The KVK has been systematically conducting the mandated programmes like Training, Lab to land programmes, Client Oriented Research, Front Line Demonstration, On Farm Testing, etc. since inception. To know the performance of KVK and also to decide future programmes impact study of these programmes were undertaken. The field visits and follow up studies on the impact of the KVK Programmes show that there is high degree of adoption of technologies transferred by the Kendra in improvement of traditional cultivation practices, initiating new enterprises and for generating more income by adoption of modern technologies. Most of the beneficiaries are using the knowledge gathered from KVK in their households homestead gardens, cultivated fields small income generating units or other enterprises.
SUCCESSFUL CASE OF LARGER ADOPTION IN THE DISTRICT :
INTRODUCING WATERMELON TO PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT OF KERALA
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MULTIMODE APPROACH OF KVK PATHANAMTHITTA
Background
The major problem faced by Kerala State is conversion of paddy fields and drastic decrease in paddy areas, which had made many agricultural laborers especially the women, jobless. Moreover leveling of flood channels in paddy fields started inducing flood problems in different parts of the state, which led to further ground water depletion during summer. The combined effect of environmental and farm degradation, mono-cropping, neglect of organics in farming, etc have led to reduction of agriculture production in the state as a whole and it had become high time for the extension agencies to take up alternative cultivation approaches.
Watermelon is cultivated in different parts of India. In South India, its cultivation is restricted to only Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, different field trials at KVK farm indicated that the crop flowers as well as fruits in Pathanamthitta Agro-climatic region. Realizing that cultivation of this crop could be a profitable enterprise during summer season in the paddy fallows, the KVK took up the venture of transferring this innovation among farmers. As this crop was an introduction to Pathanamthitta, multi methodology approach was adopted to ensure full-fledged cultivation.
The multifaceted, decentralized, agro system-specific extension approach, which is blended with farmers' indigenous knowledge and experimentation has been very successful in introducing a crop hitherto unknown in Kerala situation. The KVK has acted in accordance with the demand of the situation, through technical, material and collaboration support, thereby ensuring successful introduction of watermelon crop in the district.
Utilisation of fallow paddy fields
Introduced and promoted watermelon in 188.95 acres of fallow paddy fields and production of watermelon in Pathanamthitta District was increased from zero to 870t.Water melon cultivation has contributed for income generation of rural farmers
Increasing production and productivity in banana
The area under banana cultivation in 1995-96 in Pathanamthitta District was 3599 ha with a production of 33,268 tons. It has been increased to 7019 ha with a production of 90,431 tones in 2004-05 after the need based intervention of KVK. Market focused introduction of tissue culture varieties of red banana ,poojakadali ,Nendran like Manjeri, Mintoli etc boosted up the production of banana in Pathanamthitta. SHG women were involved in large scale of banana cultivation.
Increasing Vermicompost production
In total 495.5 tons of vermicompost was developed by farmers with technical guidance from KVK .This compost supplied 7.5 tons N, 1.98 tons P, 8.91 tons K besides considerable quantities of organic matter and micro nutrients to the soil. Thus by vermicomposting in 2004 farmers in Pathanamthtta district as a whole saved Rs. 24,77,500.
Improving mushroom cultivation
- Total 2877 number of farmers have been trained in Pathanamthitta district.
- Average production from existing units as per 2004 data- 10535 Kg.
- 20,989 No. of Spawn packets were sold from KVK to farmers (250 g/pkt)
Drought mitigation efforts:
- Total rainwater harvested through 120 tanks- 10000000 litres
- Additional water got through the water table increase by ground water recharge and water conservation structures- 50000000 litres.
Functional linkages of KVK with different organizations:
Impact
On the basis of the thrust area identified, the technologies disseminated among the selected groups as an alternative strategy. The emphasis was given to the viable technologies for the effective utilization of locally available perishables. As an impact of the same 32 collaborative group units and 37 home scale were initiated and a marginal increase in the annual income of the beneficiaries were reported. The multiplier effect of the technology in the dissemination process was also satisfactory.
SALES OUTLET
Supply of planting and other materials from KVK sales counter:
- Planting materials of different crop varieties
- Vermicompost
- Earth worms
- mushroomSpawn packets
- Trichoderma
- Pseudomonas
- chicks and pet birds
- rabbits etc
- value added products of KVK beneficiaries
List of Priced publication:
Select from the extension literature portion and give
The Nellimala Colony came into existence in 1975 under the One-lakh house scheme of Government of Kerala. The CARD-KVK has selected this colony for implementation of lab to land programme in 1995-96. 100 families were selected under this programme. Among them 16 are marginal farmers and 84 are landless labourers. In the first two years technical advices were given along with supply of critical inputs and follow up work was done in the next three years. Many critical inputs like vegetable seeds, fertilizers, fruit trees, poultry birds, goats, etc. were supplied to them by the KVK based on the resources available to them along with technical advices. Very good response was received from the beneficiaries. Hence in this colony was selected On Farm Testing of "Value addition Testing and development of value added products Papaya" in the year 1997-98 and "Testing and refining the proven technology of Thermal Cooker - Thabha Bharani" in the year 1998-99. The following new technologies were transferred in this village.
