Hand Holding Approach in fish rearing under MGMG Programme in Haryana

 With an objective to provide the technical scientific technical know-how for enhancing the farm income by reducing the unnecessary inputs under the Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) Scheme, a flagship programme of the Government of India, the team of ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana’s scientists has adopted a cluster of 5 villages in Jind and Karnal Districts of Haryana. For this, the team is promoting fish farming for diversifying the distressed farmers’ income spheres. The fish farm located at Dhatrath, Jind is spread in an area of about 12.5 acres with effective area into three quarters of 6, 4 and 2.5 acres. The fishes grown in the farm are the Indian Major Carps (IMCs), Catla, Rohu and Mrigal along with the common carps. The farmer reported two diseases outbreaks after 3 months of stocking.

During the first outbreak, the morphological examination of the dead and morbid fish showed pale skin color covered with mucus and pale gills. The anchor worm, Lernaeids, was lodged on the external body surface and gills of the fish. The fishes were emaciated with loss of appetite. The farmer was advised to apply cypermethrin for multiple times over the water surface for a week. After a few days, the fishes responded to the treatment and gained weight with good response to feed.

In the second outbreak, the fishes showed hemorrhage on the fins, gills and internal organs. The problem in water quality was the reason which resulted in stress and infection in fishes. But, the clinical diagnosis has ascertained that Aeromonads may be the possible etiological agent. The main control measure was the application of CIFAX @ 0.1ppm over pond for three times in a week which checked the mortality and the fishes recovered from the hemorrhagic septicemia. The farmer was in usual practice of applying antibiotics and several other chemicals to get better growth of fishes which raised the rearing cost without any significant benefit.

Fish farming video is here.

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With the help of advisories by the MGMG team, the farmers have reduced 53% in monthly farm input cost and got significant hike in returns. The farmer has fully endorsed the services rendered by the ICAR-CSSRI scientists by visualizing the improvement in the health of the fishes, reduction in mortality rate and low input costs of rearing by avoiding the unnecessary use of chemicals and other inputs. Such small interventions at farm levels can prove a milestone in doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.

(Source: ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana)

ICAR-NBAIR curtails dangerous Invasive Rugose Spiralling Whitefly through Innovative Biocontrol Strategies

 The ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru’s scientists first recorded the highly polyphagous Invasive Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin on Coconut at Pollachi, Tamil Nadu in 2016. Subsequently, the pest rapidly spread to all coconut growing Districts in India causing extensive damage to the coconut plantations and panicked farmers resorted to spraying of chemical pesticides, but, this turned out to be a temporary fix.

  

The ICAR-NBAIR identified the aphelinid parasitoid Encarsia guadeloupae causing natural parasitism of 56% to 82%. The farmers were trained in identifying, mass production and distribution of the parasitoid and were strictly advised not to apply the chemical pesticides. The parasitoids multiplied rapidly and natural parasitism increased phenomenally, thus, preventing the severe outbreaks. The growers were advised to grow Banana and Canna indica as banker plants for conservation and augmentation of the parasitoid.

Coconut plantation video

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In a major breakthrough, the ICAR-NBAIR identified and developed a highly effective entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria fumosorosea (ICAR-NBAIR pfu-5) and field tested it in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra. The fungus was effective in killing all the life stages of the pest. The pest mortality recorded was up to 91%. Talc, rice grain and oil formulations were developed with long shelf life. The formulations of the pathogen were freely distributed to the affected farmers. Due to its high field efficacy, there is a huge demand for the biocontrol agent from the coconut farming community. Thus, the ICAR-NBAIR was successful in developing biocontrol strategies for the efficient management of the RSW within a short span of time. The economic analysis indicated that about Rs. 9,500 / ha crop protection cost and 900 ml of pesticides / ha are being currently saved.

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru)

Smt. Anjanaben Gamit: A Civil Engineer-turned-Women Entrepreneur in Mushroom Cultivation

Otherwise, a Civil Engineer by profession, Smt. Anjanaben Gamit used to live as a normal person in the society. But, as was destined, she got successful in realizing her dream to secure livelihood in general and tribals, in particular without land / marginal land. An article on Oyster Mushroom Cultivation published by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tapi in the Agro-Sandesh gave direction to her dreams. Following this, she visited the KVK and opted for the Mushroom cultivation under the guidance of KVK scientists.

  

Moving forward to realize her dream, she joined a four-day training programme on “Entrepreneurship development through Mushroom Cultivation” at the KVK, Tapi and decided to initiate the mushroom cultivation during 2017 at available resources with the technical guidance from KVK, Vyara. For this, she prepared a mushroom growing house in the parking shed by using bamboo and green shade net along four sides. She was also supplied with all the inputs, viz., spawn (mushroom seed), polythene bags, seeds and chemicals (Carbendazim & formalin) along with the follow-up visits and technical guidance by the KVK scientists.

  

On starting the mushroom cultivation for the first time in October, 2017, she harvested about 140 kg Mushroom with a value of Rs. 28,000/- in a simple small low cost shed (Size 15’ x 10’) within 2.5 months by investing Rs. 11,000 as production cost.

Smt. Anjanaben’s success in mushroom production from October, 2017 to March, 2019 and 18 months experience in mushroom cultivation motivated her to extend the mushroom production unit. So, she enlarged his mushroom house (size of 23’x80’) by investing additional Rs. 1,72,000/- during 2019-20.

From April, 2019 to December, 2019, she used 250 kg spawn and  produced 1,234 kg of mushroom with a gross income of Rs. 3,08,500/-. The total cost of production was Rs. 88,350/-. By this way, she earned a net profit of Rs. 2,20,150/- during 2019-20.

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With all the support from the relatives, social contacts and based on demand, she packed 100 to 200 grams packets and sold them in Vyara town through Anganwadi workers, retail shopkeepers and vegetable vendors. The telephonic booking of mushrooms, made the marketing easier. She also started the sale of mushrooms from the “Organic market desk - selling organic produce from organic producer to direct consumer” commenced by Collector, Tapi District.

For her achievements, Smt. Anjanaben not only got recognition in her nearby areas, but has also been felicitated by the Government of India too.

(Source: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Navsari Agricultural University, Tapi, Gujarat)

Shri Chandra Shekhar Tiwari - A farmer with technological interventions of ICAR-IISR achieves high profit from sugarcane cultivation in Narsinghpur

 Shri Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, an innovative and a passionate farmer of Narsinghpur (Madhya Pradesh) achieves more than double profit from the sugarcane-based field crops production. Prior to his entry in the farming field, Shri Tiwari was a Professor in the Government College at Narsinghpur. After superannuation, he started the farming of field crops applying the traditional package of practices known as HAVELI system of cultivation in his ancestral land. But, being unsatisfied with the yield and returns of the crops grown, he visited the different research Institutions across the country and had at-length discussions with the scientists at different locations to solve the problems related to low yield of field crops. He then thought of the sugarcane cultivation as a profitable option for the farmers of Narsinghpur District due to its stable and assured price at harvest in sugar mills or at jaggery producing units in the area.

  

Shri Tiwari decided to begin sugarcane farming and grew around 35 to 40 tonnes of sugarcane in one ha of land. But, his dream was to produce at least 75 to 80 tonnes per ha of sugarcane with the adoption of latest sugarcane production technologies. On visiting the ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he had in-depth discussion with the Institute’s Director about the problem of low sugarcane productivity in Narsinghpur. Dr. A.D. Pathak, Director, ICAR-IISR constituted a team of Institute’s scientists for assessing the possible reasons behind low productivity of sugarcane in the area and also for suggesting the remedial measures for its improvement.

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Technological interventions of ICAR-IISR and its impact on higher yield and profit in the district:

By visiting the sugarcane areas of Narsinghpur District from time-to-time at different occasions, the ICAR-IISR scientists suggested the various remedial measures for the prevalent soil and agro-climatic conditions of the area. Shri Tiwari and his fellow farmers have been in constant touch with the Institute’s scientists.

With the help of the ICAR-IISR, Lucknow’s technological interventions, most of the sugarcane farmers of the District are harvesting cane yield to the tune of 75 to 80 tonnes / ha from 2017-18 cropping season which is 32.90% higher than that of cane yield (52.0 t / ha) being harvested up to 2016-17 cropping seasons.

Initially, the farmers were advised to take utmost care for the improvement of the soil fertility by adopting the principles of organic farming in sugarcane-based cropping systems. The Institute’s outreach programme conducted in the District as a campaign encouraged the farmers to start adopting the green manuring of Dhaincha, soil incorporation of crop residues / sugar factory wastes and other organic manures with inoculation of microbial consortia. It has significantly improved the organic carbon content of Narsinghpur soils from 0.36% in 2014-15 to 0.76% in 2018-19 cropping season that led to the high crops yield with saving of 15% to 20% nitrogenous fertilizers.

Shri Tiwari made sugarcane cultivation successful and much profitable in undulated topography too using sprinkler irrigation and following the path of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ambitious project for “More Crop per Drop of Water”.

On the scientists’ advice for the Moist Hot Air Treatment (MHAT) of seed cane before planting and removal and destruction of cane clumps after infection in the crop, the farmers have now started growing diseased free and healthy seed cane nurseries using single bud set of sugarcane with the saving of 60% to 65% of the precious seed cane material.

The farmers learnt about the advantages of early planting of sugarcane in September to October and taking other popular crops as intercrops namely; potato, gram, pea, coriander, garlic, onion, etc., with cane for higher production potentials and economic returns. The ICAR-IISR’s technical interventions impacted significantly and covered 35% cane acreage is under intercropping of gram, garlic, onion, potato, cabbage, etc., with September to October planted sugarcane at 150 to 180 cm apart facilitating mechanization in sugarcane agriculture. They are presently getting high profit with the average B:C ratio of 2.11 as against 1.15 in 2014-15 from sugarcane-based intercropping system.

The vigorous campaigns were organized for stopping the crop residues burning to make soil and environment healthy. With Shri Tiwari’s help and concerted efforts, the scientists succeeded in making Narsinghpur as crops residue burning free District in Madhya Pradesh by making the farmers aware about its ill effects.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)