Front Line Demonstrations

 Oilseeds and Pulses

Soybean

            KVK has introduced Soybean as a major kharif crop during the year 1993 in the operational area.  Use of rhizobium, foliar nutrient management, use of potash to increase the yield, seed production and harvesting at proper time were some of the interventions along with demonstrations of the new varieties have helped to adopt soybean as a major income source during kharif. This has resulted in bajra being replaced by soybean up to 30 to 40 per cent in the district.

            The area under soybean has increased in the sugarcane blocks like Rahata, Shrirampur, Kopargaon, Rahuri, Newasa and Nagar.  Use of biofertilizers for seed treatments and foliar application of plant nutrients are widely adopted technologies due to the KVKs intervention.

Groundnut

            Groundnut is a major oilseed crop grown in the district.  It is mainly cultivated in summer season in the parts of Newasa, Rahuri, Parner, Akola, Shrigonda tehsils of the district. The varieties like ICGS-11, TAG-24, TG-26 have shown significant performance in increasing yield over traditional variety SB-11.  The farmers are adopting the technological options like use of biofertilizers, foliar grades, micronutrients and water management. The seed village concept has been initiated by the KVK in order to multiply the seeds of improved varieties.

Redgram

            The area under red gram has declined mainly due to heavy infestation of pod borer and optional crops like soybean during the kharif season. ICPL-87 variety is commonly used due to its short duration character where wheat can be easily taken during rabi after red gram.  The crop losses due to pod borer is observed up to 70 to 80 per cent, therefore, major focus was given only on IPM.  The techniques like use of pheromone traps, seed treatment with trichoderma, use of mixed crops, use of botanical extracts like neem, bioagents like NPV have been adopted by the farmers.

Bengal gram

            Helicoverpa infestation, wilt attack and use of old varieties were the main factors responsible for low productivity.  FLD was conducted mainly for demonstration of high yielding varieties and IPM for pest and disease management.

Cotton

Cotton is grown in both the irrigated and rainfed farming situations.  The area under rainfed farming situation is higher than irrigated situation in the district.  The parts of Kopargaon, Shrirampur, Newasa taluka and whole Shevagaon, Pathardi talukas comes under rain fed situations.  During the year 1997-98 KVK has started to conduct demonstrations in cotton.  Total 452 demonstrations were conducted on 229 ha area.  The cotton growers have mainly adopted integrated crop and nutrients management practices.  The average increase in yield is 30.43 per cent.

            Summer irrigated cotton was commonly grown in the district where bollworm attack was the major factor for decline in the yield level.  IPM concept was implemented to reduce this problem.  With the introduction of Bt cotton, the bollworm problem has declined to significant extent. Similarly, due to early maturity, crop has shifted from summer to kharif season and has become an important cash crop in irrigated as well as rain fed situation.

            However, sucking pests and major and micro nutrient deficiencies were some of the new emerging problems.  Similarly, poor canopy, plant growth and plant population were also important issues addressed to improve the crop yield.  While considering the prevalent problems, new concepts and technologies were demonstrated through FLD cotton.  Sucking pest and reddening of the leaves were some of the major problems solved that has shown an increase in yield by 30 to 35 per cent.  The horizontal spread of technology has been observed to be good.  Similarly, planting distance and plant geometry were also shown through the OFTs and as per suitability of intercultivation, the technology adoption has also been observed to be good.  Incorporation of cotton residue back into the soil after harvest through rotavator, intercultivation through hand hoe and aero blast sprayer are some of the new implements that are demonstrated to the farmers.

FLD Other than Oilseeds, Pulses and Cotton

            FLD programme was focused on major commodities of the district and the technologies available were used to solve the problems.  Before conducting FLD, problem diagnosis and prioritization of the activities is being done by each discipline.   KVK has collected the data on gaps in adoption of recommended technologies, reasons behind non-adoption of technologies, problems of low yield in the operational villages.  For the collection of information, the members of Prayog Pariwar, Farmers Clubs and SHGs were involved. 

            During analysis of collected data, as well as group discussion and meeting, it was observed that the factors like sowing time, planting distance, soil type, previous crops, source of irrigation, cropping system, pest and diseases, application of nutrients

are some of the factors affecting the yield of crops.  In case of animal husbandry and dairying, the factors like improper breeding, feeding, health and management practices affect the productivity. The planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and documentation were carried out with the help of members of Farmers Clubs and SHGs.  Field days, training and mass communication methods were adopted for horizontal spread of the technologies.

Crop Production

Horticulture

Animal Husbandry

Home Science

Outcome

            Through FLD programme, the drumstick crop was widely adopted in the district as well as in the state.  More than 2000 ha. area was brought under drumstick commercial cultivation directly through the KVKs inputs like technology, seed and seedlings.         

            IPM demonstration for different horticulture crops has given good impact which can be seen from increasing demand of the IPM inputs supply (neem oil, traps, bio-agents) at KVK as well as private agro service centers.  Foliar feeding of nutrients on various crops, soil and tissue analysis based nutrients management, planting methods of sugarcane and adoption of new varieties have been achieved due to FLD programme.  Introduction of Giriraja bird for backyard poultry, Osmanabadi and Boer goat, new fodder crops and demonstration of different formulation of botanicals for control of ecto and endo-parasites could help to increase the income of the farmers.  The SHGs are more involved in animal husbandry activities. The Home Science discipline has implemented on farm related activities along with catering to the health and nutrition aspects of the family.