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Success Stories

1. Paddy Transplanter - A Boon of Labour Management

In Tamil Nadu, rice is being cultivated on an area of 1.93 m ha with production and productivity of 6.6 million tones and 3423 kg/ha, respectively.  In Krishnagiri district paddy is cultivated  in 300 ha to 350 ha in and around KRP Dam.

Problem  Identification
As soon as the water is released from the reservoir, the paddy cultivation is started simultaneously in all the areas which results in acute labour shortage for the various operations. Bangalore being the nearby Metropolitan city, attracted most of the labour force engaged in agriculture by its higher wages. Besides, the local competition for labour also increased due to industrialization in the nearby areas.

Intervention
To solve this major problem, during 2007-08, an On Farm Testing was conducted to ‘Evaluate the usage of Paddy Transplanter’ in existing localized situation. The results obtained from the OFT was good enough to solve the problem of labour scarcity. The farmers have also got convinced of the technology and were enthusiastic about opting for farm mechanization. So, during this year a Front Line Demonstration was conducted in 10 ha in the Dam irrigated area and Kaveripattinam blocks of Krishnagiri district to extend this technology to wider area.

Impact         
On seeing the success of technology, a progressive farmer Mr. Sundaram from Shanthi Nagar, has purchased the Transplanter at the cost of Rs.1,38,000/- and is using it for his own and hiring it to neighboring lands. He charges Rs.500/- per hour by letting his transplanter for hiring and totally he earns around Rs.50, 000/- per season as an additional income. He is also planning to take up the mat nursery preparation which is a mandatory for the transplanter in a commercial way. By seeing the success of technology imbibe  by Mr. Sundaram, other FLD farmers Mr. Ramachandran of Kurumpatty, Mr. Perumal of Kannukarankottai and Mr. Naveen of Pochampalli are also in the process of purchasing the Transplanter. In the current year (2009-10), this Front Line demonstration was conducted in Pannanthur village and more than 25 acres were planted using the Paddy Transplanter.

By the technical guidance of KVK, most of the paddy farmers are very much interested in using transplanter in paddy cultivation. Hence the area has been increased up to 50 acres by using paddy transplanter across the district. In the forthcoming seasons it is planned to increase the area up to 200 acres.

2. Development of Entrepreneurship in Vegetable Processing

KVK has conducted various training programmes for farm women in Home science in the areas covering entrepreneurship development programme, nutrition and preservation of fruits and vegetables in times of glut. The role of women in the preservation of fruits and vegetables is of outmost significance. It was found that  there was good scope to generate income by women which can be done by participate in skill training. Keeping this objective in view KVK organized vocational training on post harvest technology.

The training on post harvest management, harvesting, handling, grading and packaging, storage and value addition in horticultural crops, as a vocational programme was designed by the Home Scientist of the KVK .  The course outline was designed in such a way that the trainees get first hand experience in post harvest management and value addition. 
The rural youth were briefed on maturity indices, harvesting using harvesters, grading depending on the appearance and the quality of fruits, size, weight and free from mechanical blemishes.  The packaging techniques using locally available materials were explained.  The different storage components, precooling to remove field heat, ripening under eco-friendly techniques was outlined.  Demonstration on value in addition in cauliflower, tomato, lime, bittergourd, mango and garlic were explained.   It was a 15 days programme and 11 rural youth of Hosur block participated in the training. Technical skills on processsing and value addition was imparted through demonstration and lectures.

This training has benefited  Mrs. Sangeetha, W/O Mr. Murali who is educated up to tenth is a rural youth of  Hosur . She participated in the training and out of her interest taken a lead in the preparation of various preserved vegetable products. She took up the enterprise in May 2009. A working capital of Rs. 15000 was availed through Hosur Indian Bank.  With this amount she started the commercial production of a variety of pickles.

After the acquisition of the training skills related to fruit & vegetable preservation, she purchased the vegetables at the local market and neighbouring markets and prepared variety of pickles. The products were sold  in the brand name of “karthick foods” to petti shops, relatives and door to door basis by the SHG members.  Our KVK has also tied with DIC, Krishnagiri and submitted project proposal under PMEGP to avail for the financial assistance of  Rs 1.5 lakhs for the enlargement of enterprise and employment generation to other rural youths. The member has also availed S.S.I registration for the easy marketing of the food products.

She is successfully running the pickle unit and earns an average income of Rs 3000 to 3500 /month to meet the day to day expenditure and she is happy to do. She is role model to other rural youths.