COUPLE CREATE GREEN PARADISE

COUPLE CREATE GREEN PARADISE
Two retired UAS professors grow new species of seeds that transform barren land into green pasture in GKVK campus
NIRANJAN KAGGERE


Amere four seeds sowed by a couple have transformed barren land into an evergreen pasture.
When septuagenarian couple, Dr Shyamasundar Joshi and Dr Shanta Joshi, both retired professors of University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), sowed the seeds of ‘Simarouba glauca’ or Paradise tree, an exotic species native to Latin America, little did they realise its implications.
FOOD, MEDICINE
The former Botany professors, who sowed Simarouba seeds in the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK) campus as part of their research, found the tree fulfilled human needs through its uses as food, medicine, energy and fertiliser.
The trees have also helped in the sustainable development of environment by converting barren land into fertile agricultural zones. Overwhelmed by its uses, the couple call it ‘Mother Simarouba’.
For this couple, who live in RT Nagar, their day begins early. They catch the first bus to GKVK. On reaching there, they take out their 1980 model Luna, go around the Simarouba plantations until afternoon and observe them closely.
GROWTH UNHINDERED
The couple ensure there is no hindrance to their growth, be it saplings or grown trees. “It is a new experience every day. When we touch and feel the tree by standing before it, it teaches us a new lesson,” says Dr Joshi.
After returning home in the afternoon, they begin documentation work. While Dr Shanta begins to discover medicinal values of the plant, Dr Joshi evaluates its economic and environmental viability.
Recalling the journey they began to accomplish the green mission, Dr Joshi said it all began with four seeds. “Then GKVK director (research) Dr K Krishnamurthy got us four seeds from Bhubaneshwar and asked us to conduct research on them. We sowed the seeds - hitherto unknown to many - but forgot to nurture them,” he said.
SPROUTS SANS HELP
In 1993, the couple again went back to them when they started bearing fruit without any treatment. “With analysis and tests conducted on the seeds and oils obtained through the fruit, we concluded this tree could bring about both environmental and economical revolution if taken up on large scale,” said Dr Joshi, who retired in 2000.
Buoyed by its initial success, they expanded the scale of their research by planting Simarouba saplings in the GKVK campus. Everyone laughed at the couple, but none interfered with their work.
They grew the trees at six different places in the campus spanning 10 acres of land. Today there are more than 2,000 trees. “Once in every three years, the university renews the research contract and we are grateful to them for motivating us,” the couple said.
“While every project on the campus comes with a funding, this is the only project with no financial support,” says Dr Shanta, who retired in 2004.
In April, the trees bear fruit and are ready for harvest. The profit, which is about Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000, is audited and submitted to the varsity. “We do not want anything. We get pension and our children are well settled. Our only wish is to spread the message of this wonderful tree which is capable of doing miracles, especially in drylands,” says Dr Joshi.
DRAWING INSPIRATION
The couple have inspired many to take up cultivation of this tree on a large scale. Farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have taken up to growing Simarouba in a big way. “We help them by providing inputs like seeds and saplings. At Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, and Amaravathi in Maharashtra, some have grown these trees on 30-40 acres of barren land which are now fertile pastures,” Dr Joshi said.
“When we grew them in the campus, there was not even a blade of grass. Now, it is green all through the year,” he added.
PARADISE TREE USES
Cholesterol-free oil; is used as edible vanaspati in bakery industries across the US Fruit pulp can be used for making beverages, jam, ethanol Crude oil can be blended with diesel to generate bio-diesel Oil cakes can be used as biomass Shells of seeds can be used as fuel in thermal power stations Leaves from tree can be used as organic manure
Different parts of the tree are capable of curing initial stages of cancer, asthma, gastritis, ulcers, diarrhoea, malaria and chikungunya.
Stems and branches of tree can be used to make furniture