Buy land, they aren’t making anymore of it. – Mark Twain
Buying the land is a momentous occasion for anyone. It doesn’t matter whether it is a residential plot or an agricultural land, acquiring land has always been an auspicious and joyous occasion. A piece of land signifies new beginnings, a resource to support life, a real and physical asset like no other and a legacy for generations to come. While land is one of the best resources one can acquire, it is also one which tends to be daunting and needs some careful fact-checking. Some of the stumbling blocks for most of us are – how to choose the right piece of land, how to ensure that the documents are genuine and valid, how to trust the seller and how to ensure that the purchase is secure for years to come.
There are a bunch of companies that offers the best services but making a decision can be extremely challenging and overwhelming. There are many factors that need to be checked and verified before purchasing the land irrespective of the developer.
Identify the right entity to deal with:
A bit of online effort can go a long way as a lot of information can be found on the internet. It is always recommended to try and find more information about the founders or directors of the firm you are purchasing the land from and try connecting with them if they are on LinkedIn. Take a look at the company’s website and verify if the content is original or is it just stock photos and fancy content. Hence verifying the information mentioned on websites, social media pages and other platforms is an effective way to get a true picture about the company and the work it does. Try and look for actual photos of the property. One should see a live preview of the upcoming and the completed properties.
Online Reviews (The Biggest fad):
People think that the easiest way to establish a company’s credentials is by checking for the reviews online and checking what other people are saying about the company. Many times 90% of the reviews will not be genuine and may include paid and fake reviews. In case of fake companies it can be easily made out by checking the profile of people who have reviewed them. Online reputation management has become a big business and companies pay to have good reviews written about them and bad reviews hidden or camouflaged . ook on websites such as mouthshut.com, glassdoor.in and others as they typically have a lot of negative reviews which can help one get a good indication about the company or the brand. Look for live testimonials, video perhaps with real customers and not models.
Selling the same land to multiple customers:
This is one of the most common issues that people face while buying real estate and it’s often realized after a couple of years. Here, the firm sells the same land to multiple customers by providing them with information and documents of a neighboring land. In many cases a booking amount of 10% is taken by 20 customers for the same land and the customer is also ok to wait for a long period as he has only paid a few lakhs and is in the hope that his land is secured for him. Don’t fall into this trap. In karnataka you can use the Dishank app to exactly locate the survey nos of the land when you visit the property. Most times you see a nice parcel of land and you’re registered in the neighborhood which is barren and bad. Unfortunately, fly-by-night operators and shady companies have hoodwinked many people using this method. To ensure that this does not happen with you check if the layout is mapped onto Google Earth / Google Maps or do they have a real time booking sheet. Hiring a lawyer to verify all the legal documents like 7/12 uttara can help establish the true ownership of the land and avoid any scams and legal issues in future. First verify the survey numbers and the RTC.
Make a site visit:
Visiting sites can help buyers to be reassured if the property claims are as it is as promised by the developers. It helps the investors to know more about the actual arrangement of the property and also keep a check if there’s any divergence from the actual promised claims. Believing what one sees is our basic temperament but as owning a property involves a huge amount of money to be invested, one must assess the property very vigilantly before the actual purchase. Also it is recommended to do a surprise visit and speak to people who live next to or nearby the property that you intend to purchase. This will help to get actual and real time information about the land as sometimes owners share false information or hide crucial information.
Asses company strength and management:
Verifying the authenticity of the company from where you intend to purchase the land is the most important step before the actual purchase. Try and visit multiple properties from the same company to see how they are being managed. In the case of agriculture, a lot of care and diligence needs to be maintained. Especially with farmlands, the on-ground teams become vital. Here, the staff has to be passionate, knowledgeable and trained about the work they do. It is also recommended to enquire about the number of people managing a certain farm. Checking certain things like whether there are agronomists and project managers assigned, is the team strength sufficient for the size of the property and what are their views about the company would provide an actual picture of the organization.
Farmlands are completely different from other real estate:
Farmlands pose challenges that may not be apparent at the outset but create many hurdles at later stages. Many issues that are not associated with normal land purchase like identifying resources of water, good soil, labour, Irrigation & mechanization systems, etc come into picture here. Generally, It is very easy to show calculations on an excel sheet about how much return can be expected from a certain crop, but doing it in reality is another story. Unlike other businesses, farming is not an input vs output kind of concept as you are dealing with nature and there are no absolutes. All the success stories we hear about farming is just perhaps a minuscule portion of the community while the failures are a million times more. As farmlands have such a unique set of challenges and is a long term investment asset, doing background checks and getting thorough about all the legal procedures become very important and should be performed with utmost care.
With the human population on the rise, there will always be a need for farm derived resources like food and timber. Owning a farm also facilitates a getaway from city life even if just for a day or two. It is a getaway from all the noise, pollution and dust – as a way to detox via breathing in clean air, quiet surroundings amongst nature and eating organic fruits and vegetables. These benefits of health and well-being are not something that can be calculated, rather these are essential and priceless to all.
Growing a food forest or owning farmland is not like owning just another asset. It’s a family legacy and your memories on the farmland are priceless. Make sure you choose the right partner. Returns are important.. But remember capital and your money earned is more important. Preserve the capital and enjoy the farm life, returns will automatically come. There is no better return than Peace of mind and waking up to those chirping birds.
Let us break it down for you. According to Google, ROI has a simple definition — a calculation of the monetary value of an investment versus its cost. However, Hosachiguru has a fresh and futuristic connotation of investment and returns altogether.
It is not only about monetary gains but something that cannot be measured by money or capital. Maybe you are skeptical about this farmland venture with Hosachiguru, but these returns have so much more to offer than just materialistic wealth. This is an investment that will always grow and will never stop benefiting you. There is no end maturity cap. From the moment you decide to invest until the end of your lifetime, and even after that, this green asset will continue to fetch returns for your kids and grandkids. These returns come in the form of security, a safe, eternal source of food, experience, and lessons that cannot be learned and actioned in the castles of the concrete jungle. Together, the returns from this green asset prepare you and your kids for a fulfilling life ahead.
We do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides because we do not aim to produce crops by barely keeping the land alive. Instead, we ensure that the belts of the Earth are enriched from within to withstand timely changes and produce healthy yields not just for now but also for the future. We bring to the table an ideal balance of modern technologies, traditional methods, and principles borrowed from nature itself to build and maintain these green assets. This aids us in nourishing even the deepest layers, which produces healthier and safer yields. With the assistance of a team of experts and principles pronounced by nature, Hosachiguru has managed to originate a leading-edge asset for our co-farmers.
Likewise, even from an economic standpoint, farmlands are a durable and consistent investment with only upward growth potential. These factors create a compelling case for the inclusion of the asset class in a diversified investment portfolio.
Growth in recent years has transformed thousands of hectares of arable land in the region into industrial and residential plots for glass-and-steel high-rises, resulting in high carbon output and land degradation due to the lack of moisture and nurturing of the land. In contrast, farmlands are capable of meeting these environmental challenges and mitigating their negative consequences.
Given the soil degradation, experts estimate that food production will go down by 40% in 20 years, and we know for a fact, that growing populations and incomes are only leading to a higher intake of food. It is estimated that we will need to produce at least twice the food production today in 25 years to meet the growing demands. Owning a sustainable food forest can be the best thing you can do for your family and the Earth.
With the increase in population, the need and demand for food is also rising. Hence, heavy quantities of chemical fertilizers are applied to meet these needs. Hosachiguru farmlands are a viable option for tackling long-term problems. By shifting from basic farming to more efficient, sustainable, and productive farming methods, we can avoid compromising the nutritional value of produce whilst meeting future requirements.
As per FAO, the amount of nutrition obtained by consuming 1 orange in 1990 is equivalent to consuming 20 oranges today due to chemical farming and the hybrid varieties. Growing native varieties of food are not just nutritious but also ensures that soil can be productive for generations to come.
Hosachiguru’s managed farmlands are catering to the needs of the present while building safe, authentically natural resources for the future. Owning even a quarter of the cropland will contribute more than 150 trees, each with the capacity to yield safe, secure food for future generations.
Are you still wondering about your returns for farmland investment? Think again.
Hosachiguru’s smart water management system.
Author: Sneha Gautam
Water distinguishes our planet compared to all the others we know about. We depend on water not only for life but for economic well-being as well. It plays a vital role in the creation of everything we produce. There are no substitutes for this precious resource, and while it is renewable there is only a finite amount of it.
Water management is an urgent need of the hour. Keeping this in mind, Hosachiguru provides an instrumented, interconnected, and intelligent water management system in its farmlands, which has proven to be effective and efficient in reducing costs, improving sustainability, and stabilizing the water table. They’re designed and schemed out in such a way that it is ecological in nature and mimic systems that were originally present before humans entered the natural ecosystem. This smart water management solution comprises practices that are planned to provide an apt balance of technology and traditional methods. It involves swales, gully plugs, causeways, one-rock dams, and varieties of trenches.
Recently one of our farmland projects- Dhaanvi farms was blessed with copious amounts of summer rains. Between 22nd April to 22nd May we recorded 308mm of rain.
Talking in the term of numbers – 60 Acres X 4047 Sq M X 0.308 M = 74,789 M3
That is 74,789,000 Litres of Rain Water = 8 CroreLitres
Due to our water management system, most rainwater percolated into the soil. Considering 80% efficiency, 6.4 crore liters of rainwater were harvested in 30 days which can be used to irrigate the entire parcel of farmland which is 60 acres more than 40 times.
Our management system uses traditional mechanisms and data analysis that involves watershed management and runoff volume calculation which makes it a fairly accurate strategy. We pay close attention to understanding how much water the system can hold and how much needs to be released at certain times to replenish the water table. This also enables us to build a more diversified forest with varied plant species. Hosachiguru’s intelligent water management system is based on an interdisciplinary approach that consists of interconnected structures through a series of strategically planned frameworks. Instead of allowing water to run off, these structures make sure that the water is caught where it falls on the land – either it gets percolated into the soil or is diverted to the pits, which then is used for several agricultural purposes.
These arrangements aid us in
- Treatment and management of rainwater
- Irrigation
- Rain/ Flood-water management
- Conservation and restoration
We have chalked out a functional strategy that caters to the requirements of the future without compromising the needs of the present.
Author: Sneha Gautam
Just about everyone has grown up listening to the importance of taking care of the environment. The green living movement, and a few other noteworthy causes are gaining positive momentum in the world right now. You might be wondering why green living has become so vital in today’s world. Why has this become the elephant of every room and every conversation?
Well, the hard truth is that the earth is deteriorating in more ways than one. In order to set it right and restore the balance of natural life and events, we need to take the initiative and alter our lifestyles, even just a tad bit, to support the planet’s health and create a better space for future generations. There are many ways by which this can be achieved. However, keep in mind that injecting more toxins into the Earth, in the name of restoration, is not going to take us very far. It might fetch short-term results which might appear to be promising solutions but we have to think about restoring the beauty and health of this planet by natural means in the long run.
The actual meaning of green living is to live in a way that is favorable to the planet and does not harm, or use up any of its resources excessively. This approach is all about caring for the planet and taking the initiative to set things right. At present, we are rapidly using the planet’s resources, only to make our personal lives better. Instead, imagine a combined system where we can accommodate the needs of both nature and humans – one natural system, designed the way it was meant to be, where both the systems support each other instead of fighting.
Greening life is a premier concept by Hosachiguru Managed Farmlands. An eco-conscious lifestyle centered on your daily lives and the way people express themselves as they live, work, and play green. We offer a lifestyle that caters to human needs and emotions without disrupting the laws of nature. We strive to enhance natural growth while empowering individuals to make a difference in our environment. An approach with an apt mix of modern and traditional methods. Through this new, secure, green asset, called managed farmlands, we are redefining the meaning of investment and happiness. This concept is designed to inspire people with new ideas and resources to lead them to a more sustainable life.
We are putting our best foot forward to create an ecosystem where people tend to farmlands, live, work and play sustainably, thereby leaving a greener world for future generations. To summarize, everything boils down to one simple ethos at Hosachiguru ~ Nature shouldn’t be a place to visit. It is home.
Hosachiguru’s Revamped Approach Towards Greening Life
Author: Sneha Gautam
Hosachiguru, an agricultural asset management company is announcing a radical rebranding to reflect the company’s evolution into an all-encompassing agricultural land management fraternity.
In recent years the green economy has become the alternate vision for growth and development across the globe; one that can generate economic improvements in people’s lives that are also consistent with advancing environmental and social well-being for all. With increasing health and ecological issues, people are now opting for sustainable and progressive options such as farmlands. With the changing scenario, it is more important than ever to adopt a green lifestyle.
Urban dwellers down the ages have taken inspiration from nature, and have appreciated the scraps of green space when compared to concrete and brick jungles. However, it is no secret that, in an increasingly urbanized world, people’s access to nature is dwindling. As time has passed people realize the importance of connecting back to their roots. An uprising shift in the mindset of urbanites can be seen. They are actively making more economical choices that can help them resolve these issues. Farmlands enable all the urban dwellers in contributing to the environment whilst also satisfying their need for living a safer, organic life away from city pollution, noise, and spending quality time with family away from cubicles and alarm stress. Hosachiguru understands how to green the world’s urban spaces the right way which can boost human well-being, and be a boon for the biodiversity we all depend on.
Hosachiguru is officially greening the Earth and there is doubt about it. It is a company built by eco enthusiasts for eco enthusiasts. In recent years the company has experienced a remarkable rise in people’s interest in managed farmland and complexity with a need to execute a more streamlined customer-centric approach and strategy across multiple channels with top-notch farming methods, and real-time technology using disparate data with a coordinated approach to sustainability and creativity.
If we are to maximize the benefits of nature for the world’s legion of nature-deprived city dwellers, we need to know exactly how they work. Here, too, there appears to be no simple answer. With numerous factors involved this becomes a challenging task. Hosachiguru has always been known for its unmatched production, services, and chosen settings. With efficient and effective usage of resources, the company is deemed to be the most trusted farmland partner in the fraternity by its clients and associates.
“Our vision is to methodically build out farmlands and manage resources, assets, and capabilities to address this acute need in one place with flair and eminence without disregarding the principles of nature. We’ve put together the deepest and richest end-to-end solutions and set them in place to manage the intricacies of farming, technology, data, strategy, and creativity to nurture nature and provide our co farmers with a wholesome farm life experience with fruitful yields. With this launch we are now unifying all these assets behind a clear, clean revitalized brand,” says management. The new brand will pronounce what the company stands for and captures the true essence of the Hosachiguru ethos. The revamped brand value is giving new meaning to terminologies such as ‘Earth-care, Farming, Wealth, Cherish, Investment.
We are diligently working towards aligning life with nature by building healthier ecosystems and encouraging people to live a holistic lifestyle. With proficiency to make connections that bond people amongst themselves and to nature and in doing so we enrich human and as well environmental values. After meticulous research, planning, survey, and analysis the consolidation of results provides reimagined Hosachiguru with added strengths and gumption that allows the company to put its best foot forward and enable the people associated with the company to gain a wealth of experience. For us, it is not just about the number of acres or of these green spaces, it’s about the quality of those spaces which will contribute to the fundamental principle of permaculture that is a fair share.
The rebranding includes a top-to-bottom redesign of the company’s website, logo, graphics, communications, and correspondence. Hosachiguru’s new brand assets include a simplified, green, and brown logo, along with a new tagline and other visual communications that utilize minimalistic, elegant graphics to convey the emotions of the brand.
About Hosachiguru Pvt. Ltd.
A vision turned into reality by eco enthusiasts for eco enthusiasts. Hosachiguru is a leading farmland management company. With 750 and counting customers and more than 20 thriving delivered projects.
A homegrown yet rooted company that combines an exceptional passion for agriculture with a professional pursuit to revolutionize farmland management for all those with green hearts. They walk the talk by valuing traditional methods without disregarding modern techniques. The vision is to enable and encourage individuals from all walks of life to make farming and greening a part of their lives. Hosachiguru is determined to passionately create flourishing ecosystems where individuals of all age groups can come together and cherish the treasures of nature. Hosachiguru recognizes the magic of making memories amidst nature.
Author: Nihal Anand
Many things come to one’s mind when one thinks of bees. That singular buzz in the air. The prick of the sting. The sweet smell and taste of the honey. And every child’s worst nightmare, those huge honeycombs hanging off trees. As children, we all read about how twelve worker bees would come together to produce one tablespoon of honey. While that is certainly an astonishing fact, what must also be noted is that bees are multitaskers by nature. While it’s possible (though not desirable) to imagine a world without honey, we cannot and should not be compelled to imagine a world without bees. For instance, one-third of our global food supply relies on pollinators like bees, and a world without these workaholics would face acute food shortage.Bees as Environmental Service Providers:
It takes more than just the soil, water and sunlight to facilitate food production. At least 30% of the crops, and 90% of plants in general, require cross-pollination to spread and thrive. Enter bees, our perfect pollinators. Pollination is the unity of the male pollen grain with the female egg cell. Through their pollination odysseys, bees are responsible for the production of many seeds, nuts, berries and fruits which serve as a vital food source to humans and a variety of wild animals. Without them, our gardens would be bare, our plates empty and our ecological balance disturbed.
Bees indeed play a vital part in every aspect of the ecosystem by restoring biological
diversity. They contribute largely to complex, interconnected ecosystems that allow a diverse number of species to coexist.
V.V. Belavadi, a scientist at the University of Agricultural Sciences, says India is home to nearly 796 species of bees with 40% of them endemic to the country. Unfortunately, the population of bees has been declining rapidly over the last few decades. Research at NABARD, the National Bee Board, and state agriculture departments, suggests that bees are dying from a variety of factors like pesticides, drought, habitat destruction, nutrition deficit, air pollution, global warming and more. All of these causes are of anthropogenic origin, which means it is we who are responsible for the two most prominent causes in the aforementioned list, namely pesticides and habitat loss.
How can we save the diminishing Bee population?
A natural, effective, and preventive measure would be to adopt organic farming practices in farmlands. Organic farming practices are environmentally friendly and prevent the use of harmful pesticides. Natural solutions such as compost are not only beneficial to soil health, but also mitigate potential damage to the ecosystem.
With deforestation as a consequence of the steady urbanization on the rise, one can help bolster bee habitats by preserving the existing trees and undertaking tree plantation in their area. Creating dense food forests and agroforests enables cross-pollination and can facilitate new habitats for the bee population to thrive in. No matter where one lives or what one does, there is always a way to do your bit for the bees, whilst keeping a safe distance from their sting. If everyone does their part, all of us win—bees, plants, and people, and can all work together to restore biodiversity by coexisting sustainably. A fascinating fact presented by Bee Careful, an initiative of the Hero Group says “20,000 bees swarming out of a hive several times in a day, could pollinate over 20 million flowers each day”.
If nothing else, at least for the sake of aesthetics, let’s be nice to bees.
References:
- Neff, J.L. & B. B. Simpson. 1993. Bees, pollination systems and plant diversity. In Hymenoptera and Biodiversity. J. LaSalle & I.D. Gauld, Eds.: 143–167. CAB International. Wallingford, UK.
- Michener, C. 2007. The Bees of the World, 2nd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London.
- Kevan, P.G., E.A. Clark & V.G. Thomas. 1990. Insect pollinators and sustainable agriculture. Am. J. Altern. Agric.5: 12–22
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-020-0461-3
- https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/honey-bees-feel-sting-viral-disease
Author: Dr. Ashutosh Srivastava
Soil, also known as “Skin of mother earth”, is a product of millions of years of weathering of parent rocks and transportation of minerals from far off places through wind, water, and other agents. Soil is the largest source of the medium supporting terrestrial land life forms, and comprises of the following five major components viz; minerals, water, air, organic matter and microbial life forms (Miroslav Kutílek and Donald R. Nielsen, 2015). Major functions of the soil in facilitating the survival of human race on earth can be listed as following (Hatfield et al. 2017)
Agriculture has been an activity associated with mankind for over 5500 years, and for all these years, soils have been supporting the survival of mankind without any hindrance. It is in the last two centuries that the activities of humans have resulted in severe damage to the soil, so much so that the uncultivable wastelands have increased at an alarming rate (Lal, 2003).
Causes of Soil degradation
Intensive agricultural practices that rely heavily on water, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, have caused waterlogging and salinity in many parts of the country. The expansion of the irrigation system without adequate steps for treatment of the catchment areas has exacerbated this. Soil degradation is happening at an alarming pace and is affecting regions inhabited by over one-third of the global population. This phenomenon contributes to a dramatic decline in the productivity of croplands and rangelands worldwide, thereby threatening food security and environmental quality. Soil degradation should be, therefore, considered as a major global environmental issue of this century (Labriere et al. 2015).
At this pace of soil degradation, what we would hand over to the generations to come would be terrifying in terms of its ability to support food security of the increasing populations. 33% of the Earth’s soils are already degraded and over 90% could become degraded by 2050 (FAO and ITPS, 2015; IPBES, 2018).
Reversal of Soil degradation
Soil degradation trends can be reversed by conversion to restorative land use, and adoption of recommended management practices. The strategy is to minimize soil erosion, create positive soil organic carbon and nitrogen budgets, enhance activity and species diversity of soil biota (micro, meso, and macro), and improve structural stability and pore geometry. Improving soil quality (i.e., increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) pool, improving soil structure, enhancing soil fertility) can reduce risks of soil degradation (physical, chemical, biological and ecological) while improving the environment. Increasing the SOC pool to above the critical level (10 to 15 g/kg) is essential to set the restorative trends in motion. Site-specific techniques of restoring soil quality include conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management, and continuous vegetative cover such as residue mulch and cover cropping, and controlled grazing at appropriate stocking rates. The strategy is to produce “more from less” by reducing losses and increasing soil, water, and nutrient use efficiency (Rattan Lal, 2015).
Hosachiguru has been working conscientiously on the above principles through organic management practices. The operational area of Hosachiguru lies mainly in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, which has faced immense pressure from human activities, and is characterised by poor, degraded soils. We at Hosachiguru are working to reclaim the soils in the region by going back to traditional methods of organic farming. A gift, we feel we owe to the future generations.
References:
Hatfield Jerry L. Thomas J.Sauer, Richard M.Cruse (2017) Soil: The Forgotten Piece of the Water, Food, Energy Nexus Advances in Agronomy Volume 143, Pages 1-46
Miroslav Kutílek and Donald R. Nielsen Soil: The Skin of the Planet Earth 2015 (ISBN-13: 978-9401797887) 247p Publisher : Springer
Labrière Nicolas, Bruno Locatelli, Yves Laumonier, Vincent Freycon, Martial Bernoux, (2015) Soil erosion in the humid tropics: A systematic quantitative review Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment Volume 203, 1 May 2015, Pages 127-139.
- Lal (2003) Soil erosion and the global carbon budget. Environ. Int., 29 pp. 437-450
Rattan Lal (2015). Restoring Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation. Sustainability 2015, 7, 5875-5895; doi:10.3390/su7055875. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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.