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Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Perambalur District
 

Success Stories

Title – Sericulture – a profitable alternative

Background 

During 1980’s sericulture was practiced by 20 farmers of Perambalur district in a total area of 25 ha. During that period, farmers were unaware of improved varieties and occurrence of pest and disease were also severe. In those days farmers were chopped the mulberry leaves for silkworm feeding, which is highly laborious. There was no market for the cocoon in near by areas. The farmers sold their cocoon in Hosur and Mysore. Hence, Sericulture in Perambalur district was failured.

Interventions

Process

    • Group formation
    • Exposure visit
    • Training
    • Demonstration
    • Farmers group discussion
    • Seminar

Technology

Low cost bed method of rearing

In earlier days, farmers were rearing the silkworm by using Chandrika tray. In this method, the leaves had chopped in to pieces before fed to the worms. It was very difficult to clean the excreta of worms. Which need more labourers. The sericulture board of India developed a new technology called Bed method of rearing. In which newspapers are spread on the racks erected in the sericulture shed and the leaves are fed along with the stem. The next day fresh mulberry leaves along with stems are placed over the stems which was used in the previous day. By this method, the larvae can be fed upto formation of cocoon. There is no need of cleaning. Hence, the labour cost is saved upto 80 %. Also, the farmer can grow 300 egg in an area of 1400 sq.ft.

Introduction of new hybrids

Nowadays many hybrids are developed in mulberry. Among these, V1 hybrid is suitable for Perambalur district. It is tolerance to pest and diseases. Soil and foliar application of micronutrient enhanced the protein content of the leaves, thus resulted in increasing the size and weight of the cocoon.

Market in nearby area

A cocoon market was established at Salem by Sericulture Board of India. Now, transportation of the silkworm cocoon to market is very easy. And also the sericulture inspectors were advised to issue the eggs to all the farmers in same time. This can facilitate the hatching larvae, cocoon formation and marketing of cocoons at a particular time. Hence, one or two farmers can collect all the cocoons and market it. All the farmers need not go to the market. By this way, the transport cost can be saved.

Improved nursery technology

In earlier days farmers have got the saplings from distant areas and utilized them for planting. But, nowadays farmers are producing the saplings by using the cuttings obtained in the previous year crop by their own. Hence, they would save the transport cost and obtained healthy saplings for planting.

 Introduction of new equipments (Cutter)

The pruning was done with the help of sickle in earlier days. Now a cutter is introduced to cut down  the plant. By using this cutter both labour and time can be saved up to 87 and 55 percent respectively.

Drip irrigation system

Though the farmers are aware of drip irrigation system, they are not adopted it for mulberry cultivation. The farmers have undergone a tour regarding precision farming. By seeing the facts in precision farming some of the farmers have now practiced the drip irrigation technology in their mulberry field. By this, they could save the water and labour. The performance of the crop also well.

Impact

Horizontal Spread

While establishing the KVK in 2002 the mulberry cultivation in Perambalur district was only about 20 acres. Through training, demonstration, farmers group discussion, seminars and exposure visit offered from KVK the mulberry cultivation area is extended upto 82 acres in 2007.

S. No

Name of the block

2002 – 03

2003 – 04

2004 - 05

2005 - 06

2006 -07

Acre

No. of farmers

Acre

No. of farmers

Acre

No. of farmers

Acre

No. of farmers

Acre

No. of farmers

1

Perambalur

5.00

7

5.00

6

6.50

6

11.00

8

18.00

8

2

Alathur

--

--

6.00

8

8.00

5

8.00

8

15.00

12

3

Veppanthattai

9.00

13

4.00

8

8.25

9

14.25

8

14.00

10

4

Veppur

1.00

1

3.50

5

10.00

8

6.00

4

--

--

5

Jayankondam

4.00

5

5.50

7

1.75

2

--

--

9.00

6

6

Thirumanur

1.00

1

--

--

8.00

6

5.50

1

11.00

7

7

Sendurai

--

--

--

--

7.50

3

9.00

4

7.00

3

8

T. Palur

--

--

--

--

2.00

1

2.00

1

3.00

2

9

Ariyalur

--

--

--

--

2.00

1

2.00

1

5.00

3

10

Andimadam

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

 

Total (Acre)

20.00

27

24.00

34

54.00

41(F)

57.75

35

82.00

51

Economic gains

In earlier days the sericulture farmers spent on an average of Rs. 35,000 (excluding subsidy amount) in the initial year for establishing rearing shed and to cultivating mulberry plants in an acre. They could earn only Rs. 30,000 per year. Second year onwards they can get profit. But, nowadays farmers are spending Rs.44,000 (excluding subsidy amount) and earn Rs. 52,000 per year. The farmers could get profit even from the first year onwards. In the earlier method the farmer could rear 100 egg cards. But, in present method he can rear upto 300 egg cards.

Employment Generation

Sericulture provide regular employment for 2 labours. Besides this, during the time of harvest 7 labours are engaged. By increasing the cocoon production the silk reeling unit can offer employment for many youth. Soon a silk reeling unit is going to be established at Perambalur district. By this many farmers may shift to silk worm rearing and a better employment opportunity may be created to rural youth.

Seed Production in Small Onion – A Profitable Venture

Small onion is the major vegetable crop in Perambalur district cultivated in an area of around 7000 ha. Being traditional crop of this district, farmers adopting traditional cultivation practices are using bulbs as planting material. It leads to high expenditure due to its vast requirement (500 kg / acre @ Rs. 15 – 25 / kg). It is difficult for the farmers to get quality bulbs when severe rainfall occurred during the harvesting period. Heavy rainfall leads to post harvest loss and the quality of the bulb became inferior. If such bulbs are used for planting automatically the yield will be decreased.

Hence, HRKVK has introduced seed propogation technique in our district which is already practiced in Dindigul and Namkkal district of TamilNadu. In small onion Co(on)-5 is the variety that can be multiplied through seeds. This is the only variety  in small onion having the ability to set seeds. Initially, the seed propogation technique in small onion was introduced in one farmers field during 2006-07 and the technology has been popularized through training, demonstration, newspaper coverage etc. Now the technology has been spread over four blocks of Perambalur district and 2 blocks of Ariyalur district and is being adopted by more than 100 farmers in an area of 300 acres.

Since the area under seed propogation is increased the demand for seed has arised. Keeping this in view, HRKVK’s strategic step in 2008 offered hands on training to 20 farmers in seed production in small onion. One of the trained farmer Mr. P. Chinnappan, S/o Palanimuthu of Siruvachur adopted this technique in an area of 0.75 acre. He had planted the Co(on)-5 bulbs in his field. He was technically adviced by the KVK scientists. The plants started flowering on 40 days onwards and harvesting commenced 120th day onwards. The matured stalks were identified by the seed colour which turned  black and exposed when the outer coat splits opened. 3 harvests were done. From the 75 cents he could get 70 kgs of seed.

By this, he could earn Rs. 35,000/- from seed and an additional income of Rs. 7000/- from bulbs (875 kg). If he cultivated onion bulbs in the same area he might have earned only Rs. 28,000/-. But in seed production he could earn Rs. 42,000 which is 33% increase over the previous one. By enjoying this technology the same farmer has extended the area by 2 acres for seed production this year. By seeing the fact four other farmers in nearby villages viz., Palayam, Kurumbalur and Valikandapuram are now practicing seed production in small onion in an area of 11 acres. This technology is introduced by the KVK in collaboration with National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, Dindigul.

 
Special Technologies