goanet-digest Saturday, April 13 2002 Volume 01 : Number 3825
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In this issue:
[Goanet] MONEYMATTERS: Latest currency rates...
[Goanet] Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists (PAML)
[Goanet] LINK: Tiatr news from Goa...
[Goanet] GOODBYE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS (FEATURE)
See end of digest for information on subscribing/unsusbcribing.
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Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 02:29:40 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] MONEYMATTERS: Latest currency rates...
Currency rates supplied by InfoLedge.com
Your base currency is : INR
This shows the value of the Indian Rupee against world currencies...
AED 13.314729
AUD 26.134832
BHD 129.583996
BRL 21.318657
BSD 48.905000
CAD 30.845159
CHF 29.345935
DEM 21.989159
DKK 5.781963
ESP 0.258478
EUR 43.007057
FRF 6.556384
GBP 70.286266
IEP 54.607698
INR 1.000000
IQD 157.301383
IRR 0.028086
ITL 0.022211
JPY 0.370226
KES 0.624186
KWD 159.455494
NLG 19.515752
NOK 5.642733
NZD 21.625791
OMR 127.025974
PKR 0.814405
PTE 0.214518
QAR 13.432487
RUB 1.566464
SAR 13.039595
SEK 4.739821
SGD 26.657037
TZS 0.049852
USD 48.905000
YER 0.280757
- -------- End of Currency rates --------
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Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 22:40:19 -0600 (MDT)
From: Stephanie da Silva <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists (PAML)
Weekly Pictures of Beauty
Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Purpose: Pictures of Beauty.. Maybe a panda bear, perhaps a
breathtaking sunset. We find the most beautiful pictures and
send them straight to your inbox each week. Beautiful pictures
to share with your friends and family. Join our ezine and
receive seven of the prettiest pictures each Friday
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WeeklyPicturesofBeauty/
To subscribe, send email to
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Listserver: Yahoo Groups
Entry added: Apr 02
Last change: Apr 02
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# WeeklyPicturesofBeauty
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To subscribe to PAML, email the command: subscribe paml-updates
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To submit a list:
http://paml.net/
Archives available:
http://www.escribe.com/internet/paml-updates/index.html
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Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 11:39:09 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] LINK: Tiatr news from Goa...
[] THE 'GOAN SHAKESPEARE', Rosario Rodrigues, is suffering from
cancer and battling for his life in a hospital in Mumbai. To
raise funds for his surgery, a number of stalwarts of the
Konkani stage will present a grand musical show on April 21
(Kala Academy, Panjim) and April 22 (GVM, Margao). Tickets
at Rs 50 only.
Cast includes: M Boyer, Prince Jacob, Roseferns, John
D'Silva, Pascoal Rodrigues, Menino de Bandar, Mario Menezes,
C D'Silva, comedy supremo Humbert, comedian Benevangelisto,
comedian Agostino, comedian Domnic, comedian Jesus,
comedian Sally, comedian Ambe, comedian Selvy, comedian
Peter, comedian Vitorino, Eeley, Annie, Antonette de
Calangute, Rosy Alvares, Irene, Jessie, Fatima, Aplon,
Rosban, Anthony San, Jr Nelson, Jr Rod, Trio Kings,
Menino Mario, Antush, Bonny, Jaju, Osvy, Lucian Dias,
Rosary Ferns, Peter de Benaulim, Aniceto-Soccoro-Andrew,
Sylvester Vaz, Anil Kumar, William de Curtorim, Lawry,
Mario de Vasco, etc...
* Tumkam Zai Toxem (That's The Way You Want/Need It), on
April 20, 3.30 at Margao. April 14 at Sancoale.
Presented by Inacio D'Souza. Contact 782488/551040
* C'DSilva presents today at Varca, 7 pm 'Bandpass',
a must for all husbands and wives. Apr 21 Margao
(in aid of Cana Benaulim Sports Club), May 5 Mapusa,
May 12 Taleigao. Contact 788836
* Pascoal Rodrigues presents 'Bara Horam' (The Twelfth
Hour). Showing at Agassim, Batim (Maina), Margao,
Ugem, Tivem, Molkorne, Cortalim, Cudawaddo,
Sanvordem Bansai, Goa Velha, Nassai, Sucaldem,
Sancoal, Caranzalem, Marcel, Navelim Gantamorod,
and Calangute. Contact 863242
* Tin Fulam (Three Flours). By the king of the double
century Menino de Bandar. "Heart touching story, good
message, miracle scenery."
* Tragedy king maRIO MENEZES's season's best. Uprant
Roddon Kiteak Upkarata (Tears Shed Too Late). "Cash
prizes awarded to baby Eunizya everywhere for
superb acting. Margao Apr 16, Panjim May 5, Mapusa
May 12. Ph 863939.
* John D'Silva's "Magnnem". Apr 28 Panjim. Apr 29 Mrg.
* Prince Jacob presents 'Rostad'. See it on the Japanese
fan stage. Mapusa Apr 14, Panjim Apr 14 (afternooon).
Margaoand Agassiam Apr 19.
* Mario de Vasco's 'Hanv Tuka Bhas Ditam". Second "houseful
show at Margao", April 30.
* "The King of Centuries" Roseferns' Zo Hat Painnem Dholoita
(The Hand That Rocks The Cradle). Vasco Apr 15,
Margao Apr 17.
* Peleacho Mog a "Konkani tiatro with a message of love...
based on the life of Mother Teresa. Releasing in May
2002. Contractors contact 742844
* "No one can compete with th escript" of Morgad Puth.
After 11 shows, going to Batim, Colvale, Vengurla,
Asnora, Veroda, Margao, Bodiem, Calvim, Aldona
and Poinguinim.
* "Konkani Heritage Kuwait award-winner jet-speed"
William de Curtorim presents "Bailanchi Dadaghiri,
Ghou Ratnagiri". "A tiatr that brings back the magic
of yesteryears. Guaranteed to bring nostalgia. At Usgao,
Diwar (Apr 14), Vasco (Elma, Apr 19). From Apr 22-30
William will be in Kuwait. He plays four different
characters/roles. "Also hit political songs not to
be missed".
*********************************************************
Excerpted from adverts in the local press...
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Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:51:22 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] GOODBYE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS (FEATURE)
This is an article written two-and-half years ago. It features the work of
Jagdish Nazareth, a Goan-based in Gujarat for a generation, who can be
contacted via <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
G o o d b y e , c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
>From his simple bag, soft-spoken Jagdish Nazareth (45) pulls out
two small pouches. "Don't look at the label, but tell me how each
tastes and smells," he asks. One of the samples of cumin seed
(jeera) has a strong and healthy taste. The other is clearly
comparatively tasteless.
That, says Nazareth, is the power of probiotic fertilizers.
After graduating from IIM-Ahmedabad, he spent some years with the
British multinational Ion Exchange, and then with Indian Petro
Chemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL) at Baroda, studying the
market for synthetic fibres. From there, it has been a long haul
before he could opt for his current work: probiotic fertilizers.
"The whole idea of the probiotic fertilizer experiment is to show
people that you can get 85% more yield compared to urea and DAP,
and you get a better product, at a much lower cost," he says.
Above all, it is an eco-friendly way of doing things too. Extracts
from a recent interview:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What made you venture into this field? It's quite different
from the line you started working in?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
At the time Bombay High was discovered, in 1975-77, I was one of
the people in IPCL doing technical demand studies on the future
for synthetic fibres in India. We did studies on the household
economy, its capacity to purchase, how much textiles they would
buy, and how much of its would be synthetic.
Then I realised government was transferring a lot of resources
out of the household sector into the public sector. People at
very low poverty levels weren't able to buy things. It made me
feel that I must get a first-hand experience of what people below
poverty line were existing at. I decided to leave IPCL, got a job
as executive secretary of Ahmedabad Study Action Group, an NGO.
We started a project called Antoday Vikas Yojana, to raise the
incomes of 3000 families below the poverty line in sixty
villages.
We did a lot of things from 1981-87. Then we realised that
considerable industralisation taking place in Gujarat was
bypassing people below poverty line. They did not have the skills
to make use of these opportunities. They had skills in
agriculture, rather than industry. So we decided to concentrate
on natural resources.
In 1986, we registered Institute for Studies and Transformation...
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: So far, what has been your main focus?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Initially our focus was natural resources regeneration. First,
with wasteland development, and trying to help village
communities to plant 700,000 saplings over 500 hectares.
In the Gulf of Cambay, there are many areas which are wastelands.
But a lot of these plants died. We realised the need for testing
the soils.
Then we found the technologies that people had, were not useful.
They would not give you good results. So in 1988, we invented a
theory of indirect nutrition, by which you can feed the
microorganisms in the soil, so that they can feed the plants.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What exactly does "pro-biotic fertilizers" mean?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
This theory of indirect nutrition means converting agricultural
residues and animal manures into pro-biotic fertilizers. You test
the soil for 18 elements, and whatever the deficiencies are, you
compensate them in a composting process. But at very low quantity
levels.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Is it just a changed form of composting, or something more?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
It's a changed form of composting, and it's also a changed form
of application. You can apply them as seed treatments, as soil-
fertilizers, as broadcast fertilizers. Results were so good, that
we realised we had an alternative to chemical fertilizers.
>From 1990 to 1992, we field-tested it with 60 farmers in about 25
villages, on 15 crops. Two funding agencies evaluating results
found every farmer had received some benefit, which is unusual.
In these kinds of projects, you're lucky if 50-60 per cent get
benefit from something like this.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Could it be applied on a larger scale?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
We've been applying this technology to larger areas from 1992.
That was the focus of a project, which the Department of Science
and Technology sponsored. To develop a system where we could do
this for 67 villages in about 70,000 hectares.
Then, we were asked to test it, prove that it would work. We
tried to develop a computerised farmer-information system,
supported by the Department of Electronics.
Infact, we achieved all the parameters of success which had been
stipulated by the expert committee. Now, 143 farmers have tried
it in about 25 crops -- rice, wheat, bajra, jowar, chillies,
cabbages, guavas, lemons, chikoos, mangoes, roses, marigolds,
etc. Results continue to be remarkable.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Why do you say it's an alternative to chemical fertilizers?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
By applying nitrogenous fertilizers, you do two things. Firstly,
you create a lower micronutrient density inside the crop.
Incidentally, even the Prince of Wales has said that long-term
studies in South Asia have indicated that children who eat foods
that are chemically fertilized have IQs that are ten points lower
than those of others.
So, the higher vegetative growth and the lower micronutrient
density, that's the first thing. Before this micronutrient
density affects the consumers of the crops, they affect the plant
itself. It becomes weaker, succeptible to fungal and bacterial
diseases, which are very often caused by insect damage.
If you nourish the plants properly, they are much more resistant
to fungal and bacterial diseases and drought too.
So if the resistance goes up, and the disease effect is less, it
may not make economic sense to apply pesticides. So, in that
sense, we say it's an alternative.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Is that point attainable?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
We think it's possible if it's applied over a fairly large area,
say a village, as a method of agriculture. You have to consider
the toxicity problems that chemical fertilizers and pesticides
create for all sections of the community -- farmers are exposed,
run-off goes into water supplies and whole communities are also
affected.
We've done studies on 406 rural communities in the Sabarmati
river basin, trying to relate disability with environmental
pollution. We've found that in communities which are exposed to
this pollution, the disability incidence may be higher by a
factor of 400, four times or so. The problem is that if you
create a toxin of some kind, to kill a pest, it will end up
killing more people than the pest.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What about the economic aspect of chemical pesticides?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Pro-biotic fertilizers are based 98% on local raw materials. Only
1.5% is an external input. Yet, their effectiveness weight-for-
weight is probably equivalent or maybe half that of urea
fertilizer. But, at one-tenth or one-twentieth of the cost.
Urea fertilizers require you to borrow large amounts on the
international markets, to set up a urea plant. Today, to install
one kilo of nitrogen fertilizer capacity, the cost of plant and
equipment is Rs 35. It may go up to Rs 45 or 50 this year or next.
When the factory is installed, every kilo has to be subsidised by
Rs 7 to 8 per kilo. So, you borrow from outside the country to
set up the plant; you borrow from inside the country to subsidise
fertilizer. If you do it on a large-enough scale, you can create
a structural-adjustment problem for your country's economy.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: In India's case...
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
In India's case, at least Rs 130,000 crore can be attributed to
these chemical fertilizer-pesticide approach. This component of
the debt, cannot pay for itself. It requires internal subsidies,
and has to be paid for in natural products.
So, in a sense, this chemical fertilizer economy is a parasite on
the natural economy. At the farmer level, what's happening is
that out of our total landmass of 140 million hectares, chemical
fertilizers are applied on 25 million hectares intensively, and
on 17 million hectares less intensively. That's a total of 42
million hectares.
Organic fertilizers are applied on 50 million hectares. But
because chemical fertilizers are deteriorating the soil
qualities, people are recommending higher and higher quantities
of organic fertilizers to compensate for the loss of soil
fertility.
This means 80-90 million hectares of land in this country are now
unfertilized. This is the cause of great threat to our
agriculture. If people keep on with the same strategy, we will
end up having 100-140 million hectares that includes degraded
forests lands, which have become degraded because there wasn't
fertilizer to apply to it. So this is a really serious situation
for the country if we persist with this approach.
The other problem is that because we have created this external
debt for ourselves. Now to pay for it, almost 10 million hectares
of our land is mortgaged for global production of agriculture
products. So when you look at these figures, you know we are
heading for an ecological crisis of the first dimension.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Q: But why haven't these ideas caught on if really so workable?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
The problem today is that the agriculture research system finds
it very very difficult to deal with alternatives to chemical
fertilizers. There is tremendous amount of resistance in looking
to these approaches. This is not scientific opposition; it is
non-scientific opposition....
So what we need to make is a climate where it's congenial for
researchers to say that chemical fertilizers and pesticides are
not needed. That it's okay for them to look for alternatives,
it's okay for them to go out and use their own minds to see and
do experiments the way they want to do them. There's a tremendous
amount of regimentation in the experimentation today. Not
everybody can do any experiment that he wants. (END)
______________________________________________________________________
Frederick Noronha House # 784, Saligao Phone 832 40 9490
Journalist GOA 403511 INDIA Phone 832 40 9783
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End of goanet-digest V1 #3825
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