FESTIVAL OF PLANTS & FLOWERS at SFX School Complex, Siolim-Goa, from 25 to 27 August, 2012

[Miguel Braganza]

Dears,

The theme for the 21st year celebration of the FESTIVAL OF PLANTS & FLOWERS from 25 to 27 August, 2012, is BIODIVERSITY as seen on a Mattolli at Ganesh Chaturthi.

The competition will be for projects on Natural Pest Management using plant materials and other organisms.

The projects are for two categories of students:

1. Up to SSC [High School]

2. Std. XI & Std XII [HSS]

The students must have a poster to explain the NPM item and how to use it; specimen of the plant or organism and two students must be present on Saturday 25 August morning to explain the project to the panel of judges.

Some books on this subject are available at the Other India Bookshop, above Mapusa Clinic, Mapusa, and at Broadway Book Centre, Panaji. Information is also available in the book GROWING VEGETABLES ORGANICALLY published by the GREEN HERITAGE Eco Club of SFX School with the support of Green Essentials, Taleigao. Besides the above two bookshops, copies are on sale at the school in Siolim, Varsha Bookstore [near Azad Maidan/Bank of India], Panaji and Vardaan, opp. Kadamba Bus Stand, Margao. 

Information on Fungal Bio-Control Trichoderma viride, Beauvaria bassiana, Hirsutella thomsonii, etc is available on the internet Extract from flowers of a Ocimum sp plant closely related to the Tulsi make a good pheromone for the fruit-fly trap. The common Ruiee plant [Calatropis gigantea] latex is used against sucking insects and the Marigold [Tagetes sp] has many uses including nematode control. 

The SFX festival has been postponed by one week because Monday, 20 August is Id holiday and 18 to 20 August becomes a "long weekend" when people may travel out for a break.  

There will be the competition and display of ornamental and flowering plants from the students of SFX school and adult hobby gardeners from the village of Siolim.

We hope to display pot grown cucurbits [pumpkins, cucumber, melons and gourds] with a bamboo trellis mounted from within the pot as well as pot grown fruit plants with fruits available this season as an inspiration for those living in apartments. Those who have attended the Green Essentials-Miguel Braganza workshop at International Centre-Goa, Dona Paula, are familiar with the set up and how to do "square lashing" the way Boy Scouts do. There were two Earthoholics from Mumbai there, too. You can also learn it [and/or mango grafting] at Mahamaya Nursery & Agri. Farm at Sal-Bicholim on Sunday 22 July, 2012 from 10.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. Advance registration is a must. SMS your name and interest [trellis or grafting or both ] to 9822982676 by 19 July. You will get two months to grow and display your achievement at Ganesh Chaturthi .... and you can have full grown plant with the fruit/vegetable by the time the Botanical Society of Goa's annual PLANT UTSAV comes to town.

Mog asundi

Miguel

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Miguel A. Braganza, House No.5/4-A

Opposite Zonal Agriculture Office & Farm

Xettiavaddo, MAPUSA- 403507 Goa. INDIA
Ph +91-9822982676; 91-832-2255139

www.brittosoba.com www.konkanfruitfest.com

www.pgsorganic.in www.ifoam.org/inofo
Horticulture.Facilitation.Networking
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