Daijiworld Media Network- Bantwal (RX/VA)
 
Mangalore, Dec 17: Samanvaya Mangalore and Sahodaya Bethany Social Service Centre, Bendore jointly conducted a field trip for their staff to Neilagiri Farm near Bolanthoor, Kalladka owned by Pro Edmund Frank, here recently.

 Professor Frank dean of St Aloysius College, a nature lover, started the farm with a small poultry farm in a barren land few years back which has now spread over six acres.
 
His sheer love for trees and plants impelled him to educate himself in nurturing them in an organic way.  In order to meet his requirement of organic manure, he rears cattle and birds. For his need of water, he had a bore well earlier and when he realized the water was not enough especially in peak summer, he decided to conserve rain water and converted the bore-well for rain water harvesting thus conserve rain water going waste. He now is self sufficient for water throughout the year.
 
The visitors went to his estate to see the varieties of banana which he grows by tissue culture. He also grows arecanut, coconut and other fruit trees. He has a novel way of drying arecanut under a tarpaulin drier.  He explained various stages of producing organic manure and his way of organic sprays to destroy pests.