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Do you long for the joy of gardening or farming, but feel overwhelmed by setbacks, limited space, or lack of experience? Maybe you’ve already tried your hand at it, but struggle with finding land, managing water, choosing crops, or securing reliable labor. Whatever your hurdle, you’re not alone.

Gardening and farming should be sources of fulfillment, not frustration. Yet, in today’s world, they can feel like demanding jobs with infinite micro-management and uncertainty.

But take a breath! Managed Farmlands offers a tailor-made solution to these challenges. It’s more than just a space, it’s a haven of comfort, convenience, safety, and rewarding agricultural experiences.

Join us as we explore why embracing the concept of Managed Farmlands could be the perfect step toward achieving your gardening and farming dreams, regardless of scale.

In the past, joint families and robust communities eased the farming burden. However, in today’s nuclear family setup and scarcity of farm labor, urbanites face immense stress in solitary farming endeavors, hindering the joy that farming and large-scale gardening should ideally bring.

The need to decentralize and democratize farming on a larger scale is evident. Encouraging numerous individuals to contribute in smaller quantities across spread-out spaces would benefit everyone involved.

Managed Farmlands make farming easier. They save money, help share work, and make it more enjoyable. These places are great for city folks starting farming. They solve worries about getting land, workers, or looking after it. They make farming fun without the hard parts. Want to know more? Let’s uncover and find out together.

Professional Management: Managed farmlands are under the supervision of skilled agricultural professionals who oversee the entire spectrum of farming operations, from planting to harvesting. This encompasses comprehensive management involving pest control, land, water management, etc. Their expertise guarantees meticulous care for your farm and plantations, encompassing crucial tasks such as regular pest management, fertigation, nutrient management, mulching, and various other essential agricultural practices.
Hassle-Free Farming: For busy individuals seeking a farming outlet, managed farmlands offer a convenient solution by eliminating the necessity for constant supervision. Even during adverse weather conditions like heavy rain or extreme drought, a team of farm experts remains on-site to diligently oversee and safeguard your plantations. Daily, timely care is provided to all the plantations on your farmland, ensuring their well-being. With this arrangement, you can savor the rewards of farming without having to dedicate extensive time and effort.
Learning Opportunity: Even if you’re not a seasoned farmer, managed farmlands provide a learning platform. Engage with experts, understand various agricultural techniques, and witness firsthand the farming process.
Access to Technology: These farms frequently integrate modern technologies like advanced sensors, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. These innovative methods optimize productivity and anticipate changing weather patterns, ensuring that your farming experience is effective, efficient, and fruitful.
Diverse Crop Choices: Managed farmlands provide a diverse range of crops and plants available for cultivation, including options like agro and food forests, medicinal plants, fruits and veggies, extensive timber plantations, and more. Explore your agricultural interests by cultivating your preferred produce or experimenting with new crops on these farms.
Community Engagement: Numerous managed farmland projects actively promote community among participants. By engaging with like-minded individuals, you have the opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and expertise, fostering a supportive farming network. Being part of such a community not only enhances your farming endeavors but also contributes to bolstering social connections and mental well-being. It’s an environment where collaboration and shared interests create a nurturing and fulfilling farming experience.
Environmental Sustainability: Adopt sustainable farming practices without solely shouldering the implementation burden. By capitalizing on economies of scale, you can slash monthly maintenance expenses. These farms prioritize eco-friendly methods such as organic farming, permaculture, and regenerative farming. They aim to enhance soil quality, boost the groundwater table, and curtail soil erosion. These practices foster biodiversity, effectively contributing to the farm’s sustainable maintenance.
Safety and Security: Investing in managed farmlands assures safety and security through expert management that actively mitigates risks associated with theft, pests, and natural calamities. The deployment of CCTV cameras, well-maintained roads, solar street lights, and sturdy boundary walls and fencing effectively protects and supervises your property and crops. This ensures an uninterrupted safe and secure environment throughout the year, every hour, day or night.
Financial Returns: Apart from convenience, managed farmlands offer potential financial gains through long-term land appreciation. You can enjoy the yields without the daily responsibilities of farming, alongside reaping tax benefits. This overall financial advantage underscores the value of investing in these farmlands.
Peaceful Retreat: Escape the urban hustle to serene farmlands. Experience the joy of nature, unwind in green spaces, and relish the calming effects of agricultural surroundings.

Conclusion

Managed farmlands offer an extraordinary opportunity for urban gardening and farming enthusiasts, providing a hassle-free yet deeply fulfilling experience. These lands act as a bridge, accommodating both beginners and experienced enthusiasts, catering to your farming passion amidst urban constraints.

Reflect on the multitude of benefits these managed farmlands provide, paving the way for your farming aspirations to flourish effortlessly. The earlier you invest, the more advantageous it becomes – not only with lower prices but also the potential for substantial land price appreciation and crop yield.

Don’t hesitate; act now and invest in Managed Farmlands and watch your future prosper—both tangibly and intangibly. Your journey towards sustainable farming and financial prosperity starts here.

Author: Ruchi Renavikar | Nihal Anand

India’s highly variable climate, extremities of temperature and rainfall (eg. drought & flood), led to numerous innovations in water management techniques since the Indus valley civilisation. As a result of this, wells, pumps, irrigation systems, water storage systems and innovative, regional water harvesting techniques, developed over time. Even ancient Indian literature points towards an intuitive understanding of nature and its natural processes. Some traditional methods of rainwater harvesting such as, johads & Kunds (Rajasthan), kuls (Himachal Pradesh), bamboo drip irrigation systems (Meghalaya), Zabo (Nagaland), Eri (Tamil Nadu), Surangam (Karnataka), Ahar pynes (Bihar) are used even today. These traditional systems were intricately designed based on the climatic conditions, soil type and land elevation to harvest maximum rainwater during the heavy monsoons witnessed in India.

The continuous evolution of technology and Ai based models that support decision making have now set water management in agriculture on a new trajectory. Although one can never completely replace or mimic natural ecosystems, Ai in water management helps in understanding and analysing when a plant is stressed due to either scarce or excess water supply. Both these conditions are detrimental and fatal to plants if not corrected immediately. Ai models are programmed to assess the optimum level of water required for a plant based on a nexus of interrelated factors such as: plant type, species, climatic data, temperature, soil moisture, soil type and the irrigation system as well. With the advent of automated irrigation systems, human error of approximation can also be eliminated when coupled with Ai models.

How does irrigation automation help in saving water?

When linked to the soil moisture sensors, the automated irrigation systems can be programmed to sense the area’s dryness and irrigate the land. This can help save water in the following ways:

It will irrigate the land only when the plant is thirsty.
It will avoid excess irrigation by stopping the water flow as soon as the sensor gives an ideal reading. Leaching of soil nutrients is a frequent, undesirable occurrence that results due to excessive moisture in the soil, something that can be easily avoided by such smart irrigation systems.
Different soil types might be present in the same piece of land, each with a different water requirement. Manually irrigating these zones without over-irrigating or under-irrigating is a logistical nightmare. A smart irrigation device will take into consideration the soil retention capacity of each of the soil types, and customize its water flow so as to keep the moisture content ideal.

What are the benefits of smart water management systems?

As mentioned above, smart irrigation can help save water, time, and costs, by bringing down manual labour through automation
Irrigation motors can be switched on and off with the push of a button, sitting miles away; they can also be used with either run time or water flow as a variables
Soil dryness and Leaching can be brought down to a bare minimum by the soil moisture sensors recognizing the water requirement of the plant

What are the best methods to harvest water and make it sustainable for both farm operations and the environment?

Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHs)
The most traditional form of rainwater harvesting, rainwater is captured on roof catchments and stored in groundwater reservoirs. The use of this rainwater can be intermittent, such as for irrigation during dry spells, or for the entire year for domestic uses. India’s primary source of freshwater is not actually rivers but the annual monsoons that feed the rivers. Therefore harnessing rainfall during this season is critical and anyone with a farming background will be familiar with this. Rainfall naturally seeps into the soil and fills the ground water table. The rainwater stored in the ground can be extracted using borewells.
Flood water harvesting (FWH)
In this additional form of rainwater harvesting, flood water is abstracted during the peak rainy season and stored in an underground tank that can later be used for irrigating the farm when water is scarce during the dry season..
Microcatchments
Microcatchments are designed to collect water from runoffs in a small catchment area. They are constructed in such a way that the runoff water infiltrates the soil and collects in the root zone, supplying water directly to the plants. On a larger scale, these microcatchments can lead to significant groundwater recharge.

According to the United Nations, 40% of the worlds’ population lives in areas of moderate to high water stress. However, this stress is not evenly distributed around the world. States like India, Mexico, USA and China rank among the fastest consumers of ground water sources. Agriculture in India, accounts of 90% of total groundwater use due to high levels of extraction and poor irrigation systems. We are using our groundwater faster than it can be replenished and therefore it is crucial that we put back the water that we are not using. Maintaining a balance in the groundwater table is essential to the functioning of natural ecosystems. The Gaia Hypothesis for example, embodies the same. The Gaia hypothesis is a greek concept for mother earth that suggests that “the Earth is a living organism with a complex feedback system that seeks an optimal balance in its physical and chemical environment”. Today, we may be able to achieve ground water balance through Ai supported machine learning systems. In essence natural systems are characterised by negative feedback loops and therefore are self-limiting in any scenario, however human controlled resource systems have positive feedback loops which are self-reinforcing. For example, ground-water extraction leads to more productivity on land and this leads to higher produce output which further leads to more groundwater extraction. Ai can allow us to create negative feedback loops that limit the over-use of groundwater in India.

With Ai, smart farmers are realising it is no longer necessary to uniformly apply fertilizers, pesticides and water across the farms. Instead, many farmers are realising that applying the minimum required quantity of nutrients and water is not only sufficient but beneficial for plant growth. Farms and agricultural industries are expected to run very differently than before. Advancements in technologies such as Ai, remote sensing, field sensors, drones, machines and information technology will make agriculture more profitable, efficient and environmentally conscious than ever before.

References

Tietenberg, T. & Lewis, L., 2012. Environmental & Natural Resource Economics. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

Nair, K. S., 2004. Role of water in the development of civilisation in India- A review on ancient literature, traditional practices and beliefs. The basis of civilisation – water science, Issue 286, pp. 1660-166.

Dhawan, V., 2017. Water and agriculture in India. Background paper for South Asia expert panel during the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, s.l.: Teri, German Agribusiness Alliance, German Asia-Pacific Business Association.

Microsoft, 2021. News Microsoft. [Online] Available at: https://news.microsoft.com/europe/features/how-ai-and-satellite-data-are-helping-farmers-waste-less-water/ [Accessed 2nd March 2021].

Author: Ruchi Renavikar | Nihal Anand

Drylands typically face severe water scarcity and commonly have scanty and dry vegetation. They cover 41% of the earth’s land surface and house an estimated 2 billion people (FAO, 2019). While drylands are adaptable to climatic variability and water stress, they are also vulnerable to degradation by anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and unsustainable agricultural practices (tilling, intensive farming, fertilizer & pesticide abuse, etc). These practices disrupt the nutrient cycles, increase soil salinity, and destroy important soil microfauna (bacteria).

Agroforestry on the other hand, is a sustainable land management system, where trees are integrated with crops on the same plot of land. The trees planted reduce surface water runoff and soil erosion while facilitating an increase in biodiversity, surface and groundwater levels, and soil fertility. Our agroforestry model is further supported by a ‘Systems thinking’ approach, where we account for all ecosystems (soil, water, air) over several years when managing farmland. We have transformed once drylands into biodiverse forested green havens through our regenerative agricultural practices.

One of the key reasons behind Hosachiguru success is the integration of technology with traditional farming practices. There are sensors installed all across farms, which give real time data about soil moisture, soil temperature, rainfall, leaf wetness etc. This data helps determine the corrective and regenerative processes that must take place on the farm. For example, soil moisture sensors allow our AI systems to give our ground team regular irrigation advisory. All farms are secured with fencing and 24 hr security & CCTV cameras. Hosachiguru farms have harvested data and infrastructure to maximize the potential of farmlands by taking informed decisions.

Transformation Story 1

Eco-habitat

This 20 acres project aims at promoting community supported agriculture managed by the Hosachiguru agronomy team. Acquired in 2017, Hosachiguru has been successfully managing this Teak & Sandalwood plantation complemented with scattered fruit trees. Ecological re-design, rainwater harvesting and the creation of forests were the main principles at this site. The site prior to acquisition was barren with a very alkaline soil pH, unfit for any type of cultivation. Several organic soil corrective measures such as addition of organic carbon (through mulching), farm yard manure (FYM), green manuring etc, were employed to improve the nutrient content, stabilise the pH and increase water retention capacity. Today we have a total of 4000 trees managed at this project with more to come.

In addition to this, we have a cattle shed, composting unit, vegetable garden and a farmstay retreat for customers to experience a life surrounded by nature. The transformation at Eco-habitat has been phenomenal and can be witnessed by scheduling a site visit as well.

Transformation story 2

EOS

Started in 2014, EOS has a variety of timber and fruit trees which include Teak, Sandalwood, Mahogany, Mango and Pomegranate. This 45 acre project has a total of 14,000 trees managed by Hosachiguru. The lush green timber & food forests were once a dryland that was devoid of any green cover. The soil was a distribution of uneven gravel, sand and red-soil. Today, it has been transformed into a uniform soil system with highly fertile soil.

Prior to acquisition, this land was also exposed to intensive agriculture, where land was exploited with over-use to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Residues of which could still be observed back in 2014. We have come a long way in reviving the natural ecosystems at EOS and also evolved in design thinking, when planning and managing farmland.

Specific corrective practices were undertaken at EOS over a 6 year period, which included:

Sl.n	Objective	Corrective Practice	Result
1	To increase soil organic carbon content	Mulching- Green mulching is the mixing of the top soil with abundant carbon rich organic matter. Mulching Materials: dry grass clippings, coconut coir, weeds.Chop and drop method- where weeds in the rows of the plantation are cut and left on the soil surface to increase organic matter (Carbon)	By adding organic matter soil Nitrogen and Carbon increasesGrass clippings break down easily, add nitrogen and carbon to the soil, and increase the soil’s porosity. The coir is a renewable resource, can absorb water and drain easily, and can help the soil retain nutrients. Chopping and dropping the weeds is doubly beneficial as it not only fertilizes the soil but also prevents the weeds from sowing their seeds.
2	To increase soil fertility	Application of naturally composted materials such as, Farm Yard Manure, nitrogen rich mulch, composted farm waste, vermi-compost etc.	Improves soil fertility and promotes essential soil bacterial growth
34	To increase water holding capacity (WHC) of the soilTo harvest freshwater	Trenching, Micro-bunding, Patta-bunding and hydrogel application to hold more water around the growing plants.Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) tank with a storage capacity of 45L. This RWH tank gets filled twice a year during the monsoon. Borewell recharge of all the Borewells at EOS project	We have seen a drastic increase in the surface and ground-water since these practices were implemented. Due to the natural water harvesting methods, EOS has witnessed increased water table levels since 2014 despite water being utilised to grow 14,000 trees.

Really transforming landscapes can often be an arduous task. Despite widespread awareness of the nature and extent of multiple impacts of repeated land-use changes, there remains limited understanding of how these impacts affect trade-offs among ecosystem services and their beneficiaries across spatial scales.

Transforming landscapes takes years and happens in phases. One of the best ways to secure the land from degradation is afforestation, the impacts of which can directly be witnessed by increasing ground water levels, soil humus, soil water holding capacity, and nutrients. Often we forget that aspects of the environment are interdependent and have either a positive or negative feedback onto each other. However the direction of the feedback loop is one that can easily be controlled by operators.

Author: Ruchi Renavikar

India is an agricultural powerhouse with 60% of its land under cultivation (The World Bank, 2016). Despite India’s status as a global powerhouse, agriculture is a highly resource-intensive industry. In the last decade, unsustainable irrigation methods, fertilizer, and pesticidal abuse, poor soil fertility and over-tillage have perhaps been the most damaging factors to soil health and agricultural yield. As a result of declining crop yields, food prices have shot up. The Covid-19 Pandemic has placed immense pressure on the agricultural industry. As an essential service industry, it is therefore important to elevate efficiency in agriculture.

New trends in agriculture seek to enhance crop management under precisely measured conditions. Smart agriculture is the implementation of the Internet of Things (IOT), cloud computing & Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance agricultural yield while maintaining the integrity of the natural hydro-geological systems. The Internet of Things (IOT), is a three-tier system:

Tier 1 Perception Layer: It includes Sensors which monitor real-time data from the field.

Tier 2 Network Layer: It is a network of Devices (computers, PC’s, Hardware) used to collect and store real-time data.

Tier 3 Application layer: Utilises real-time data and combines it with specific prediction and analysis models to visualise and understand the raw data.

At Hosachiguru we combine the Internet of Things (IOT) system with Artificial Intelligence to analyse real-time data and create prediction models for weather forecasts based on trend analysis. This allows us to prepare our farm management practices based on predicted climatic conditions. Remote equipment operated from central data centres, smartphones or wireless devices, reduce manual labour, increase efficiency and associated costs. Over-all IOT and AI allows us to expedite work cycles and manage farms efficiently. IOT is changing the landscape of data monitoring into wireless devices that deliver accurate micro-climatic information. Smart irrigation systems which are automated through IOT system, allows monitoring of water flows into the farm along with recharge of natural aquifers. Our sensors, monitor and predict micro-climatic and soil conditions specific to each farm.

Hosachiguru farms use IOT & AI for:

Crop monitoring, Remote Irrigation, Disease control, Weather Forecasting (microclimate prediction), Signal controlling, automation of controls and processes, Soil and water monitoring.

What is unique about Hosachiguru management style, is that we employ traditional farming practices along with smart agriculture monitoring systems. Data Driven intelligence is used to guide implementation and management at our farms, giving customers optimum crop yield benefits. Integrating a sustainable systems approach to farming allows us to replenish the groundwater table and improve soil nutrient cycling, without using harsh chemical fertilizers. End-to-end farm management is more precise with smart agriculture systems. Our farms also remain climate resilient as forecasting micro & macro conditions, allows to us increase the preparedness of our technical and on-ground teams in taking informed decisions on irrigation, soil and crop management.

The following Parameters are monitored by our weather stations and individual sensors: (Devices used are solar-powered and can run for up to 1 month even during the monsoons)

Temperature
Humidity
Air pressure
Vapour-Pressure Difference
Soil Temperature
Soil Moisture at Primary Root Zone
Soil Moisture at Secondary Root Zone
Rainfall
Leaf Wetness
Lux (Illumination)
Solar Intensity
Wind Speed
Wind Direction

Our devices are programmed to send us configured alarms on various parameters, when they exceed or dip below an optimum range. Data is continuously monitored over 24hours and can be manipulated to predict and prevent the attack of certain pests and diseases as well.

Monitoring agricultural systems in their natural environment also allows us to simulate and understand the complex relationships between different elements in the ecosystem. At Hosachiguru, we recognise the value of conserving and enhancing natural ecosystems. Our aim is to use precision agriculture to make educated decisions, supported by scientific research that is mutually beneficial for our customers and the environment alike.

Although it appears otherwise, there is plenty of water on earth. The primary issues are quality and uneven spatiotemporal distribution that make it inaccessible. But, the most fundamental of all issues is not the scarcity of water, but weak water management practices. Managing a life resource requires adequate knowledge of watershed hydrology and implementation of best practices, in order to harness naturally available water during the Indian monsoon.

What is a watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that ‘sheds’ or drains surface water into a waterbody. Every water body has a watershed. A watershed can be any area of land that receives rainfall and supplies water to river systems. A watershed can be an urban city, industrial area, pristine forests or even agricultural land. One watershed is separated from another by a natural boundary, known as a water divide or ridge line.

Watersheds can drain rainfall into rivers, streams, ponds, lakes etc. Such small bodies of water, join large river systems and ultimately flow out into the sea. In the soil, water moves in response to gravity, when it is not responding to tension gradients. Delineating a watershed allows the understanding of the drainage basin, catchment area and flow direction of the water. Water is first received in the catchment area and later flows along the land to form an intricate stream network.

Not all the water that is received on land flows into a stream. Some is lost by evaporation and some seeps below the soil surface to form groundwater aquifers or pools. India has been long criticised, for its staggeringly high rates of groundwater extraction. 90% of groundwater extracted in India is utilised for agricultural irrigation. Roughly, 80% of India’s 1.35 crore citizens, depend on groundwater for both drinking and irrigation. The increased use of groundwater has been supported by supply driven policies, providing farmers with free/heavily subsidised grid electricity and pumps. Thus, ignoring the natural water systems and the cascading ill-effects of over-exploitation.

But, why haven’t we run out of water yet? This is because India receives plenty of water, but it is unevenly distributed. While some villages in Maharashtra such as Vidarbha have annual droughts and the highest farmer suicide rates, others in Odisha and north-east have annual floods. Another reason is that India sees flash floods or high amount of rainfall in a short period of time and then almost no rain for the rest of the year. Therefore, it is critical that water is harvested during the monsoons.

Watershed Management Practices:

Watershed Management is the planned manipulation of one or more parts of the drainage network to either create a desired change or maintain a desired condition of the water source. Typical watershed development projects include the following activities.

Water Conservation
Soil Enhancement & Conservation
Livestock Management
Agricultural Practices
Plantation & Afforestation
Mobilisation of community contribution and indigenous knowledge
Capacity building and institutional development

The quality of a watershed directly decides, the quality of the water system that flows within and out of it. Therefore, watershed development activities mentioned above, are crucial in ensuring the quality and sustainability of water bodies in a watershed.

What is Hosachiguru doing in watershed management?

At Hosachiguru farms, we mobilise local communities of farmers and their indigenous knowledge base, to support our agronomy teams. We are taking a step forward in bridging the science and practice gap, by incorporating good practices of indigenous farming, while implementing supportive scientific methods to enhance our soils. We have enriched several barren and fallow lands to become nutrient dense, with high microbial activity. Our plantations are deployed with precision sensors that allow us to monitor real-time data and take informed decisions at the drop of a hat. Using micro-weather forecast we manage our farm’s water intake in accordance with rainfall and conserve water, not only with rainwater harvesting tanks but also by ensuring that it seeps into the ground. Excess water in the soil is drained out and re-directed to recharge groundwater aquifers. This ensures a sustainable water table for the entire year for all our neighbouring communities.

Most of us agree that while earning money is hard, investing it wisely is harder. Traditionally, we in India have gone with two time-tested options – gold and land. In gold we trust – for hundreds of years this has been our favourite investment, one that is credited with protecting families and honour in times of distress. However, from today’s market-driven economy perspective, this thinking is jaded.

Look at it this way. Gold sits idle and does not produce anything or create any value. The value has to increase only when someone else is willing to pay more for it – which in itself is speculative. Unlike bonds or bank deposits, your money when invested in gold, does not contribute to any kind of economic growth. And for all the optimism on its growth potential, gold has just returned 8.3%* in the last 10 years.

Now let’s look at the other favourite investment option – real estate. Firstly, land by itself cannot generate income. We can profit from it after it appreciates in value and is sold subsequently, which could happen only when there is an increase in demand for land in the region. This happened in cities like Bengaluru which experienced exponential growth from the early 1990s to the late 2010s. So people invested in plots/ land and experienced a value increase driven by demand and growth.

Next, if you wish to derive actual returns from real estate, then you have to invest in construction – residential/ commercial – risky considering the demand is dependent on the economy.

While pockets of land in urban areas have been attracting attention from buyers for long, the current oversupply of properties, congestion, cost of living in cities and other associated issues has retarded value appreciation. The real estate market in Tier 1 cities including Bengaluru is stagnated and not experiencing value growth as in the past. The demand for commercial properties has decreased and the current COVID 2019 situation is bound to redefine the workplace segment going forward. Work-from-home would definitely be the new norm with more and more companies at least in the knowledge space, opting for it.

Farmland – the way ahead

So, the question on the minds of investors would definitely be, ‘What next?’ The answer is investment in farmland. Although farmland is part of the real estate marketplace, it has its own unique set of characteristics. Returns on farmland have constantly exceeded those compared with other assets such as commercial real estate, gold, stocks, bonds and more. More importantly, farmlands have the potential to influence us as a community in more ways than one – socially, environmentally and economically.

Short term & Long-term wealth creation – a win-win either way

Farmland is an excellent short and long term wealth creation option with a propensity to appreciate in value over time. When well maintained, the property yields periodic returns on the produce while the investment is secure and profitable considering there is bound to be a long term value gain.
One of the most positive features of open spaces and farmlands is the natural benefits they provide. Apart from producing food and timber, farmlands provide fresh oxygen, nurture precious flora and fauna and contribute significantly to the environment.
Unlike mining for example, which depletes resources, a rightly managed farmland is a renewable resource and stays productive in perpetuity.

The need for expertise – Our edge at Hosachiguru

While the concept of farmland is attractive from both a short-term and long-term perspective, the biggest hindrance to those who wish to venture is largely the lack of expertise in managing one. It takes specialized knowledge and time to ensure the crop is irrigated and secure, the growth is healthy, and things are taken care of.

Now, the good news. If you are really passionate about owning farmland, being a part of nature, wanting to do your bit for the environment, wanting to introduce your family/ children to the joys of nature and more… we at Hosachiguru can help you with it. We are a team of dedicated professionals with years of experience in setting up and managing farmlands.

Hosachiguru provides good-quality farmland with good water and soil management techniques to grow timber, hardwood, fruits and other location-specific produce that can help you generate passive income. Our farm experts will decide on the best possible crop based on the soil and water conditions of the property. Additionally, when you buy Hosachiguru farmland, you get to enjoy the added benefit of using your project location as a weekend/retirement home.

Let’s do our bit for the planet together – you and Hosachiguru

Sustaining the environment and leading a cleaner, greener life is now much more than an option. In fact, it is our responsibility. While the planet gasps for breath and initiatives are on globally to clean and sustain the environment, this is a great opportunity for us to create a greener environment and community while profiting from it. Wood is money and we help you cultivate the right kind of wood in your plot. In fact, it takes just 10 trees to produce enough oxygen to offset your carbon footprint. We can grow a lot more in your plot so your contribution could be on the plus side!

As a farmland management company, we have an undying passion for farming and engage in various conservation practices that help preserve the environment – collecting water runoff, planting cover crops, appropriate tillage, and more. We use precision farming techniques in managing the farmland such as using non-chemical fertilizers at the right time to effective nutrient management.

We are driven by love for nature and wish to join hands with those who look to create a positive impact on the environment. We could work together to make the world a green place and create a win-win for all!

Source: Economic times – Oct 2019

Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture

Water is considered to be the most important resource for sustainable farming development worldwide. The fresh water supplies are already being diverted from agriculture to meet the rising demand of domestic and industrial use. The sustainable use of irrigation water must be greatly focused for farming in arid areas. India has already started witnessing water scarcity, which will only get worse going forward. To address this issue, Ashok J, Co Founder and Chairman of Hosachiguru, an agriculture expert shares his ideas and techniques to the improvement of water management in farms.

According to Ashok, the golden rule to efficient water management is Reduce-Recycle-Reuse at all stages of farming activities. Some of them may be used concurrently or separately. Read on to find out what Ashok says on efficient water management.

1. Plant density & Diversity: Optimize the distance between rows of primary plants and varieties of the saplings you plant. It is important to incorporate “companion plants” that complement each other. This will help to rationalize the water demand.

“Optimizing density of Primary Plants and incorporation of companion plants that are suitable for local conditions help us manage water demand better.”

2. Wonder Gel: Both in basal dose and in initial soil application incorporate small dose of Hydrogels. During Basal Dose add up to 20 grams / plant and at every Soil Application add 5 grams / plant (or less). This will help hold water and fertilizers for longer duration in the root zone and can reduce water application by 20% and fertilizer application by 10%.

“In semiarid regions, like our farm locations, use of hydrogels shown good benefits in moisture retention and reduced transplanting stress”

Hydrogels are available from different companies starting from UPL, Coromandel, etc

3. Magic Pits: In every 5 rows of primary plants, dig pits of 1 ft X 3 ft X 2 Ft (depth) at 20 ft interval and dump cut weeds into these pits. Add Hydrogel and activated BioChar into them. Grow cover crops regularly.

“These Magic Pits help in multiple ways as given below:

These pits will help divert and store rainwater
Work as soaking pits and improve ground water
Help locally compost agriculture waste
Will work as “go-to” zone for root systems nearby to uptake nutrients and moisture.”

4. Early morning or evening irrigation: Ensure that you have suitable pump and power source to irrigate when the ambient temperatures are low. As temperatures are relatively lower, it helps in moisture retention for longer hours before evaporation starts due to sun – You save water!

“In principle irrigating when sun is absent will help conserve water and retain moisture longer time.”

This can be automated using time based pump irrigation systems. A lot of start ups are focusing on Sim controller based pumps that help in semi automation of irrigation. Please verify past installations to ensure good functioning of the same.

5. Bore Well recharge: For each bore well create a collection pit of 5ft x 5 ft x 10 ft (depth) size. Add holes to the bore pipe. Fill from the bottom as follows: 3 ft bigger stones, 3 ft 10 mm jelly, 1 ft 5 mm jelly, two layers of insect / mosquito net, ½ ft of coarse sand. Divert rainwater to these pits. Water will soak and filter in to the bore well. Just doing this alone can ensure the borewell never goes dry. Over a period of time the earth below becomes a great source of storage.

6. Rainwater collection pond: Farm ponds can be set up in lowest area within the Farm. Divert rainwater within and outside the farm into this RWH tank. A diversion pit can be used to collect silt from the running water. The water from this pond can be diverted into nearby bore wells to enhance ground water.

“Very important to capture rain water as it is pure and renewable source. It is our duty to put back rain water in to the ground”

7. Summer miracles: In semiarid regions the solar intensity is very high in summer days. Using specific sprays available in the market that create a protective layer on the leaf, thereby reducing perspiration. Depending on summer intensity, take sprays of “Summer Miracle” one or 2 times.

“Observed use of Summer Miracle, worked wonders for the plants even in harsh conditions”

8. Pulse Irrigation: Instead of continuously irrigating for 1 to 2 hours for the same plot, shift irrigation from one block to another every 10 to 15 min. This will help in water spread and improve retention in the soil. There are controllers and valves available in the market for shift irrigation between blocks. Depending on slope of the farm land, you have to use “non-drip” or “Pressure compensated” drippers for uniform application.

9. Twin Line Low Discharge Inline Drip Irrigation: Go for drip irrigation and choose low discharge inline drips & two parallel lines – 1 LPH with 30 cm (to 50 cm) spacing X 2 lines. This will ensure maximum coverage of surface area for a given pump discharge and will minimize the leeching. As more area is covered by drip irrigation, the soil fertility improves and subsequently increases humus development in soil. More Humus in the soil means more moisture holding and eventually results in water saving.

“Effective way to reduce water demand and improve soil fertility”

Hosachiguru applies the above techniques in managing its farmlands and as an organization we have seen merit in applying above methods to implement water conservation with increased output. Based on crop, age of plants, soil condition and other factors, we alter the priorities and apply methods selectively to give our clients an opportunity to increase produce.

We as an organization believe that learning is a continuous process and are always on the lookout for more methods to improve water conservation in our farms.

Please do write to us at connect@hosachiguru.com for any suggestions / feedback.

INDUSTRY, INNOVATION & INFRASTRUCTURE