SUCCESS STORY 1.1.ICM practices for achieving yield maximization in

Maize

1. Situation analysis/Problem statement: Maize is an important cereal crop grown in Dharmapuri District. It is

being cultivated in an area of about 9000 hactares in Dharmapuri District. It is cultivated throughout the year in all types of soils under both irrigated and rainfed condition. Farmers usually cultivate this crop mainly for feed to dairy animals. Farmers cultivate private hybrids as they are not aware of the improved high yielding hybrid varieties. Farmers spend high cost towards the purchase of seed. Besides the crop suffers from pest and diseases especially shoot fly and stem borer and it causes 15 per cent yield loss. Adoption of improved practices including balanced nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management by the farmers are meagre.

2. Plan, Implement and Support:

To overcome the problems faced by the farmers and to create awareness among the farmers, frontline demonstration was taken up to demonstrate the potential of the short duration high yielding hybrid with the integrated crop management practices in comparison with farmers practice in the farmers’ holdings of Dharmapuri district during 2017-18. Demonstration was conducted in 10 locations spread over in Palacode, Morappur and Pappireddipatty blocks of Dharmapuri District.

Details of the technologies demonstrated

Cultivation of CO(HM) 8 maize hybrid Spacing 60 x 25 cm Seed treatment with Thiomethoxim @ 5 g /kg seed Seed treatment with Azospirillum&Phosphobacteria each @ 25 g/kg Integrated nutrient management (FYM @ 12.5 t/ha; Recommended dose

of NPK @ 135:62.5:50 kg/ha; Soil application of MN mixture @ 30 kg/ha) Foliar spraying of Maize maxim @ 15 kg/ha at tassel formation & grain

filling stage IPDM practice for stem borer The introduced maize hybrid CO(HM) 8 is centrally released during 2013. It

has duration of 85-90 days. It is moderately resistant to stem borer and resistant to cyst nematode. It gives 7500 kg/ha grain yield under irrigated condition.

3. Output:

Demonstration of Maize hybrid CO(HM) 8 with integrated crop management practices has produced taller plants (240 cm) and farmers practice produced shorter plants (223 cm). The number of rows per cob and seeds per row were higher in farmers practice whereas the cob filling per cent was higher in the demonstration (89) compared to farmers practice (82).

Cultivation of Maize hybrid CO(HM) 8 with integrated crop management practices recorded higher average grain yield of 66.8 q/ha (Figure 1). The farmers practice recorded lower average grain yield of 60.8 q/ha. Adoption of

integrated crop management practices increased the yield of maize to the tune of 9.87 per cent compared to the farmers practice. Besides, adoption of integrated management practices recorded the lower incidence of shoot fly incidence in demonstration (3.6 %) compared to farmers practice (18.3 %).

Figure 1. Grain yield of Maize (q/ha) under demonstration and check

4. Outcome

Farmers earned the net income of about Rs.53735/ha through the cultivation of Maize hybrid CO(HM) 8 with integrated crop management practices and Rs.47585/ha with farmers practices. Hence, farmers realized the higher benefit cost ratio (2.16) through the cultivation of maize hybrid with integrated crop management practices compared to farmers practice (2.09). The higher net return in the demonstration might be due to the higher grain yield recorded in demonstration compared to farmers practice.

5. Impact

Farmers were satisfied with the performance of Maize hybrid CO(HM) 8 with integrated crop management practices under demonstration and more farmers are coming forward to adopt the technology under precision farming situation. The performance of the Maize hybrid CO(HM) 8 was also showed to the extension officials in the monthly zonal meeting for further convincing and large scale adoption by the farmers.

SUCCESS STORY.2 Integrated Crop Management Practices for improved productivity of Black gram under rainfed condition in Dharmapuri

district

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1. Situation analysis/Problem statement: Black gram is one of the major pulse crop being cultivated in an area of

3900 ha in Dharmapuri district and it is mainly grown under rainfed condition only. The major problem in black gram cultivation is low yield under

rainfed condition due to non-adoption of improved high yielding blackgram varieties and improved production tecghnologies viz., seed treatment with biofertilizers, soil application of MN Mixture for pulses @ 3 kg/ acre,

application of recommended dose of fertilizers, foliar spray of 2% DAP, foliar application of TNAU Pulse wonder @ 2kg/ acre and Integrated pest and disease

management practices.

Apart from this the varieties avalaibale for culticvation are non -

synchronized maturity in nature. Hence the farmers have to harvest the gram in two to three times which requires more labour, time and money and thus the total cost of cultivation was more. As non - availability of labour and cost of

labour is the major issue in crop cultivation now a days, this has to be

managed effectively.

Major factors contributed for yield reduction in black gram are

Lack of awareness on improved short duration high yielding varieties suitable for rainfed condition

Lack of adoption of optimum plant population

Lack of adoption of improved crop production practices Hence to address these issues, the TNAU Black gram variety VBN 8

released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore has been

demonstrated in the farmers field.

2. Plan, Implement and Support:

To overcome the problems faced by the farmers and to create awareness among the farmers, frontline demonstration was taken up to demonstrate the

potential of the drought tolerant, short duration variety with the improved package of practices in comparison with farmers practice in the farmers’

holdings of Dharmapuri district during 2016 - 17. Demonstration was conducted in 10 locations spread over in Harur, Pennagaram, Dharmapuri, Nallampalli, Palacode, Morappur and Pappireddipatty blocks of Dharmapuri

District. In the demonstration, the improved practices including cultivation of black gram variety VBN 8, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management practices were demonstrated along with the farmers

practice.

Technological interventions

Improved practice

Cultivation of new variety VBN 8 First week June

Spacing 30X 10 cm Seed treatment with bio – fertilizers viz., Rhizobium andPhosphobacteria

Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescence @ 10g/kg / Trichoderma viridi @ 4 gm/ kg of seed

Time of sowing first week of June Line sowing using Pulse marker

Integrated Nutrient Management o Basal application of FYM @ 12.5t/ha o Recommended dose of NPKS @ 25:50:25: kg/ha

o Soil application of TNAU pulses micronutrient mixture @ 7.5 kg/ha Pulse wonder spray @ 5Kg/ ha during the flower initiation

IDM practices for Yellow mosaic virus and leaf curl virus disease Foliar spray of 2% DAP

Farmers practice

Cultivation of local variety Time of sowing : First week of June

Seed treatment practice : not followed Nutrient management : Basal application of 20:20:20 complex fertilizer @

50 kg/ha IPDM practices : Based on the incidence of pest and diseases

combination of insecticide sprays were done

c. Characteristics features of Black gram VBN 8 variety

Black gram variety VBN8 was released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University, Coimbatore during 2016. This variety is 65 – 75 days duration and matures in 68 days with 24 – 28 pods/ plant. Due to early maturity it

escapes terminal drought and ensures sustainable yield. It has determinate growth and non shattering in nature. It is a synchronized maturing variety which is amenable for single harvest saving labour and time. It is resistance to

mungbean yellow mosaic and leaf crinkle disease, field tolerance to sucking pests like aphids, stemfly and spotted pod borer. It is suitable for sowing during kharif and rabi season. It can give grain yield of 0.9 tonnes/ha under

rainfed condition.

Critical inputs distributed

Good quality seeds of blackgram VBN 8

Bio inputs viz., Trichoderma viride, Rhizobium and Phosphobacteria

Pulses Micronutrient mixture Pulse wonder

Parameters studied

Number of pods per plant

Pod borer damage

Yellow mosaic disease incidence Leaf crinkle incidence

Synchronised maturity Grain yield

Benefit cost ratio

3. Output

Demonstration of short duration black gram variety VBN 8 with integrated crop management practices has produced higher number of pods per plant (27) and farmers practice produced lower number of pods per plant

(18). Cultivation of drought tolerant black gram variety VBN 8 with integrated crop management practices recorded higher average pod yield of 7.80 q/ha.

(Fig.1) The farmers practice recorded lower average grain yield of 6.30 q/ha. About 80 percent of synchronized maturity was observed in VBN 8 black gram compare to local variety (40%). Adoption of improved practices increased the

yield of black gram to the tune of 24 per cent compared to the farmers practice

under rainfed condition.

Table Performance of demonstration on growth and yield attributes

Parameters With IFT (Improved practice)

Without IFT (Farmers practice)

Plant height (cm) 35.7 26.8

Number of cluster/plant 10.6 8.2

Number of pods/plant 27 18

100 Seed weight (g) 3.8 2.5

Pod borer damage (%) - 7.8

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Fig.1. Grain yield of Blackgram VBN 8 (q/ ha) under Demonstration and Check

Demonstration

Check

Yellow Mosaic Virus (%) 5 15.0

Leaf crinkle (%) 4 12

Days to maturity 68 80

Grain Yield (q/ha) 7.80 6.30

Net Return (Rs./ha) 24200 17600

Benefit Cost Ratio 2.66 1.95

Besides, less incidence (5%) of yellow mosaic and was reported in the

demonstrated variety compare to local variety (15%). About 4% of incidence of leaf crinkle in demonstrated variety was observed where as it was 12 percent

in local variety.

4.Outcome Farmers earned the net income of about Rs.24200/ha through the

cultivation of blackgram variety VBN 8 with integrated crop management practices and Rs.17600/ha with farmers practices (Figure 2). Hence, farmers

realized the higher benefit cost ratio (2.66) through the cultivation of VBN 8 variety with integrated crop management practices compared to farmers practice (1.95). The higher net return in the demonstration might be due to the

higher grain yield recorded in demonstration compared to farmers practice.

5. Impact

Demonstration of Black gram variety VBN 8 with integrated crop management practices substantially increased the yield and income of the farmers compared to the farmers practice. The performance of the blackgram

variety with integrated crop management practices were discussed in the monthly zonal meeting. Based on the performance of the black gram variety

VBN 8 large scale demonstration of Cluster FLD was conducted with blackgram

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Fig. 2. Net Return (Rs./ ha) uder Demonstration and Check

Demonstration

Check

VBN 8 during 2017-18 and 2018-19 in an area of 20 ha in 50 farmers holdings. Krishi Vigyan Kendra along with Agricultural Department have taken

up seed production programme and distributed the seeds to the farmers for

further adoption in large scale.

Scope for further spread or lateral spread of the technology

About 120 farmers were trained on Improved production technologies in Pulses during the on campus training conducted at KVK, Dharmapuri

Training programme on Improved production technologies in Blackgram

was conducted in association with ATMA, Dharmapuri and 150 farmers were trained

Booklets on Black gram cultivation practices were issued to the farmers

during training programmes. Demonstration plots were laid out at KVK premises on VBN 8 black gram

for the benefit of farmers visiting to KVK During monthly Zonal Workshops the extension officials were sensitised

about the black gram variety VBN 8

The area under VBN 8 black gram has been increased to about 1200 ha (40%) by replacing local variety

SUCCESS STORY.1.3. Higher productivity and drought tolerant groundnut

( Dharani TCGS 1043) in Dharmapuri district

1. Problem statement

Groundnut is the sixth most important oilseed crop of the world, fourth most important source of edible oil and third most important source of

vegetable protein. Groundnut is cultivated in an area of about 15000 hectares in Dharmapuri District. Besides moisture stress, lack of knowledge on the availability of drought tolerant varieties, prevalence of nutrient deficiency,

improper weed management, pest and disease also affect the groundnut under rainfed condition. Under rainfed condition, due to the uncertainty in rainfall occurrence of moisture stress at various crop growth stages leads to reduction

in yield and in crop loss up to 35-40%.

2. Plan, Implement and Support:

To overcome the problems faced by the farmers and to create awareness

among the farmers, cluster frontline demonstration was taken up to demonstrate the potential of the drought tolerant, short duration variety with the integrated crop management practices in comparison with farmers practice

in the farmers’ holdings of Dharmapuri district during 2018-19. Demonstration was conducted in 75 locations spread over in Pennagaram, Palacode,

Karimangalam, Nallampalli, Morappur, Pappireddipatty and Harur blocks of Dharmapuri District. In the demonstration, the integrated crop management practices including cultivation of groundnut variety Dharani TCGS 1043, seed

treatment with bio fertilizers and bio inoculants, integrated nutrient management (FYM @ 12.5 t/ha; Recommended dose of NPK @ 10:10:45 kg/ha;

foliar spraying of TNAU groundnut rich @ 5 kg/ha at peg formation and pod filling stage; gypsum @ 400kg/ha), integrated management practices for rust disease were demonstrated along with the farmers practice (check). Critical

inputs such as seeds of groundnut variety dharani TCGS 1043, bio inputs viz., Trichoderma viride, Rhizobium and groundnut rich were distributed to the

farmers. At the end of the demonstration, grain yield, net return and benefit

cost ratio was calculated.

3. Output:

Demonstration of groundnut variety TCGS 1043 (Dharani) with

integrated crop management practices has produced higher number of pods per plant (46.8) and farmers practice produced lower number of pods per plant

(27.1). The pod filling per cent also improved in the demonstration compared to

farmers practice.

Table 1. Grain yield and economics of groundnut under demonstration

and check

Parameter with unit

Before adoption

After adoption

Grain yield (q/ha) 14.3 19.6

Gross return (Rs./ha)

49203 60805

Net return (Rs./ha)

19922 29981

Benefit Cost Ratio 1.56 2.02

Cultivation of groundnut variety TCGS 1043 (Dharani) with integrated crop management practices recorded higher average grain yield of 19.6 q/ha

(Table 1). The farmers practice recorded lower average grain yield of 14.3 q/ha. Adoption of integrated crop management practices increased the yield of

groundnut to the tune of 37 per cent compared to the farmers practice.

Besides, incidence of pest and disease also showed substantial variation

among the practices. Adoption of integrated management practices recorded the lower incidence of leaf minor and rust disease in demonstration compared

to farmers practice. The lower disease incidence is mainly due to the adoption of seed treatment and soil drenching practices with bio control agents under

the demonstration of integrated crop management practices in groundnut.

4.Outcome

Farmers earned the net income of about Rs.29981/ha (Figure 1). through the cultivation of groundnut variety TCGS 1043 (Dharani) with integrated crop management practices and Rs.19922/ha with farmers practices (Figure 1).

Hence, farmers realized the higher benefit cost ratio (2.02) through the cultivation of groundnut variety TCGS 1043 (Dharani) with integrated crop

management practices compared to farmers practice (1.56). The higher net return in the demonstration might be due to the higher grain yield recorded in

demonstration compared to farmers practice.

Figure. Net return (Rs./ha) under demonstration and check

5.Impact

Demonstration of groundnut variety TCGS 1043 (Dharani) with integrated crop management practices substantially increased the yield and income of the farmers compared to the farmers practice. The performance of

the groundnut variety TCGS 1043 (Dharani) with integrated crop management practices were discussed in the monthly zonal meeting. Krishi

Vigyan Kendra along with Agricultural Department have taken up seed production programme and distributed the seeds to the farmers for further

adoption in large scale.

SUCCESS STORY 4: Successful farmer in Intensive Method of Cattle

rearing

1. Situation analysis/Problem statement:

The climate and geographical conditions of Tamil Nadu is very much

suitable for raising dairy cattle commercially. Population of crossbred cattle is

1101190 and indigenous cattle is 2202380 in Dharmapuri district and annual milk production is 225.559 and 139.912 mt lit milk respectively in crossbred

and indigenous cattle respectively. The major problems in cattle rearing are infertility, mastitis, infertility, fodder scarcity and low SNF and fat in milk. Hence to address these problems package of practices of has been

demonstrated in the twenty farmers’ field. The farmers are not adopting the package of practices for dairy cattle rearing and also not aware of varieties of

goat for breeding and meat purpose.

Th. V. Sampath, an innovative farmer from Maravadi, Dharmapuri, Tamil

Nadu is successful in intensive dairy cattle farming. He is maintaining 10 nos of HF and Jercy dairy cows in farm He used to rear dairy cattle for the regular source of income and he could able to get very low income. Seeking solution to

these problems he approached KVK, Dharmapuri and KVK has provided

package of practice for commercial dairy cow rearing.

2. Plan, Implement and Support:

Following Technical guidance was given on package of practice for dairy cattle rearing.

a. Fodder Unit establishment-

Trained to cultivate leguminous and non leguminous fodder like CO(BN)5,CO(FS)31, Valimasal and Subabul as a border line tree.

Trained to rear dairy cattle which is high milk yielding in nature .

Azolla supplement for reducing fodder cost and supplementing additional nutritional to dairy cattle

Trained to provide 6 kg of dry fodder, 30 - 35 kgs of green fodder and 5 kg of concentrate/ dairy cow / day

B. Health Management

Supplementation of mineral mixture for maintain good health and more milk yield with high SNF and fat

Providing herbal treatment, mastigad for treatment of mastitis o For infertility problem estrerous synchronisation and ludiana T- tip

treatment were demonstrated

Regular deworming against Trematode, Cestode and Nematode with rotation of drugs for preventing formation of drug resistance

In addition with green fodder 200 grams of oil cakes will be provided for extra meat production

Vaccination against Komari disease two times/ year during March- April and October

- November 3. Output:

As a result of technological intervention by the KVK, Dharmapuri the

farmer had obtained good milk yild with high SNF and FAT which results in good revenue

4. Outcome:

Particulars Expenditure (Rs.)

Numbers of animal 10

Expenditure

Construction of cattle shed 30,000

Green Fodder Fodder cost Rs. 1200/ day (Rs. 1200 X 300 days) Mineral mixture @ 1 kg/ day for 300 days @ Rs. 165/ kg (Rs.

165X 300)

3,80,000 49,500

Artificial insemination 2 times / day @ Rs. 75/ time (Rs. 75X 2

X9)

1350

Gross Expenditure 4,13,850

Income

Milk

Milk@ 90 lit (75 lit @ Rs. 30 and 15 lit @ Rs. 25/-

90 lt X 300 = 27000 lit 20250 lit X 30 6750 X 25

6,07,500 1,68,750

Farm Yard Manure

FYM @ One load per month X 12 months @ Rs. 750/- per load 12X Rs. 750

9000

Gross income 7,85.250

Net income (7,85,250 – 4,13,850) 3,71,400

5. Impact:

The rearing of 10 dairy cattle can give an income of one three lakh and seventy thousand per year and also family members itself could be engaged in

dairy farming. Small land holders can get good income from intensive system of cattle farming. He shares his experience with fellow farmers and gives technical

guidance to start their dairy cattle farming.