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THE VERY FIRST COCONUTS


By Dr. R Sudarshan

In the Middle East, the first dates are exceptional produce. In the Mediterranean, first olives are packed with gratitude. In West Africa, the first cocoa pods are a festivity. And here in our whereabouts, the first coconuts are a gift of nature.

Our farmhands stand around the first stack of coconuts that they grew at Padma farms. What's so special when everyone grows coconuts here! Well, we hadn't yet. This is our first among the two dozen palm trees planted 4 years ago. 

A new farm. Neo-farmers. Life complete.

* * *

ANTS CULTURE CITRUS APHIDS

Watch video: https://fb.watch/dMXk9TrezM/

On a succulent end of a Pomello plant we found a dense colony of insects, apparently trampled over by black ants. We called Anubhav in Chennai, who is our farm insect taxonomist that has photographed and cataloged over 170 insect species at the farm and posted them on the iNaturalist platform. "What's happening here," we asked. 

"Ants are culturing aphids", he said. The aphids suck the sap of tender shoots and secrete honeydew. Ants feed on honeydew for a living and protect the aphids from other predators. Ants also groom the place and manage the aphids, in the nanoscale of animal husbandry.

Well, that's a life cycle. That's Formicidian civilization. That's peace. How dare we spray pesticide and annihilate a culture!

For any relevant query, message 81051 12990.

Padma Farms (Gaddige Road), Farmer's House, 1A, 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

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Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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