Success story – I – Demonstration of Ragi thresher
Name : Mrs. M. Maragathammal, Pukkulam village, Ramanathapuram dt.
Introduction
Ragi is one of the major millet crops cultivated in the Ramanathapuram district. It is highly nutritious crop. But threshing and separating the edible grains from the panicle is a labour-intensive process. Practices vary by region and ethnicity of the farmers; nevertheless women commonly do the work of extracting grain by hand from the finger millet panicles with repeated cycles of pounding and winnowing. It increases drudgery among farm women. With this background KVK introduced Ragi (millet) thresher to the farmers of Ramanathapuram district developed by M/s Punjab Agricultural Implements (P) Ltd., Saharanpur. It increases the working efficiency thereby saving time and energy, reduces drudgery and labour requirement so that the income increases.
Problem identified
Threshing and separating of grains from panicle involves labour intensive, time and drudgery. Poor and contaminated grains.
KVK intervention
To reduce the labour cost and drudgery for threshing and to save the time and energy KVK demonstrated ragi thresher.
Specifications
| Weight of the machine | 45 kg without prime mover |
| Power source | Electric & Engine operated |
| Threshing capacity | 30-35 kg grain/hr |
| Threshing efficiency | 98% |
| Pearling capacity of thresher | 45 kg grain/hr |
| Dehusking capacity | 2.5 – 3.0 kg/hr |
Output
| Parameter | Check (manual) | Demo (Ragi thresher) |
| Threshing capacity | 5 kg / hr | 30 kg / hr |
| Pearling capacity | Nil | 40 kg / hr |
| Threshing efficiency | 60 % | 98 % |
| Labour requirement | One | One |
| Broken grains | 5.2 % | 0.75 % |
| Unthreshed grains | 20 % | 1.80 % |
| Germination percentage | 95 % | 97 % |
Outcome:
- Higher threshing efficiency
- Contamination free grains
- Reduced threshing cost and drudgery
- Labour saving & Higher acceptance of technology
Success story – II – Demonstration of MDU-1 Barnyard millet
Introduction
India is one of the largest producers small millets include barnyard millet (kudiraivali or Echinochloa frumentacea). Barnyard millet is a multi-purpose crop which is cultivated for food and fodder. They can be ready to harvest in 65 days. It is a good source of protein, which is highly digestible and is an excellent source of dietary fibre with higher amounts of soluble and insoluble fractions. The carbohydrate content is low and slowly digestible, makes the Barnyard millet a nature‘s gift for the modern mankind Minor millet are cultivated in an area of 1643 ha in Ramanathapuram district. Since, the district is well known for the frequent drought, failure of paddy crop occur due to water scarcity.
Problem identified
- Crop failure of major crops due to frequent drought & terminal stress.
- No assured income from crop enterprises.
- No alternative crop for paddy.
KVK intervention
With this background KVK introduced new improved MDU-1 barnyard millet variety in the district under FLD programme during 2018-19. Ten trails has been conducted in the following villages covering 10 farmers.
| Name of the village | Block | No. of trails conducted |
| Pukkulam | Thiruppulani | 5 |
| Malangudi | Thiruppulani | 5 |
Output of FLD
| Variety | Yield (kg/ha) | Gross income (Rs.) | Net income (Rs.) | BCR | % yield increase |
| Demo (MDU 1) | 1348 | 74140/- | 39,140/- | 2.12 | 16 |
| Check (Co 2) | 1165 | 64075/- | 31675/- | 1.98 |
Outcome
The variety is suitable for drought and
water scarcity condition. With no irrigation farmers got good yield and high
remuneration. Farmers converted part of
the produce into value added products viz., kuthiraivali rice,
pulverized flour, health mix and murukku mix etc. to get additional income
Success story – III – Demonstration on Arka Haritha F1 Chilli Hybrid
Introduction
As the Geographical Indication (GI) tag still elutes “ Ramnad Mundu” the popular native chilli variety exclusively grown in this district. The unique variety was exclusively grown in the district especially in Kadaladi, Muthukulathur and Sayalkudi areas. The mundu variety was cultivated on about 20,000 ha in the district and the production touched about 40,000 tons in a season. (Oct. to Mar.). In this context, the above said variety have very low yield of 600 kg dry chilli per acre for that problem. ICAR KVK Scientist introduces F1 hybrid chilli variety under FLD programme to the selective village. The F1 hybrid chilli produce more yield than mundu type, the range of 1500 kg to 2500 kg/ ac.
Problem identified
- Unique variety without replacement
- Low yield
- No uniformity in fruit type.
KVK intervention
With this background KVK introduced new improved hybrid Arka harita F1 chilli in the district under FLD programme during 2018-19 ten trails has been conducted in the following village covering 10 farmers.
| Name of the village | Block | No of trails conducted |
| Koraipallam | Kamuthi | 5 |
| Peraiyur | Kamuthi | 5 |
Output
| No. of Farmers | Area (ha) | Yield (q/ha) | % Increase in yield | Economics of demonstration (Rs./ha) | ||||||
| Demo | Check | Gross Cost | Gross Return | Net Return | BCR (R/C) | |||||
| High | Low | Average | ||||||||
| 10 | 4 | 6.25 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 25 | 120000 | 280000 | 160000 | 2.33 |
Outcome:
- This variety is suitable for irrigated and deficit irrigation condition. The farmers got good yield with high remuneration.
Success story – IV
| 1 | Backgound of Farmer | : | Th. Ramar, S/o.Velusamy Korapallam Post, Kamuthi Taluk, Ramanathapuram District. Mobile : 9159405051 Land Holding : 4.5 acres Crops cultivated : Chilli, banana, papaya, brinjal etc. Irrigation Source : 2 borewells |
| 2 | Intervention Process | : | |
| 3 | Intervention Technology | : | Assessment of chilli hybrids : Introduced two new hybrids like TNAU CO (Ch) – 1 and Arka Harita into Ramanathapuram district which is compared with local hybrids US 555.Arka vegetable special was sprayed @ 5g/litre of water at vegetative, fruiting and fruit development stages.Neem soap sprayed at the time of thrips incidencesSeeds were treated with 4g of Pseudomonas fluorescens with one kg of seeds before sowing. |
| 4 | Impact Horizontal Spread | : | Earlier the farmers was cultivated only locally available variety and private hybrids and got the low yield potential i.e. 10-13 tonnes per hectare and these hybrids were susceptible to fruit rot, leaf curl virus diseases and incidence of thrips was high. He has approached ICAR-KVK, Ramanathapuram during last year to take advice from the scientist to doubling the farmers’ income through introduction of high yielding new hybrids into the district and controlling pest and diseases. To overcome these issues, KVK, Ramanathapuram was proposed On Farm Testing (OFT) on “Assessment of chilli hybrids” during the year 2017-18 and accordingly programme was approved by the Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone X, CRIDA Campus, Hyderabad. Initially ICAR-KVK, Ramanathapuram was approached the farmers and visited field to identify the problems and accordingly provided some important critical inputs like TNAU CO(CH)-1 and Arka Harita chilli hybrids seeds, arka vegetable specials, neem soap and bio control agents like Psuedomonas fluorescens. Based on the advices from the KVK scientists, farmers were cultivated above said hybrids and got the very good yield of 16.76 tonnes per ha with a gross income of Rs. 2,01,170 and net profit of Rs. 1,34,920 per hectare with a cost benefit ratio of 3.03. The yield increases of 27 % more over the farmers practice. TNAU CO (Ch)-1 hybrid also comparatively good and yield was higher and its pungency is also more when compared to farmers practices. |
| 5 | Impact Economic Gains | : | The farmers obtained a yield of 16.76 tonnes per hectare with a gross income of Rs. 2,01,170/-. The net profit of Rs. 1,34,920/- per hectare can be achieved through the adaption of newly released vegetable hybrids. |
| 6 | Impact on Employment Generation | : |
All the farmers have expressed their happiness on the performance of TNAU CO(CH)-1 and Arka Harita hybrids over
the existing local variety and hybrids. Yield increase was 27 per cent higher
than local hybrids. These two hybrids were highly suitable for Ramanathapuram district and it will be popularised during ensuing season. It can be recommended for Ramanathapuram district. |
Success story – V
| 1 | Backgound of Farmer | : | Th. M. Raja, S/o. Muthukaruppan, Manjakollai Post, Paramakudi Taluk, Ramanathapuram District. Mobile : 90035 01380 Land Holding : 4.0 acres Irrigation Source : 1 borewell |
| 2 | Intervention Process | : | Through Front Line Demonstration during 2017-2018 |
| 3 | Intervention Technology | : | Introduction of new TNAU Bhendi Hybrid CoBH 4 |
| 4 | Impact Horizontal Spread | : | Traditionally the farmers used to cultivate only the locally available Okra variety and got the low yield potential i.e. 11-13 tonnes per hectare and highly susceptible to powdery mildew and yellow vein mosaic virus diseases. After that he has approached ICAR-KVK, Ramanathapuram to take advice on improving his farm income through other Okra varieties / hybrids. To overcome this issue the Front Line Demonstration on New TNAU Bhendi Hybrid Co 4 with a yield potential of 25 t/ha and resistant to yellow vein mosaic virus disease has been proposed to sustain good income from Okra cultivation for the year 2017-18 and accordingly the programme was approved by the Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone X, CRIDA campus, Santhosh Nagar, Hyderabad. Scientist from KVK, Ramanathapuram has approach the farmers and visited their field and provided some important critical inputs like TNAU- Bhendi Hybrid Co 4 seeds, Arka vegetable special and neem oil and biocontrol agents like Pseudomonas fluorescens. He got a yield of 17.35 tonnes yield per hectare with a gross income of Rs. 1,38,800/-, net profit of Rs. 95,300/- per hectare with a cost benefit ratio of 3.19 over the farmers practices. |
| 5 | Impact Economic Gains | : | The farmers obtained yield of 17.35 tonnes yield per hectare with a gross income of Rs. 1,38,800/-, net profit of Rs. 95,300 with a cost benefit ratio of 3.19 over the farmers practices The net profit of Rs. 95,300/- per hectare can be achieved through adoption of newly released hybrid TNAU Bhendi Hybrid Co 4. |
| 6 | Impact on Employment Generation | : | All the farmers of Ramanathapuram district has expressed their happiness on the performance of TNAU Bhendi Hybrid Co 4 and got high yielding over the existing local variety. The yield increase was 36 per cent higher than local variety. This hybrid is highly suitable for Ramanathapuram district and it can be popularised during ensuing season. |
Success story – VI
Demonstration of IDM practices for Chilli diseases with special reference to anthracnose –
- Situation analysis/Problem statement:
Chilli is the one of the major crops in Ramanathapuram district occupies 20,000 ha of net sown area. The desi variety Ramanathapuram mundu is much preferred by farmers because of its market value. But it is heavily infested by thrips, mite and anthracnose disease. Among them, anthracnose is the deadly disease also called as die-back of chilli reduces the yield up to 25%. Farmers are using huge amount of fungicides to manage this disease. It increase cost of cultivation which is not affordable by the farmers. Hence, to address this problem the FLD programme has been undertaken by the KVK, Ramanathapuram during 2017-18 at P. Muthuchellapuram and Malangudi villages.
2. Plan, Implement and Support:
Before implementation of the FLD programme, PRA meeting and brain storming session with Extension functionaries was conducted at Zonal workshop. Then the FLD programme was framed with the following technologies viz., spraying of liquid Pseudomonas fluorescence at the critical stage of the disease incidence. The liquid Pseudomonas was purchased from the Department of Plant Pathology, TNAU, Coimbatore. The two sprayings was given at 45th and 60th DAS in demo plots. Ten participant farmers were selected for this FLD programme. During cropping season, Off campus training on “Eco-friendly management of chilli diseases” also conducted by the KVK to create awareness on IDM practices in chilli crop.
3. Output:
The demo plots recoded the average dry chilli yield of 9.0 q/ha compared to 8.23 q/ha in check plot. The average net income in demo plot was Rs. 69,568/- per ha where as in check field it was Rs. 57,530/-. Regarding BCR, 2.62 recorded with demo plots and it was 2.25 in check plots.
Because of this FLD, farmers are preferred to use either powder or liquid form of Pseudomonas to manage the anthracnose disease in chilli. It is cost effective and environmentally safer.
4. Outcome:
By witnessing the results, apart from FLD participant farmers the chilli growers in the village also come forward to minimize the fungicide usage to manage the anthracnose disease. Previously, the powder form of Pseudomonas was supplied by the Department of Agriculture to the same farmers. But they were not used the product because of their lack of knowledge on handling the product and usage. Here after they were willing to use the Pseudomonas against anthracnose disease.
5. Impact:
During ensuing season, the farmers are ready to use the Pseudomonas from seed treatment itself. They are much convinced about the Pseudomonas.