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IMPACT OF CARD-KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA INTERVENTIONS IN PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT (10th five year plan : 2002-2007)

Introduction

During the 10th five year plan( April 2006-march 2007)CARD- KVK Pathanamthitta, Kerala organized 1219 on and off campus training programmes in the disciplines of crop production, horticulture, plant protection, livestock production and management, home science, agricultural engineering and agricultural extension in pathanamthitta district. Total of 16909 farmers participated of which 42% were male and 58% were female beneficiaries. SC/ST beneficiaries contribute 45% of the total participants. In addition, KVK organized 56 nos of seminars, 7 nos of extrainees meet and 32 nos of field days and 3167 nos of free consultancy services (through phone or filed visits) to benefit the agricultural development in the district. During the Plan period KVK conducted 24 nos of OFT and 23 nos of FLD on various disciplines for the technology assessment, refinement and dissimination.The out come have been seriously attempted for wider dissemination and large scale adoption in collaboration with Dept. of Agriculture and other Development Agencies in the district. The major impact of the KVK interventions during 10th plan is briefly mentioned below.

Abstract of impacts of CARD-KVK interventions in Pathanamthitta district during 10th five year plan (2002-2007)

Sl No Intervention Impact
1 Promotion of Mushroom cultivation

(oyster and milky) as an income

generation avenue for rural families
  • 250 small and medium units established
  • Produced 16666 Kg. of mushroom valued Rs. 16.66 lakhs
2 Dissemination of Vermicomposting technology as an alternative source of organic manure.
  • 878 no. of vermicompost units established at homesteads
  • ized 17560 tons of banana and other organic waste
  • uced 7024 tons vermicompost valued Rs. 3.5 crores
3 Introduction of water melon as a remunerative short duration crop
  • 500 farmers are employed in watermelon cultivation
  • acres of paddy fallows are used for cultivation
  • 2195 tons of watermelon produced worth Rs. 1.31 crore
4 Increased area and production of banana cultivation
  • Area under cultivation enhanced by 36.31%
  • Production increased by 53%
  • Productivity increased from 12.2 tons per ha to 14.1 tons/ha
5 Bio-agents for eco friendly and cost effective pest management
  • Area of 150 ha brought under bio-intensive pest management under various crops.
6 Agro-processing and value addition
  • 127 home scale processing units with an in come ranging from Rs 1050-1700/- month made possible.
  • An Eco-shop – a retail outlet for the value added products of women groups was established
7 Rainwater harvesting methods
  • 400 no. of roof water harvesting tanks constructed to harvest 40 lakhs liter of rainwater
  • 5000 ha of watershed area brought under land and water conservation measures
  • employment to 12 number of rural youth with a monthly income of Rs. 5000/- ensured with rainwater harvesting structure construction
8 Intervention on vegetable cultivation
  • 30 ha of area in homesteads and other additional land brought under vegetable cultivation
  • Produced 550 tons of vegetables valued Rs. 50 lakhs
9 Back yard Poultry rearing for additional income
  • Additional income to 900 rural families ensured.
  • 13 lakhs eggs produced valued Rs. 25 lakhs
10 Rabbit rearing as an income generation activity
  • 218 no. of smaller units established with estimated production of 20000 rabbit bunnies worth Rs. 30 lakhs
  • Intervention contributes 13% of additional population of rabbit in Kerala state.
11 Planting materials supply from KVK farm
  • The distribution of planting materials estimated to cover an area of 500 ha mainly on coconut and spices.

  1. Promotion of Mushroom cultivation (oyster and milky) as an income generation avenue for rural families.
    During 10th Plan KVK has been promoting mushroom cultivation as a simple and novel livelihood technology for the rural families (farmers, women and youth) in the District. Of the 1219 training programmes organized by KVK in 5years 161 nos of on and off campus trainings were on mushroom cultivation and value addition benefiting 3471 participants. KVK also successfully conducted 2 FLDs (On milky mushroom) and 2 OFTs (Use of different substrates for oyster and milky mushroom production) with regular advisory services and filed days .During the period 250 numbers of small and medium units were initiated and 6010 Kg of mushroom spawn were supplied to farmers from KVK spawn production unit. During the period ,it is estimated to have total of 16,666 Kg mushroom production within the district worth Rs 16.66 lakh with KVK support .


  2. Dissemination of Vermicomposting technology as an alternative source of organic manure.
    With the ever increasing cost of labour and the inputs in the last decade the district have witnessed drastic decline in the cattle population with resultant shortage for the Farm Yard Manure. This is more pronounced with the families having very low extent of land and that has to resort to out side source for the organic manure which is costly. Most of the families in the district go for homestead garden and would have organic waste mainly from banana. KVK identified banana waste as a potential source of compost material .As also in the last 10 years there have been 12 % increase in banana cultivation in the district – a potential source of organic waste for alternative manure production. In this direction vermicompost production using banana waste was the one of the major collaborative programme KVK had intiated during 10th Plan Period. KVK alone had organsed 32 nos of training programmes were 758 no of farmers participated .In addion, KVk also supported Agricultural department to organize over 25 trainings benefiting additional 400-450 beneficiaries. During the period total 878 vermicomposting units were recorded to be initiated by the farmers (mostly single individual units ). KVK alone supplied 4,29,141 nos. of earthworms of Eudrilus eugenia and Eisenia foetida to the farmers to start units. Vermcompost units are set up mostly in home steads and produce around 1200 Kg. to 2000 Kg. of compost annually per one unit making use of the organic waste in their homesteads. During this 5 year farmers were able to produce 7,024 tons of vermicompost. In addition, to the secondary sales of worms for fresh units and also vermiwash which worth over Rs. 3.5 cores vermicompsting programme could convert about 17,560 tons of banana and other organic waste in to potential organic compost.


  3. Introduction of watermelon as a remunerative short duration crop
    Conversion of paddy fields into current fallows is one of the major problems identified in Pathanamthitta District. The paddy area which was 12892 ha in 1993 is decline to 5662 ha by 2003 resulting total decline in the area by 59.19%. Keeping Paddy land fallow for year leaves the paddy land unsuitable for further cultivation forcing farmers to stop paddy cultivation permanently and resorting to alternatives which are also environmentally hazardous way of its utilization (such as filling and infrastructure works). Watermelon being a short duration summer crop could well fit in to paddy fallow period (December – May), with out changing the cropping pattern .It was with this objective KVK Pathanamthitta initiated programme to introduce watermelon cultivation in paddy fallows. During the period KVK organized 35 nos of training programme benefiting 923 no of farmers. Also 2 nos of FLDs (Introduction of watermelon and high yielding varieties of watermelon) and OFT on use of different types of organic manure and regular farmers meeting were conducted. The cultivation was introduced though haritasangams in collaboration Department of agriculture, SHGs of Kudumbasree Mission and progressive farmers. The promotion programme resulted in the utilization of total of 256 acres of Paddy fallows for watermelon cultivation during the period with estimated production of 2195 tons valued Rs. 1.31 Crores. About 500 farmers participated in the cultivation of watermelon. The watermelon cultivation gave better remuneration to the farmers with a benefit cost ratio of 3.6:1.


  4. Increased area and production of Banana Cultivation
    Banana cultivation has been recognized as one of the best remunerative crop suited for kerala and for the district. There are number of local varieties such as Nendran, Palayamkodan, Poovan, njalipoovan , Kannan, koompillakannan, red banana and other varieties like Robusta cultivated n the district. Among those Nendran is the variety largely cultivated through out the year. Pest incidence(namely pseudo stem weevil, Rhizome weevil, bunchy top , sigatoga leaf spot) , Unavailability of quality disease free planting materials. low productivity linked with fluctuation in the market price , unawareness among the growers on the pest and nutrient management were the some of the major issues realized on problem analysis at the beginning of the Plan period in koipram, mallappally, konni, kulanada and Ranni block , the major banana growing tracts in the District. KVK interventions focused on the increase in the production, productivity and regulate cultivation to ensure best market price for the growers. KVK organized 26 nos of training (on and off campus) to benefit 617 no of farmers on the pest and nutrient management, selection of disease free suckers and pre-planting treatments, high density planting , cultivation of tissue culture banana, water conservation methods etc., who further acted as a source of technology dissemination to other growers. KVK conducted 3 FLD s on different varieties of banana and disease control, 5 OFTs on tissue culture banana, high density planting, water conservation techniques and pest and disease management. Regulating planting season for Nendran from November to August enable farmers to fetch the best price during Onam. While for red banana and poojakadali planting season is from July to November for Sabarimala season. In addition KVK supported growers with technical advisory services over phone and filed visits and farmers discussions organized in filed. The intervention of KVK resulted on total increase in the area under cultivation from 5147 ha to 7019 ha showing increase of cultivated area by 36.3 %, while 53 % increase in production (62,947 tones to 96,431 Mt) The productivity of banana during this period enhanced from 12.2 tones / ha to 14.1 tones/ha.


  5. Bio-agents for eco friendly and cost effective pest management Success of bio-control of plant pathogens and pest are primarily determined by method of application, efficiency of the applied agents and also potential /quality of the product used. The eco friendly pest management is also more relevance in the context of ever increasing trend of indiscriminate use of pesticides. During the plan period KVK intervention was mainly on the bio-control of Spices (namely pepper, ginger, turmeric, betlevine), paddy and vegetables (mainly vegetable cowpea, amaranthus, cucurbitatious vegetables). Bio-intensive pest management is also important component in the organic cultivation. During the plan period KVK conducted 79 numbers of trainings for 1962 participants (farmers, extension functionaries, and rural youths) on bio intensive pest management in various crops grown in the district. KVK plant protection lab alone supplied 2946 kg of bio-control agents( Trichoderma Sp. and pseudomonas florescence) to farmers directly and through Department of Agriculture. Use of trichocard for paddy pest management (stem borer and leaf folder). It is estimated that various intervention of KVK including in the supply of bio control agents and inputs could bring an area of 150 ha under bio intensive pest management practices in various crops in the district.


  6. Agro-processing and value addition
    During the plan period KVK’s major trust was on the value addition, of under-exploited fruits (jack fruit, papaya, and carambola), cocoa, and vegetables available in the district. KVK conducted 14 vocational trainings, 117 short duration courses,67 sponsored trainings, OFTs on ginger and carambola FLDs on coca and sweet potato, ex- trainee meets. A display unit for value added fruits and vegetables at KVK with the support from Kerala Research Programme for Local Level Development (KRPLLD, CDS, and Thiruvananthapuram). The KRPLLD project on “Value addition of under exploited fruits and vegetables” were implemented. Total of 4277 farmers, farm women, rural youths of Self help groups of three tier panchayaths, voluntary organizations, state agril departments were participated in various programmes..

    KVK in collaboration with Department of Agril under women in agricultural programme trained 30 women in agriculture group (totaling 750 no of beneficiaries) in the district. They were exposed to number of demonstrations on value addition and processing ,conducted exposure visits and supported for project formulation and monitoring of the production of various value added products and marketing. As a resort to resolve the major bottleneck in the Marketing of value added products of the groups, 12 women in agriculture groups were selected and trained to open a retail shop in the mini civil station in pathanamthitta district called “eco-shop” which is in collaboration with department of Agriculture. This is a novel model for the SHGs and women entrepreneurs to start retail outlets for value added products. In addition KVK intervention have recorded to result 127 home scale fruit processing units (as individuals and groups) during the plan period, with income level ranging from Rs.1050/- to Rs.1700/- per month.


  7. Rainwater harvesting methods
    Flood in monsoon and acute water scarcity in summer month is a common phenomenon in the district like any other part of the kerala state. In order to crate awareness on the need for water conservation and to popularize different conservation measures, particularly rain water harvesting methods KVK organized 80 number of trainings benefiting 1866 participants .Also 5 nos. of seminars, 5 no. of training for extension functionaries were conducted during the 10th plan period. KVK acted as major technical advisory sources for the various agencies and supported CARD the host organization of KVK in the implementation of three major projects (two watershed projects in Naranamoozhy and Kolinchy watersheds and CAPART supported project at Tiruvalla) During the Plan period 400 rainwater harvesting tanks of 5000 to 50000 liter capacity were constructed which would store total of 4000000 liter roof water. KVK also collaborated with three tier panchayats and other organizations for implanting land and water conservation programmes in the watershed, suggesting location specific suitable land conservation measures such as rain pits, trenches contour bunds, bunch terracing, farm pond, retaining well, check dams, recharge pits and ground water recharge through open wells etc with resultant coverage of over 5000 ha ( in and watersheds.). KVK trained rural youth play a major roe in the construction of tanks in various water harvesting project in the district with an average income of Rs. 5000/-. We have 12.number of such youth in the district.


  8. Intervention on vegetable cultivation
    The cucurbitaceous vegetable like bitter gourd, snake gourd, amaranthus, vegetable cowpea, cucumber, pumpkin and ivy gorud are the major vegetable grown in the district. The vegetables are mostly grown in summer season and also making use of in paddy fallows.KVK has conducted 42 number of trainings on cultivation of various vegetable with major focus on organic farming benefiting 1133. no of farmers.. NCOF supported project implemented by KVK in plan period was the major intervention to train and demonstrate, and give exposure to the farmers on organic vegetable growing. The participants were from SHGs, harthasangam(Farmers group of Agril Department) and progressive farmers. During the period KVK also organized 7 no. of FLDs on organic vegetable cultivation, use of pheromone trap and hormones, bio agents, high yielding varieties of vegetables and OFTs on INM and IPM in vegetables. Seeds produced and inputs from KVK supplied to farmers estimated to cover an area of about 30 ha both on homestead and at lager scale cultivation. During the Plan period KVk intervention alone is estimate to contribute about 550 tones of vegetable production worth Rs. 50 lakhs.


  9. Back yard Poultry rearing for additional income
    Promotion of back yard poultry by training the farmers and supply of quality layer chicks was the major animal husbandry intervention of the KVK during 10th plan period in the district. KVK organized 15 number of training on poultry rearing to the farmers, farm women an rural youths. This is in addition to collaborative programmes and field advisory services. For promoting backyard poultry rearing as an additional source of income during the plan period KVK conducted FLD on backyard poultry rearing and marketing and OFT on enhancement of egg production. The training programme and other advisory services benefited 437 no of beneficiaries. During plan period KVK established model chicks production unit (with support from CARD the host organization) which now produce and supply 750-1000 nos of 60 days old layer chicks to farmers in every 2 months. As such during the plan periods KVK distributed 9050 no. of poultry chicks in the district to benefit 900 numbers of rural families, contributing additional 13 lakh eggs production in the district valued Rs. 25 lakhs.


  10. Rabbit rearing as an income generation activity
    Rabbit rearing was introduced by KVK as an income generating activity for rural youth and women. During the plan period 32 trainings were conducted to benefiting 534 participants. KVK established a model rabbit rearing unit with exotic breeding stock of New Zealand white, Soviet Chinchilla and Gray Giant from where quality breeding stock to the farmers are supplied. During the plan period KVK distributed 655 no. of rabbit bunnies (218 nos of male and 437 nos of female) to initiate to 218 nos of smaller units. It is estimated that from the breeding stock supplied to produce a minimum of 20000 nos of bunnies (taking into account of mortalities and other unfavorable conditions) worth Rs. 30 lakhs. This impact contribute to 13% additional population of rabbit of the state (as per 2003 Kerala livestock sensus, total population of rabbit in the state is 1.47lakhs).


  11. Planting materials supply from KVK farm
    During the plan period KVK produced and supplied 98,034 numbers of seedlings of fruit, medicinal, timber, spices, ornamental plants and plantation crops. The distribution of planting materials from KVK is estimated to cover an area of 500 ha., coconut and spices as major plants.