Report of
the Zonal Monitoring Committee of KVK-NICRA of Zone II
(30 Oct - 1 Nov, 2013)
The KVK-NICRA
Monitoring team of Zone II (vide ZPD II letter no. No.F.ZPD/II/NICRA/ZMC/2013, Date:
31.08.2013) comprised of (1) Dr. H. S. Sen (Chairman), (2) Dr. A.
K. Singh (Vice Chairman), (3) Dr. U. S. Jaiswal (DEE-BAU nominee) (4) Dr. Sammi
Reddy (CRIDA, Director CRIDA nominee), and (5) Dr. F. H. Rahman (Member
Secretary, ZPD-II). The team visited three drought prone areas (Aurangabad
& Nawada) in Bihar, and Koderma in Jharkhand. The visits were well
organized and well attended by large number of farmers including women
participants, members of VCRMC, and representatives of the respective KVK.
Inputs were invited freely from all followed by opinions offered by the
Monitoring Committee members. Field visits were also arranged (Village
Harigaon, Aurangabad; Village Manjhila, Nawada; and Village Chopnadi, Koderma) for
site inspection of the interventions practised. Dr. A. K. Singh (Vice Chairman) and Dr. U. S.
Jaiswal (DEE-BAU nominee) were present with the team only upto Aurangabad KVK
village Harigaon. Following were the discussions and salient recommendations
emanating there from.
The general
impressions of different stakeholders during the course of discussion in
different areas were that:
(i)
Water and soil are the primary
resources for improving crop productivity, and need to be attended in the first
instance
(ii)
Each area had a vast majority from
either marginal land holding or landless category
(iii)
It was accepted by the farmers in
each area that climate change has taken place over the last few decades very
perceptively, resulting in delayed and uncertain monsoon
(iv)
Marketing is a great constraint
felt by the farmers in each area
(v)
Critical inputs like lack of timely
supply of inputs have been felt by many in general cultivation
(vi)
It was invariably felt by the
farmers in each area that the NICRA scheme has made a striking impact on the
farmers resulting in economic benefit
mainly through improvement of crop productivity and allied activities
(vii)
It was also encouraging to find at
each site farmers from the adjoining villages (outside the periphery of NICRA
village) joining the meeting and urging for adoption of improved interventions
(viii)
The guidelines formulated for the
formation of VCRMC and their functioning may kindly be placed before the
monitoring team during its future meet. The enthusiasm and impact of the
members of the team were praiseworthy.
Intervention-wise observations and discussions are as follows
for necessary actions to be taken under each:
Water resource
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The annual rainfall throughout
the belt covered varied between 1000-1150 mm, although occasionally there
were scarcities n certain years. It was the right approach to store the
excess rainwater either on community basis or at individual farmers’ holdings
in any of the following forms: (i) Ahar, (ii) renovated pond, (iii) excavated
pond.
Although commendable efforts were
made by the NICRA team to ensure maximum storing of water, notably at Nawada
and Koderma Centres, it was urged by the Monitoring Team that this particular
intervention be followed up more scientifically using the softwares available
for this purpose for rainfed farming. The exercise may start with probability
analysis of rainfall and evaporation to make an estimate on the amount of
excess rainfall likely be available.
Further, it is advisable to
planting, preferably, of perennial or semi-perennial crops of farmers’ choice
on the raised bunds around the excavated ponds, and pisciculture (preferably
composite culture) in the ponds after proper testing of its quality. Appropriate steps should also be taken stop
grazing of the plantation crops or select such crops which are not likely to
be grazed, also stop poaching of the fishes. This will fetch the farmers
round the year high additional return.
At Koderma it was very
interesting to find a kind of recharge well developed at hardly 10-15 feet
depth from the surface (locally known as ‘Nadi
kund’). Recharge takes place sufficiently fast from the adjoining
water stream. Water is lifted by a small diesel pump to hardly 10 feet height
to irrigate crops continuously for 6-8 hours, as reported. Detailed study
including analysis of the water for its usefulness for irrigation should be
conducted on this technique round the year.
Other bore wells being used for
irrigation at each site should subjected to water analysis for its usefulness
for irrigation, and recharge capacity to be tested. All open bore wells
should be covered with wire mesh to avoid any accident.
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Minimizing irrigation requirement
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This is recognized as one of the
important methods to mitigate gas emission and consequently climate change.
Water is a scarce commodity at each site visited. It is strongly recommended to ensure water
availability during critical crop growth period through the above techniques
and develop appropriate irrigation method for irrigation. SRI is one such
efficient technique recognized for rice crop provided water is assured for
this purpose. Appropriate planning is necessary for this purpose using such
water saving techniques during non-rainy season. Although sprinkler irrigation is reported
to be in practice at few locations, attempts may be made to use at the
appropriate locations such techniques as trickle or pitcher (earthen)
irrigation. While trickle irrigation may be tried for seasonal or perennial
crops like chilli, tomato, brinjal, other fruit crops, pitcher irrigation,
which is highly cost effective, is useful for vegetables crops.
Ground water and other water
sources should be checked in respect of water quality and heavy metal
contamination at an interval of 3-5 years.
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Climate change, crop planning,
and availability of weather data
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It has been reported to the
monitoring team that necessary data on relevant meteorological data have been
collated from the nearby IMD stations for sufficient period of time.
Attempt may be made to predict
the weather (aberrations) for the coming years, keeping in view the climate
change predictions based on the climate data referred above, with as much
dependability as possible, for which technology is available, and finally the
crop diversification along with contingency planning, depending on water
requirement of crops, farmers’ choice and market demand of crops. It was
interesting to find a few drought tolerant rice varieties have been tried,
one of which is Sahbhagi (110 days duration), developed by CRRI, at Koderma.
More attention should be paid in identifying suitable low water requiring
crop varieties of both rice and non-rice. The cropping intensity, which is at
present low to very low, understandably due to less and uncertain rainfall,
should be invariably improved in phases.
In general there appeared to be
lack of adequate fodder for the animals. It is necessary to include fodder
having minimum water requirement in the crop planning.
Scope for including NIFTD at each
place may be explored. Seed bank of the cultivable cereals, to start with,
may be established at each location.
Another approach to reduce water
requirement is to introduce paira cropping under residual soil moisture
following rice harvest for which suitable crop(s) should be identified. One
of such crops tried and found successful in large areas is lathyrus (low
toxin contens, viz. var. Nirmal).
In at least one station (Nawada)
it was observed that to ensure safety of the equipments the weather station
was located on the roof top. As per accepted guidelines of the IMD, all
meteorological equipments should be stationed at the ground level under
normal field situation. This needs to be rectified at the earliest.
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Soil resource
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There are lack of appropriate
soil data observed at almost each site. Even the texture of the soils could
not be reported properly at any site, although soil major nutrient status are
being analysed from the farmers’ fields as per reports received. This may be
ensured, and urgent necessary steps
taken as per suggestions below:
(i)
Each centre should have portable
soil testing kit along with portable pH metre in the first hand. At Koderma
however mobile soil testing van was reported to be available, functioning of
which should be regularly monitored by the ZPD.
(ii)
All fertilizer recommendations
should be made on soil test basis.
(iii)
It may be appreciated that other
minimum soil parameters (physical, biological, soil organic C, and relevant
micronutrients status field-wise are also necessary to assess soil health,
which may be monitored at every 5 years interval.
(iv)
CRIDA may identify the minimum set of parameters
to be analysed as inputs to soil health assessment, develop simple protocol
for each, and ZPD may ensure training through deployment of appropriate staff
at each centre.
(v)
It has been reported that the benchmark
soil survey has been conducted at each site, which may please be collated and
placed before the monitoring team in future for their understanding.
At Koderma, it was found that
although major equipments were available at their KVK laboratory, there were
no staff available to do the analyses, which is sheer waste of money spent on
this.
It is suggested to take up
‘biochar’, a highly C-rich resource, as pilot studies at a few locations only
representing various soil textures and C levels. ZPD may initiate such
programme in order to enrich soil C level. Economics of such practices may
also be monitored.
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Conservation tillage
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It is widely recognized as a
major practice to mitigate climate change phenomenon. Zero tillage has been
accepted by farmers at each site, mainly for their understanding that (i) it
advances the date of rabi sowing following kharif rice harvest, and (ii)
decreases irrigation requirement of the rabi crop, (iii) increases the yield
of rabi crop. Residual mulching of the kharif harvest along with non-burning
of the crop residues following the harvest of kharif harvest, resulting in
less toxic gas emission , as well as faster re-building of the deteriorated
soil structure, caused due to puddling of kharif soil, and lower energy
inputs required for the cultivation, are also other scientific reasons for
popularization of conservation tillage.
It is recommended to spread this
technology along with manufacturing of zero tillage equipment at lower cost
and make these available more abundantly for custom hiring along with other
agricultural equipments through district level machinery hubs.
It was very encouraging to hear
some farmers in Koderma suggesting development of solar energy operated pumps.
The ZPD may give appropriate attention towards this.
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Agricultural machineries
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At each site it was proposed to
make tractors of higher capacities (say, 45HP) available since the present
facilities are unable to operate efficiently with disc and mould board ploughs,
etc. particularly in heavy soils common at these sites.
Shelters may be provided to
protect and maintain the farm implements at each site against corrosion
against rains and heat.
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Alternate farming vis-à-vis land
holding
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Generally, the land holdings are
very small in each area visited, and about 70-80 % farmers are either
marginal holders or landless farmers. It appears that much more emphasis
needs to be given on alternate farming especially for these group of farmers
to ensure continuous flow of income. The alternate farming may include
nurseries for flower & fruit plants (preferably under artificial/
protected system , apiary, ornamental fish culture, mushroom, etc. it has
been observed that arrangements have been made for periodical health check-up
for domestic animals including cattle & buffaloes, goats, poultry birds,
etc., which are praiseworthy. But this exercise may be given much more
emphasis with supply of improved breeds, more scientific arrangements for their
rearing including housing, preparation and supply of artificial feeds, and
more frequent health check-ups. Ducks and pigs may also be added to the list.
In order to mitigate climate change it is suggested to add N-inhibitors to
the feed supplement .
It was heartening to observe at
least one farmer (Jai Pal Prasad) at Nawada following scientific nurseries
under polyhouse. This should a model for all others to follow. Sri Prasad may
be encouraged more for scientific practice through training, supply of improved
varieties, saplings, etc.
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VCRMC
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The VCRMC in general at all
places are doing good jobs, and the members are highly enthusiastic. The
assets are growing, and it is time to think of registering the Committee with
carefully drawn bye-laws and compositions. A minimum of 20 % may be reserved
for the ladies, and all category of farmers should be represented in the
committee.
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Marketing strategy
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The Monitoring Team opines that
adoption of better marketing strategy so as to minimize the role of middlemen
to absorb bulk of the profit may be given due attention. Formation of
farmers’ cooperative may be the starting point towards this for which a
sub-committee under VCRMC may be formed. ZPD may discuss this aspect with all
sections of farming community.
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Transfer of technology
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It was heartening to observe in all
the three NICRA adopted villages farmers from the adjoining villages showing
significant interest to come under the fold of NICRA. This is encouraging,
and appropriate studies may be taken up by the NICRA team to monitor as far
objectively as possible the diffusion of technology from the present sites
where the studies are underway.
Finally, it is very important
that the farmers in the study areas should undergo awareness/ training of the
climate change phenomenon and its impact on farming in long run, and possible
strategies to be taken to mitigate such effects.
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(H.S.Sen), Chairman
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