ABOUT US
Geographical significance of our place
The mountains in the Western Ghats are home to 30% of flora and fauna species found in India. Significant characteristics of the Western Ghats are an exceptionally high level of biological diversity, endemism and relatively high rate of precipitation.
Chellarkovil – this picturesque village is located in the Eastern part of Idukki district in Kerala, which is a part of the Western Ghats. Efforts of the pioneers in past established wild growing cardamom as a cultivated crop and these areas were identified and earmarked by the Government as the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR). The late 50’s witnessed migration in large scale from the Central Travancore to the High Ranges as part of a special Government programme called ‘Grow more food’.
The land being very fertile(virgin soil),versatile enough to grow diverse crops ensured a bumper harvest! By the hard work of people, grass lands were converted into productive cultivable lands of pepper, cardamom, rice, tapioca, coffee, etc. However, gradually a decline in pepper yield started. In addition, vast stretches of paddy fields diminished over the years. Plantation crops like coffee and tea suffered slash in prices for a long time. As a result,the farmer’s attention was diverted towards cardamom as a stable crop. The reason was cardamom grows faster and attract lucrative prices with the added benefit of multiple harvests in the year.
Cardamom is exported only to very few countries although it is extensively consumed in India. New market avenues has to be opened, along with new sales strategies, genuiness, purity and freshness has to be established to sell these.
Now with the looming threat of climate change and with the alarming rates in atmospheric, soil and water pollutions, cardamom cultivation is facing new challenges.
As a food produce cardamom deserves much attention right from its planting, cropping, processing, storing and shipping. Adoption and integration of organic methods in our farms are much important in this context.
Why ‘Elamala’ Bio control Lab?
Most large corporate farming methods effectively use one or two beneficial micro organisms like Trichoderma or Pseudomonas, as an example. But, now a days small labs are popping up with indigenous technology, serving our farms with an arsenal of microbial strains that provide a holistic solution which is adaptable locally.
We are located in the Idukki District of Kerala where one can see the marginal and broad acres farming side by side. A successful farming solution that we were able to present pushed us to the fore front, so far reigned by several dominant chemical companies and suppliers.
Bio control Technology loosens the chains placed on us by the big agro Industry, based on a chemical food paradigm. It brings back home the integrity of our food intake. Where else could it be as safe than using proper microbial inoculants in soil to safeguard our crops? It is the best thing that can ensure the quality, flavour and health of our produce. Here the importance of the tiny world of microbes are patiently waiting for your awakening. Arise to meet it, where living microbes play out it’s drama!. It’s a world unseen and mostly ignored. Yet these are the base of the pyramid of all life here on Earth. There’s simply no doubt that microbes feed the world!
Today, chemical insecticides play an important role in the control of various plant diseases. However, extensive use of these products have led to the disruption of ecosystems due to several factors such as death of non-target species, accumulation of pesticide residues in the environment and build up of pesticide resistance in the target species. Biological control is one of the alternatives to choose over chemical pesticides. Fungi, bacteria, parasitoids, predators and other beneficial organisms can be used for the same.
Idukki is one of the leading districts in Kerala where true farming activities are being followed for commercial production of plantation crops. The concept of starting a ‘Bio control Lab’ at Chellarcovil, in the Idukki District was much thoughtful. When this idea coined to its proponents, Mr. Tomichen M. Thomas and Mr. Sharad Patil, they spend much time in deliberations, field studies and trials. We approached the eminent Agriculture microbiologist of this time Dr.Sivaprasad (retired as HOD, Agriculture Microbiology, KAU) to materialize this Lab project for us. Periodic farm visits, interactions with farmers were all complemented in our efforts. Above all, time to establish the efficacy of various strains in the field was utmost important. From the ‘Lab to the Field’ is our motto, we adhere to it strictly. You don’t find any other place to purchase our products than ‘Elamala Biotech Lab at Chellarcovil’.
