1.SEED PRODUCTION OF SOYBEAN THROUGH FARMERS CLUB
Introduction:

Today there is an urgent need for formation of Farmer’s club at village level for faster dissemination of advance technology developed by various agricultural research institutes in their way for the up-liftment of rural farmers by means of co-ordination of various line department viz. DRDA, State Agril. Dept. NABARD ZP, Panchayat Samiti and Banking Institutions. All the scattered farmers, rural youth and women can be brought together by formation of farmers club at village level to bring under the advantages of various line department schemes.
The Farmers clubs at village Wadhona in the operational area of KVK, Ghatkhed, Amravati were successfully organized & conducted various agricultural activities in collaboration with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Steps to be followed for formation of farmer club at village Wadhona Tq. Achalpur
A number of informal & formal methods were conveniently considered to identify target group
These are

1. Checklist
2. Observation
3. Personal interview
4. Group interview
5. Questionnaire

Planning is made to form the Farmers club at village level with the help of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Pune. The villagers in the KVK operational area in selected villages were made aware about functions of farmers group. The interested farmers were trained for identification of problems in agriculture production and allied activities. The farmers were informed about the loan facility available at various financial institutions & the need for reimbursement of the same.

Following steps are followed for effective functioning of the farmers club.
3.1: First developed an understanding of the farmers, there farming systems, resources and established rapport with them. Gathered information on cropping system, present level of use of inputs and productivity of major crops, identified the problem and its causes of the area by PRA technique, group discussion, meeting with opinion leaders, individual contact, visiting villages and farms and then a group of farmers having common interest and who are willing to cooperate in the conduct of demonstration were selected. A meeting of interested farmers was organized to spell out the problem and to explain how the demonstration, training will solve the problem. The relevant literature was also distributed among the farmers.
3.2: Conducted SWOT analysis and listed out identified problems on top priority and planned the yearly activities accordingly.
3.3: Sent the proposal of village farmers club to the NABARD for financial assistance.
3.4: Organized need based & problem oriented training programme, Demonstration & exposure visits for the farmers club.
3.5: Contacted various line departments to solve the listed problems of farmers club & implemented the various programmes.
3.6: Take continues follow up for regulating the clubs, records, and documents of the clubs from time to time.
3.7: Implemented various programmes to enhance confidence & awareness about adoption and innovative technology among the farmers.
3.8: Motivated the farmers clubs for direct marketing approach, adoption of new technology to reduce the cost of cultivation & increase the productivity & innovate the farming community.

KVK, Amravati had formed farmer club at village Wadhona during 2004 & register and attached to NABARD under Vikas Volunteer Vahini Programme in 2005. The village is situated 25 Km away from taluka place & 35 Km from district headquarter. The village comes under assured rainfall zone receiving annual precipitation 800 to 900 mm.
The demographic and geological characteristics of the village are as under.

Total Population: 490
Male Population: 260
Female Population: 230
Total no of SC: 15
No of small farmers: 55
No of families identified below poverty level: 14
No of artisans:02
Literacy %: 98
Total cropped area: 475 ha
Area under fruit crops: 22ha
Area under vegetable crops: 12 ha
Irrigated land: 65 ha.

Farming System Enterprise

Area & Productivity of different crops at village Wadhona

The availability of seeds of improved varieties of crops is a common problem in rural areas. The farmers have a general tendency towards adoption of new and improved varieties, but the availability of guanine seed material of improved varieties at village level is also facing majority of the farmers. However for availability of genuine seed material of improved varieties & faster dissemination of improved seed KVK motivated Seed production of Soybean through farmers club with following objectives.

Objectives:

1. To educate the farmers in growing their own seed at their own field level.
2. To motivate the farmers about seed production of soybean through farmers club at village level.

In the Kharif 2006, the KVK encouraged the group to undertake seed production programme on Soybean through farmers club.
The group members wanted to undertake the seed production of improved Soybean variety MAUS – 71 (Breeder Seed) released by MAU, Parbhani. The seed was made available by KVK. The seed production programme was registered at District seed certification. The whole programme was monitored by KVK scientists. The seed production programme was undertaken on an area of 10 ha. comprising 10 farmer members of Krishi Vigyan Mandal.
In this way the farmer members of Krishi Vigyan Mandal produced their own seed and processed, graded and bagged the soybean seed and used in next season for marketing and distribution through seed bank programme making the activity self sustainable and also good quality foundation seed available to farmers at their own village & the activity was continued in 2008-09.

Findings:
This activity was continued in year 2007-08 & 2008-09. The details as under

Seed production through farmers club

As shown in table 1, Findings with regard to Seed production through farmers club revealed that village seed production programme on Soybean (MAUS -71) was started & successfully conducted in Kharif 2006-07 over an area of 10 ha. & the number of participants was 10 & they produced & bagged 89.10 qt. Soybean seed. This activity was continued in Kharif 07-08 in Soybean (JS-335) over an area of 15 ha. and produced as well as bagged 176 qt. of soybean seed. In Rabi 2007-08 the members of farmers club undertaken seed production programme of Bengal gram (Variety Vijay) over an area of 14.40 ha. comprising 10 farmers & produced 255.00 qt. of Bengal gram seed.
This indicates that farmers were aware about seed production activity through group formation & hence continued also in Kharif & Rabi 2008-09 over an area of 19.50 ha. & 19.80 ha. respectively. i.e. vertically spread the above activity.
SWOT Analysis of the Programme:

Strengths

• Good quality foundation seed provided to farmers at their door steps.

• Time to time technical backstopping encouraged the farmers to develop their own seed.

• New seed growers developing

• More farmers are emerging to develop their own seed.

• Seed production makes the young farmer to take up agriculture as a profession.

• Seed provided freely.

Opportunities:

• To motivate farmers in developing their own seed and to the extent of surplus seed production of a particular village is possible

• It provides an opportunity to eliminate age old middle men in supplying the crucial input of the farmer.

Horizontal spread:

The genuine foundation seed of MAUS – 71 to the tune of 89.10 quintals was processed and bagged and sold to interested farmers. The improved variety was popularized and it spread over an area of 89 ha. & also good quality of foundation seed of Soybean variety JS-335 available to farmers at their own village.

The members of farmers club at village Nayaakola Tq. Dist. Amravati visited at Wadhona & interacted with the farmers club at village Wadhona about success of seed production technology through group formation & decided to conduct the same activity in their own village & in Rabi 2006-07, Seed production programme of Safflower was conducted the members of farmers club at village Nayaakola over an area of 10.4 ha. comprising 12 farmers & they produced good quality of safflower seed 125 qt. at village level.

Moreover, the horizontal expansion of technology as a whole is also noticed in the adjoining taluka where in the farmers club at village Nayaakola Tq. Dist. Amravati had come forward.

Economic gains:

The participant farmers had earned Rs.2400/qt. of seed produced as against Rs.1500/qt. of marketable soybean in year 2006-07 & Rs 2500.00/qt had earned of seed produced as against Rs. 1900/qt. of marketable soybean.

Employment Generation

The 20 farmers are directly engaged in the seed production activity. This year (Kharif 08 & Rabi 08) also the farmers had undertaken the seed production programme on soybean variety JS – 335 on area of 20 ha.

Conclusion

Thus the village seed production technology disseminated by KVK, Amravati through active participation of village level farmer club is economically viable, compatible with the existing cropping pattern and divisible also. Hence, KVK is optimistic to form & recognize more number of farmers groups in the district so that the flow of good quality seed could be channelised properly on one hand and accrue net monetary gains to the other. The KVK in such case may provide technical guidance & monitoring to make the farming business more lucrative.

2. IMPACT OF IMPROVED PACKAGE OF PRACTICES FOR MANDARIN ORANGE GROWN ON UNSUITABLE SOIL

Introduction

Among, Horticulture enterprise, orange is the primary fruit crop of the district and famous Nagpur mandarin is grown. The trend analysis of the crop through PRA revealed that the area under orange is increasing rapidly, as the farmers prefer this crop. Due to this craze even unsuitable soils are also brought under plantation of this crop. It is also, due to traditional mentality of the farmers. However, the productivity of oranges is decreasing day by day, due to water logging, irregular bearing, fungal diseases, declining and other pest and diseases and improper management practices.
The non-suitable soils means the soil not follow the characteristic of the required soil for Nagpur mandarin. Soil is the major factor for determining the success or failure of citrus plantation. Citrus should never be planted on the assumption that a soil which

Demonstration Plot on Farmer Field

can support a good cereal or others cash crop, is equally suitable for citrus. Some of the soil properties, which govern the successful cultivation of citrus, are: soil reaction, presence of free lime, excessive salts, defective drainage, presence of hard pan in the sub-surface, soil texture, soil mineralogy, ionic consumption of soil, cat ion exchange capacity, soil fertility interaction and topographic position of the soil. This situation had stressed to initiate the location specific problem solving practices.
Therefore, there was a need to revise the existing cultivation practices by various level of package of practices under field condition in related to soil reclamation and trees’ rejuvenation. Hence, this study was carried out.
Problem identified:
The total areas under Mandarin orange are 67000ha but about total area 30-35% are grown on unsuitable soil of the district. Due to this craze even unsuitable soils are also brought under this crop. The day by day the area was in increasing rate but the productivity was decreasing with poor quality and the crop growing on these soil affect the growth and reduces the life of the Orchard.

Phytopthora affected plant under treatment

Intervention Planned:

Now a days mandarin crop suffer from number of problems, like fungal diseases, declining and its effect ultimately the life span of the orchard reduces. Therefore, over come to this problem in collaboration of ATMA Amravati KVK conducted two year Research trial in four tahsil of the district .The collected data analyzed it and interpreted the different treatments effect on improving the volume of the tree with quality fruit production.

Result and Recommendation:

The study reveal that, the application of 10 kg vermicompost and 3 kg neem cake per tree coupled with furrow drainage system between 2 rows before onset of monsoon and double ring irrigation method had improved the soil and leaf nutrient status, flowering ,fruit set, tree volume resulting in higher production of Nagpur mandarin fruits.

Showing Bumper yield produce on a farmer ield		Good quality Mandarin orange production under demonstration

Hence, it is suggested that the orange grower planted on non-suitable soils, should apply recommended dose of fertilizer along with above treatments for getting higher production and quality.
Impact:
The impact of this study revealed that the treated orchard with Superior treatment improved the tree volume which impart the rate of photosynthesis ultimately the good fruiting with better quality ,reduces the fruit drop also reduces the decline and protected from phytophora disease and improving the soil drainage with fertile soil.
The overall impact of this trial the increases the yield by 5 to 7 tons per ha in a two year which resulted that the net income per ha was increase by Rs. 25000 to 30000 .Also, there is Potential to increase the per unit production by maintaining the proper cultivation practices with innovative technique. So, now days benefited farmers totally adopted the resulted technique and improved the production as well as net return from its growing orchard .i.e the full same technique vertically adopted by the 20-25% orange grower those are grown on unsuitable soil. But, the horizontally the same technique adopted by the 33-35% orange grower partially which generally improved the soil fertility as well as Plant and fruit quality.

3. IMPACT ON FLD OF IMPROVED IMPLEMENTS

Background:

By the group discussion with the farmers in the operational area of the KVK, it was notice that during the peak period of different farm operations, unavailability of farm laboures is the main burning problem. Also the farm operations are time consuming and high cost with more drudgery. Except for tillage, other operation like sowing, weeding, spraying, harvesting, cleaning are generally performed manually. No improved hand tools & power operated machinery are available at farmers level. There is a gap in adoption of improved implements/ machinery. To create awareness amongst the farmers about usefulness and economic utility of improved implements / machinery, FLD on improved implements were conducted in the operational area of the KVK. Bullock drawn sprayer & power operated grain cleaner were found special interest among the farmers.

A. Impact of Bullock drawn sprayer

Introduction:

The pest and insect are one of the major problems affecting the productivity. More & more spraying are done by the farmers to overcome the problems. The spraying operations are done traditionally by Knapsack sprayer. Due to frequent filling of the liquid tank and low field capacity, it required more time, labour & high cost of operation.

Objective:

To create an awareness & demonstrate high field capacity sprayer

Methodology:

The technology, Bullock drawn sprayer received under FLD cotton, was demonstrated in the villages Naya Akola Tq Amravati, Hiwarpurna, Wadhona & Yesurna Tq Achalpur for cotton, Greengram, Sunflower crops. Total four training cum demonstration programmes were conducted by covering 102 no of participants. Total 262 ha area covered under demonstration. For more popularisation of the sprayer, leaflets and folders were published.

Observations:

The performance remains good. Observed 1 to 1.2 ha/hr field capacity and 20 to 30 Rs/ha it’s cost of operation. It saved 75 to 95 % labour, time & cost as compare to Knapsack sprayer depends on skill of labour, Bullock power & labour charges. It is more useful for large landholding farmers. At the turning time 2 to 3 % crop damage was observed.

Impact:

Created awareness about the use of bullock drawn sprayer amongst the farmers

1. Economic Gain : Farmers under demonstrations, gain 75 to 110 Rs /ha on account of spraying operations done by the Bullock drawn sprayer over the Knapsack sprayer.
2. Constrains in Adoption :
3. Small and fragmented land holding
4. Economic status of farmers
5. Unavailability on subsidy basis

Conclusion :

It had proven successful due to low cost of spraying /unit area by saving labour, time and cost as compare to Knapsack sprayer, but the adoption is low because of some constraints.

Training cum demonstrationof bullock drawn sprayer in cotton                       Demonstration of Bullock drawn sprayer in Sunflower crop

B. Impact of Power Operated Grain Cleaner

Introduction:

Cleaning and grading are the important operations of primary processing of agriculture produces. Undesirable foreign materials like as dirt, dust, leaves, trashes, stones, sands etc are removed from the produces during cleaning operation. In the adopted villages, cleaning of cereals, pulses & oilseeds are done for the seed purpose and for some times to get higher value in consumer market.

Objectives:

To create awareness amongst the farmers about usefulness and economic utility of Power operated grain cleaner

Problems:

Cleaning operation is carried out manually either by winnowing or hand sieves. It is laborious, time consuming & high cost of operation.

Needs:

In order to overcome to this problem, need of improved cleaner of medium capacity is essential at farmers level.

Methodology:

FLD on power operated grain cleaner was conducted in the adopted villages. Under FLD implements (Oilseed), pedal operated grain cleaner was supplied by CIAE Bhopal in year 2002. After training & demonstration it was found that output capacity is very low because the single person on bicycle pedal could not operate the machine continuously and got low cleaning efficiency. Women worker also could not work on the machine. So slightly changes were done by KVK. Instead of pedal, this cleaner is driven by a power source of 0.5 hp single phase motor. Large no of training cum demonstration programmes were arrange. Leaflets and folders were published. Participated in 15 no of exhibition & field day was conducted. Total 597qt of grains handled by 35 farmers in the villages Wadhona & Yesurna Tq Achalpur & KVK instructional farm under demonstration.

Observation:-

The performance remains good. Observed 6 to 8 qt /ha output capacity for wheat, soybean. Gram, jowar crops also observed 0.22 to 0.30 man hr / qt labour required. It saves 80 to 90 % labour, time & cost as compare to traditional practice.

Impact:

It is sprayed horizontally. Farmers created the demands of ease in availability to purchase on their own cost. As per the demand came from farmers and live departments, KVK promoted one manufacture for multiplication & ease availability, name as Ajay Industries, C-3, MIDC, Amravati. Now, he sold 25 machines in different sectors/ villages by manufacturing in his own factory. It got approval in subsidy items by commissioner of Agriculture, Govt of Maharashtra, Pune. Again after get the feed back by the farmers for wheat crop cleaning and grading again changes in the machine was done. Added rubber roller unit for crushing stones and wheat trashes.

1. Economic Gain : Farmers under demonstrations, gain 12 to 15 Rs /qt on account of cleaning operations done by the Power operated grain cleaner over the traditional practice.

2. Constrains in Adoption on large scale : – Economic status of farmers
   

Conclusion:

It is accepted by the farmers in terms of its utility / performance.

Demonstrations on pedal power operated Grain Cleaner
Demonstrations on power operated Grain cleaner		Participation in State Level Exhibition

4. DR.PDKV MODEL OF BIOGAS PLANT

 1. Background:

Shri Ramdas Jijeba Hade is one of the innovative farmers associated with Krishi Vigyan Kendra Since 2001. He took the initiative to start a technology transfer club with the help of NABARD and KVK during 2001-02. Since then he is continuously in touch with Shri P. P. Shelke, the then Programme Coordinator and Subject Matter Specialist (Agril. Engg). He was always discussing different issues of rural life and one day he discussed about drudgery in cooking and unavailability of sufficient fuel for cooking.

2. Technology/Process which was intervened for its success.

It was suggested that Dr. P.D.K.V. model of biogas could be of use to solve this problem. This model uses solid state cattle dung with addition of little water i.e. 10%. As compared to traditional plants it does not need water in the proportion of 1: 1. Therefore, this model was thought for adoption. The problem was again of suitable site for construction of Biogas. The site was at a distance of about 700 feet from home. It was therefore planned to use drip irrigation lateral pipeline of LLDPE manufactured by M/S Jain Irrigation Ltd. This line is available in lengths up to 300m in continuous length and without joint. Line can withstand in sunlight for a period up to 10 years.

3. Use of Drip Irrigation Lateral for Transport of Dr. PDKV model of Biogas:

Shri Ramdas Jijeba Hade purchased 16mm drip lateral supplied by M/s Jain Irrigation. The connections were carefully made from Dr. PDKV model of Biogas plant situated at about 700 Feet from house. Pipeline was carried on support of G. I.wire stakes and tied perfectly to resist the wind and other possible obstructions. The pipeline was carried in such a way that there could be minimum disturbance from the children and cattle. After successful establishment of the pipeline, the testing of Dr. PDKV model of Biogas stove in Kitchen was undertaken. The stove was lit. It was surprise that the gas was coming with desirable pressure and the first day cooking was successful. Later on it was thought that there could be some obstruction due to water vapor but till date there is no need to clean the pipeline for removal of water vapor.

4. Effect of Technology on Production

Shri Ramdas Jijeba Hade has a cattle shed away from his house at about 1200 Feet. He was in dilemma regarding selection of site for construction of Dr. PDKV model of Biogas plant. He would have faced problem of transportation of cattle dung from cattle shed to House in case Dr. PDKV model of Biogas plant would have been constructed near his house. To avoid this it was planned to have the Dr. PDKV model of Biogas plant at cattle shed and then transport the gas to house by use of suitable pipeline. Therefore, it was planned to use Drip irrigation lateral pipe line of 16 mm diameter on test basis. It was successful. A photograph of successful transportation is given below.

Effect of Technology on Productivity

1. The farmer was saved from daily efforts of transport of cattle dung to a distance of 700 Feet.
2. As compared to G.I. pipeline the cost was reduced to about 20%.
3. Profitability is similar as compared to Dr. PDKV model of Biogas at site near the house. 2 Cum Dr. PDKV model of Biogas is produced every day and available for utilization.
4. The cattle dung which would have been used for making dung cakes was saved from being converted in to ash. It would be useful for spreading in the farm as manure. The quantity would be about 18 Ton per annum. The cost of which would have been about Rs 9000/- in case it is purchased @ Rs 500/Ton.

Economic gain

Since the plant has been constructed at cattle shed site, cattle dung is quickly available. One woman can do this work in about 20 minutes. This implies that monthly requirement of labour is 10 working women hours. Considering the cost of this work at the present rate of labour Rs. 50/- for 5-6 hours the expenditure would be about 100-120 Rs/month.
In case the plant would have been constructed at site near his house the daily extra time need would be about 1 hour per day. In totality the labour requirement per month would have increased to 40 working women hours. The cost of which would be 400-500 per month. It would have been economic to use LPG instead of using Dr. PDKV model of Biogas. Lot of drudgery would have converted the plant to de functioning plant as many others are there in the region.
It implies that total labour saving of about 75% has been achieved by construction of Dr. PDKV model of Biogas at cattle shed and use of drip irrigation lateral pipe line of 16mm diameter. Similarly 75% time has also been saved.

Drudgery reduction

By taking a decision of construction of Dr. PDKV model of Biogas at cattle shed site daily drudgery of lifting and transportation of cattle dung to site near the house at a distance of 700 Feet could have resulted in 30 hours of painful work, after which the women would have to work for domestic work of cooking. The routine could have developed bad impression about the technology and its further spread could have not been possible.

Suitability in existing farming situation

The system developed is suitable to places near the cattle shed and also free from rush of public. Since the pipeline is carried over the ground level, its application in underground situation needs to be studied further. Safety and leakage prevention are issues which need to carefully look in to. However, as the biogas is sufficiently safe its expansion in similar situation is possible.

Acceptance of Technology in terms of view of the farmers

Farmers have visited to the unit and have discussed on many aspects of biogas. In general the cost of initial infrastructure is the main factor which is slowing down the spread of biogas. Other factor like drudgery in making slurry was taken care by the model developed by Dr. PDKV Akola. It is expected that many such units will come up in near future in the same village as well as adjacent villages.

Horizontal spread

Many farmers from village Tandulwadi have taken initiative to use the drip irrigation lateral pipeline for transportation of biogas within a distance of about 700 feet from cattle shed. Four units were already established before the Dr. PDKV model was introduced. Only transportation problem was solved and many farmers have been attracted towards the biogas technology.

Substitution or replacement of commodities

Cattle dung is being replaced with biogas in this work. Earlier to this work farmers were using cattle dung cakes and fuel wood for the daily cooking activity. By adoption of this technology lot of cattle dung has been saved from being burnt and converted in to ash.

Social impact

Many farmers have visited to the house of Shri Ramdas Jijeba Hade. Officers from many Government agencies also have visited and have encouraged him for the work. Due to this work the status of farmer has been elevated in the village. Also many relatives from other villages have also shown interest in the work and they also have started organizing training programmes on Non conventional energy in collaboration with KVK and Dr. PDKV.

Marketing channel

There is no need to purchase any fuel when it is made available with natural resources available with the farmer.

Establishment of process/ unit

The unit was established with the assistance of trained mason from Dr. PDKV Akola. Shree Tayde was the mason who stayed at village Gohogaon for about one week and completed the construction work. Shri P. P. Shelke, SMS (Agril Engg) of KVK Karda visited the construction work for assuring the quality work and for encouraging other farmers for taking up the units in future.

Linkages with Technologies and Development Organization

The technology of Biogas production in solid fed type of model was taken from Department of Non Conventional Energy of Dr. PDKV Akola. Head of the Department Shri S. R. Gadge has taken keen interest in work and has visited thrice to the village for training on Non conventional energy sources.

Place and addresses of concerned farmer
Shri Ramdas Jijeba Hade,
At Gohogaon Hade,
Post Wakad,
Ta. Risod Distt Washim (M.S.)
Tel No:- 9637956421

Publications.
Extension folder was prepared and circulated before the adoption of the technology.

5. EMPLOYMENT GENERATION THROUGH VALUE ADDITION FOR WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS

Background:

There are about 300 SHGs already formed by Suvide Foundation’s KVK since last 5 years. These SHGs are motivated for saving monthly amount for a period of about six months initially. Once they have collected some amount they are trained for value addition and processing of fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses. Some SHGs which are interested in other enterprises they are motivated to take up other enterprises as enlisted below. After successful training, they were motivated to have production of any one other items as enlisted below. Sales outlet was provided by Suvide Foundation at Tahsil Headquarter i.e. Risod. Many SHGs have brought their products for display and sale at the sales outlet. About 30 SHGs have consistently produced the products and have sustained income for last one year.
Technology / process which was intervened for its success
The technologies for manufacturing of following items which are being produced and marketed is as given below.

1. Potato wafers
2. Banana Wafers
3. Aonla based products ( Aonla candy, Aonla Murabba, Pickles, Aonla Supari, Aonla Syrup)
4. Papaya based products like tuti fruity
5. Mango syrup
6. Pine apple syrup
7. Guava based products like Jelly ,
8. Stone gourd jelly
9. Turmeric bases products like pickle, turmeric powder
10. Tamarind based products like tamarind candy and jelly
11. Chilly based powder
12. Ber based products like Ber Candy ( Khajoor)
13. Ginger based products like ginger candy
14. Vegetable dehydration ( Cabbage, bitter gourd, chilly, sprouted beans)
15. Soya based products like soya milk, soya paneer, soya atta, soya farsan (Namkeen)
16. Pulses processing like pigeon pea, green gram and black gram
17. Green gram based products like farsan i.e. namkeen
18. Other enterprises like Making of Agarbatti
19. Dairy, poultry and goatry

The details of the problems addressed and solved
Most of the SHG members have the problem of low income, lack of awareness and skill required for production of items required in the market and lack of leadership skills. Most of the SHGs have been motivated through different schemes of Government which are run through Department of Agriculture, District Rural Development Agency etc. Few villages have been identified for formation of SHGs based on their motivation and inspiration also rescores availability and networking aspects have been considered while selecting the villages.
Effect of the technology/ process on
Production
Details were worked out on the basis of information available from the Sales outlet named “Swamini”. It has been tabulated below. It may be seen that on an average each member of SHG earned Rs. 1955/month i.e. 65 Rs/ day.
Many other SHGs are trying to incorporate themselves in this activity. KVK is planning to open some more sales outlets in near future in some other tahsils. Funding agencies are required to tap down for infrastructure support.

Productivity

Each member of the SHG was to go to agriculture land of the other farmers for getting wages for livelihood security and to help their families daily expenses. The earning was not ensured as the daily work was not available in slack months like summer months. It is therefore, due to this innovative methodology 300 women have been benefitted and could earn an amount of Rs. 65 per day by working at their own places and villages.

Economic gain

On an average each women of SHG earned Rs 65 per day after adopting the technology of value addition with support of SHG and KVK.
Suitability in the existing farming/cropping system
The benefits of this activity as follows

1. Women were saved from working in hot sun and travelling for want of work to at least 1 -2 Km/day.
2. Minor wounds and illnesses like neck problem received from daily agricultural work was avoided,
3. They could give more attention to small children’s and they also participated in sharing some work.
4. Some women started other related small enterprises like kirana shop, some engaged in their agriculture land management aspects.

Therefore, this type of work can be replicated in almost every part of the Washim District. Upon testing it in One district its results can give guidelines for further expansion in the entire state.
Acceptance of technology/process in terms of views of the farmers
Many farmers from other district have shown interest in the activities and training on value addition. Some have been trained. All those who got the benefit are saying that the technologies are worth and can give good support of income generation during slack period from agriculture work. This type of methodology can be adopted in entire Washim district. Provided that Government should open small shops at different locations in potential market areas. Similar technique can also be used in all districts with similar situation as that of Washim District.

Horizontal spread

The success story of the farmer has been published in agrowon, Godwa magazine, Baliraja, Shetkari. Many women farmers from Washim district have visited to the unit. Many farmers have then contacted KVK for technical support. It is expected that the system can be replicated in about 3 Tahsils of Washim District. Many women entrepreneurs from entire Maharashtra have contacted for training of Vegetable and fruit processing. The similar work has been taken up by many SHGs in different tahsils of Washim District. Mostly soya processing, masala production, turmeric pickle etc have been spread in many pockets of the district.

Marketing channels

Swamini has started one sales outlet at Risod. In addition house to house sales arrangement was also made. Similarly large publicity through Agro won news paper ahs attracted many dealers from entire state. Pune, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Sangamner , Newasa, Akola, Jalgaon etc are the places from where many dealers have contacted us. Many persons from Hyderabad have taken benefit of soyanuts as a source to prevent malnutrition of children.

Linkage with technology

Most of the technologies have been taken from Dr. PDKV Akola, MAU Parbhani, CIAE Bhopal.

Models/CDs

One CD entitled “ Recipes of soybean for health care” was developed and released at the 4th National Conference at Coimbatore at the auspicious hands of Hon’ble Agriculture Minister, Government of India

• Places and addresses of concerned farmers or persons who could be contacted.

• Any other relevant details

The programme was sponsored by National Horticulture Mission under Agricultural Engineering Discipline. SMS (Agricultural Engineering) was the Principal Investigator. Suvide Foundation has invested about 2.00 Lakh for starting the sales outlet of Swamini at Risod. DRDA Washim, NABARD Washim and Department of Agriculture, Washim has supported the formation of SHGs.

6. FISH FARMING IN FARM PONDS

Background:

Population in Washim district is engaged mostly in agriculture. Farming is major source of income to the rural people of the district. Under farming 90% of the area comes under dry land farming. These dry land farmers faced natural calamities almost every alternate year .Farmers have taken single crop due to unavailability of protective irrigation. Taking in to consideration the geographical condition & the rain fall of Maharashtra region, the Govt. of Maharashtra has undertaken programme of integrated water management on large scale from last 10 years.

Among the different soil conservation measures and National Horticulture Mission, farm ponds have been established for water conservation & water harvesting. In such farm ponds, water are available near about eight to nine months, the water was used for critical irrigation. This untapped potential has been utilized for Magur farming.
II Technology / process which was intervened for its success
About One hundred Eighty farmers were provided long duration ten days training on aquaculture aspects and thirty farmers has been trained under magur farming. All these trainings were conducted under National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad. The programme was implemented during 2007-08 and 2008-09. During the training programme demonstrations were organized at Fisheries unit at KVK.

After completion of training farmer has provided Magur fish seed as a input along with the feed. To minimize the feed cost & to increase the income from the small area the farmer has provided floating duck shed & Ducks of Khaki Campbell so that he can earn money by selling the duck eggs. The litters of ducks are used for the production of planktons so that the feed cost was half. Detail subjects which were taught during training are given below.

Effect of the technology/ process on Production

After having the training all the selected farmers were provided fish seed free of cost under DBT sponsored programme of “Magur Farming in existing farm ponds”.

The technology is adopted with full spirit by the selected farmers. The tendency to use limited water for crops also is being supported by the activity of aquaculture. Therefore objective of having rain water harvesting and its restricted use for achieving the higher water productivity is also achieved.

• Horizontal spread

Due to continuous news in different media like Star Maza, E TV, newspapers like agrowon, Deshonnati etc many farmers have started thinking about the activity in Soil and Water Conservation related farm ponds constructed under different schemes of Government of India. National Horticulture Mission is also encouraging farmers to have such ponds lined with 500 micron Geomembrane film for reduced percolation and checked evaporation by means of use of certain chemicals and Thermocol sheets. To date about 150-200 ponds are feasible for replication of the success story. Out of that in Manora tahsil 7 tanks have been used by the farmers for fishculture. In Mangrulpir tahsil 6 farmers have converted tanks for fisheries. In Karanja Tahsil 9 farmers and 7 farmers in Malegaon Tahsil have done fisheries at their own level of knowledge and without support of any external agency. They need to be guided for further progress in this area.

Horizontal spread of Technology

• Marketing channels
There is a lot of demand of fish in local markets established at Risod and Malegaon. The deficit demand is being furnished from Nanded and Parbhani District. Therefore, for few years there is local market available for the Magur and IMC. People prefer fresh fish and therefore the Magur is fetching price of 80-120 Rs/Kg, the price of IMC is between 60-80/Kg
Linkage with technology
The technology is being taken from CIFA since long time. Other linkages are given below.

1. Construction of farm pond has been supported by Department of Agriculture, Govt of Maharashtra.
2. Lining of farm pond with polythene film of 500 microns has been supported by National Horticulture Mission through Department of Agriculture, Govt of Maharashtra.
3. Training on intensive aquaculture was sponsored by National Fisheries Development Board Hyderabad.
4. Feed was produced in a feed mill supported by National Fisheries Development Board Hyderabad.
5. Magur Fish seed was supplied by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karda which was produced in a hatchery supported by Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi.
6. Under ATMA Washim FLD in allied enterprise – Fish Farming in Farm Ponds was conducted.

• Models/CDs
One CD entitled “ Magur Breeding , seed rearing and its culture technology” was developed and released at the 4th National Conference at Coimbatore at the auspicious hands of Hon’ble Agriculture Minister, Government of India.

• Places & addresses of concerned farmers