Poor quality of earthworm compost is supplied by the agriculture department. The farming methods of S N Ramaswamy Udupa is boon to the areca growers of Malnad, said Zilla Panchayat member S N Ramaswamy.

He was speaking after inaugurating Adike Bele Kshethrotsava in Koppa.

Progressive farmer Golgar Nagendra Rao said organic farming will help in retaining the fertility of the soil and helps to reap quality products.

Explaining Palekar’s farming methods, Mr Ramachandra Udupa said that he does not use fertilisers, manures, ‘soppu’ in his farm. Instead, sprinkles ‘Jeevamritha sinchana’ prepared from cow urine and cow dung. He explained the status of every arecanut plant in his farm.

He said jeevanamritha should be mixed with 10 baskets of cow dung, 2 kg cereal powder, 2 kg jaggery, little soil from the farm and 200 litres of water. The mix should be kept for one week without exposing it to the sunlight.

Such 2 barrel jeevamritha can be used for one acre of land. This will control the ‘Beruhula roga’ and the affected plants get rejuvenated. Nine quintal yield can be taken from per acre land. Earlier ,the expenditure per acre is Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, he added.