Order your Rumani through our partners: Farmizen, MapleTree and Sudh Desi.

14/07/2021

Mango Season ends with last batch of Rumani harvest for this year!

A mango which is almost round in shape, juicy and creamy appearance by its texture. These mangoes are excellent source of carotenoids which is a precursor of vitamin A & E. Rumani is widely used to prepare ice- creams, milk shake, jams, flavored white grass pudding and flavored yogurts. Rumani is also known as Apple Mango or Ice Cream Mango. Order your Rumani through our partners: Farmizen, MapleTree and Sudh Desi.

24/06/2021

Don't miss out to try our finest range of Country Breed Chicken Eggs!

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19/06/2021

Are you craving for Seasonal Raw Mango Salad ? Here are the finest Totapuri @ Anju Pavan Farm

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18/06/2021

Hurry up to grab to your share of Pickle Mango for this year @ Anju Pavan Farm (Avakaya Variety)

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17/06/2021

Mallika Mango @ Anju Pavan Farm

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17/06/2021

Mallika Mango @ Anju Pavan Farm

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14/06/2021

Hallikar A2 Ghee (Ghritam)

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14/06/2021

Kashmiri Raw White Honey

Kashmiri Raw White Honey is transparent or white by color, rich in nectar and free from all additives, preservatives, chemicals and synthetic sweeteners.

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14/06/2021

Himalayan Raw Forest Honey

Himalayan Raw Forest Honey is extracted out of the beehives in North Eastern part of Himalayan Region by the local Honey shepherds. This honey is thick, dark in color, rich in sweet and nutritious and free from all additives, preservatives, chemicals, synthetic sweeteners, and stored in Glass Jars.

WhatsApp 8095546673 to place your order.

15/05/2021

To all Mango Lovers, our first harvest of the season is ready for you. we share a small video of our Orchid....Be sure to taste our mangoes. we always welcome your comments.

10/05/2021

Water Apple (Chambakka, Pani Seb) : A rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and flavonoids can improve your immune function. A must eat fruit at this time to strengthen your immunity 💪 Do include it in your diet for next few months 🍽…. Good news is that its ready for harvest at Anju Pavan farms

02/05/2021

Mango: The King of all fruits is getting ready for harvest. Mother nature at her best. This is what makes us feel satisfied.....

02/05/2021