Background/Problem focus

In Tamil Nadu 80 per cent farmers adopting subsistence farming are unaware of nematodes.  Hence, most of the nematode problems responsible for heavy yield loss are neglected by farmers and even by Extension functionaries for want of technical skill to identify the most confusable symptoms of nematode damage and technical information to overcome the menace.  At present most of the farmers are approaching Nematological technical experts with advanced symptoms of nematode incidence in their crops after consulting either Entomologists/Pathologists owing to lack of awareness about Nematodes.   Further, soil and root samples referred by farmers from different parts of Tamil Nadu revealed that farmers are not having adequate knowledge on collection and sending of soil/plant samples for nematode assay.  Furthermore, subject Matter Specialists on Nematology is almost nil in KVKs/PCCs in Tamil Nadu.

At length awareness about nematodes, diagnosis of nematodes and their disease complexes and collection of samples for nematode analysis is very poor among farmers.  Besides there is a gap in the dissemination of technology for the management of nematodes although concrete package of practices are available for the management of key nematode pests of crops grown in Tamil Nadu.

Therefore training farmers and creating awareness on early diagnosis of nematode diseases and need to adopt suitable measures to overcome the nematode problem will be helpful to improve their crop productivity.

• Collection, packaging and referring soil/plant samples for nematode assay.
• Early diagnosis of symptoms of nematode damage and differentiating from nutrient/moisture stress (in most cases nematode damage symptoms on foliage are             related to nutrient/moisture stress conditions)
• Demonstrating control measures recommended for the management of nematodes

2. Providing technical Bulletins about nematode pests of crops and their management

3. Organizing Farm School with respective All India Radio stations in the above five districts

4. Impact assessment on awareness about nematodes, control measures adopted by the farmers     and economic return

Project goals

Imparting training to farmers on the diagnosis and management of nematodes in economically important crops will be helpful to improve farmers revenue and to avoid the economic loss of Rs 500 crores/annum due to nematodes in Tamil Nadu alone.  Organizing similar kind of mass training throughout India will result in the improvement of farmers revenue coupled with the enhancement of National economy.

Project components

About 25 progressive farmers and extension functionaries in each districts of Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai,  Tuticorin and Theni will be drafted for attending the three days training programme in each month organized at the respective Agricultural / Horticultural Colleges located in the district along with the collaboration of State Department of Agriculture/Horticulture.  Nematologist at respective Colleges and nearby Research Stations will be utilized for organizing training on the following components.

i. Target area : Agriculture - Extension Nematology -  To create awareness on nematode diseases, need to contain the same to improve the crop productivity through training and       organizing Farm Schools to the farmers and extension functionaries of Coimbatore,   Madurai, Trichy, Tuticorin and Theni districts of Tamil Nadu.

ii. Technical Programme
a. Technical presentation cum discussion between Nematologist with the farmers on

• What are nematodes?
• How they cause damage to crop plants?  
• Diagnosis of nematode symptoms and differentiating with other abiotic factors such as water deficiency, nutrient disorders etc. so as to clearly understand about Nematodes by the farmers will be given much emphasis.

b. Collection of soil and plant samples, packaging of samples for nematode assay

c. In the practical sessions, live samples of different nematode symptoms and nematodes will be exhibited so as to give hands on experience and knowledge to the farmers for getting technical knowledge on nematode damage. Technical know-how and demonstration of important management methodologies will be given in the laboratories and also in the field level.

d. A technical manual on nematodes, its diagnosis and management options for different crops with action oriented photographs will be prepared and supplied to the    farmers, which enables them to refer in their places for preliminary confirmation.

e. A “Farm school on Nematode Diagnosis and Management” will be organized with  AIR Stations in the respective districts.  In this programme 12 lessons for 12 weeks will      be broadcasted and it includes technical matters and farmers queries on nematodes problems.

f. At the end, a feed back about the awareness on nematodes, management measures  taken and economic return will be assessed.

            iii. Beneficiaries :

• Farmers
• Extension functionaries

Deliverables

Technical bulletin comprising details on nematodes, symptoms of damage, management strategy etc will be provided to the farmers and extension functionaries attending the training programme.

Measurable outcome

1. Improvement on farmers skill in the diagnosis and management of nematode problems
2. Proper identification and management practices to contain nematode diseases by the farmers will result in preventing the avoidable yield loss due to nematodes.
3. The knowledge gained by the extension functionaries will disseminate the nematode management technologies to other farmers to improve economic return
4. Subsequently, there will be improvement in farmers revenue.

Contact:

Director,
Centre for Plant Protection Studies
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Coimbatore – 641 003
Phone: 0422-6611237 0422-6611437
Fax: 0422-6611437
E-mail: directorcpps@tnau.ac.in