OPERATION KAACHA BADAM

OPERATION KAACHA BADAM

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

17/VI/2024

A lot has been said about the environmental degradation and its ill effects. How could we contribute to it has been on our minds always? We can proudly claim that our family has not only produced enough oxygen for ourselves but for many neighbours by planting trees every year for many years.

Three years back when we moved into our colony in the Sun City. We found that though the area was green, there was scope to plant many more trees. Storms & vagaries of weather had left a lot of gaps.

Our small goal that year was to plant ten trees. The variety mattered. It had to be one which needed minimum water as we live in an arid zone. Besides, it should need least maintenance and looking after, almost like ‘plant it’ and ‘forget it’. We came up with an idea suggested by nature itself.

Neem being the state tree of Rajasthan and can grow in the toughest and harshest of conditions. During the first monsoon we saw neem saplings sprouting from the ground on their own from its fruit called ‘nimboli’ under a grand old neem tree nearby.

If they could survive without being cared for, they definitely would do much better if looked after. We dug out about ten of them from their roots and transferred them to vacant places infront of our house. Today, one of them lives to tell its tale.

With this as the motivation, we collected Moringa seeds and sprouted them as our next project. We raised the target to fifteen trees. Two, we planted infront of our house and the rest we distributed in the colony. Both of ours have survived. All those who took the saplings would be taking good care.

The third year, we experimented with fruits which we bought from the market. The seeds were not thrown away. Mango was a success, but litchee, plum, apricot & peach did not live to tell their tales. Papaya too survived and shall be fruiting soon. Aim was not to get fruit but shade and shelter for birds.

This year our plan is to plant around fifty trees. It will be a mix of Moringa, neem and mango etc. If the colony residents respond well, we could double this figure.

Aim plus was to add a few shady and ornamental trees. For which Amaltas or golden shower plant has already been planted. Out of ten saplings one has survived. Looking forward to it turning into a full-grown tree. Wish us luck.

When the intentions are good then nature also helps you. While sipping tea, my wife and I spotted a few ‘Almond sprouts’ under the almond trees right infront of our house.

The fruit was dropped by parrots/naturally and sprouted on their own. This variety has been a success here as it is an arid zone variety. They provide a lot of shade, nestling place, food, besides protecting our pots from the scorching sun in summer.

An idea struck, why not transfer the baby almond plants into grow bags. We pounced on the opportunity.

After the outer cover of the fruit has been eaten by parrots, the fruits drop to the ground below. The hard shell got decomposed, leaving the kernel or seed exposed in the soil. Nature sprouted them.

We found more than fifteen healthy sprouts jutting out of the soil. Without wasting time, they were dug and inserted in grow bags and left to settle down in shade. They are about six to eight inches now and will soon mature. Rainy season will be the best time for their distribution.

We did it just in time because the ‘hedge trimmers’ of the horticulture department would have sheared these baby plants without remorse or pity.

This ‘lucky catch’ of Almond saplings made our day. We named it ‘OPERATION KAACHA BADAM’. Should we give it another name? I wonder!!!!!!