Jasmine, A.P.’s official flower, spreads its fragrance far away

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, World Opinion
The point where jasmine is traded at Chandragudem of Mylavaram mandal in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: BYARRANGEMENT
The point where jasmine is traded at Chandragudem of Mylavaram mandal in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: BYARRANGEMENT

It’s big business with turnover touching IRs. 20 crore every year in Mylavaram mandal of Krishna district

The delicate and elegant flower of blissful fragrance from the tiny mandal of Mylavaram in Krishna district is spreading its scent in faraway places.

Jasmine (jasminum sambac or Bondu Malle in Telugu), and Andhra Pradesh State’s official flower, has become the centre-piece of the agri-economy bouquet of this small mandal as its exports are blooming.

Consider this. According to estimates, the jasmine business exceeds a whopping ₹20 crore during the season – January to September. “Jasmines contribute a significant share in the agriculture economy in Mylavaram mandal, where over 1,000 farmers are directly engaged in its cultivation. Annual turnover has crossed ₹20 crore, given the extent of land under cultivation,” Suresh Vesam told The Hindu.

Mr. Vesam is Director of Nestham, an NGO working on jasmine cultivation and marketing facilities in rural Krishna district.

According to estimates, over 200 acres in the mandal are under its cultivation.

Blooming grace

Realizing the huge demand for this small and graceful flower of fragrance, local farmers have been growing jasmines in big land parcels – up to four to five acres – basketing large quantities in key villages such as Pulluru, Chandragudem and Kothagudem.

On the land, “A majority of the farmers are going for the drip irrigation method which results in a bumper yield. Mylavaram farmers have learnt the technique from Tamil Nadu farmers by adopting best farming techniques,” Horticulture Department Assistant Director N. Sujatha told The Hindu.

“We want our farmers to take every opportunity that is available in the market. We are now witnessing that many traders in Hyderabad would wait for the arrival of jasmines from Mylavaram,” added Ms. Sujatha. Hyderabad is the prime market destination of the Mylavaram farmers, who transport their produce daily by road.

Going places

Looking beyond neighbouring Hyderabad,

“Plans are afoot to export jasmines directly to Singapore from next year through farmers producers’ associations from the Mylavaram area.

“Being Andhra Pradesh State’s official flower will help to tap marketing prospects in other states and abroad,” said Mr. Suersh Vesam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – July 02nd, 2018

1st in south, tiles to be made from plastic waste

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Scientists believe that the plastic tiles could be commercially viable as they are unbreakable and water-proof.

Visakhapatnam:

For the first time in South India, plastic waste will be recycled to manufacture tiles in Vizag.  The National Research Development Corporation’s Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre at Visakhapatnam and National Physical Laboratory of New Delhi has transferred the technology to the Vizag-based Vyzag Bio-Energy Fuel Private Limited, according to the centre’s Vizag head B.K Sahu.

Scientists believe that the plastic tiles could be commercially viable as they are unbreakable and water-proof. Promoting them would help combat the threat posed by plastic waste.  The technology was developed by scientist S.K. Dhawan and his team at the NPL, The technology was selected in the Smart Fifty innovations by the department of science and technology and IIM-Kolkata.   Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Dhawan said: “The idea was to evolve a solution to the huge threat looming on the environment due to plastic waste. Only 20 per cent of plastic waste is recycled and the rest is dumped, causing a huge impact all over including marine life. There is a huge scope to recycle these wastes.”

About 600 plastic bags are used to manufacture one tile and 42,000 plastic bags for a slab measuring seven foot by four foot. The plastic tiles cost Rs 50-60 per sq feet and could be used for pavements, jogger paths. Tiles are being manufactured with different designs and are commercially viable. “When plastic wastes are being recycled to lay roads, why we should not use them for tiles,” Mr Dhawan asked. “Plastic recycling is growing in India and the market is huge. We should focus more on how to get wealth from wastes,” said the scientist.

Waste plastic bags and bottles are shredded into small pieces. This is mixed with fillers and moulded into water-proof decorative colourful tiles. 600 plastic bags are used to make one standard size tile 42,000 plastic bags are used for a slab measuring seven foot by four foot. Plastic tiles cost Rs 50-60 per sq feet and could be used for pavements, jogger paths.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Viral & Trending / by Sumit Onka, Deccan Chronicle / June 29th, 2018