Mangrove propagation

Mangrove isle , arial view of my farm at kayamkulam after eight years . Embankment protection of fish ponds with bio fencing. true application of mangroves with benefit to farmer and ecology.

Mangrove propagation and establishment

Mangrove Isle

A model coastal eco system regeneration project.

Location – Puthuppally, Devikulangara Panchayat,Kayamkulam, Alappusha District.

Promoter – Anilkumar.M.R, Former Managing Director, Kerala State Bamboo Corporation

                      ( Retired Executive Engineer , Agriculture Department, GOK )

                     Eco villa, Kunnath , Govinda muttam, Puthuppally North, Kayamkulam.

                      Mobile : 9847968183 

                       E mail : bambooanil@gmail.com

It is God the almighty control everything. From childhood I worship Lord Ayyappa. My family stayed very close to pandalam palace and Temple. Evenings (Mid 1960,s)  we little ones with our father ( a Sanskrit scholar & Malayalam teacher at Govt.H.S, Adoor) took bath in the knee level prestine sand bedded lush ayurvedic fresh flowing river Achencoil under the old pandalam bridge which was later collapsed during flood. We used to go to Ayyappa temple for Deeparadhana . In those days local and palace members are the usual devotees. From the age of 18 I was regular visitor to Sabarimala, during 30,s and 40,s I went to Sabarimala on all possible months alone in the evening or morning as I wish to see Ayyappa. While travelling I loved to watch nature. It was my hobby.

While abroad in Turekmenistan on a world bank project assignment I was a frequent visitor to the underground lake ( Cavern ) about 180 Km from Ashgabat the capital city of Turkmenistan. I even took many of the delegation members to this place , accompanied by late Dr. Narasimha Rao , Most Respected Former Prime Minister during his visit to Turkmenistan in 1996.

Simillarly during my stay in Tajikistan( land locked country) in connection with an ADB project I spent my week ends with my local friends in the snow melt river sides and mountains.

My close and intimate friend pushed me to the position of Managing Director, Kerala State Bamboo Corporation in July 2006 .Challenging Job ,but the company was in the stage of closure due to accumulated loss and resultant financial crisis. Unprecedented political turnout led to my premature relief from the post without completing my initiatives but with surplus funds in the companies bank account  and many successful new initiatives like new bamboo products, community bamboo mat weaving centers , and laid the foundation stone for first bamboo flooring factory . Key achievement was improvement of daily wages of bamboo workers from 30-40 rupees to 120-150 per day in the community mat weaving centers. Mechanization of bamboo slivering was inducted to the industry for the first time was during my tenure as kSBC MD.

I returned to my parent department in 2009 August and retired as Executive Engineer in 2011 March. Since 2010 February I started working on my coastal system development project in my 3 acre saline water intruded, degraded marshy land at Devikulangara Panchayat. I have done many trials including planting medicinal plants in garden land and so on. Then I met the experts in forest department and took advice on planting mangroves. Sri. Trivedi  Babu IFS advised me to go ahead with mangroves. First I have planted 200 mangrove seedlings procured through social forestry , Alappusha. ACF Sri. Raju Francis and Forester Sri. Vijayan supported me. The result was highly encouraging  .

Saline water intruded marshy land 2009 august.

Along with mangroves the garden land was cleaned, planted different medicinal plants and trees collected from KAU and Forest department about 200 numbers. The motivation came from the observation that lot of wild grown local varieties of medicinal plants could be seen in my garden land.

                  

Consequent to the opening of Kayamkulam poshi to ashi for the construction of fishing harbor the paddy field were flooded with saline water and we have direct access to brackish water from kayamkulam kayal.The intertidal difference is about one foot in my field which is the most ideal location to prepare a mangrove nursery. I thought of sustainable commercially viable infrastructure development. So we started developing ponds and fish cultivation in it.

Then the ACF came out with idea of mangrove nursery development, propagating and establishment of mangroves in our marshy land under kuttanad package.The mission was successful we came out with 10000 numbers mangrove seedlings and planted them around my ponds and retained some as show case or model mangrove island. It was interesting that once seedlings are ready for distribution there was none to consume the seedlings. Now you can see how they are maintained in my farm with lot of personnel effort and financial input.

 Now the plants are more than two years old. The whole system has developed as a live mangrove museum where you can see seedlings, model mangrove island, embankment protection with mangroves and a model coastal eco system with mangroves and integrated farming

Project is in the infant stage , I request you to visit my model coastal ecosystem actively involved in mangrove propagation and establishment for future generation.

 Submitted for favourable response.

Regards

Anilkumar.M.R,                                                                                Kayamkulam, 30^th July 29, 2012

Manngrove propagation

I have started mangrove nursery in my own land with support of Kerala Forest department, Social Forestry Division, Alappusha.The financial support came through Kuttanad Package. The forest department is the implementing agency and myself the support services provider and logistcs management. I have also planted 50 numbers in my own land during july 27th 2009 and the response seems to be good. The 10000 numbers saplings coming up in the nursery supported by Kerala Forest Department are intended for supplying to individuals, PRIs etc in and around Kayamkulam Kayal , Alappuzha District , Kerala State . I want to share my experience with those who are interested in environmental initiatives with respect to Mangrove propagation and also I want know more about the plant and schemes that will support an Individual to create innovations in the mangrove sector.This is an expensive area because from my experience it is very diificult to develop and restore mangroves, a lot of financial input is required. I also invite those who are interested to come and see my initiatives at kayamkulkam.
Anilkumar. M.R
KRA 89, Kedaram Nagar, West Pattom , Trivandrum, Kerala
bambooanil@gmail.com
9847088666