KVK Kapurthala's Newsletter

8/8/2019 KVK Kapurthala's Newsletter

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KVK NEWSJanuary -June 2010

Vol. I Issue No. 1 Kapurthala

A half yearly Newsletter of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kapurthala

Field Day on Sunflowercelebrated

Ex-trainees SammelenSACmeetingCapacity building of farmersFrontline DemonstrationPromising technologies

y Sunflowerhybrid seedproductiony Reduce cost of weeding by using

Wheel Handhoe in intercrops

New projects launchedy Plant Health clinicy Kisan mobile advisory

Trainings andawareness Income generating activities for farm

women

Trainings helped in changing themindset oftrainees

Farmer s Future in Marketing Achievements

OtherExtension activities Soiland watertesting

Editorial Board

Editor in Chief Dr Manoj Sharma

Editors Dr GagandeepKaurMrs GurpreetKaur

Members MrRajan BhattMrRS Bal

Mrs AvneetAhuja

Dr GurdeepSingh

From Editors deskDear Reader

Welcome to first edition of the KVK News ofKapurthala. The Newsletter of our KVK is devoted to hardworking

farming community of the district. Last year gave warning signalsabout the likely impact of climate change on wheat yield. The

erratic climate behaviour has added a new dimension to the

challenges ahead us.For planning our future course of action for the

development of agriculture in the area we organized 'ScientificAdvisory Committee' early this year. In the meeting deliberations

were held for developing need based training schedule, conducting'On farm trials' to solve location specific problems faced by thefarmers in achieving sustainable yields and increasing economic

benefits. Based on the agricultural management plan developed by

ICAR and SAUs, we are also providing "Weather based agro-

advisory service" to the farmers.As we know deteriorating soil and water resources are

posing serious problems and are adversely affecting agricultural production. To combat degradation of these natural resources wehave organized various training-cum-demonstration programmes

on input management and water management and soil testingcampaigns and we appeal the farmers to go for soil testing prior tofertiliser application..

Our goal of attaining 4% agriculture growth rate duringthe XI Plan needs concerted efforts by improving water

management, focusing on soil quality, diversifying into high valueagriculture, promoting animal husbandry and fishery. Banks areready to assist the farmers in starting these new ventures.

Among field demonstration and training we have beeninstrumental in spreading awareness and evoking substantial

interest in expansion of pulses and oilseeds crop areas. Also, KVK-

Kapurthala organised field day on Sunflower, Gobhi Sarson,Moong and Gram for focused dissemination of agricultural

technology.We have also compiled and published production

technology on "Kitchen Garden" in the form of booklet. This booklet will be of immense value for the rural households inproducing fresh fruits and vegetables for home consumption.

Capacity building of farmers has become very vital. Our

KVK have been significantly contributing through technical back-

stopping in capacity strengthening by conducting number of givenprogrammes. We believe that we will continue to work diligentlyand will achieve success in all our efforts. We hope support of all

the stakeholders in our endeavour to achieve a self sustaining,vibrant and participatory development.

Manoj Sharma

Contents


2/14

Fi

ld D

on

unflo

r celebrated

KVK Kapurthala celebrate a field day on

sunflower at village Amarkot on Hybrid

PSH 569. Dr. Manoj Sharma, (Deputy

Director Training), Sh. Rajan Bhatt, Asstt.

Professor soils, Sh. RS Bal, Asstt Professor

Plant Protection, Dr Gurdeep Singh Asstt.

Professor Extension Education, Jasvir

Singh, DES (Agronomy) and Dr Gagandeep

Kaur Asstt. Professor Horticulture were

the key speakers.

Field dayonsunflo erat illa e A arkot

The field day was conducted to

show the participants to performance of

sunflower hybrid PSH 569 and receive

current production information. Highlight s

of the event were crop variety

performance; plant nutrition; and soil,

pest and production management for this

hybrid in specific and the sunflower crop

in general.

Field

isit to the sunflo

erfield in A

arkot

In view of its superior performance in

terms of seed yield, oil content, and

suitability for late sown conditions as

prevail in the district, this hybrid will be

highly preferred by the farming

community.

x-trainee

ammelan Or

anized

KVK organized an ex-trainees

sammelan in order to know the technical

problemsbeing faced by theex trainees of

KVK while applying the knowledge at their

own dairy units. On this occasion Sr.

Branch Manager, B SSandha from Punjab

Gramin Bank and Dr. Manoj Sharma,

Deputy Director (Training) presided over

the function. Technical lecture pertaining

to prevention of contagious diseases was

delivered by the R S Randhawa

(Veterinary Officer). He also highlighted

the various schemes operative in the

h. R

Randha

a (Veterinary Officer) deliverin

lectures to dairy traineesat

V

Department of Animal Husbandry for the

benefit of farmers. Deputy Director

(Training) elaborated the job

responsibilities of KVK and the way


3/14

Dr. Manoj

harmaaddressin

the ex-trainees

farmers can make use of facilities being

provided by this Kendra in uplifting their

economic status. Ex-trainee were

sensitized to work in a group so that the

benefit of variousscheme launched by the

nationalized banks can be availed. After a

long discussion with the Sr. Branch

Manager a group named "Mehak" was

formed in which 10 members were

enrolled. In future all the group members

were asked to visit KVK on 15th of each

month to decide the action plan for the

next month. Deputy Director informed

that during the month of September a

training programme on cultivation of

mushroom will be organized at KVK.

Therefore, this group must take lead in

learning the process. Sh. Baljit Singh

thanked all the participants.

AC Meetin

!

The scientific advisory committee

meeting of KVK was conducted on the 8th

march, 2010 under the chairmanship of

Dr. M. S. Gill, Director of Extension

Education PAU, Ludhiana. Dr A. M. Narula,

Zonal Project Director, Zone-I presided

over the meeting which was attended by

the heads of the various line departments.

Four non- official members from farming

community were also present.

Dr. Manoj Sharma, Deputy

Director (Trg), KVK, Kapurthala presented

the work of KVK accomplished during the

last six months and work to be carried out

in next six months. Dr Narula critically

analyzed the work done and proposed

action plan of KVK. He called attention to

the need of market led extension and

suggested that training on market

intelligence, packaging of horticulture

produce may be included in action plan.

He stressed that KVK should act as a

resource centre in the district.

Dr M"

Gill, Director of#xtension

#ducation,PAU,

Ludhiana and Dr A M Narula, ZPD, North Zone-I,

presidin$

over"

AC meetin$

held at%

V%

,%

apurthala

SAC membersobservin&

'

V'

's exhibition


4/14

Dr M S Gill said that Technology Park of

KVK depicting various crop diversification

options available in the district need to be

strengthens. He maintained that the

coordination of KVK and the line

department is must for welfare of farmers

so heencouraged line department to give

more feed back to KVK on training needs

and also send trainees to the KVK. He

further shared with the house the scope

of employment in mushroom compost

formation and spawn production and

asked the members present to nominate

interested candidates to the University for

training. He suggested that FLDs on

oilseeds and pulses should be combined

to make cropping scheme more

profitable.

Capacity Buildin(

of farmers

through vocational trainingsMicro entrepreneur generally lacks

on two major front, finance and capacity

as an entrepreneur. The capacity to run

business requires multifaceted skills like

technical skills and management skills and

the subsidiary occupations in agriculture

like dairy, bee- keeping, poultry, interior

decoration are no exception. Theexternal

intervention in the form of training and

consultancy may enhance the capacity of

these small entrepreneurs. In the

endeavour KVK organised seven

vocational trainees in past six months.

Further to strengthen this process of

entrepreneur development, KVK forms

farmer groups. In one such attempt to

strengthen small dairy entrepreneurs and

impart practical training to the dairy

farmers of area in the field of animal

nutrition, 2 groups were formed. These

groups visit KVK twice a month in order to

get latest information regarding dairy

husbandry on one hand and to get answer

of quarries raised on the other hand.

Further, the members of this group

interact with scientists of KVK and among

themselves and render help to each other.

Members of these groups have been

trained in computation of ration for milch

animals. These members prepared 40 Q

compound cattle feed at KVK who then

took this quantity of feed for feeding of

their milch animals. The many members

of the group have already ventured into

cattle feed production and aspiring to

establish themselves in the field. To

further assist them in their venture, KVK

organises the interaction camps in

association with the officials from local

banks like Punjab Gramin Bank,

Cooperative bank, Punjab & Sind Bank

and NABARD to increase the credit flow

for these farmers.


5/14

Vocational Trainingsorganised

Dairy farming

Training course on poultry farming

Formulation of compound cattle feed

Preparation of decorative accessories.

Stitching and hand embroidery.Extraction, filtration, packing and marketing

of honey

These micro enterprise

development programs by KVK will

immensely help micro entrepreneurs who

are incapable of securing a loan or those

who have low or no credit by providing

them with training, support, help in

developing a sound business plan,

assistance in building their businesses and

linking them with credit institutions

Frontline DemonstrationsFrontline DemonstrationonSunflo

)er

Crop Area (ha) Noof

FLDs

Variety Yield (q/ha) Season

F

LDF

armerpractice

Sunflo)

er 4.8 12 PSH 569 20.8 19.6 February -

May

Frontline DemonstrationonGobhiSarson

Crop Area (ha) Noof

FLDs


FLD Farmer

practice

Gobhi

Sarson

4.0 10 GSC-6 16.3 14.4 October-

March

Frontline DemonstrationonGram Crop Area (ha) Noof

FLDs


FLD Farmer

practice

Gram 2.0 05 PBG-5 16.2 14.0 October-

April

Frontline Demonstrationon Moong

Crop Area (ha) Noof

FLDs


FLD Farmer

practice

Moong 5.6 15 SML-668 12.1 10.6 March-

June


6/14


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Promising Technologies

Sunflo0

er hybrid seed production

Sunflower is an important oilseed crop of

Punjab. Spring season is most suited for

assured crop and high yields. Farmers face

immense seed shortage every year. Also

the price of seed is quite high and the

quality is variable. Under such

circumstances there is scope for hybrid

seed production of sunflower. KVK is

imparting training as well producing the

hybrid seed ofsunflower variety PSH 569

is produced at the KVK farm. The parents

CMS 234 A (female line) and P 69 R

(pollinator line) aresown in the ratio of 3:

1. The quantity of seed required for

sowing of one acre seed plot is 1.5 kg of

female line and 0.5 kg of pollinator line.

The first two borders rows on both sides

may besown with pollinator line to supply

Hybrid seed production plot ofsunflo1

erat2

V2

farm

enough pollen. Thesowing is doneby the

end of October. The crop stages such as

50% flowering, soft and hard dough stages

are very critical for irrigation. To avoid

lodging, earthing up is done when the

crop is 60-70 cm tall but before flowering.

The off type plants if any in the female

and pollinator lines are removed before

flowering. Pollen shedders if any, in

female line are also removed just at the

initiation of flowering. Regular rouging is

performed in order to ensure high quality

seed. Late flowering plants are also

removed. Presence of honey bees always

helps in better pollination thus, moreseed

yield. The pollinator line is harvested first

to avoid mixing with hybrid seed. The

seed of sunflower remains dormant for

about 45 days after harvesting. On an

average 6.25 quintal/ha seed is obtained.

Reduce cost ofweeding by using

3 heel Hand hoe inintercrops

The early crop of capsicum intercropped

with garlic is grown over an area of 70

hectares in Sultanpur block of Kapurthala

district. Manual weeding in the


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intercropped early capsicum crop poses a

problem. The intercropping of early

capsicum and garlic is otherwise a labour

and capital intensive cropping system. The

major head of the expenditure being the

cost of the seed and cost of protection

(polythene and straw covering) in this

October planted crop. Farmers look for

cheaper alternatives for other operations

like weeding.

Intercropping ofcapsicum with garlic

The crop faces intensive weed

competition at initial stages when the

canopy of the crops has not covered the

full area and requires inter cultivation at

fortnightly period. Thus, the weeding with

the wheel hoe comes as handy and viable

option for cost- cutting at this stage. The

Farmer working with hand hoe at hisfarm

4V

4Scientistsobserving capsicumfields

wheel hoe is a widely accepted weeding

tool for weeding and interculture in row

crops. It is a long handled tools operated

by push and pull action. The general

construction of wheel hoe comprises of

wheel assembly, miniature tool frame, a

set of replaceable tools and handle

assembly. The frame has got a provision

to accommodate different types of soil

working tools such as straight blade,

reversible blades, sweeps, V -blade, tine

cultivator, pronged hoe, miniature

furrower, spike harrow (rake) etc. which

can be operated by a single person. The

height of the handle can be adjusted to

suit the operator. The frame of wheel hoe

is made from structural mild steel and thin

walled mild steel pipes. The working

depth of the tool can be adjusted with the

help of clamp or through the plate with

multiple holes provided in the frame and

welded to the tool assembly. For

operation, the working depth of the tool

and handle height is adjusted and the

wheel hoe is operated by repeated push -


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pull action which allows the soil working

components to penetrate into thesoil and

cut/uproot the weeds in between the

crop rows. With this action, the weeds

also get buried in the soil. The weeding

operations are much easier and more

effective.

New projects launched

Plant health clinic

Plant health clinic hasbeen established at

KVK Kapurthala to provide farmers with

basic health services and provide advice

based on sound diagnosis. The laboratory

was established during March, 2010. The

major emphasis is on the diagnosis of

various diseases of different crops as well

as imparting practical training in

identification of different kinds of diseases

and insects. Farmers are regularly visiting

the centre for diagnosis of different

disease infested and insect infected

plants. Till now, a total of 61 samples have

been diagnosed in this lab. Various blow

ups depicting the diseasesymptoms have

been put up in the lab for the help of the

farmers. The live specimens of various

useful and harmful insects havebeen kept

in the lab for identification by the farmers.

5V

5scientist working on disease samples

6 isanmobile phone advisoryservices

For thequick and timely dissemination of

latest agriculture information to the

farmers KVK has initiated Kisan mobile

phone advisory. This is the unique

programme for making linkages between

the farmers and extension workers for

making the Indian agriculture sustainable

in the coming future through the use of

information and communication

technology like mobile phone. Here the

crop advisory will be provided by the KVK

subject matter specialist through Short

message service regarding the upcoming

farm operations which will directly reach

the targeted the population for its timely

implementation. The unique feature of

the service is that farmers can send

feedback or raise queries on the

information thus sent which will be

attended by the subject matter specialist

at theearliest possible. Thisservice will be

operational from the month of August. In

the first phase 500 farmers have been

registered with KVK. However, after the

initial evaluation and monitoring this

scheme will be extended for benefit of

more number of farmers in the district.


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Trainings andawareness

Trainings helped in changing the mindset

oftrainees

Dairy farming along with crop

hus 7 andry is a common practice in India.

However, this is normally su7

sistence in

nature. It is necessary to maintain a

particular herd size of8

uality7

reeds to

make dairying a profita7

le7

usiness. The

training programmes organised on dairy

farming7

y the KVK Kapurthala focussed

on this fact and trained the farmers oneconomics of different

8

uality7

reeds and

importance of large herd size. The survey

conducted in the district showed that the

trainees were convinced with this fact and

they changed their type of animals and

increased their herd size after acquiring

the trainings.

Table 1: Impact of training programmes

on herd composition

Sr

No

Indicator % Change

Before After

1. Average num 9 er of

Animals

7.68 9.21


Buffalo

4.64 4.36


Cows

4.38 6.38


Cross9

reds

4.54 7.27

The average herd size of trainee

farmers was 7.68 animals7

efore training,

which increased to 9.21 animals per

farmer after the training. The profita7

le

herd size for dairy is considered to 7 e 10

animals.

Likewise, farmers shifted their

preference from7

uffaloes to high yielding

cows. The average num7 er of 7 uffaloes

with the farmers decreased from 4.64 to

4.36 after the trainings and follow up. On

the other hand, num7

er ofcows increased

from 4.38 to 6.38 per farmers. At the

same

Trainees at KVKs dairy training unit

Visit of PAU team at dairy unit


11/14

time, there was a substantial increase in

the number of crossbred cows with the

farmer, which increased from 4.54 to 7.27

per farmer after the trainings. Thisshows

that the training programmes changed the

mindset of farmers and they started

keeping good quality animals considering

its role in milk production and

profitability.

Income generating activitiesforfarm

women

The vocational training courses viz.,preservation of seasonal fruits and

vegetables, stitching and hand embroidery,

preparation of decorative accessories and

detergent making are organized for rural

girls and farm women to generate regular

family income. Although the rural farm

women preserve seasonal fruits and

vegetables in the form of pickles and

chutney at their own but the shelf life of

these products is only 10-15

Home science scientists demonstrating preparation of

bottle gourd chutneyat @ V @ , @ apurthala

days. But the shelf life of preserved

products prepared by KVK is at least 6

months without preservatives. Secondly,

preserved foods thus prepared at home

are hygienic and are cheaper as compared

to those available in the market. Four

training courses on preservation were

organized. In these courses method of

preparation of mix vegetables pickles, mix

fruit jam, papayas chutney, cauliflower

chutney, suji papad, lemon squash, lemon

shred pickles and tomato sauce were

demonstrated.

Demonstrationon detergent making ByA

VA

scientistsStitching ofsuits is too costly these

days. Farm women and rural girls can

adopt stitching to generate income. For

this purpose KVK organises training

course on stitching and hand embroidery.

in this training course variousstitches viz.

chain stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, knot

stitch, shadow work, long and short stitch,

button hole stitch and embroidery

stitches from different states like Phulkari

and Chope (Punjab), Kantha (Gujrat),

Luckhnavi (UP), Sindhi, Kashmiri are

taught. Demonstration on different types


12/14

ofsuits viz. simplesalwar suit, patiala suit,

simple pyjami suit, samosa pyjami, frock

suit is also given. Detergent making at

home is another option that can increase

family income. Detergent made at home is

cheaper as compared to that available in

market and no special equipments are

required for its preparation.

Farmers' Future in Marketing

Commodity future markets are

coming in big way in Indian agriculture.

After the Indian economy embarked upon

the process liberalization and

globalization in 1990, Government of India

set up a committee to deliberate on role

of future trading. Committee

recommended the future trading and

strengthening of Forward Market

Commission. Farmers can reap the

benefits of future trading by hedging in

Multi Commodity exchanges (MCE).

Although thebusiness of future marketing

has grown phenomenally, over 60 times

to a volume of approximately Rs. 40 lakh

cores in 2007-2008 but the farmers are

unaware of these mega opportunities.

Country has 4 national level electronic

exchanges and 21 regional exchanges for

trading commodity derivatives. The

number of National level commodity

exchanges will reach to five when the

Ahmadabad commodity exchange (ACE)

starts working next this year. Farmers may

apprehend to venture into business due

to lack of knowledge about economic

rationale and functioning of future

markets. Future marketing through Multi

Commodity Exchanges (MCE) can protect

farmers against adverse price fluctuation

through hedging. Thus farmers are can get

ensured prices if not better one. However,

world over farmers do not directly

participate in the future market. They take

advantages of the pricesignalsemanating

from a futures market. Price signals form

exchanges helps farmers to take decision

about cropping pattern and the

investment intensity of cultivation.

Dissemination of the futures prices of the

Exchange traded products improves his

bargaining capacity. However, direct

participation of farmers in futures market

to manage price risk may be cumbersome

as it involves meeting various membership

criteria and payment of daily marginsetc.

The participation of farmers through

aggregators/ cooperatives like Markfed /

Hafed etc could be a useful idea as it

provides the farmers with means and

mechanism to hedge his produce and

derivebenefits of the futures markets.


13/14

Achievements

Sr.

No.

Type of Courses Planned Organized

1 Shortt rm 43 38

2. Vocational 10 07

3. In-Service 11 05

Extension Activities

Activities Number of

activities

conducted

Beneficiaries

Field Day 8 208

Kisan Gosthi 03 38

Exhibition 02 5022

Method Demonstrations 03 72

Group meetings 06 25

Lectures delivered as resource

persons

55 1840

Newspaper coverage 19 Numerous

Radio talks 01 Numerous

TV talks 09 Numerous

Extension Literature 06 Numerous

Advisory Services - 1150

Scientific visit to farmers field 61 742

Diagnostic visits 36 69Exposure visits 10 156

Ex-trainees Sammelan 02 30

Self Help Group Conveners

meetings

04 63

Total 225 9415 +


14/14

Soil-water testing

The soil and water laboratory was

established during 2006 and analysed 2108

samples till dateby charging Rs 20 per sample

as testing fee. The soil health and water

quality in the district is depleting due to

excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and

pesticides. Burning of paddy and wheat straw

has further deteriorated thesoil health. Crops

yield in district are declining due to increasing

deficiency of macro and micro nutrients. In

order to ameliorate nutrient deficiency of

major and micro nutrients, the farmers are

advised to apply fertilizers on thebasis ofsoil

test. this will enhance the nutrient use

efficiency as well increase margin of profit of

farmers.

RajanBhatt (SMS, Soil) demonstrating soil sampling

Demonstration unitsatB

VB

y Technology parky Dairy unity Bee-Keeping unity Mushroom unity Vermicompost unity Poultry cum fish integrated unity Kitchen garden

SCIC NTISTS D ORE ING AT E VE , E APURTHALA

Sr.

No

Sanctioned

post

Name ofthe

incumbent

Phone

number

1 Programme

Coordinator

Dr. Manoj

Sharma

98727-45890

2 Subject Matter

Specialist

(Agronomy)

Smt Gurpreet

Kaur

98889-98643

3 Subject Matter

Specialist

(HomeScience)

Smt. Avneet

Kaur Ahuja

98154-83588

4 Subject Matter

Specialist (Soil

Science)

Sh. Rajan

Bhatt

98159-63858

5 Subject Matter

Specialist (Plant

Protection)

Sh R S Bal

6 Subject Matter

Specialist

(Extension

Education)

Dr Gurdeep

Singh

88722-00121

7 Subject Matter

Specialist

(Horticulture)

Dr. Gagandeep

Kaur

98720-71306

For more information please contact

Dr. MANOJ SHARMA

Deputy Director ( Training) KVK, J. J. Farm,

P.O. Sheikhupur, Kapurthala 144620.

[email protected]; 01822-233056

[email protected] ;98727-45890

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