Crop Production
Crop Protection
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Sustainable Agriculture
Organic Farming
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Post Harvest Technology
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Success Stories

Rat Eradication

In Metu Neerathan Village of Vadipatti taluk, yield loss in rice field due to rat incidence was 2 per cent and it has consistently increased every year and the yield loss reached up to 60 per cent in the year 2005. It was reported that some of the farmers had total crop loss and they did not take up harvest operation . When the scientists of KVK approached the village for FFS programme, the villagers  staged a guiro and were reluctant to Coop up with any extension activities in the village.

In continuation of this, rat eradication campaign was conducted on 16.02.06 and 60 farmers participated in it. Application of aluminium phosphide tablet and Phorate granules in the identified rat holes were demonstrated and the inputs were distributed. Due to the adoption of this practice, the farmers expressed their happiness and satisfaction for minimizing the rat incidence in their village.  Dr.P.Das DDG, Dr S.Prabu kumar Zonal co ordinator, ICAR TOT projects visited the village and discussed with the farmers. The farmers narrated about the success of rat eradication programme that led to yield increase by 10 per cent, increased income by adoption of SRI technique introduced through Krishi Vigyan Kendra Madurai. The farmers also conveyed that technologies learnt from Krishi Vigyan Kendra that was also spread to the nearby villages viz., kattakulam, Nachikulam, and Andipatti.

Self employment opportunities for self help group women

Mrs T.Jeyalakshmi – Leader Sakthi women self help group approached KVK for getting training on entrepreneur development activities. The  economic background of the SHG was analysed and training on processing of jam, pickle, sauces, ready to eat foods , masala powders and preparation of house hold products such as phenyl, washing powder, artificial flowers preparation , tailoring and embroidery was given to them. Arrangements were made to meet the lead bank manager and District General Manager, Industrial Centre to know about the credit facilities and  to obtain financial assistance during the training programme. Training was also imparted on the packaging and marketing aspects. Now The Sakthi SHG group  members have established  their own cottage scale  food processing unit  and  are preparing and marketing pickles, jam, masala powders  and earning  on an average  Rs  1600 per month.   Apart from this  a  garment construction unit is also run  for additional income

Banana fiber Production

Th Mr. P. Murugesan one of the progressive farmer in Melakal village of Vadipatti taluk, Madurai dt. involved in banana  cultivation for the last 4 years. From the year 1990 onwards he served as FDG convenor and chosen as best FDG convenor for the year 1998 he also served as member in SAC from the year 2002-2005. Through his active participation he has implemented KVK programmes like, FLD in SRI, ICM in groundnut and OFT in micronutrient application in banana. In the year 2006-07 with the support of KVK he was given an exposure on fiber production techniques in the exhibition conducted in farmers day at Coimbatore. He was presided to take up this enterprise by getting hands on training given by IIT, Chennai. By the recommendation of KVK, Madurai he took special training at Bangalore in the aspect of fiber production. Being an innovative farmer he himself made modificationsin coir fiber production unit in consultation with the Er. V. Palaniselvam SMS, KVK, Madurai. At present he establishes a cottage industry with 5 machines in which 20 farmwomen are employed everyday and he could able to produce 8000 meter fiber/day.

He is selling his produce to cottage industries in Erode and Karur for preparing house hold items. He had expressed that he is earning additional income of Rs 30,000/- apart from employing 20 labourers.

Precision  Farming – An  Attractive Technology

The villages belongs to block Checkanurani is situated in Madurai district located 20 km away from KVK headquarters. Nearly 60 % of the cultivated land is irrigated through canal and well water. The main crops are vegetables like brinjal, chilli, tomato, and other crops viz banana, cotton and maize etc. The yield of these crops are very low and no uniformity of the products.  The cost of cultivation is also high due to high intake of water, fertilizer and huge labour requirement.

The farmers were unable to get higher yield due to poor management practices and low market value.  The Precision Farming technology came to rescue the farmers from their hardships.

When the KVK scientists approached the farmers, they hesitated much to implement the high-tech precision farming practices in their field. None of them was interested to implement this project. After frequent visit and interaction by the scientists about 20 farmers from  Checkanurani block of Madurai district were selected.
                                
The farmers were given on campus as well as off campus training with special emphasis on precision farming components ie, drip irrigation, fertigation, economic  use of irrigation water and way to produce quality products. The farmers were also motivated to visit and interact with farmers who have adopted precision farming technology.

In the year 2007, KVK adopted this block and the Precision Faming technology was successfully implemented by farmers and the Precision Farming Association was registered as society in 20 ha in the year 2007-08 in Madurai District, which was inaugurated by the District collector in Chekkanurani as first phase programme. Under this technology, beneficiary farmers enjoy 50% subsidy towards cultivation cost, drip and fertigation unit.  All technical supports were provided to the farmers through KVK Scientists and Experts.

Now the farmers are getting high yield / unit area by harvesting large sized uniform with good quality products which fetch high price and demand in market. The efficient utilization of water and fertilizer results in better growth and  high yield.The cost of cultivation is also less due to less number of weeding and labour requirement.

With the help of the Precision Farming Farmers Association, the farmers find a way for easy marketing and are in high demand for their products in all markets due the uniformity in size and quality. The farmers enjoy the benefit of quick and easy purchase of inputs with subsidy.

By adoption of this technology, Thiru Mitcharaja, one such beneficiary farmers among the society has earned Rs.  4.0 lakhs from his 1.25 acres of brinjal during this year 2007-08 and he got Best farmer Award as ‘Velannmai Semmal’ at TNAU, Coimbatore.

In continuation, the Precision Farming technology was further implemented under National Agriculture Development Programme at the cost of Rs 16.0 lakhs during this year 2008-09  in Chekkanurani block of Madurai district. Thiru Kurumban of Poochampatti village received the Best farmer  award from Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR,New Delhi.(2009) for earning Rs.1.25 lakhs/acre by cultivating tomato in 1 acre.

After seeing the successful functioning of the Precision farming technology the neighbouring farmers who have hesitated at the time of implementing the technology are now voluntarily coming to KVK and requesting for the implementation of precision farming in their field.