Pointers from other producers

July 30, 2007

From the 15th of July until the 19th,I along with 9 other coffee farmers undertook a trip to understand & implement techniques &farm management pointers from The Grape,Banana & Sweet Lime growers of Maharashtra,India.

I truly feel that  we-coffee farmers do not expand our horizons by visiting other fruit crop farmers.I feel that a lot can be learnt,not necessarily growing of the fruit but techniques,related to farm practices,etc.

I visited Nashik(Grapes),Jalgaon(Banana)&Aurangabad(Sweet Lime).The 3 districts are located in the state of Maharashtra in western India.

The experience of the 4 days will definetly help me improve as a farmer & also has motivated me to do a few things which was previously percevied as difficult .

I am deeply indebted to Dr.S.S.Ranade of IMT,Pune,India for having arranged the above trip.

I had written in my previous entry about the incessant rains and the difficulties associated with it.thankfully the rains have easied and I have given a foliar spray based on recomendation of IMT,Pune,India.The spray has worked like MAGIC and the estate has once again been transformed.

Nishant R Gurjer Managing Partner,Sethuraman Estate,Magundi-577160,India.

Member,Karnataka Plantation Coffee Inc.Hillsboro,Oregon. www.indiancoffees.com