Recent Success Story: TURMERIC HARVESTER – An Innovative Farmer’s Pride

Background: Mr. P. Ramaraj is practicing farming since 1980. He is cultivating crops like Turmeric, Vegetable, Banana and Sugarcane. Turmeric is one of the major crops in his field. This crop is annual and remunerative but highly labour oriented crop. 300 (112 male and 190 female)  labours are require for an acre of cultivation of turmeric crops  including  sowing, weeding, earthing up, fertilizer and pesticide application, watering and harvesting, boiling, drying and polishing. Due to recently emerged labour scarcity in agriculture activities, farming work could not be carried out in time especially during harvesting season. If it is not harvested in time, crops can be damaged by the fungal diseases. It results in yield loss. He has faced this situation many times and incurred heavy yield loss. Therefore to manage this situation, he conceived alternative solution in harvesting of Turmeric crop. Thereby, he developed equipment named ‘Turmeric harvester’ in March 2010 after three years of his continuous efforts in developing the same. The cost incurred in developing the equipment accounts to Rs.20,000.00.

The harvester can be easily operated with the support of power tiller. Though it is small, adaptability and transportation of the machine is easy. During machine operation, less consumption of fuel is observed. By using the harvester for harvesting turmeric rhizome, there is chance to reduce the female labour for harvesting. By using the harvester, around Rs.7500.00 per acre can be saved in terms of labour. The Benefit cost ratio worked out comes to1:3.

Advantages:

Recognition:

Contact Address:

Shri P. Ramaraj,
S/o Mr.Pongianna gounder,
Kothukaarar thottam,
Anthiyur Pudupalayam,
Kettisamudram post, Anthiyur TK,
Erode District
Mobile No: +91 98651 71790

Recent Success Story: Mechanization in Managing Cattle Resources

Background: Mechanization in managing cattle resources (Dung + Urine) and reduce input cost in sugarcane cultivation developed by Mr. G.R. Sakthivel of Erode District. The filtering system consists of four compartments. The first section is meant for collection of cow dung and urine mixing.  After through mixing the solution is being sent to second compartment for first filtration. In this compartment the solid matter is used for biogas production and the upper part solution is then allowed for next compartment where jaggery is added for fermentation. In the fourth compartment the clear enriched filtrated medium is collected and used for field though drip system

Practical utility of innovation: By adopting this technology the farmer can save Rs.27, 000/acre by reduction of labour and fertilizers through application of recycled cow dung and urine solution by filtration techniques. Field application with drip irrigation instead of manual operation also adds advantage to the innovation. By adoption of this technology water holding capacity is increased, the earth worm multiplied well in the field. This crop would be allowed as ratoon for longer time, by the way it reduces the cultivation cost for subsequent years

Recognition

Contact Address:

Shri G.R.Sakthivel,
S/O K.Ramasamy Gounder,
149, Ganeshapuram,
Gettavadi(P.o),Talavadi (Via),
Sathyamangalam(T.K),
Erode District - 638 461
Mobile : +91 94863 16041

Cotton Farmers Field School (FFS) 2008 –A Farmers Participatory extension strategy for dissemination of cotton technology in Erode district

Background:

To inculcate cotton technology to the farmers, Farmers Field School approach has been adopted at four villages namely Erangattuthottam, Pudupalayam, Thaneerpandal and Chellampalayam of Anthiyur block of Erode district. Surabi and MCU-5 are the ruling varieties of this region. The cost of cultivation is high due to excessive use of pesticides and unavailability of agricultural labours, which are the major issues faced by the cotton farmers in this area.

Though a wholistic approach in cotton cultivation was being imparted, IPM technologies were emphasized as Pests and Diseases are the major cause for the indiscriminate use of pesticides. 100 farmers from four different villages were identified and four collaborators were selected from four respective villages. The short studies and long term experiments proposed were carried out in their field (Collaborator field).

Interventions:

Capacity building and demonstrations in all aspects of cotton cultivation viz., suitable varieties for the region, utility of cotton farm implements (Rotovator, power weeder), land preparation and seed treatment, proper spacing, mulching, skip furrow irrigation ,thinning (1-2 seedling/hole), scattered sowing of maize, fermented castor trap solution, Trichogramma chilonisegg card release, micronutrient spray(for Cotton reddening), plant growth regulator spray (for Square dropping) and NPV application method were imparted to the FFS farmers. The CMRC (Community managed resource centre), a federation of SHGs and farmers group managed by the KVK was highly helpful in locating the active cotton growers of the district and also in organizing and conduct the Farmers Field School.

20 weekly sessions were held in which AESA (Agro ecosystem analysis) a regular feature was carried out every week in the field with the participation of FFS farmers to analyze the abiotic and biotic stress on the plant. The observations (Biometric and Fauna population) recorded in the field (Sub group) were pooled and the subsequent operations and conclusions were arrived by the farmers themselves.

Farmers Experience:

Duraisamy from Erangattuthottam village opined that before attending the Farmers field school, he was not able to identify the insects in the field. Through Farmers field school, he came to know about the cotton pests and their natural enemies and their differentiation. Before attending the Farmers field school, he used to go for 6-7 chemical sprays in the field. But this time, he had sprayed only once. The cotton plants beard more squares and bolls. Through Farmers Field School; he said that he has developed the ability to take crop management decision by his own.

Padmavathi from Adireddiyur village said that all these days, whenever the farmer come  across any insect or disease problem in cotton, he/she fetches chemicals from shop and sprays in his/her field. After the intervention of MYRADA-KVK through Front line demonstration and FFS in cotton, they don’t buy chemicals from shop instead, prepare organic amendments like panchakavya, Jeevamirtham, vermicompost and botanical pest repellant at their own farm and use them. By using these organic amendments, the cotton plants looked healthy with decreased incidence of insects and diseases.  Padmavathi said that she got a yield of 12 quintals of cotton seed lint from an acre of land this particular year.

Seethalakshmi from Adireddiyur village expressed that earlier she used to apply inorganic fertilizers like urea, potash and DAP to the cotton field. But after the cotton soil being tested and through the capacity building programmes (through FFS), inorganic fertilizers like urea, potash were decreased and usage of organic amendments like farm yard manure, neem cake were used by which  the plant looked healthy with optimum yield (8 q/ha).

Kumar from Adireddiyur village is a regular participant of Farmers field school. He said that apart from agricultural activities, the exposure being given on allied activities like mushroom cultivation, azolla cultivation and vermicompost production was very much helpful in enabling him to take up a self employment activity. He reported that he is earning RS.1000 every month by selling vermin compost.
            
Impact: 

Farmers in the learning process - Technological up gradation in cotton through Farmers Field School approach

Case study on   Integrated Farm Development

Background:  Integrated Farm Development is an innovative concept in farming wherein integration of various resources (farm waste) is utilized in order to reap maximum benefits out of them. The transition strategy or technique from inorganic agriculture to organic agriculture is being adopted in this approach.
In the year 2001, MYRADA-KVK initiated the IFD Programme based on the low external input sustainable agriculture (LEISA) concept. The main objective of the IFD is the effective utilization and recycling of farm wastes and resources. Farmers’ needs are numerous and different. Our KVK has made an attempt to converge the multidisciplinary approach towards each individual farmers need through experimentation of IFD at their farm level. In order to accomplish this task, MYRADA-KVK had developed linkage with various resource institutions like TNAU, DRDA, UNICEF, KVIC and ministry of Food and Civil supplies. These resource institutions have attributed to the success of the Programme whose resources have been pooled together in the IFD Programme. 

Implementation of IFD was taken up by our KVK with the participation of community based organizations, SHGs and farmers group who actively took part in the Programme. People from line departments, NGOs and farmers of the state and also from other parts of the country visited the IFD villages, convince the concept and expressed willingness in replication of IFD in their locations. The journey of IFD started in 2001 with 8 number of farm families and now after seven years has spread to 58 villages with 735 farm families. 

Success Story of Mr. Nagesh: Mr.Nagesh is one among the best practitioners and having the real thirst of disseminating the concept of IFD among other farmers. Mr. Nagesh and family living in M. P. Doddi village of Talavadi block, is a member of Basweswara sangha. He has adopted the technology in 2001 with the technical intervention of MKVK. He had been exposed to various fields of progressive farmers in the district and capacity building program which were being given to him as critical inputs of MKVK. This Case study has the experience of this young and energetic farmer.

Intervention
Mr.Nagesh has followed maximum interventions of IFD in order to utilize the farm and Home waste to convert them as valuable wealth. The interventions and the process are explained in the following flow Diagram

Process of Integrated Farm Development

Biogas: 
Biogas not only recycling the farm resource but also saves time and energy in reducing drudgery of rural women. Biogas is well managed and sustained in proper way at Mr. Nagesh family. It was started in 2004 to replace the fire wood way of traditional cooking. Mr. Nagesh, is a family head and panchayats ward member says, before the implementation of biogas he use to carry 45-50 kgs of firewood from nearby reserve  forest along with his wife carrying 20-25 kgs per week. Drudgery reduction is one of major impact of Biogas and the family members proudly say that they could save around Rs 500 per month from buying LPG gas and we also helping to conserve our nature through this eco-friendly way of cooking. Mr. Nagesh’s family daily uses 15 kgs of cow dung to produce Biogas which is good enough for four members’ family, further cow dung is recycled through vermin-compost processes.

Biogas - a way in recycling the cowdung and create hygienic and healthier life.

Vermicompost: 
Mr. Nagesh and family uses organic farm wastes effectively with many IFD components, one such program is Vermi-compost, where they use earth worms to convert organic waste to effective nutrient rich manure. Here they use the effluents of biogas and other farm matters like leaves, crop residues etc. Mr. Nagesh challenges that he can do eco-friendly agriculture in three acres of land with the help of this vermicopst manure, without any chemical fertilizers. The proper utilization of farm waste not only increased the farm production but also in hygienic of the family have improved a lot says Nagesh wife a farming women. Here the family using this vermicompost for cultivation of crops likes Potato, Onion, Turmeric and garlic. 

“Earth worm-beyond farmer’s friend becomes our family friend”

Cowshed with urine collecting pit
Mr. Nagesh is having 4 cows in his farm. Before KVK intervention they tie their animals in unhygienic cattle shed and resources from cows were wasted. But now he improved his cattle shed through which the animal resources are effectively collected and utilized.

Mr. Nagesh says after constructing the cattle shed that daily 20 kg of cow dung and 10-15 liters of urine are harvested effectively. This helped him to produce/replace 

Another farmer, Rani (wife of Mr. Nandesh) said that now their cows look healthy and free from diseases. Earlier they used to spend on an average Rs.500/month for medical treatment of the animals but now there is no such expense for medication.

Panchagavya: 
Mr. Nagesh also prepares Panchagavya on need basis and applying turmeric field,which shows the effective utilization of resources from his cow.

Rain water harvesting:
Rain water harvesting is another intergraded component existing in this particular household where they store 10 thousand liters during rainy days which around four to five months period. 

The simple man Mr. Nagesh says that he prefers to drink this rain water, which pure and uncontaminated and dependency on public water has reduced by this storage system. Other than that they use this water for cattle feeding, cooking, washing and other household purposes. When the counterperson asked about the contamination Mr. Nagesh said that the water tank is with airtight lid which avoids or protects water from sunlight exposure, which prevents microbes and other aquatics from growing inside the tank. In this way he has reduced the maintenance labor. It was MYRADA KVK’s interventions and guidance which lead us to carry out these components with confidence.

“I am not ready to waste even single unit of natural of resources, 
Which are enriching our lives” – Mr. Nagesh 
Eco-san: 
The simple man who appeared in Makkal TV (A private television channel), have not stopped with only these, further he also cooperated and experimented the implementation of Eco-san toilet at his Home.

 The effective utilization of Eco-san toilet wastes can be used as manure in agriculture field, in this way Mr. Nagesh used that decomposed manure into the fodder fields.
In comparing with his father and grand father Mr. Nagesh said that they were lived only with these cattle and farms without any chemical fertilizers used, I use wonder sometimes why can’t we live a same life now, as a result of it, now I am doing all eco-friendly farming. In adding to this he also said that, the cow and goats which he rears are country varieties which have many advantages for farming communities than of hybrids. He recalls about earlier days where he could only produce far less amount of manure and which also sold to outsiders, because of ignorance and unaware of organic farming system. So now he utilizes all farm wastes to produce vermin-compost and use them for his own farming fields.

IFD component wise classification in KVK operational area