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Leaves of Marigold for Getting Rid of Maggots
L oksarvani(Gujarati Version of Honey Bee) C/o SRISTI, Post Box No. 15050, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad - 380 015
Livestock Management 11310 Leaves of Marigold (Xeromphis uliginosa) for Getting Rid of Maggots Sometimes maggots are seen in the wounds of animals. These maggots make the animal feel restless. To cure this, Ratanben suggests the juice of ‘galgota’ (marigold) leaves.
The leaves are taken in proportion to the degree of the wound. The leaves are ground and the juice obtained is applied on the wound. If applied twice a day for two days the juice kills the maggots and the wound is healed. There are very few people in the village who know about this practice. Ratanben learned this technique from her forefathers. She suggests that if ‘galgota’ leaves are not available then ‘sitafali’ (Annona squamosa) leaves can also be used as a substitute. Use of marigold for treating sore throat, wounds & burns has been known for a long time. While the active ingredient remains unknown, scientists have found that marigold definitely fights germs and promotes wound healing. It has also been shown to reduce fever and inflammation, stimulate the immune system and the production of bile, retard tumor growth and calm the central nervous system. Marigold is an ingredient in many skin products, cosmetics and preparation for stings and frostbite (www.healthfile.com/current/tips). Farmer: Ratanben Fathehsihbhai Chaudhari, Dhanjaba, Songadh Taluka, Surat. Comm: Pravin H Rohit 11311 Ash of ‘thor’ for Intestinal Worms Intestinal worms are found in animals of all ages, but in monsoon season these worms are found more in calves and buffaloes affecting their health adversely. Milching animals give less milk. To solve this problem Shri Ramanlal Plarava of Koba in Banswada District of Rajasthan has suggested use of ash of ‘fafda thor’ (Euphorbia spp.). He burns two to three branches of ‘fafda thor’ and obtains its ash. He mixes 50 g of ash with water and gives it to the animal to drink once for two days. Shri Jaglabhai Tajubhai Barkota of the same village also uses this practice. Another treatment for intestinal worms is to "make a powder after drying the following: Holarrhena antidysentrica bark (10%), Mentha piperita leaves (10%), Tinospora cordifola (40 %), Butea monosperma seeds (20 %), Phyllanthus emblica (20%). Dose of three g each of this mixture twice a day helps eliminating the intestinal worms" (www.biznet.com). See Honey Bee 4(2&3): 6,1993, 7(1): 7, 1996, 8(2): 9,1997, 9(2): 8, 1998, 10(3): 8,1999 on practices for preventing intestinal worms. Farmer: Ramanlal Nathuji Plarava, Koba, Bagidra Taluka, Banswada. Collected during Fifth Shodhyatra by a SRISTI volunteer Crop Protection 11312 Tobacco for Pest Control in Maize Maize is the main crop in monsoon season (‘kharif’) in Sabarkantha, Panchmahal and Banaskantha districts of Gujarat. In these districts, ‘gabhmar’ (Stem borer) is the main pest that damages maize. It attacks the crop from the 20th day of sowing till maturity. Most farmers use pesticides to get rid of this pest. Rajnibhai of Modasa taluka in Gujarat has found an innovative
solution to this problem. He mixes one kg of tobacco powder with five kg of sand from the riverbank. The mixture is made moist by sprinkling 200 to 250 ml water on it. This is done to prevent the light tobacco powder from getting scattered. Twenty days after sowing the crop, the mixture is slowly put in the crown of the crop. Six kg of this mixture is sufficient for one hectare of land. Similar treatment is given on the 40 th day (from sowing) to control the pest. Approximately 100 farmers from nearby villages have started using this practice. The cost of using this technique comes to about twenty-five rupees per hectare ofland. Farmer: Rajnikantbhai Patel, 67, Jivanjoyt Society, Meghraj Road, Modasa. 11313 Natural Pesticide For the control of pest on crops, Badribhai of Savli taluka has made a natural pesticide using neem (Azadirachta indica), cow urine and lime. He takes 100 ml of neem oil; adds 75 to 100 g of detergent/soap powder to it while constantly stirring till the oil coagulates. He further adds 500 ml of cow urine, 10 litre of water and one litre of filtered lime solution to this mixtures. For preparing filtered lime solution he mixes one kg of lime and ten litre of water and stirs it well. Once the lime settles down he slowly decants the water from the top. He then mixes neem oil, cow urine and the filtered solution of lime with 15 litre of water. The mixture is then sprayed on the crop. Contd........on next page |
