Root Intensification Technologies for Different Crops

What is System of Wheat Intensification (SWI):

SWI is not SRI in Wheat. SWI is a different set of agronomic practices in Wheat. In SWI, practices like seed rate, sowing of seeds at proper spacing, control of water in the main field, weeding / hoeing are modified to ensure higher ratios of tillers to mother seedling, increased number of effective tillers / hill, enhanced panicle length and bolder grains, or in short enhanced yield of wheat.

The Methodology of SWI:

Seed Selection and treatment:

 Farmers need to start with a fresh stock. The seeds are dipped in hot water at 60 degree Celsius in order to sort out the bold grains that settle down. Seed treatment with cow urine and fungicide is mandatory.

Seed Sowing & Depth of seed sowing:

Seed sowing in time (15^th November to 15^th December) and the depth of seed sowing should be 1-1.5 inch.

Direct sowing of treated seeds in main field:

For SWI direct seeding of wheat is recommended at 1 to 1.5 inches depth in a tilled land. Two seeds are dibbed at one place so that birds and other predators not cause losses. At least one seed germinate properly.

Spacing:

Wider spacing of 20 cm Row-to-Row and also 20 cm seed to seed are given to allow profuse tillering in latter stages.

Weeding and hoeing:

Hoeing and weeding is recommended for 3 times during the growth phases of wheat at 20, 30 and 40 Days after sowing.

System of Root Intensification in Rapeseed  :

The lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedlings, wider spacing, single seedling transplantation, organic manuring and inter-cultivation cum weeding will lead to 50-90% yield enhancement.

System of Root Intensification in Moong (Green Gram) :

The lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, sowing with wider spacing & weeding will lead to 50-90% yield enhancement.

System of Root Intensification in Tomato, Brinjal & Chilli :

The seeds are treated with cow urine, warm water, vermi-compost, jaggery, trichoderma and the germinated or wet seeds are sown in in nursery at 2 inches at either side of spacing. Organic environment is made in nurseries and seeds are sown at proper spacing. Compost and soils are treated with trichoderma. Every care is taken to minimize the shock by taking seedlings attached with soils. Then 8-12 days old young seedlings are uprooted carefully and transplanted in main field. Shallow transplanting is done. One feet deep and 0.5 feet diameter pit is made to provide conducive environment for intensification of roots. The farmers should provide favorable environment for the profuse root growth and shoot growth is outcome of attention on roots.  Proper irrigation channels are made to facilitate aeration in roots and 2-3 inter cultural operation is done by using SRI-Rabi weeder. The productivity enhancement is around 40-85%.

System of Root Intensification in Ladies Finger :  

The Lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedling transplantation, wider spacing & weeding, better environment for root zone enhances 45-90% of yield increase.

System of Root Intensification in Ridge Gourd :  

The Lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedling transplantation, wider spacing & weeding, better environment for root zone enhances 45-90% of yield increase.

System of Root Intensification in Cauliflower :  

The Lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedling transplantation, wider spacing & weeding, better environment for root zone enhances 45-90% of yield increase.

Arhar in Bunds :

The arhar crops will be grown in the bunds of the plots and the yield will be around 1 quintal in 0.5 acres of bund.

Machan Bidhi Bottle Gourd & Bitter Gourd through System of Root Intensification (SRI)

Machan is made particularly in Kharif. It prevents rotting of fruits. It also facilitates fruiting in plants. The Seeds are treated with cow urine, warm water, vermi-compost, jaggery and trichoderma. Germinated and wet seeds are sown in field and shallow sowing of germinated seeds is ensured. Organic environment is made in nurseries and seeds are sown at proper spacing. Compost and soils are treated with trichoderma and sunlight, air, moisture are facilitated due to wider spacing. Then 8-12 days old young seedlings are uprooted carefully and transplanted in main field. Shallow transplanting is done. Two feet deep and 1.5 feet diameter pit is made to provide conducive environment for intensification of roots. The farmers should provide favorable environment for the profuse root growth and shoot growth is outcome of attention on roots.  Proper irrigation channels are made to facilitate aeration in roots and 2-3 inter cultural operation is done by using SRI-Rabi weeder. The productivity enhancement is around 40-85%.

Mahila Kissan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) – New Project for empowering women farmers

Government of India provided Rs. 100 crore in the 2010-11 budget for empowering the women farmers under the scheme “Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana” (MKSP), as a sub component of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). MKSP is designed to strive to address the specific needs of the women farmers.

Objectives of MKSP:

The primary objective of MKSP is to sustain and improve agriculture and agriculture based livelihoods by establishing efficient local resource based agriculture, wherein women farmers gain more control over the production resources and manage the support systems.

The scheme is also envisaged to enable women farmers gain/ access to the inputs and services provided by the government and thereby increasing the production capacities of women farmers and ensuring food security for their families and communities.

Activities proposed under this project:

·         Capacity building of the women farmers for upgrading their skill and improving their capabilities for supporting farming activities

·         Agriculture related productivity enhancement techniques/ measures should be given due importance.

·         The agriculture strategy adopted under the Project should revolve around local natural resources based sustainable agriculture.

·         The activities of the project may have blend of agriculture and Allied sector activities with Post harvest activities including value addition to the agricultural produce and management of cattle essentially considered in women’s domain should be given due weightage under the scheme.

·         Improving market access to women farmers should be a key element under the project. Knowledge dissemination relating to markets, post harvest practices, village level value addition should be indicated.

·         Drudgery reduction through use of gender friendly tools and technologies should also be made a key feature of the scheme.

Expected outcomes:

·         Net increase in income of women farmers on sustainable basis

·         Increased visibility of women as interest group in agriculture

·         Increased access to productive land, inputs, credit, technology and information

·         Drudgery reduction of women farmers through gender friendly technologies and tools

·         Increased access to markets and premium prices

·         Increased soil health and quality

Who will be funded:

·         Government organizations working for empowerment  of women  

·         NGOs working with SHGs and on agriculture based livelihoods

·         Community Based Organisations

How to Apply:

·         Project Implementation agencies can apply through Rural Development departments of the concerned states

More details:

Contact Shri.Sudheer Shyam, Deputy Secretary

SGSY Division, Ministry Of Rural Development, GOI

Participatory Guarantee System

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is a process in which people in similar situations assess, inspect, and verify the production practices of each other and collectively declare the entire holding of the group as organic.

PGS introduced in India in 2005 by Organic Farmers India Association (OFAI). PGS is managed by PGS council of India. PGS council formed by a OFAI, IIRD, DDS,Key stone foundation and Timbaktu collectives. National Center for Organic Farming, Ghaziabhad supported PGS council.

Guiding principles:

1. Participation
2. Shared vision
3. Transparency
4.  Trust
5. Horizontality

Advantages of PGS:

•       The procedures are simple; documents are basic and use the local language understandable to farmers

•       Farm inspectors are among the group and live in the same village, therefore have better access to surveillance

•       Peer appraisal instead of third party inspections reduces cost

•       Random residue testing at regular intervals ensures the integrity and increase the trust

Limitations:

1. PGS certification is only for groups, not for individual farmers
2. PGS is applicable only for crop production and animal husbandry
3. PGS ensures traceability only up to farm gate 
4. Only few countries recognizes PGS

Operational Structure proposed by NCOF, Ghaziabhad:

National Advisory Committee at DAC

PGS secretariat at NCOF 

Zonal Councils

Regional Councils

Facilitating agencies

       Local groups

                  Farmer/ Farm family

Regional Councils:

•      Regional councils can ideally floated by state agencies, existing NGOs etc

•      Should have at least 10 local groups

•      Have access to printer and internet

•      Have adequate financial resources

•      Each RC will be recognized for  three years and renewable after every three year

Roles and Responsibilities:

•      Training support

•      Facilitate local groups in uploading data

•      Issue IDs to local groups

•      Issuing certificates to local groups

Local Groups:

•      Group of farmers live in the same village or close villages and interact regularly with each other

•      A local group should compromise of minimum 5 and not more than 50 members

•      At least three members should have understanding on certification

•      Holding of one member should not exceeds 1/3 rd of the total land under the group

•      Parallel production and part conversion not allowed

Certification process:

Farmer:   Join local groups.  Take the organic farmer’s pledge.  Attends other key field days

Local group: Collates pledge, inspection, and decides attendance for each farmer.  Decide who will certified sends summary work sheet to regional councils

Local group peer inspection:  Scripted inspection/Peer appraisal, physically checks the field and confirm the practices

Regional Councils:  Checks for completeness of summary worksheet. Follow ups on any non-compliance issues raised.  Pass information to NCC. Issues certificates.   

National coordination committee: Maintains “Instant IDs”. Random pesticide residue testing.

New components proposed by NCOF for strengthening PGS:

•      Residual testing: Samples will be tested for Pesticide residues

•      Traceability:  All Details of farmer groups including pesticide residues tests will be placed in website

•      PGS Website: Entire data will be kept in PGS website

What else needed to strengthen PGS in India:

·        Marketing support: marketing tie ups with organic firms is required to access higher premiums by the producers.

·        Creating awareness among the consumers:  Consumer awareness will play a critical role in increasing demand for organic products produce under PGS

·        Creation of human resources at village level: Efforts should made on creating human resources for providing technical support farmers

·        Mass campaigns: Mass campaigns are required to attract farmers into PGS

·        Using existing plot forms for up scaling PGS:  Existing community plot forms like SHGs, Farmers groups and producer companies have to explore for up scaling PGS.

Trap crops in Pest management

Managing pests without chemical pesticides requires innovative practices. One such innovative practice is growing trap crops. Trap crop is a crop which attracts pests more than the main crop. Pests prefer trap crops for feed or oviposition.   Pests are either prevented from reaching the main crop or concentrated in certain parts of the field away from the main crop. The principle of trap crop relies on pest preference for certain crops or stages of crop growth.  Two preliminary techniques used in trap crops are:

A.      Selection of more preferred species

B.      Planting of the same crop before the main crop so that preferred stage of the development will arrive earlier than the main crop     

Advantage of trap crops:

1.       Lessens the usage of pesticides

2.       Preserves natural enemies

3.       Enhance biodiversity

4.       Increase productivity

Types of trap crops: Trap crops can be classified based on spatial distribution and characteristics of trap crops.

Based on characteristics of trap crop:

A.      Conventional trap crop: It is most common practice. These plants are preferred fro oviposition Growing of trap crops next to the main crops. Ex: Castor and marigold in Ground nut crop

B.      Dead end Trap cropping: Trap crops which are highly attractive to insects but they or their offsprings can’t survive.  Ex: Indian mustered for Cabbage diamond back moth. Sun hemp for bean pod borer 

C.      Genetically modified trap cropping: Crops are genetically modified to attract pests. Ex. Genetically engineered Potato for colerado Potato beetle

Based on spatial distribution:

A.      Perimeter trap cropping: Growing trap crops around the main crop.

B.      Sequential trap cropping: Growing trap crops earlier or simultaneously than the main crop to attract the pest. Ex. Indian mustard as a trap crop for diamnon back month in Cabbage

C.      Multiple trap cropping: Planting of several species simultaneously as trap crops for attracting pests   

D.      Push – Pull trap cropping: Growing combination of trap crop and repellent crops ex. Marigold and Onion in Chillies

Examples of trap crops:

S.No	Name of the main crop	Trap crop	Pest
1	Cotton	Marigold	Heliothis
		Bhendi	Pod borers
2	Ground nut	Cow pea	Leaf folder
		Castor	Tobacco caterpillar
3	Red gram	Soya bean/ Green gram	Thrips
4	Sun flower	Mari gold	Heliothis
		Castor	Tobbacco catre pillar
5	Bengal gram	Mari gold	Heliothis
6	Cabbage	Indian Mustard	Diamond back moth
7	Cotton	Alfa alfa	Laygus bug
8	Garlic	Basil and Mari gold	Trips
9	Carrot	Onion and garlic	Carrot root fly
10	Cabbage	raddish	Flee beetle

Tips for successful trap cropping:

A.      Select a trap crop that is more attractive to pest than the main crop

B.      Monitor trap crops regularly

C.      Immediately destroy the eggs that are found on the trap crop