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Pineapple cultivation

In Kanyakumari District Pineapple is cultivated in an area of 500 ha as pure crop, and intercrop in young rubber and coconut plantations.  Generally in Pineapple irregular flowering is a common problem under poor management conditions. Hence, proper nutrient management and  hormonal stimulus is necessary to obtain good yield.  But mainly being a component crop in rubber and coconut based cropping system proper management practices were not adopted by the farmers. It made pineapple cultivation as a non profitable one and ultimately reflected in considerable reduction in area.    At this situation the Krishi Vigyan Kendra identified the problems through farmers interview and conducted training programmes on improved cultivation and value addition techniques.  Apart from that OFT and FLD programmes were also conducted for the past three years at Kaliyal, Malavilai and Burliar villages on Integrated Nutrient Management practices and growth regulator application for induction of uniform flowering and to increase the yield. 

Details of technology

FYM- 25 t/ha, Azophos 50 g/plant along with 20:5:12 g NPK/plant. Urea 2 % + 20 ppm Ethrel (50ml / plant) as Crown application followed by Planofix 100ppm spray after the flower initiation and during fruit development. 

Experimentation

This technology on nutrient management growth regulator treatment was demonstrated as OFT during 2004-05 at Malavilai village in an area of 1 ha at 5 farmers field.  Along with integrated nutrient management urea and ethrel application stimulated flowering in the unflowered pineapple gardens.  Subsequently the next two years 2005-06 and 2006-07 the trial was conducted at Kaliyal and Burliar villages as FLD in an area of 2 ha in 10 farmers field.  Yield and quality was assessed interns of size, weight, colour, eye appeal and sweetness (TSS obrix) of the fruit.
Results and farmers feed back

Nutrient and growth regulator application improved flowering and ultimately increased the yield.  The net profit was also increased.  The Pineapple farmers are satisfied with this technology and expressed that it is highly profitable and very easy to adopt.  One of the respondent farmer Thiru. P. Hentry of Malavilai is now practicing this technology in his 60 acre farm and proved that pineapple farming is a money spinner.

Spread of the technology

The technology demonstrated in an area of 5ha now spreaded very fastly over an area of 200 ha.  The productive potential of the technology was tapped by majority of the rubber growers and they have started pineapple cultivation in their rubber plantations as a alternative to banana intercrop.  When compared to banana cultivation pineapple cultivation is cost effective also.  Tremandous scope is there in Kanyakumari District for the promotion of pineapple cultivation not only a source of livelihood, but as an agribusiness. The small farmers are getting land on lease basis from Govt. Rubber Corporation and rubber estates cultivating pineapple in large scale as a intercrop.
           
Success Stories- II

Mushroom cultivation – an additional enterprise to farmers of Kanyakumari District

Background
Farmers of Kanyakumari district traditionally growing crops like paddy, banana, tapioca, coconut rubber etc. in their farms.  Most of the farm holdings are very small i.e less than one acre and the farmers earnings are much less.  The perennial crops like coconut and rubber occupies 70 -80 % of farm areas.  In these perennial crops, the farmers are getting very less farm work than annual crops like paddy.  In this condition, mushroom cultivation was introduced directly through training to farming community by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pechiparai.  In addition, the NGO group, PASA at Pulipanam also trained.

Interventions
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra intervened in such a way that mushroom bed preparation has been given to a single group rather than individuals on cost basis for further maintenance and production of mushroom.

Impact
Horizontal spread:  The training on mushroom cultivation and spawn production has motivated the NGO group to start their own spawn production and bed preparation unit at Pulipanam through DRDO funds.  Through this unit, more than 21 SHG groups operating under PASA are directly getting the mushroom beds at the cost of Rs.18/- per bed.  The beds were maintained by the individuals and the mushrooms obtained from the beds were sold in to the local market and hotels.  The profits obtained were shared within the SHG members.

Economic gain
The Oyster mushroom grown by the SHG members are priced at the rate of Rs.80/- per kg.  The approximate gain obtained from one kg of mushroom was Rs.40/-.

Employment generation
Self employment was generated among the farmers and 21 SHG members

Success Stories- III

Nursery

Nursery production is an attractive farm enterprise provides much scope for self employment of rural youth and women. The enterprise requires little area and least initial investment. But technical knowledge and access to the produce (Planting material) are important to start the enterprise. Considering the demand for production of quality planting material and the need for creation of employment in the field of horticulture, vocational training on nursery techniques were conducted in the duration of 10 and 21 days to the women Self Help Groups and rural youth of Kanyakumari  district.

Being equipped with the nursery skills by the training programmes the SHG (Agastiar Sanjeevi vana muligai group) started a nursery unit in an area of 40 cent with the buyback arrangement of their produce. They are concentrating mainly on the production of medicinal plants, jatropha, punnai and forest tree species like teak and Albizia. They are producing the nursery plants on order basis and getting approximately a monthly income of Rs.1800/-. Medicinal plants like kacholam, vilvam, Plumbago, Ravolfia, Neelamari, Stevia,  Aloe vera, Alpinia and vettiver are produced in large scale. Apart from producing nursery plants they are maintaining more than 60 high value medicinal plants and ornamental plants.

Similarly Surya Self Help Group of Pechiparai is also started during 2006-07 rubber nursery in an area of 10 cents and earning Rs. 6, 000 per year.  After attending 21 days training programme during 2005-06 Mr. Sasikumar, Sarode, Thuckalay has started a nursery unit for the production of ornamental plants, Casuraina, Jasmine and cut flowers like heliconia and orchids. He is earning an average of Rs. 2000/ month. Mr. V. M. Kumarasamy of Vairakudiruppu is maintaining a coconut nursery and selling seed nuts and earning more than Rs. 21, 000 per year. After attending 5 days training programme during 2006-07 Mr. C. Sugumaran, a tribe from Orunooranvayal village has started a nursery unit for the production of rubber plants and pathimugam. He is earning an average of Rs. 12,000/ Year.

Case study – I

Title    :     Coconut Farming in Kanyakumari District

Background

In Kanyakumari district coconut is the major crop occupies an area of 25,000 ha in which more than 75 per cent of the holdings are below one ha. and the average yield is 50-nuts/palm/year, which is only half of what is realized in experimental fields. The income and employment derived from such small holdings is quite insufficient to sustain the dependant families. Despite its importance and wide spread cultivation, the crop is not quite profitable, due to inefficient farming practices. In a situation where the coconut industries threatened with recurring uncertainties the need for the farm practice, timely and sustained transfer of technologies and extend of field adoption of the recommended practices that augments the coconut farming as a profitable venture becomes very essential and most urgent.  Thus the KVK made a study analyse the constraints the coconut farming and provided recommended needs to overcome the problems and to make coconut farming as a remunerative one. 

Constraint analysis   

A survey was conducted in all the 9 blocks of the district and the information about the constraints in coconut farming were collected from the farmers (180 Nos.), extension officials (10 Nos.) and coconut traders (10 Nos.) through pre-tested questionnaires. The problems were classified as management, technical and socio-economic problems.  The criteria followed for problem identification and prioritization are the extent, severity, importance and frequency of the problems prevailed in the existing farming conditions.  The rank-wise problems identified are as follows:

Management problem
Pests and disease

Redpalm weevil

Scale insect

Ganoderma wilt

Socio-economic and technical problems

Interventions

            The first line transfer of technology involves training programmes and demonstrations for farmers and extension personnel on different cropping systems, nutrient, irrigation and pest management, recycling of palm waste through vermicomposting technology, value addition and by-product utilisation.
Technology

Pests and disease management

Based on the research findings the following IPM package is recommended for the management of red palm weevil, Scale insect and Ganoderma wilt disease.
For the management of red palm weevil,

For the control of scale insect,

To manage the Ganoderma wilt disease,

Apart from that the following management practices are recommended for the overall control of the pest and diseases.

Intercropping/mixed cropping in coconut

Integrating banana and medicinal plants substantially enhance the food production and income in the existing perennial tree based cropping system.  Hence, the companion intercropping with crops like banana, thippili and mango ginger is recommended to improve the productivity and profitability of coconut farming.

Micronutrient management through root feeding of TNAU Coconut tonic
The TNAU Coconut tonic contains most of the major and micronutrients namely nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron and molybdenum in right proportion, in addition an auxin and salicylic acid as growth regulators. Since the acidity of the tonic suit the sap of the tree, the tonic directly enters into the matabolic stream. 

The tonic is applied in 200 ml sachets, each for a single tree.  The price of one sachet of 200 ml is Rs.5/-.  The sachets can be used within 30 days without any loss of quality from the date of supply.  The root feeding of tonic improves photosynthetic efficiency, metabolic activity and growth of trees.  Further it decreases button shedding due to hormonal imbalance.  It also increases the resistance to pests, diseases and environmental stresses.  The number and size of nut is increased due to balanced nutrition.

Coconut climber
Due to labour scarcity, the farmers and growers found difficult to harvest the coconuts in time and also the cost of harvest is high.  One Kerala and TNAU model mechanical device of coconut climber was introduced by Krishi Vigyan Kendra for the harvest of coconuts. A total of 8 trainings programmes were conducted and 216 rural youths including 11 SC/ST were trained. 

Impact

Horizontal spread

Economic gains

Employment generation

Off Season Flower Induction in Jasmine- A Money Spinner

Kanyakumari district, located in the southern tip of peninsular India, is blessed with warm humid tropical climate and well distributed rainfall. Commercial flower crops like Jasminum sp., Rose, Tuberose, Marigold and Nerium are cultivated in Agasteeswaram and Thovalai taluks in which Jasmine (Jasminum sambac) is occupying nearly 52%of the area.
The flowering process in Jasmine is highly seasonal and is influenced by several factors like environment, pruning, nutrition, growth regulating hormones and other management practices. The peak flowering season is from March-June. The production of flowers is high during the main season and the price is very low i.e., Rs.15 - 30/kg. Some time, the profit obtained during the main season is not adequate to meet out the cultivation or even the harvest expenses. During the off season i.e., from July – December, the production is very low but the demand and price is high (Rs 150-450/kg) as the season coincides with festivals like Onam, Navarathiri, Deepavali, and Chirstmas. The demand for the jasmine flowers and perfume in the domestic as well as in the international market necessitates its production throughout the year in large scale. Hence, to make jasmine cultivation as a profitable venture the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kanyakumari formulated an integrated crop resource management strategy for the induction of flowering in the off season.
Details of Technology

Thiru. K. Suresh a progressive jasmine farmer of Thovalai village has very well recognized the basic principles and economic benefits of the technology and he realized 46.94% yield increase with a net profit of Rs.2,07,000/ha during 2005-06. Being inspired by the economic advantage of this technology the near by farmers were also involved in the adoption of the technology.
During 2006-07 the technology was demonstrated at Kannappanallur village at 10 locations. Thiru. K. Tamilselvan, an innovative and very enthusiastic farmer while sharing the results of the technology with others told, this is the way for my life. He generated a net profit of Rs.2,22,000/ha with 42.0% yield increase. 
Similarly during 2007-08, the technology was demonstrated at Kumarapuram village at 10 locations. An intensive farmer, M. Duraikannan. obtained a profit of Rs. 2,11, 000/ha with a benefit cost ratio of Rs.4.23 per rupee investment.
Impact
i) Economic gain
The technology recorded 38.2-46.94% yield increase over the farmer practice with a net profit of Rs.2,07,000 to 2,46,500/-. Since the off-season flowering coincides with festivals like Onam, Navarathri, Deepavali and Christmas the market price goes even up to Rs.250/kg or more as against Rs.15 – 20/- in the main season i.e, March – April  and made jasmine cultivation as a profitable venture.
Horizontal spread
As the technology is very simple, cost effective and produced a BCR of 4.41 per rupee investment in it registered 33% adoption in Kanyakumari and near by Thirunelvelli District.
Employment Generation
By the adoption of this technology flower production is possible almost throughout the year. Hence, employment opportunities are there for the labours who are engaged in crop management and harvest activities.
The production potential of the off season flower induction is to be realized and tapped by majority of the Jasmine farmers throughout the state. Income generation on such a vast magnitude through off season flower induction technology should be an eye opener to all, who are associated with Jasmine farming.

Mechanical Coconut Harvester –A Boon to the Farmers of Kanyakumari district

In Kanyakumari district, coconut is the major crop and is cultivated in about 24,000 hectares. In recent years, harvesting of coconuts in correct stage and time is found difficult due to labour scarcity. The traditional method of coconut climbing is cumbersome, risky and less effective, because of high energy consuming process. The younger generations are not showing interest to engage them in this activity because of poor respect in the society. The aged people alone are doing traditional harvest. Often these aged people fall from coconut palms leading to permanent handicap (or) death.

In this juncture, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kanyakumari introduced the mechanical coconut harvesting device and various trainings and demonstrations were conducted in different locations of the district to create awareness. A total of 21 numbers of trainings and demonstrations were conducted in 20 villages of the district. A total number of 331 men and 83 women participated in the programmes. There are two models of mechanical coconut harvesting device viz., (i) TNAU model and (ii)  Kerala model.

Successful outcome

The mechanical device for coconut harvest attracted the unemployed youth. At present the trained unemployed youth formed groups of 4-6 members of each and started harvesting the coconuts.

These coconut harvesting groups are charging Rs.7-10/tree depending on the total number of coconut trees available and also based on the height of the tree. Each individual is having a cell phone and they are communicating the programme to the customer in advance. This has encouraged the farmers and coconut growers of the district. In the afternoon, these youth are involved in their regular Home activities. They are working in all the days, even in rainy days with hat, except on sundays. Each individual is earning Rs 1000 /day and is leading a happy life. Some of the mazons who were engaged in construction work also shifted the job to harvesting of coconut, since it seems to be highly remunerative. The labour scarcity for harvest of coconuts thereby is in a declining trend.

The trained persons who are employed in government and private organizations are utilizing the holidays and Sundays for harvesting the coconuts of their own. At times of urgent need of tender coconut for household purpose, the people themselves are using this device for harvesting.

At present an average of 250-300 coconut mechanical harvesting devices are being used in the district. The technology is a boon to the farmers and growers of coconut in the district.