NT NETWORK
05th June 2009
Commemorated yearly on the fifth day of June, World Environment Day is one important day when various media, NGOs, private companies and many conscientious individuals stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.
On such an occasion, it is motivating to embark on an inspiring story that is the apt archetype of the ‘Power of One’. We are talking about what started off as a one man initiative by the vivacious Mr. Darryl Pereira, managing director of Reira Eco Ventures, Saligao, who has been successful in different activities , all sharing a synergy with each other , namely aquaculture , agriculture , renewable energy , rain water harvesting , waste management and livestock farming.
So, how did it all began? “It all started off with wanting to put to use the lands that were lying fallow , due to infertility leading to low yield , ‘says Mr Pereira , as he continues , ‘Then , I decided that we needed to increase the yield by adding fertilisers to the soil. But that comes at a cost. So I thought, why not make our own and the raw material needed was garbage.”
Besides, vermi-compost was a spin off from the need for garbage and waste management for the company’s residential projects nearby. Mr Pereira informs, “It started as a small treatment facility using effective micro –organisms (EM) and earthworms to generate vermi-compost. As we gained experience, an experiment was also tried to treat the garbage dumped at EDC Plaza in Panjim with the help of EM. A large scale spraying was carried out with the help of a tender from the Fire Services and staff and machinery of the CCP. It was a success and gave us the impetus to take up waste management in earnest.”
He continues, “Our domestic garbage, after treated by EM, was turned into valuable manure by using backyard VC pits. At present, from 40 houses, we have been able to generate 12,000 Kg (valued at Rs.10/- per Kg in the market) of VC annually, thereby recovering the total cost of plant and additionally subsidising the manure requirements for our agriculture”.
It is impressive to note that Mr. Pereira and his neighbours initially started off with 23 small holdings constituting a singular plot of 1.5 hectares in Saligao, but now, according to the gentleman, “ There are many others who come to us for advice and know – how, from Parra, Arpora, Chorao and other places and it is slowly spreading”.
Just as the creator meant for nature to be a continuous cycle or process, one thing led to another. Mr. Pereira enlightens, “Yes, during the summer, there was dearth of water for our crops. That’s when we thought up the idea of rain water harvesting”.
Taking the average rainfall that Goa receives, their three meters deep tank was filled up from the last Monsoons. Using agricultural HDPE pipes, the harvested water was then piped to wherever required in the filed for irrigation. This project yielded 2.8 million litres of rain water from the last monsoon.
Mr. Pereira informs, “An average 20,000 litres daily, is consumed for agriculture/ horticulture. The water helps the seeds to germinate and take root. Residual moisture also improves the capillarity of the soil and facilitates the roots to access existing ground water in the soil. The difference can be visually seen in the pilot project in Saligao from the lush growth of the crops growing there”.
He adds, “A couple of spices of fish were introduced in the tank to keep the mosquito under control.”
This diligent persona also believes in disseminating information and knowledge gained through his work to farmers and school and college kids, through regular interactive sessions.
He says, “Remember, children always learn better from what they see and experience, rather than what they are told.”
Believing in looking at agriculture through a different pair of glasses and giving it a positive spin, he says, “People always are quick to lament that agriculture doesn’t pay. But they should remember, any occupation is profitable if the right amount of time is invested in it.
They cannot expect to put in just two hours and expect profit, while they work for eight to ten hours at other occupations and make the wrong comparisons.”
Passionate about giving back to nature what nature endows to us, the gentleman signs off with, “Reduce, reuse and recycle!” – C Viegas
Here a 1000 Sq. meters pond yielded 2.8 million litres (560 trucks tankers) of water. The capital cost was about Rs. 2,00,000. The life span of the plastic, being UV resistant, is estimated to be five years. Thereby, the average costing is Rs. 40,000 per year. At this rate, the water has cost rupees 0.0014 per litre, in other words it costs Rs. 14 per 100 litres of water. Considering that a tanker of water is sold at Rs. 100/ per thousand litres, the saving is Rs. 2800 x 86 = Rs. 2,40,800. Very profitable!
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