Bio-Agents for Organic Farming

Organic Farming is a method of cultivation done in line with nature. For a cultivation which facilitates Biodiversity a cost effective method is to involve Bio-agents. Bio-agents include Biofertilizers, Bio-Pesticides and Bio-Control Agents. This piece deals with Biofertilizers – its types, uses and advantages. These are low cost inputs which helps farmers at both ends. In expenditure end, it is very cheap so affordable even to poor farmers at income end, the produces excels in quality compared to the chemically produces ones. Hence farmers gets premium price. As a bonus to the ecosystem and environment, the microbial load is increased, the farmers’ friends (insects like spider, earthworm and many beneficial insects) and their food web are protected. 

For increased yield the farmer should main the fertility of the soil. Only when the soil is fertile, the crop can absorb the nutrients from soil. Nutrient transfer from source to sink decides the quality and quantity of the produce. Biofertilizers are eco-friendly means of supplying nutrients to the soil. Biofertilizers are ready to use live formulates of such beneficial microorganisms which on application to seed, root or soil mobilize the availability of nutrients by their biological activity in particular, and help build up the micro-flora and in turn the soil health in general.

Biofertilizers:

With intensive agriculture farmers have dumped a lot of chemicals in the name of fertilizers which are actually salts which have drastically reduced the microbial load of the soil. Also fertilizers being a derivative of fossil fuels, make us more dependent on sources out of farm. Biofertilizers are a good alternative to the chemical fertilizers. Use of biofertilizers in crop cultivation helps in safeguarding the soil health and also the quality of crop products. It increases the crop yield by 20-30% as it stimulates plant growth.

For increasing the Nitrogen content, Rhizobium is used for legume crops like black gram, green gram, red gram, chick pea and so on. Azotobacter and Azospirillum are used for non-legume crops and Acetobacter for Sugarcane only. Blue-Green Algae (BGA) and Azolla are suitable for low land paddy only. There are biofertilizers to solubilize Phosphorus, Potash and Zinc.

To use biofertilizers, the farmer has to mix it with either farmyard manure or vermicompost and broadcast in field. Biofertilizers are inoculums which feed on the decomposed farm residues. On their decomposition it provides nutrition or it converts from one form to another (its excreta or exudes) which make the soil fertile by enriching with the needed nutrients. The texture of the soil is altered from hard to fragile which facilitates root penetration and facilitates the root system to perform better.

With the soaring price if chemical fertilizers, the farmers can use biofertilizers as an alternative and can keep agriculture going in a profitable way both economically and eco-friendly.

Azospirillum is a nitrogen fixing biofertilizer. Nitrogen is a major nutrient for all plants. Azospirillum lipofereum is a very useful soil and root bacterium. It is an associative symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria. It is found in the soil around plant roots and root surface. It also produces growth-promoting substances like indole acetic acid (iaa), gibberellins, pantothenic acid, thiamine and niacin and it promotes root proliferation and it improve the plant growth yield. It increases the rootlet density and root branching resulting in the increased uptake of mineral and water. Azospirillum is recommended for rice millets, maize, wheat sorghum etc. and it fixes 20-40 kg N/hectare.

The aerobic bacteria, Azotobacter chroococcum is known to fix considerable quantity of nitrogen in the range of 20-40 kg of nitrogen / ha in the rhizosphere in non-leguminous crops. The lack of organic matter in the soil is a limited factor in the proliferation of Azotobacter in the soil. The bacterium induces hormones that help plants in better germination, early emergence and better root development.

Azolla is a water fern. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil with the help of blue green algae by symbiosis process. Its application improves soil health and soil fertility. Azolla suppresses weed growth, reduces loss of applied chemical Nitrogen fertilizer. Azolla biofertilizer technology is simple, economic and ecofriendly. In rice field Azolla grown once before or after planting can produce upto 25 tons of fresh biomass and contribute upto 50 kg N/ha. Azolla grown once during the cropping season can easily supply 20-40 kg N/ha. Azolla can be used as a feed for poultry, duckery, fish and cattle. It is suitable for flooded condition which fixes upto 40-80 kg N/hectare. When applied in desired quantity. Around 10 q of Azolla is required for a hectare of land.

BGA is an algae, fixes 20-30 kg N/hectare. Its application to rice increases yield by 15-20%.

Rhizobium is a nitrogen fixing biofertilizer. Rhizobium sp. is the symbiotic nitrogen fixer which assimilates atmospheric nitrogen and fixes in the root nodule, formed in the roots of leguminous plants. These bacteria infect the roots of leguminous plants, leading to the formation of “lumps” or “nodules” where the nitrogen fixation takes place. The bacterium also produces enzymes (nitrogenase) that supply a constant source of reduced nitrogen to the host plant. Rhyzobium is suitable for Ground nut, Black gram, Green gram, Red gram, Cow pea, Bengal gram, Mustard, Soy bean, French bean, Cluster bean, Lab-lab, Sesbania sp, Leguminous trees etc.

• Rhizobium + Phosphobacteria at 200 gm each per 10 kg of seed as seed treatment are recommended for pulses such as pigeonpea, green gram, black gram, cowpea etc, groundnut and soybean.
• Azotobacter + Phosphobacteria at 200 gm each per 10 kg of seed as seed treatment are useful for wheat, sorghum, maize, cotton, mustard etc.
• For transplanted rice, the recommendation is to dip the roots of seedlings for 8 to 10 hours in a solution of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria at 5 kg each per ha.
• Rhizobium is used for pulse legume. It fixes 50-100 kg N/hectare with legumes. For different pulse crops specific rhizobium cultures are required.

Applications:

Seed treatment: 200 g of nitrogenous biofertilizer and 200 g of Phosphobacteria are suspended in 300-400 ml of water and mixed thoroughly. Ten kg seeds are treated with this paste and dried in shade. The treated seeds have to be sown as soon as possible.

Seedling root dip: For rice crop, a bed is made in the field and filled with water. Recommended biofertilizers are mixed in this water and the roots of seedlings are dipped for 8-10 hrs.

Soil treatment: 4 kg each of the recommended biofertilizers are mixed in 200 kg of compost and kept overnight. This mixture is incorporated in the soil at the time of sowing or planting.

Phosphorous plays the key role in the integrated nutrient management to plants next to nitrogen. It is the key factor for the crop productivity. It is one of the major essential macronutrients for plants and is applied to soil in the form of phosphate fertilizers. However, a large portion of soluble inorganic phosphate which is applied to the soil as chemical fertilizer is immobilized rapidly and becomes unavailable to plants.

Phosphobacteria solubilizes the available source of phosphate in the soil and made readily available to the plant and improves soil properties in turn sustains soil fertility as it aids utilization of Potash and other nutrients. It stimulates the growth of the plant. Hence it results in plumpness and succulence of fruits and grains with increased protein percentage. An increase in yield from 10% to 20% is documented. Such produces fetches good price.

Phosphorus is a major nutrient for plants inducing vigorous growth and also contributing to their disease resistance. Phosphorous helps in root formation and plant growth. The plants utilize only 10–15% of phosphate applied. The balance 85 – 90% remains in insoluble form in the soil. The bio promoter has highly efficient phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) that grow and secrete organic acids, which dissolve this unavailable phosphate into soluble form and make it available to the plants. Thus, the residual phosphate fertilizers in the soil can be well utilized and external application can be optimized. It facilitates root formation and plant growth, improves soil quality with subsequent uses.

Potash Mobilizer is a beneficial bacterium capable of mobilizing Potassium available in soil into the root zone of plants. It works well in all types of soil. Use of such bacteria in powder form can increase the availability of more potash in usable form to the plants. When applied to soil, potash mobilizing bacterium multiplies, and helps to mobilize potassium fixed in soil. This mobilized potassium is easily available to the plants and reduces Potassium application. The mobilizing power is so high that it can save upto 50-60% of the chemical potassium fertilizer. Potash mobilized is immediately available to the plants. It stimulates flowering and fruiting. It improves soil properties and sustains soil fertility. It encourages plumpness and succulence of fruits and grains and increases brix level. Increases the yield from 10% - 20% and it improves the quality of produce and thus fetches good price.

Zinc Mobilizer is a bio-fertilizer made of pure cultures of naturally occurring soil-borne zinc solubilizing bacterium. Zinc solubilizing bacterium multiplies, secrete organic acids and helps to solubilize insoluble and chelated zinc fixed in the soil. This mobilized zinc is easily available to the plants.

Ref:

1. http://www.manidharmabiotech.com/bio-fertilizer.html,

2. http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_faq's.html

ORGANIC FARMING

Organic Farming is a method of cultivation done in line with nature. Food, fodder and livestock are raised in an integrated way. Natural balance remains undisturbed even after many years of Organic Farming. In other words, the web of life is integrated which results in conservation of Biodiversity.

Indian farmers were cultivating and “Farm Husbanding” using natural way of cultivation for generations, which are evident from the remains of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. A typical Indian farmer had a minimum of 50 pairs of livestock. Some of them used to help with the farm activities like ploughing, pulling carts, water lifting and so on. Some of them supplied milk and meat. The farm wastes were converted to farmyard manure. The goats and sheep were their mobile banks (could sell whenever they need instant money). The value of a farmer was estimated with the herd they possessed. The hens gave egg and meat. Vegetable were grown in their backyard. People ate farm-fresh food so remained hale and healthy. There was a network of LIVES.

With modernization and mechanization we lost our treasure. With the entry of tractors, the farmers preferred to lose cattle. The microbial load of beneficial microorganisms was not fed to the fields. The minimum microbial load present in the Indian soil was killed with the fresh supply of chemical fertilizers which was introduced in the name of Green revolution.

Over years of advanced agriculture, we lost our traditional varieties which were pest resistant, disease resistant, saline resistant and which could withstand water stagnation and all possible natural vagaries. Yes, OUR rich and varied collection of gene pool was lost as farmers are forced to cultivate short duration varieties and high yielding varieties.

A typical field has a good number of insects. There is a mix of beneficial and harmful insects. Beneficial insects include natural enemies, which kills harmful insects. A natural enemy is organisms which kill, harm and cause disease in other living organisms. There are three types - predators, parasites and pathogens. Predators kill other organisms. Parasites enter or attach to the bodies of their victims and feed on their tissues and fluids ultimately kill them. Pathogens are microorganisms which cause diseases. On application of pesticides to the field the farmers’ friend “beneficial insects” are the first where as the harmful insects get resistance to the pesticide and gains resurgence which require higher dose of insecticides to kill them. The pest management was wisely done by encouraging the natural enemies. Cow’s urine was used to manage various crop diseases. Herbal extracts like neem oil and neem based products were used to control pests and diseases. The use of Panchakavya dates back to Vedic era. These methods also helped in multiplication of the microbial load of the soil and made them fertile.

Now it is time to seek old wine in new bottle - The traditional agriculture in the name of Organic Farming. Organic farming uses crop rotations and cover crops which help in balance of nutrient supply. Cover crops and composted manure are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility. Balanced host/predator relationships were encouraged for pest and disease management without any external factor. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back to the soil. Organic farming protects the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, and optimize biological productivity.

Organic Farming is gaining importance to gain back what we lost - A healthy life, a sustainable economy and integrated development. In this age of globalization, an organic certification helps to reach the global market. The developed countries consume organic foods but sells to developing countries like India, genetically modified seeds, fertilizers and pesticides which they produce. It is time to get up and make use of this marketing game.

This field gained its flush green due to the use of Azospirillum, a nitrogen fixing biofertilizer. This field had a lot of beneficial insects (which kills the harmful insects called pest). There were dragonflies, a natural predator that eats eggs and adults of many paddy pests. There were many lady ladybird beetles and different types of spiders. These insects were acting as a bio-shield protecting the field. There were pests too, bu the number of natural enemies were more than the pest. So, this field needed no pesticides to control the harmful insects. This was possible because this field is an Organic field. If any form of chemical was used, the first ones to be destroyed would be the beneficial insects, which acts as  guard. 

Seed Treatment Campaign

Seed treatment campaign was conducted in many places in Karaikal. I conducted at two villages - Subrayaburam and Thennangudy. It was an awareness creation programme. As the agriculture season is picking up, it was a low cost technology which helps the crop to gain resistance to root borne diseases and facilitates Organic farming.

Seed treatment is similar to immunization programme for children. Like we have an injection within 5 days of child birth is this seed treatment. Giving the immunization at the earliest stage of life. If the farmer has missed the seed treatment, he can broadcast the bio-control agent in nursery field. It is like an injection at 45th day. If the farmer plans his transplanting he can go for seedling root dipping. Its like an injection at 65th day. If the farmer has already transplanted he can very well broadcast in the field twice or thrice, its like polio vaccination for children under 5 years old every year. We know the importance of immunization to children and now it is time to treat our agricultural crops also as children and give maximum care that too in organic way. This will help us to have a better future and make the Earth a better place to live through ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.

Seed treatment is a process of application of chemicals or protectants (with fungicidal, insecticidal, bactericidal or nematocidal properties) to seeds that prevent the carriage of insect or pathogens in or on the seeds. In the campaign various benefits and importance of seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens was detailed. It helps in effective control Blast, Bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight of paddy. It paves way for organic rice production.

Pseudomonas fluorescens is a common Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. It belongs to the Pseudomonas genus; 16S rRNA analysis has placed P. fluorescens in the P. fluorescens group within the genus, to which it lends its name.

The method demonstration conducted was “Seed Treatment of Paddy seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens using seed treating drum”. Five kilo paddy seed was placed in the seed treating drum. As the rate of Pseudomonas to be used for treatment are 10 gms per kilo of Paddy seeds. 50 gms of Pseudomonas was added to the seeds in the drum. The drum was closed and rotated 5 times in clockwise and anticlockwise directions each. The treated seeds were collected in a vessel. Such treated seeds can be used for soaking the seeds for enhancing germination. When the Pseudomonas treated seeds are soaked, while germination the rupture created when plumule and radicle emerges acts as an entry point for the bacteria to enter the seed and the full system gets the inoculum.

The other methods taught in the seed treatment campaign were

1. Using rice gruel: Pseudomonas was added (at the rate of 10 gms / kg of paddy seeds) to the cooled rice gruel. It was mixed uniformly and then it was mixed with the seeds. The treated seeds should be shade dried and can be used for soaking to facilitate germination.

2. Using Water: Pseudomonas was added (at the rate of 10 gms / kg of paddy seeds) in 1 litre of water. It was mixed uniformly and then it was mixed with the seeds. The treated seeds should be shade dried and can be used for soaking to facilitate germination.

3. In soaking pit / pond / tank: Pseudomonas was added (at the rate of 10 gms / kg of paddy seeds) in the water available in soaking pit / pond / tank. The gunny bags containing seeds should be soaked in Pseudomonas treated water for more than 12 hours. Then remove the seed bags and cover them with dark tarpaulin sheet to facilitate germination. The Pseudomonas would enter the entire system of the plant from the initial stage itself. Then the remaining treated water used for the soaking should be added to the nursery itself. 

For those farmers who have taken up sowing either in nursery of direct sowing, the other ways of using Pseudomonas were detailed.

Seedling root dipping: Apply 2.5kg of Pseudomonas to the water stagnated in an area of 25 sq.m. The seedlings after pulling out from the nursery should be placed in stagnated water containing the bacteria. A minimum period of 30 minutes is necessary for soaking the roots and prolonged soaking will enhance the efficiency.

Soil application: Apply the product @ 2.5kg/ha mixed with 50 Kgs of well decomposed farmyard manure (FYM) or sand at 30 days after transplanting.

Foliar application: Spray the product @ 0.2% concentration (1Kg/ha) commencing from 45 days after transplanting at 10 days interval for 3 times depending on the disease intensity. If there is no disease incidence, a single spray is sufficient.

Living a Dignified Life

It is an another version of http://bornagainamina.blogspot.in/2013/02/atma-gives-increased-income.html. This article is written to show the story from his daughter's side.

Hemalatha, aged 31 lives with her only daughter and Father in the back yard of her Brother’s home in Surakudy Village of Karaikal District of Union Territory of Puducherry (earlier it was called as Pondicherry). She is too brilliant to read from the facial expressions and body language. She can neither hear nor speak, but that is not her only trouble, a widow from her early 20’s, Hemalatha is also a single mother at the prime of her youth. To overcome all these challenges Hemalatha decided to invest most of her time with her Father’s cattle. He is also a dependant on his only son. Hemalatha, her daughter and her father live in a hut behind his son’s house. In the backyard, daughter and father grow vegetables and fodder to live a dignified life. 

Hemalatha is very much restricted to her house as she is involved in the household chores only and not exposed to the open world. Fodder in her life is also an interesting story as it created an opportunity. Sinnappa Pillai is an agricultural worker who is also having few cattle in his home with which he is earning his living. Hemalatha’s father is a member of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) group. As a part of a training program 100 fodder slips were provided to all the fifteen member participants of the group. Hemalatha’s family grew the fodder slip according to the instructions provided and it multiplied into thousands providing fodder slips to many without any cost as they got the initial slips free from a Government scheme.

Fodder is a grass variety whose leaves are fed to cattle which are more advantages than other forms of feed as it is natural and rich in moisture, nutrition and fiber content. It is reproduced through rooted slips (actually the bottom portion of the stem). Once the grass matures, the grass gives a lot of tillers that is becomes very bushy - even if it was planted as a single slip, it would become a bush of around 25 tillers. Fodder multiplied from one hundred to thousands because of the hard work of the daughter and father. She toiled with her father not wasting time and space in the backyard. Each additional tiller from the fodder found a place in some space in the backyard in an aesthetic way. A tiller is a stem produced by the grass plants, and refers to all shoots that grow after the initial parent shoot grows from a seed. Tillers emerge from each node at the base of the fodder. Tillers are usually segmented in the internodes area with one or two buds emerging from it. Such pieces of the fodder slips are used for vegetative propagation.

The parental care to the cattle and stall feeding the fodder helped her cattle to yield more milk than ever before. The quality of their milk was improved and made the neighbors to demand Hemalatha’s milk more than others! Often she sells the excess milk to the milk vendor, helping her family to live a dignified life. A hard worker runs in toes from early morning to late night. She gets up before sunrise, completes the household chores, prepares her daughter to school, takes care of the cattle, milks the cows and delivers to neighboring households to earn a Dignified Life. Though she lives behind her brother’s house she is economically independent and manages all the expenses of her life with meager income. An example of self-confidence and self respect, Hemalatha is an inspiration!

தினம் ஒரு இயற்கை தரும் அன்பளிப்பு

எதிர்பார்ப்பு 

நேற்று அவசரமாக அலுவலகம் கிளம்பிக்கொண்டிருந்தேன். என் கணவர் கூப்பிட்டார், "இங்கே வந்து பாரேன், யார் வந்திருக்காங்கன்னு..." எங்கள் வீட்டு ஜன்னலுக்கு பக்கத்தில் உள்ள வாழை மரத்தில் ஒன்று, அதற்க்கு பக்கத்தில் மற்றறொரு வாழை மரத்தில் இன்னொன்றுமாக ஒரு ஜோடி பறவைகள். இதற்கு முன்பாக அப்படி ஒரு பறவையை பார்த்ததே கிடையாது. தலையிலிருந்து உடல் மர  நிறம். தோகையோ சந்தன நிறம். அவ்வளவு அழகு. உண்மையான பெயர் தெரியாததாலும், ஜோடியாக வந்ததாலும் அவகளுக்கு ஜோடிக்குயில் னு பெயர் வைத்து பிரம்மித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தோம். படம் பிடிக்கணும்னு தோணவே இல்லை. எங்களிடம் புகைப்படக்கருவியும் இல்லை.  உணவு இடைவேளை சமயம் வேகமாக வீட்டிற்கு வந்து வலையை தேடி தேடி பார்த்தாலும் அந்த பறவையை ஒத்த ஒன்றை பார்க்கவே முடியவில்லை. இன்றாவது அவைகள் வரும் என்ற எதிர்பார்ப்போடு ஒவ்வொரு காலையையும் எதிர்நோக்குகிறோம். 

பூரிப்பு 

இன்று பார்த்தால் இயற்கை எங்களுக்கு எதிர்பாராத சந்தோசத்தை கொடுத்தது. வாசலில் உள்ள மூன்று மலர்கள் பூத்திருந்தன முதல்முறையாக. முதலில் நான் பார்த்தது வெள்ளை அரளி பூ, பக்கத்திலே ஒரு சிகப்பு ஒற்றை செம்பருத்திப்பூ அடியிலே ஒரு மஞ்சள் ஜினியா பூ. எனக்கா ஒரே பூரிப்பு.....

உயிர் வேலியாய் எங்கள் வீட்டை காக்கும் குருவிகள்

எங்கள் வீட்டில் சுற்றிலும் காய்கறிகள் பயிரிட்டிருப்பதால் தினமும் செடி செடியாய் ரசித்து அனுபவிப்பது பழக்கமாகிவிட்டது. தினமும் தண்ணீர் விட்ட பின்பும் தோட்டத்தை விட மனசே வராது. அலுவலகத்திற்கு கிளம்ப வேண்டும், மகனை பள்ளிக்கு அனுப்ப வேண்டுமே என்ன செய்வது என்று சொல்லி கொண்டு தான் தினமும் வீட்டுக்குள் நுழைவேன். இன்றும் அதேபோல் தான் வர மனசே இல்ல, வீட்டு நிலைக்குள் நுழையும் பொது குருவிகள் கூச்சல் அதிகமாக இருந்தது. பக்கத்தில் போய் பார்க்க ஆசை, போனால் தொந்தரவாக இருக்குமே என்று மாடி படிகளுக்கு சென்று எட்டி பார்த்தேன். நிறைய தவிட்டுக்குருவிகள் போட்டி போட்டுக்கொண்டு கொத்திக்கொத்தி சாப்பிட்டுகொண்டிருந்தன. உற்று பார்த்த பொழுது தான் தெரிந்தது, அவை கம்பளி பூச்சிகளை பொருக்கி பசியாறிக்கொன்டிருந்தன. எனக்கு ஒரே ஆச்சர்யம்... எப்படி எங்கள் குடும்பத்தை குருவிகள் காப்பாற்றுகின்றன!!! 

இயற்கை விவசாயம் சின்ன அளவில் செய்ததற்கே இத்தனை நன்மைகள் என்றால் நம் வாழ்கை முழுவதும் இயற்கையாக மாறினால் எவ்வளவு நன்றாக இருக்கும். மனநிறைவோடு உள்ளே வந்தேன்.

ATMA gives increased income

It is an update of the earlier blog - Poor farmers getting benefitted through Govt. schemes

That was soon after the programme initiated and this blog is actually an update (after an year)

Introduction:

Sinnappa Pillai, son of Thambusamy Pillai is 65 years old. He is a father of three daughters and a son. Two daughters are married and settled. The third daughter, Hemalatha, is deaf and dumb, a widow. His son is a LIC agent. Sinnappa Pillai and his daughter Hemalatha work together to raise the cattle.

He and Komatha ATMA group:

He is a member of Komatha ATMA group, Surakudy pertaining to Uzhavar Udhaviyagam, Surakudy since June 2010. The group was formed by bringing like-minded farmers who are having milch animals and interested in doing cattle-based income generating activities. All members of this group are economically poor farmers; depend on milk production to meet their needs.

ATMA group asked to pay a premium of Rs. 25 per month but the members decided to pay Rs. 100. The members of this group meet regularly in cattle grazing place daily since all take their cattle to graze in a common place. Meeting happens naturally and informally. Monthly payment and discussions are done at the grazing ground itself. Issues are discussed then and there and come out with collective decision.

Failed first group venture:

After six months of group formation the members felt their major expense is to buy concentrate feed for their cattle. They discussed the issue with Agricultural Officer cum ATMA Block Technical Team (BTT) convener and Veterinary doctor, Thirunallar, BTT member. A trail was made to purchase concentrate feed as a group at bulk and distribute among members. It was profitable. The success was short lived. Due to price hike and increased loading and unloading charges the business was not economically viable. Hence the group discontinued feed business.

Training on fodder grass feeding to increase milk production:

The group members discussed about the failed venture with Agricultural Officer. As an alternative option, Agricultural Officer arranged a training programme on “Fodder feeding for increased milk production” on 27.12.2011 at PAJANCOA&RI. The resource persons were Dr. George Paradis and Dr. Prasanna. The lecture by Dr. George was an eye opening one. Dr. George took the farmers to the college cattle farm and showed how the cattle are maintained and fed. He gave a detailed note on various green manures and its uses and how to feed the cattle and showed the fodder field. As a part of the training programme, hundred rooted slips and needed fertilizers for fodder cultivation were distributed as inputs at free of cost to each group member.

Experience of Sinnappa Pillai:

Though hundred rooted slips and needed fertilizers were distributed free of cost to fifteen farmers, after one year, Sinnappa Pillai have maintained the slips well and increased the area of fodder cultivation. Sinnappa Pillai says, “I planted the rooted slip on the next day of the training itself in my backyard. I adopted a spacing of 45 cm between ridges and 45 cm between plants. In fifteen days there was green flush to a height of 6 feet. The maiden harvest was done after a month from planting. Being the first harvest, the leaves and tender shoots were just enough to feed my five cows for a day. The animals had initial reluctance and then they started relishing it and finishes in few minutes.”

He continues to narrate his excitement, “From the next day I could realize gradual increase in milk yield and the consistency improved. In a week time, there was an increase of one litre in the morning and one litre in the evening and the milk is thicker than before. The animals are healthier. So I decided to reduce the amount of concentrate feed and replace it with fresh fodder grass. This considerably reduces the expense on cattle rearing. During second harvest, I could see many tillers. From then onwards, I fed the cattle with leaves and tender shoots. I used the sturdier shoots as rooting material. As the tillers per plant ranged from five to seven during initial months and now there are a minimum of ten tillers per plant. I extended the fodder cropped area gradually. As per the guidance of Agricultural Officer I harvest 10 - 15 plants per day then harvest adjacent rows accordingly every day. It takes 15 days to complete harvesting all plants in routine. On 16^th day I could harvest from the plants I harvested on the first day. These days, I am giving rooted slips whoever asks from me and I am sharing my experience. I gave two of my cows to my married daughters as I could not manage four cows and a calf along with fodder cultivation and field works.”

Benefits realized from fodder grass:

1. The cattle are healthier than before. Inter-calving period is reduced.
2. Fodder had replaced concentrate feed so expense is reduced.
3. Milk is increased to an extent of 2 litres per day so there is an increased income.
4. Consistency of milk has improved.
5. Saves time to get good quality grass as he is getting in the backyard itself which paves way for him to spend more time to work in private fields to get additional income for his family.
6. The time spent for harvesting grass from outside area and head loading the same to his house is completely avoided as grass is available in the backyard itself.
7. His daughter takes care the feeding as she could not work outside.