Post Harvest Technology in Cotton
After Green revolution due to introduction of high yielding varieties, hybrids and increased usage of fertilizers leads to enormous increase of yields. At the same time quality of the produce is decreasing. In Cotton, farmers are concentrating on higher yields and they never looked the quality of produce. In the market, farmers are getting low price due to poor quality.
Keeping in view of this problem, conducted training programme-cum-demonstration in Madipally village on post harvest technology in Cotton. Explained practically how to pick clean Cotton, precautions to be taken while harvesting, storage of harvested cotton and transportation to Ginning mills in cloth bags. Interactive sessions were conducted with Ginning & Spinning mill people. Spinning mill persons explained how to get good market rate for Cotton. Spinning mills provided Cotton waist bags for harvesting and big cotton bags for storage and transport. Farmers adopted the technology with more interest and did all the activities as per the suggestions given by us. Initially some resistance came from labour community to do such practices, later on they were convinced.
After seeing the quality of the Cotton super spinning mill, Coimbatore directly purchased cotton from farmers by paying Rs. 100/- more than the local market highest rate. In an area of 100 acres covering 65 farmers were practiced by selling 925 quintals to Super spinning mill, Coimbatore. Farmers benefited Rs. 1000/- to 1500/- per acre. Farmers are happy and this year also they are ready to practice the post harvest technology measures in cotton.
Stem application in Cotton :
Since last 3 years KVK has popularised the technology "Stem Application in Cotton" in the district. Wherever the Front Line Demonstrations, Method Demonstrations and Trainings were conducted, farmers were practicing this technology.
During last year FLD on Cotton IPM was conducted at Sriramulapet village of Veenavanka mandal in an area of 125 acres. This year Cotton was sown in an area of 582 acres in this village. With the benefits seen from the last year and monitoring of this activity by KVK Scientists this year, all the 212 farmers were practiced stem application methodology in Cotton to avoid sucking pests. They have applied Monocrotophos chemical @ 1 : 4 ratio with water applied at 20, 40 and 60 days after sowing and successfully controlled all the sucking pests including thrips without any single spray up to 90 days.
During last year at least 4 to 5 sprayings were required to control the sucking pests, this year farmers were avoided the sprayings and reduced the cost Rs. 600/- to 800/- per acre. Farmers were also recognised this method as an eco-friendly and ecnomic. This method can be practiced with female labour and they able to apply one acre/man day.
Hybrid seed production in Paddy
In Paddy hybrid seed production, 80% seed is produced in A.P., In A.P., Karimnagar is the major district which is producing hybrid paddy seed due to its favourable Agro climatic conditions. Since last 5 years farmers were getting good remuneration i.e., Rs. 3000/- to 5000/- more per acre and sociio and economic condition of the farming community is also increasing.
Keeping this in view training programme conducted in Sriramulapally village of Jammikunta mandal on Hybrid seed production in Paddy to rural youth and interested farmers. Youth were motivated and convinced the village farmers to take up hybrid seed production in Paddy. During the Rabi 2005-06they have taken up hybrid seed production in an area of 212 ha., by involving 138 farmers in the village. KVK scientists conducted regular training programmes and field diagnostic visits on Paddy to give good confidence among the farmers. In initial stages some resistance came from the labour community for risky work. Later on they were convinced by getting higher wages for transplantation, pollination and harvesting. Farmer got 8 - 10 Quintal per acre average yield. They obtained net profit of Rs. 6,000/- to 8,000/- per acre. Labour also very happy to got more money by working within the village.
Jai Hanuman Jute Bag making unit, Huzurabad
After seeing the success of Ujwala Jute bag making unit at Jammikunta the women of Huzurabad came forward to learn jute bag making. Thirty two women members were trained by K.V.K., master trainers for 21 days in cutting and stitching of 20 models of jute bag s in May, 2005. The programme was sponsored by NCJD., Kolcutta, where they provided raw material and a room for training. After completing the bag making training the members were motivated to form self help group where 15 members came forward and formed Jai Hanuman SHG. We approached DRDA, Karimnagar and they sanctioned 7 sewing machines for bag making and Rs. 1 Lakh as loan for raw material. Later they were also trained in Screen Printing techniques at K.V.K., for 3 days. Now the Jai Hanuman SHG is performing bag making activity in Huzurabad on a group basis under a common shed and the members are earning Rs. 1000 to 1500 per month based on the season and started repaying their loan back.
Zardosi Work
Zardosi work is another vocational training given at KVK for 90 days with the financial support from D.R.D.A. This work enabled the rural young girls to improve their stitching skills there by enriching the fabric to get more price. Twenty eight members were trained during this year. 12 members directly at KVK and 16 members from the master trainers who were trained at KVK in the year 2004-05. Two of these master trainers namely Ms. T. Karuna Sree and Md. Fatheema opened a workshop at Jammikunta Chowrasta to take up this work as regular activity. Other eight members are working under this workshop on piece work basis. A self help group was formed with 12 Zardosi Ex-trainees and named it Sri Sai Pragathi self help group. The local bank was approached for financial help. The Bank people convinced by the performance of the group at workshop and sanctioned a loan of Rs. 40,000/- for the group to procure all the necessary raw material for the workshop.
Another Ex-trainee Mrs. Madhavi who was trained in 2004-05 at KVK established her own training-cum-production centre at Jammikunta, she trained 48 members at her centre for this two years period and earned Rs. 24,000/- through trainings and about Rs. 20,000/- by selling the sarees produced at her center.
Vermiculture and Composting
Promotion and use of organic fertilizers in agriculture as one of the important activity promoted by our KVK we are under taking more trainings in Vermiculture and composting techniques to farmers, farm women and gross root level extension functionaries from various line departments. This year we have conducted 3 courses on this topic and established 108 Vermiculture units sponsored by the department of agriculture. One such beneficiary Mrs. Tumati Padma of Timmapur village, Kamalapur mandal taken up this activity on large sclae and established a Vermicomposting unit of 3 tonnes capacity bi-monthly with the technical input given from KVK she is maintaining her unit well and produced 3 tonnes for her own Paddy fields there by reduced 40% chemical fertiliser application. Now she is ready with 4 tonnes of compost for sale. This year the lady is ready to supply 4 Qtls., of Vermiculture to the farmers in their mandal there by she can earn Rs. 20,000/- an additional income from the unit.
Murrel fish farm
In Telangana, Karimnagar district has plenty of water sources. There is a good scope for fish culture. Keeping this in view one on campus training programme was conducted in KVK, Jammikunta on murrel fish culture and management in 2004-05. Murrel fish is air breathing, carnivorous, commands good market value and relished by many due to the soft muscle and less inter muscular bones. Owing to its taste, flavour it fetches a price as high as Rs. 140 - 180 per Kg. There is a great market potential for air breathing fishes, but the commercial culture of this fishes is not very well develop due to lack of scientific knowledge. During last two decades carp culture had developed into significant commercial enterprise and at present due to hike in cost of inputs, diseases, the returns per unit area has come down drastically. Many progressive farmers are looking for alternative species. At this juncture, the indigenious species Murrel fish can be suitable and ideal alternate species.
After conducting the training, one farmer Mr. Ratnakar Reddy, Vil: Aligunur, Mdl & Dist: Karimnagarhas started murrel fish culture in an area of 2 acres. KVK scientists has regularly visited his farm and technical guidance was given in feed management, disease managementetc.,. After 8 months 1.5 tonnes of fish harvested and sold for Rs. 130/Kg. And earned a net income of one lakh rupees.
Composite fish culture
In the village Ramannapally, Jammikunta mandal taken for conduct the demonstration on composite fish culture. It is a small fishermen co-operative society consisting of 35 members. The tank is about 25 acres of water spread area.
The fishermen have less knowledge on fish culture. They are stocking catla and Rohu fish seed at fry stage. Conducted different types of training programmes in respect of fish culture, seed stocking and disease management practices. KVK scientists encouraged them on stocking of fingerlings of 4 varieties mainly Catla, Rohu, Common carp and Grass carp. Regularly scientists visited the tank and given timely suggestions in respect of production and health management practices. In the month of May, 2006 they harvested 12 tonnes of fishes @ Rs. 20/Kg., and got Rs. 2,40,000/- as net profit.
Barbery goat
In the year 2003-04 after training programme two progressive farmers Mr. Sambhasiva Reddy and Mr. Palle Komuraiah of Pachunur village, Mdl: Manakondur, Dist: Karimnagar, took one unit (20+1) barbery goat with a capital investment of Rs. 31,500. They reared the unit for 14 months. Mr. Sambashiva Reddy sold 30 males and 18 female and earned an income of Rs. 92,400/- and Mr. Komuraiah sold 32 male and 15 female and earned an income of Rs. 95,000/- They remained with the unit of (20+1) barbery goats. Success of barbery goat farming was telecasted in ETVs,Annadhata programme.
In order to improve the local breed KVK, Jammikunta took a step to supply barbery breeding bucks for the local flock.
