Cost Effective Solution to save Coconut trees during forth coming water scarcity months due to El Niño : Olla Irrigation - Ancient Wisdom for Modern Droughts. 🏺 Echoes of Ancient Clay pot Irrigation Long before the term olla entered agricultural vocabulary, ancient Tamil farmers practiced remarkably similar methods. In Sangam‑era Tamilakam, clay vessels called “ māṇ paṇai ” or “kulam paṇai” were used to store and seep water near tree roots - especially for coconut, banana, and areca palms. These pots were often placed in earthen basins (thottam) lined with coir, husk, and leaf mulch, creating a natural moisture‑retention system. Inscriptions and temple garden records from regions like Pollachi, Thanjavur, and Madurai mention such paṇai neer vaḻi (pot‑water channels) as part of sustainable irrigation networks. This continuity of wisdom - from ancient Tamil pot irrigation to modern olla systems - shows how indigenous knowledge can guide regenerative farming in the...
The World Bank today approved a US$600 million loan to the Power Grid Corporation of India, backed by a Government of India guarantee, designed to strengthen the country’s electricity transmission system in order to increase reliable power exchange between regions and states. The Fourth Power System Development Project (PSDP IV) aims to reduce transmission losses and cut the cost of energy through further investments in transmission systems. It will also contribute to the clean energy initiative through both the ability to transfer surplus hydro energy to power deficit regions in India and relieve some of the pressure to build generation facilities, particularly in and around the major load growth centers. Despite a booming economy, India’s growth potential is constrained by inadequate electricity services and limited power generation and supply infrastructure. Over forty percent of the population is without electricity, and the cost of erratic and insufficient power supply is high for...