Crop Production
Crop Protection
Crop Improvement
Sustainable Agriculture
Organic Farming
Indigenous Farming

Weather
Soil
Water
Seed
Farm Enterprises
Nutrition
Post Harvest Technology
Bio Technology
Bio-Fuels

Success Story 1

Title:  FOLIAR NUTRITION FOR CROP PLANTS

Background:
The intensive and exploitative agriculture with high inputs and high yielding varieties and improved technologies which helped the nation to attain self sufficiency in food production through green revolution lead to the depletion of nutrients particularly micronutrients unlike the major nutrients which are usually supplied through straight fertilizer mixture aggravate the same. To sustain the yield level of different crops with maintenance of micro and secondary nutrients in the optimum proportion over years, it becomes very pertinent to foresee the emerging nutrient deficiencies and to evolve suitable ameliorating technologies. The micronutrient delineation studies have revealed that, Salem and Namakkal district soils are deficient in Zn by 86%, B by 42 %, Cu by 36%, and Fe by 27 % and Mn by 24 %.

During the field visit of KVK scientists have noticed the nutrient deficiencies in many fields of Salem and Namakkal Districts. The extension officials during monthly zonal meetings and the farmers visit to KVK also brought the plant samples with nutrient deficiencies. From this we came to know that many farmers and even extension officials were not aware of the impact of micro nutrient deficiencies on decreasing yield and quality. Also they are not able to differentiate the symptoms between micro nutrient deficiencies and diseases / pest attack. So, many times they opted for pesticides and other chemicals application instead of micronutrients.

Process & Technology

Training to Extension Officials

Initially trainings were given to the extension officials in the level of Joint Director, Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors of Agriculture and Horticulture department.  Then ADOs, Agricultural Officers, Horticultural Officers and AAOs at subsequent stages. Totally 6 trainings were given for 212 members of Salem district extension officials.
Training to the Farmers

Trainings were given to the farmers of different villages covering 15 on campus trainings to the farmers and 600 farmers are benefited in selected areas of Salem District. The campaigns mainly focus on all aspects relating to nutrient. Discussions were held on importance of nutrients, nutrient deficiencies, symptoms, correction measures and application of nutrients on different crops.  The documentary show gives them first hand information about nutrients. 

A Tamil book on “Importance of nutrients and their deficiencies and correction measures” during 2004 was published and five hundred copies sold to the trainees for creating awareness and for reference. By this trainings, at present, the extension officials able to differentiate that nutrient deficiency symptoms from effect of other factors. Farmers and extension officials able to realize the impact of micro nutrient deficiencies on decreasing yield and quality and understood wrong application of pesticide and other chemicals can be eliminated by correct diagnosis.

Feedback also obtained from the farmers and extension officials, and they have expressed their views on micronutrients.

So, most of the trainees have stressed if crop specific nutrient mixture solutions is available in KVKs farmers can easily get and apply the nutrients in time and save the crop. So, yield reduction can be avoided and quality also be increased. At present KVK preparing micronutrient mixture recommending for crps viz., turmeric, banana, tapioca, mango, flower crops through farm advisory services

Nutrient deficiencies related farm advisory services rendered in KVK (evidence as in FAS register at KVK)

Impact of foliar nutrition

Now the farmers have gained more knowledge and skill on importance of micronutrients and nutrient deficiencies and hormonal disorders. Hence, they are following regular recommended micro nutrients. Most of the farmers in Salem District are testing their soil and water periodically.

Success Story 2

Title:  SOIL TESTING AND BALANCED FERTILIZATION TO CROPS

Background:

The sustained research and technology transfer efforts has increased the food grain production in keep pace with the population growth. But self sufficiency in food grain production is achieved at the cost of over exploitation of soil fertility and water resources besides degrading the environment. To sustain the productivity, farmers started using over doses of major nutrients which leads to imbalanced nutrition to the crops and creates micronutrients deficiencies also.

Intervention:
Soil and water test based nutrients supply to crops

Process & Technology
Considering the soil health and sustained productivity, this Kendra has given training on importance of soil testing and balanced fertilization to crops. Totally 40 trainings were given and the total beneficiaries were 1720 Demonstrations on how to take soil samples has also been conducted to the farmers and rural youth through self help groups.  Due to this effort, totally 2706 soil and water samples were received at the soil and water testing lab. Those samples were analyzed and based on soil fertility status and water quality parameters, site and crop specific fertilizer recommendations were given to the farmers for balanced nutrition.

Based on the water quality parameters, the suitable crops were also suggested to farmers to avoid failure of the crops grown. So far 1300 water samples were analysed by this lab and among this 45 % samples were received from Nammakkal district. Out of 1300 water samples analysed, 30 per cent water are falling under the category of medium quality water and 15 per cent water are under the category of poor quality. Those farmers were suggested with suitable salt resistant crops and required management practices to overcome the problem of salinity.

Now the farmers have realized the importance of soil and water testing and started encouraging other farmers to do soil testing. The trained farmers told that they got 20-25 % increased net profit due to the balanced fertilization based on soil and water testing.

Lack of Knowledge

Impact

Status of Soils analyzed

Impact of soil and water testing

Success Story 3

Title: POPULARIZATION ON THE USE OF Trichoderma viride IN CROP DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Background   
Integrated disease management is an important component in the sustainable agriculture. Environment protection and global warming emphasized the need for usage of bioagents in integrated plant disease management.  The indiscriminate use of chemicals for the management of plant diseases lead to several problems viz., residual toxicity, environmental pollution, development of resistant strains of pathogens for the fungicides and resurgence of diseases. Biological control of plant pathogen is one of the components in integrated disease management. 

Root rot disease (Macrophomina phaseolina) is a major disease in pulses, oilseeds, cotton etc., and the most common method of management is using fungicide. But the chemical method is uneconomical and less effective, as seed treatment with chemical may give protection only in the early stages of crop growth, up to 2 weeks. In addition, it is harmful to the beneficial microorganisms in soil and creates residual problems. So the biological control can be very effectively used for the root rot disease management as the biological agent multiply in soil and offer protection throughout the crop growth.  The fungus, Trichoderma viride is a bio control agent, mainly used for the control of the diseases caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium spp and  Sclerotium rolfsii.

Seed treatment with T. viride is highly essential because a large number of fungal pathogens carried in the soil can be controlled.  Seed is vulnerable to many soil borne pathogens and  seed treatment is probably the effective and economic method of disease management and it should be done in crop protection against soil and seed borne pathogens. Seed treatment is therapeutic when it kills pathogens that infect embryos, cotyledons or endosperms under the seed coat. The talc based T. viride formulation is used as a dry seed treatment @ 4g/kg and the treated seeds can be sown immediately. This treatment has several advantages

In Salem district, Root rot disease is the major disease in pulses, oilseeds and cotton. The yield loss was upto 60% in these crops. Most of the farmers find difficult to purchase the fungicides due to high cost. Hence the effectiveness of T. viride compared to chemical fungicides was shown to the farmers through trainings and front line demonstrations

Interventions
Several intensive On and Off campus trainings with method demonstrations on use of   T. viride were given through the KV K, Sandhiyur, Salem

Training to extension officials
Initially trainings were given to the extension officials in the level of ADO’s, Agricultural officers, Horticultural officers and AAOs at subsequent stages. Totally 5 trainings were given for
200 persons of Salem district extension officials.

Training  to the farmers
Trainings were given to the farmers of different villages covering 10 trainings to the farmers and 400 farmers are benefited in selected areas of Salem District. The trainings mainly focused on all aspects relating to use of biocontrol agents, effect of T. viride in root rot disease management and method of application. Method demonstrations were conducted to show the seed treatment with T. viride.

Front line demonstrations
 Front line demonstrations were conducted in 15 village for Oilseeds and 6 villages for Pulses and 5 villages for Cotton for Integrated crop management including T. viride for seed treatment for disease management. Totally 539 kg of T. viride was distributed to the farmers and its efficacy was demonstrated.

Demonstrations on popularization of  Trichoderma viride

Farm advisory advices
Through farm advisory services, T. viride is recommended for various agricultural and horticultural crops in respect to disease management. Particularly for Ground nut, Castor, Black gram, Cotton, Banana, Turmeric and Tapioca, the use of the above bio control agent is explained well and it is recommended widely.

Awareness on importance on Trichoderma viride in crop disease management

Earlier there was no awareness in the use of Bio control agent.  Due to the trainings on biocontrol agents the farmers and extension officials increased the use of T. viride. Farmers can able to understand the effect of the T. viride , realized its impact in disease management .  In ground nut, blackgram and cotton fields treated with T viride after a period of 45 days, the crop exhibited a healthy growth without the signs of any disease because of T viride. By learning by doing and seeing, the farmers viewed and accepted the technology and now the adoption in use of T viride was 80 – 90 per cent in Salem district 

Utility of Trichoderma viride in Salem district
Discussions and field surveys were made regarding the awareness on T. viride and its utility in disease management in six villages of Salem district  and the data was analyzed.

Adoption rate of Trichoderma viride in Salem district

The utility of T. viride in disease management during the years 2000 - 2003 was 10-20 percent.  Later by means of FLD and farm advisory services, it increased gradually and reached 80 – 90% during 2007. Farmers are motivated in using T. viride through intensive trainings and its utility is expected to reach cent percent adoption in coming years.

Publication- Plant protection

Success Story 4

Title : POPULARISATION OF HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES IN FRUIT CROPS

Background
Cultivation of field crops has become a difficult task in the semi arid and arid regions of Salem, Namakkal and Erode districts due to the following reasons.

Interventions
Process
KVK, Sandhiyur promotes the cultivation of perennial fruit crops such as mango, sapota and amla which are highly suited for the above regions

In commercial nurseries, there is no warranty for the genuine and quality plants. Therefore, the demand for plants from TNAU stations is increasing. This situation has been rightly exploited at KVK, Sandhiyur. A venture capital scheme on ‘Large scale production of high quality grafts in fruit crops was initiated at KVK, Sandhiyur with the seed money of Rs. 2,00,000/- during 2003-04.

Technology
In the clonal orchard established at KVK, Sandhiyur, good quality grafts of high yielding varieties of fruit crops viz., mango, sapota and amla were produced and supplied to the state department of Horticulture and farmers of Salem, Namakkal and Erode districts since 2003-04.

Production of high yielding varieties

I year (2003-04)

II year (2004-05)

III year (2005-06)

IV year (2006-07)

Impact
Horizontal Spread
KVK, Sandhiyur is successful in extending the area under perennial crop cultivation in the arid and semi arid regions of Salem, Namakkal, Erode and South Arcot districts.

District wise area coverage

Economic gains
           
Besides production and supply of high quality planting material, the fund generated from Venture capital scheme was utilized to enhance the infrastructural facilities.

Infrastructure development

Contribution from the scheme

Farmer Shifts to Commercial Propagation
Thiru.P.Allimuthu of Minnakkal, Rasipuram, is 60 years old and is practicing farming in his two ha land for the past 45 years.

i. KVK intervention in the enterprises

ii. Enterprises taken by the entrepreneur after KVK guidance

Thiru. P.Allimuthu participated in the on and off campus trainings conducted by KVK, Sandhiyur on orchard management and properly pruned and fertilised his orchard. He adopted timely plant protection methods and got higher yield and quality fruits from his orchard.

As per the guidance of KVK, Sandhiyur he directly sold his produce for premium prices and also created good demand.

He underwent a vocational training on ‘Propagation techniques and nursery management’ conducted by KVK, Sandhiyur and started grafting a few plants for his own orchard.

 Th.P.Allimuthu has taken up top working in old orchard of mango. On his own mango tree he has successfully top worked 25 different varieties of mango on a single rootstock.

During the last four years, he has been grafting mango, sapota and amla on commercial basis and has started ‘Sri Vaari nursery’. KVK, Sandhiyur indirectly helps him by guiding such needy farmers to him so as to benefit both the parties. He has been supplying rootstocks and grafts to government nurseries.

During the current year, Thiru. P. Allimuthu has gone much further in his business and started competing with other established nurseries of Salem and Dharmapuri districts in order to supply grafts for Waste land development scheme managed by the State Government. The State department has placed orders for the purchase of the following from him.

iii .Social recognition