Instructional Farm

KVK has a model farm which is developed on an integrated farming system approach with number of demonstration units established over a period of time making use of its generated revolving fund. Instructional farm is distributed over 18 ha. covering 2 ha. under demonstration units, 10 ha. under different crops and 6 ha. under orchards and agro forestry crops.

The objectives of model farm and demonstration units are;

1. To provide teaching facilities and practical learning experience to the trainees to develop vocational skill during the course of the training programme
2. To demonstrate economic viability, profitability and potentiality of new technologies.
3. To demonstrate desirable package of farm practices for optimum production and profitability
4. To demonstrate practices associated with new crops, varieties, improved cultivation practices associated with latest research findings
5. To verify and refine latest research findings to suit to that locality
6. To provide a source of generating income thereby helping the KVK to move towards attaining self reliance over a period of time.
7. To support the farmers with quality planting materials , inputs and such other mother materials
8. To enable upgrade the skill and generate employment opportunities for the local families with various farm activities

Following are the various demonstration units functional at KVK farm

1. Dairy unit
   KVK has been maintaining Holstein Friesian and Brown Swiss cows to demonstrate the potentiality of this breed. Also KVK demonstrate rearing of bull calf for meat purpose at very low cost making use of locally available feed materials. Besides this dairy unit also grow number of fodder grass varieties such as CO-3, Killikulam and recently introduced CO-4 from TNAU. The varieties such as CO-3 and CO-4 are being disseminated to farmers by making slips -the planting material available either directly or through milk societies.


2. Goat unit
   KVK maintains Jamunapari and Malabari cross bred does at KVK farm. KVK is in the process of upgradation of indigenous breeds of goats and cross bred goats by artificially inseminating them with the semen of Malabari or Jamunapari breeds. The kids are supplied to the farmers after they are made to undergo training on scientific goat rearing and management at KVK.


3. Mechanized compost production unit
   KVK produce larger quantities of vermicompost, coir pith compost and compost by Berkley method making use of organic waste mainly banana pseudo stem and coconut leaves. The vermicompost demonstration units at kvk are a major source of supply of earth worm for various departmental schemes and also to the farmers in the district. The earth worms available at KVK are Eudrilus eugenia and Eisenia foetida. KVK also gives training and free advisory service to the farmers on the production of compost by various methods .Further to counter act the labor shortage KVK mechanized the chopping of organic waste and sieving of processed compost. So far the unit has supplied about 3,29,916 nos. (Three lakh twenty nine thousand nine hundred and sixteen) of earth worms to the farmers while produced 7174 Kg of compost during the reporting year 2004-2009. KVK refined the watermelon cultivation for the district where in addition of vermicompost was recommended to avoid the crack of fruit due to inorganic fertilizer application.




Sl No	Item	2004-2005		2005-2006		2006-2007		2007-2008		2008-2009
		Qty	VL	Qty	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL
1	Earth worms(Nos)	44186	22093	60990	30495	163710	81855	21194	10597	39836	19918
2	Vermicompost(kg)	1175	5875	2035	10175	1232	6160	1332	8026	1400	11200
3	Vermiwash(lit.)	149lit.	2980	42lit.	840	55lit	1100	110lit.	10175	188	4575
4	Coirpith compost(kg)	751	3004	1000	4000	825	3300	500	2000	1200	4800

Qn-quantity VL –value in Rupees

S.No	Year	No. of people benefitted
1	2004-2005	128
2	2005-2006	187
3	2006-2007	650
4	2007-2008	171
5	2008-2009	171
	Total	1307



4. Vegetable seed production and planting material production at KVK farm
   In the absence of state agricultural farm in the district, KVK cater the demand for seeds and planting materials of the farmers. KVK produces various seeds of vegetables and planting materials at KVK. During 2008-2009 under NHM project, progeny orchard of mango varieties, jack fruit, sapota lemon, guava, nutmeg and also progeny orchard for exotic fruits such as philosan, rambootan, mangosteen are established where in KVK farm will be fully equipped to cater the demand of seeds and planting materials of the district. Besides this KVK also produce seedlings of vegetables in portrays and are made available to farmers. During 2009-2010 KVK introduced tropical cabbage in the district, where the farmers and VFPCK is supported with seedlings of cabbage.

Sl No.	Item	2004-2005		2005-2006		2006-2007		2007-2008		2008-2009
		Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL
1	Fruit plants(nos.)	3209	40596	2469	36055	2188	33866	1741	23692	14898	374271
2	Spices(nos)	2891	31266	2621	28986	1440	18660	1122	12819	1984	43176
3	Forest species (nos)	2594	14205	2205	13235	1688	8845	2245	13133	4399	27386
4	Ornamental crops(nos)	1428	14415	1683	28188	32345	330678	1807	29543	1196	48500
5	Plantation crops(nos.)	3112	96555	3837	121090	10790	311425	3485	102885	16248	490075
6	Medicinal plants (nos.)	5741	56675	3077	17820	1122	6353	535	3578	384	2370
7	Vegetable seeds (kg)	26.5	20350	22.46	18375	31.05	27075	64.75	73430	6803	78646
8	Fodder saplings (nos.)	420	84	350	70	625	125	720	144	1539	749
9	Vegetable seedlings									435	831

Qn-quantity  VL value in Rupees

S.No	Year	No.of people benefitted
1	2004-2005	4854
2	2005-2006	6834
3	2006-2007	4702
4	2007-2008	8765
5	2008-2009	13677
	Total	38832



5. Hatchery and egger nursery
   In the absence of Govt. poultry farm, hatcheries and egger nurseries in the district there is a huge demand for layer chicks. KVK has conducted OFT to assess the potential of various varieties of poultry under back yard rearing system since the year 2005-2006. The OFT resulted in the introduction of gramasree, grama priya and Caveri varieties in the district. The demand for chicks of these varieties exceeds actual production at KVK . KVK now produces a hatch of about 450 chicks every month (for which KVK also maintains parent stock of these varieties) .Additionally KVK also procures day old day chicks from central hatchery at Chengannur. KVK rear these chicks up to 60 days of age by administering recommended vaccinations and dewomers and other supplements and distributes them to the farmers @ Rs70 /bird . The detail of year wise distribution of those potential varieties.

Sl.No.	Item	2004-2005		2005-2006		2006-2007		2007-2008		2008-2009
		Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL
1	Layer chicks	2531	126550	2284	123647	4041	225449	2749	161459	6042	370129




Qn-quantity  VL value in Rupees

S.No.	Year	No.of people benefitted
1	2004-2005	203
2	2005-2006	228
3	2006-2007	507
4	2007-2008	395
5	2008-2009	675
	Total	2008

6. Ornamental and other poultry units.
   KVk maintains collection of ornamental birds such as Silkie, Bantams, Sultans, Polish caps, Silver lace, to demonstrate its potential. There are a number of farmers who rear ornamental birds as a source of income. This is an upcoming field of poultry rearing in Kerala and hence KVK train and support the interested farmers to take up this enterprise as income generation activity. Apart from this KVK also maintains Turkeys, goose, quail, Muscovy and Vigova ducks for demonstration purpose and the rearing stock of these are also distributed to the farmers.



The detail of year wise distribution of those potential varieties

Sl No	Item	2004-2005		2005-2006		2006-2007		2007-2008		2008-2009
		Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL
1	Japanese Quails	102	2550	290	6562	263	7825	103	2596	-	-
2	Goose	10	3000	12	4800	6	3000	18	10000	6	4500
3	Flying duck	15	1875	25	3125	2	150	8	1250	9	1620




Qn-quantity  VL value in Rupees

Year wise details of number of people benefitted

Year	people benefitted (No.)
2004-2005	15
2005-2006	31
2006-2007	16
2007-2008	23
2009-2010	8
Total	93



7. Herbal garden and medicinal plant exposure unit.
   KVK maintain a herbal garden and specimen plants of over 200 spices of medicinal plants with the name and other details such as use, scientific name displayed. The school students and trainees of ayurveda centers in and around the district often visit the units to familiarize themselves


8. Zero energy cool chamber.
   This model developed by IARI is demonstrated in KVK farm, which holds a potential to use to store the vegetable and fruits for quite some times in a specified temperature range for particular crop. This is widely popularized to store vegetables in electricity inaccessible areas for longer duration.


9. Heliconia and Torch ginger multiplication unit.
   KVK has the collection of about 14 number of heliconia varieties. They are Macas Punk, She, Iris banochi, Carebia, Lobsterclaw, Kawawoochi, Fire bird, Red Christmas, Lady de, Fire flash, Golden torch, Little splash, St. Vincent red, St. Lewis. These varieties are distributed to the farmers from KVK farm.KVK also initiated Torch ginger multiplication unit consisting of three colours of torch ginger pink ,red and white.


10. Bio-gas Plant
    In order to demonstrate the use of bio-gas the unit is maintained at KVK. VK also render technical support in the construction of bio-gas plant


11. Azolla.
    Azolla which is presently being used as feed for poultry and livestock is also demonstrated at KVK. Farmers in demand are supported with its mother material for multiplication and production


12. Apiculture
    KVK maintains the bee hives of Cerana indica to demonstrate its potential as subsidiary income generation activity and also effective pollinator in vegetable production.


13. Germplasm preservation units
    KVK maintains germplasms of jack fruits (32 nos. of Kuzha and varikka types) banana (Poovan, Njalipoovan, Changalikodan, Attunendran, Manjerinendran, Redbanana, Matti, Robusta, Dwarf Cavendish, Charapoovan, Kali, Palayankodan, Kannan).Tubers (Amorphophallus varieties like Gagendra and Sree Padma, Yams - Sreeshilpa and Sree Keerthi). Ginger (IISR Varieties Mahima, Varadha and Rajatha, Sikkim cultivars like Himagiri), Turmeric (IISR varieties Prabha, Prathiba, Alleppy supreme and Lakhadung and Azad-1 ) that are brought from various research institutions and also from various state. The Naga chilly the world’s hottest chilly is an attraction in the collection.


14. Rabbit unit
    KVK has a model rabbit unit where in the exotic varieties such as New Zealand white, Grey Giant, Soviet Chinchilla and their cross breeds are reared. KVK also demonstrated a KVK designed model rabbit cage which can rear 10 number of rabbit with upper portion provided with wooden tray to hold fodder to avoid littering inside the cage.KVK also supply the parent stock to farmers from this units. The year wise distribution of rabbit parent stock to farmers is as mentioned below

Sl.No.	Breeds	2004-2005		2005-2006		2006-2007		2007-2008		2008-2009
		Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL	Qn	VL
1	Newzeland white	46	3680	129	9288	62	5660	2	200	11	1650
2	Grey giant	24	1920	37	2664	11	1130	7	789	18	2700
3	Soviet chinchilla	18	1440	24	1728	33	2093	14	1250	10	1800
4	Cross bred	146	11680	376	27378	-	-	-	-	4	826

Qn- quantity VL – value in Rupees

15. Model rain water harvesting and demonstration units
    KVK under the ICAR Project for establishment of water conservation and micro irrigation system established model in its campus where in various water resource development works by establishment of water conservation and storage structures .Detail of conservation work taken up at KVK which serve as a model demonstration for the farmers and extension functionaries in the district are as follows;

Item	Capacity
	Previous	Present
Revival of farm Pond (excavation and side protection) (1no)	800 m3	1200 m3
Revival of quarry pond (1no)	200m3	600 m3
Storage reservoir(RRM)with sedimentation tank  ( Ferro cement)	New	600 m3
Excavated  Farm Pond (1no)             (24x12x7.5mt)	New	2160 m3
Roof water harvesting with storage   (Ferro cement) structures (4 nos.)	New	25 m3
Overhead tank for irrigation (2 Nos.)	New	45 m3
Overhead tank for drinking water supply (2 Nos.)	New	10 m3
Open well (2 Nos.)	New	102.4m3
Total	1000m3	4742.4m3
PERCOLATION POND
Roof water conservation (4 No.)	New	900 m3
Well recharge through roof water   collection (1 No.)	New	60 m3
Road side water conservation using grass water way (1 No.)	New	600 m3
Road side water conservation through cement lined channel (1 No.)	New	600 m3

Besides this KVK under the Project also demonstrated Drainage Line Treatment (DLT) by means of various types of check dams (Gabion check dam, random Rubble check dam, Loose boulder check dam, rush wood check dam) and Land development work suck as bund stabilization using vegetative measures , staggered tranches, toe drains , contour and earthen bunds . KVK has almost all the models on soil and water conservation measures and micro irrigation systems such as pop up sprinkler, micro sprinkler, drip irrigation,etc. demonstrated at KVK campus.The result of conservation measures yielded substantial increase in water availably which ultimately increased farm activities at KVK.

The change in the water table depth in KVK farm pond is given in the table given below

Month	Year wise water table depth
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Jun	1.5	1.6	1.5	1.4
July	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.0
Aug	1.4	1.5	1.2	1.1
Sept	1.9	2.1	1.6	1.4
Oct	2.6	2.5	1.9	1.7
Nov	3.1	3.2	2.3	2.1
Dec	5.2	5.1	2.9	2.6
Jan	6.3	6.5	3.8	3.6
Feb	7.4	7.7	4.7	4.5
Mar	8.1	8.0	5.8	5.1
April	7.2	8.2	5.1	4.5
May	5.4	6.1	4.2	3.9

For details contact : Farm advisor cardkvk@gmail.com

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