Krishnagiri to Pambar

1.1. About Regional Research Station, Paiyur

The Regional Research Station, Paiyur is the implementing centre which was started in the year 1973. It is catering to the needs of rainfed farming community of the North Western zone. So for, 16 varieties have been evolved and released in the crops namely, Paddy (Paiyur 1), Ragi (Paiyur 1 and 2), Samai (Paiyur 1 and 2), Sorghum Paiyur (1 and 2), Green gram (Paiyur 1), Cow pea (Paiyur 1), Horse gram (Paiyur 1& 2), Sesame (Paiyur 1), Niger (Paiyur 1), Cotton (Paiyur 1), Tomato (Paiyur 1) and Mango (Paiyur 1). Besides the varieties, the crop management technologies released are found to be of importance in improving the productivity levels. Also, this station is producing and supplying large quantities of seeds of Paddy, Tomato, Moringa, Gourds, Bhendi, Mango grafts, Guava layers and bio-inoculants namely, Azospirillum, Azotobactor, Rhizobium, PSB, Trichoderma, Psuedomonas and vermicompost. Various training programmes are offered to farmers, extension officials and other beneficiaries in the fields of agriculture, horticulture and allied enterprises.

Scientists involved

1.2. Brief introduction about the Sub basin

1.2. a. Pennaiyar River Basin

The Pennaiyar River has its origin in the South Eastern slopes of Chennakesava hills in Nandhidurg in Karnataka state and after traversing about 110 km in Karnataka state it enters in Tamil Nadu in Hosur taluk and flows through Hosur, Krishnagiri and Uthangarai Taluks of Krishnagiri District and Harur taluk of Dharmapuri District for a length of 190 km. After traversing in Dharmapuri District, the Pennaiyar river enters into Thiruvannamalai, Vilupuram, Cuddalore district and travels a distance of 132 km. The Pennaiyar river finally empties into the Bay of Bengal near Cuddalore. The total drainage area of Pennaiyar including the area in Karnataka state is 15101 sq.km. The catchment area in Karnataka state is 2384. sq. km and in Tamil Nadu state is 12717 sq.km. The total length of river is 432km. (i.e) 322km in Tamil Nadu and 110 km in Karnataka state.

2. Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub-Basin

Pennaiyar River basin has been divided into 18 sub basins. The Krishnagiri to Pambar sub basin (Fig. 1) is one of the major sub basins in the Pennaiyar basin. This sub basin is located between latitude of 12o 06’ 30” to 12o 42’10” and longitude of 78o 06’10’’ E to 78o 35’ 40”. The total Ayacut for this sub basin is 8397.36 Ha. There are 3anicuts, 11 Supply Channel and 37 system tanks involved in the Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub basin. There is a seasonal flow in the river during monsoon seasons. The Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub basin area is 903.73 sq.km. The sub basin covered in Krishnagiri, Pochampalli and Uthangarai taluks of Krishnagiri district and Harur, Palacodetaluks of Dharmapuri District and covered 9 blocks namely as Harur, Morappur,Uthangarai, Mathur, Karimangalam, Kaveripatinam, Bargur, Krishnagiri and Veppanapalli.

2.1 Blocks covered

There are 9 Revenue blocks in this sub-basin.

2.2 Registered Ayacut area details and Irrigation potential of Krishnagiri to Pambar sub basin

2.3. Details of Cluster Village in Krishnagiri to Pambar sub basin

Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub-basin - Cluster wise / Channel wise / Tank wise / Village wise Convergent Table

2.4 Details of walk through survey-Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub Basin

The officials of all the line departments participated in the walk through survey as per the programme (in the below Table).

The following observations were made during the survey.

• Restoration of the ayacut area
• Removal of the encroachments
• Desilting and deepening of the tanks
• Strengthening of the existing bunds
• Repair works in the shutters
• The soil type is red loam, black loam, sandy loam, clayey and swampy
• Major agricultural crops cultivated are Paddy, Sugarcane, Pulses, Groundnut and horticultural crops like mango, tomato, brinjal, chillies are grown
• More emphasis on livestock management.

2.5 Cropping Pattern (Consolidated)

2.5.1 Adaptive Research Interventions

• Adopting water saving technologies like SRI and drip/ Micro irrigation method in crop production
• Emphasizing for balanced application of inputs through soil testing and crop requirements
• Implementing crop intensification with better management of all the inputs
• Diversification with less water requiring and more income generating crops

2.5.2. Introduction of labour saving implements.

• Using cono weeder in SRI
• Using chisel plough for sub soil hard pan breaking
• Promoting the use of rotavator for pulverizing the soil into fine tilth
• Promoting the use of broad bed furrow former for wide spaced annual crops

2.5.3. Plan for crop diversification, crop introduction and crop intensification.

• Diversification- Cultivating flowers and vegetables in the place of paddy or in the gap area Intensification
• Promoting System of Rice Intensification
• Promoting pulses and oil seeds in the gap area for more income with less water

2.5.4. Plan for introducing non-monetary inputs to increase the productivity.

• Promoting the use of labeled seeds for sowing
• Emphasizing soil test based nutrition
• Recommending temporal cultivation practices
• Demonstrating integrated pest, disease and weed management practices
• Equipping for clean harvest and grading procedures for fetching higher income

2.5.5. Soil type

Soil type varies from sandy to sandy loam, clay and clayey loam which can be grouped under inceptisol, alfisol and vertisol.

3. Field interventions

3.1. Productivity enhancement in Rice

In ayacut area rice is being grown over an area of 4353 ha and contributed 12.77 per cent of total cropped area. The major paddy varieties namely ADT-39, Paiyur-1 and white Ponni and BPT-5204 and other private strains are grown in the Krishnagiri to Pambar sub basin. The average productivity of rice is 3905 kg ha-1 as against 5800 kg ha-1 of state average and yield gap of 1895 t ha-1 and the wider yield gap due to poor soil nutrient status coupled with non-adoption of high yielding varieties and improved technologies. Most of the rice growing soils are suffering from Phosphorus and zinc deficiency and resulted poor establishment and lower yield. Planting in season become difficult due to non-availability of farm labour. By considering all above, the technologies viz., Green Manuring, adoption of SRI, mechanical transplanting, alternate wetting and drying (AWD), zinc application, mechanical weeding and adoption of IPDM practice will pave the way for increasing the productivity and profitability of the farming community. Supply of seeds of improved varieties, supply of balanced nutrients, and bio agents for soil and plant health management will be done for aforesaid intervention.

Details of unit cost for Green manure

Details of unit cost for SRI

3.2. Production of TFL Seeds under farmer’s participatory approach to produce quality pulse seeds

In Krishnagiri district, pulses are grown in an area of 36,000 ha concentrating mostly on the six blocks located at the Pambar sub basin. The farmers are widely using the variety of the ancestral sequence and their own seed or the seeds supplied by local merchants.

Details of Unit cost for TFL Pulse

3.3 Area Enhancement, Area Expansion and productivity enhancement of pulses under crop diversification in gap area

With a decreasing area under cultivation, the possibility to improve the production of pulses through the adoption of high yielding and resistant varieties with improved packages of practices. Being a short duration crop, more crops will be accommodated instead of growing long duration crops so that annual productivity of gap area can be enhanced positively in the sub basin.

Details of Unit cost for Area expansion Pulse

Demonstration of improved production techniques with various oil seed crops with prime focus on improving productivity and encouraging crop diversification

Groundnut is traditionally cultivated in the district under irrigated and rainfed conditions. The area under rainfed cultivation is almost three times the area under irrigated groundnut cultivation. Improved crop production technologies viz., seed drill sowing to optimize the plant density per unit area, split application gypsum to facilitate peg penetration and micronutrient spray to reduce the pop pods are some key technologies in enhancing the productivity of groundnut and demonstration along with INM and IPDM practices in gap area will boost the economic status of farming community of the sub basin area.

Details of Unit cost for Oil seeds

3.5 Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) in sub basin under Precision farming approach

Sugarcane is one of the commercial crops with higher water requirement of 2000-2500mm. Unlike surface method of irrigation, the water use efficiency is extremely higher in drip method of irrigation, as this technology helps to supply the required quantity of irrigation water directly to the root zone besides reducing conveyance evaporation and distribution losses. The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) aims at providing practical options to farmers in improving the productivity of land, water and labour, all at the same time. In addition, it reduces crop duration and provides factories a much longer period of crushing season and hence increasing employment to a longer period of time. SSI is also expected to reduce the overall pressure on water resources and contribute to recovery of ecosystems.

Details of Unit cost for Precision Farming in Sugarcane

3.6. Precision farming in Vegetables in sub-basins through climate resilience activity in model Bio Villages known as pesticide free Village

Precision farming involves looking at the increased efficiency that can be realized by understanding and dealing with the natural variability found within a field. The goal is not to obtain the same yield everywhere, but rather to manage and distribute inputs on a sites specific basis to maximize long term cost or benefit. Precision farming is a farming system concept which involves the development and adoption of knowledge based technical management systems with the main goal of optimizing profit. Supply of seedlings, Supply of drip materials, Supply of water soluble fertilizer, Supply of bio inoculants, Supply of Bio pesticides chemical will be more supportive for implementation of the programme in sub basin gap area

Details of Unit cost for Precision Farming in Vegetables

3.7. Improving productivity of Toor Dhal (Red Gram) under Precision farming techniques including IPM approach

In Krishnagiri district red gram is being grown in an area 2256 ha and accounted for production of 2864 tonnes. The average productivity is 500 kg ha-1 and found lower then national average of 659 kg ha-1 and the yield gap was 300 kg ha-1 as compared with potential yield. The main reason for poor yield is due to poor crop stand, water scarcity non-adoption of improved technologies. Transplanting technique one of the most promising technology for higher productivity and would be helpful for better crop stand in delayed monsoon. In addition to above incident of sucking pest and pod borer reduced yield, the prevalence of existing damage causes physiological disorder and thereby flower reduction. Hence, supply of IPM kit and growth promoting substances would enable red gram grower for increasing the productivity and profitability. This is being practiced in the existing vegetables area as a follow on crop. Supply of seedlings, Supply of drip materials, Supply of water soluble fertilizer, Supply of foliar spray of 2% DAP or 1% pulse wonder, Supply of bio inoculants will pave the way to demonstrate the new technology as detailed below

Details of Unit cost for Redgram (Toor Dhal) under cropping sequence in vegetables

Details of Unit cost for Precision Farming in Red gram

3.8. Introduction of new technologies in fruit crops by demonstrating TNAU High density

Planting with drip fertigation in Mango/Pomegranate etc.,

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the high potential fruit crops in India. Even though mango has been grown in India for around 4000 years with the highest area, the yield is low comparing other countries. One of the main reasons for low productivity of mango (7.0t/ha) in India is the adoption of low density population per unit area as the trees were planted at wider spacing in earlier years such as 10-12m on either way. Water and nutrients are two important inputs which need constant supply to the yielding trees for better productivity compiled with quality fruits. But, in practice, most of the mango growers are not taking care of these inputs and the trees are left to nature for water and nutrient thereby the state average productivity (4.3 t/ha) remaining low against the national productivity (7.1 t/ha) apart 75% of the mango area under in rainfed condition. The drip irrigation system is a boon to perennial crop particularly fruit crops, by which both the nutrient and water can be given in sustainable manner. The water requirement has been standardized for various stages of growth period. By the technology of fertigation, the nutrient management can be easily done using water soluble fertilizers with the advantage of applying them in minimal quantities at required stages even by weekly doses. The fertigation schedule has to be standardized for various commercial varieties by which an average farmer can also easily manage a mango plantation in a scientific way. Although mangoes are conventionally planted at 10 x 10 m spacing, experiments conducted at various centers in India revealed that HDP with 10 x 5 x 5 m or 5 x 5 m accommodating more number of plants per hectare can considerably increase the yield.

Major yield under different planting densities

Supply of seedlings, Supply of drip materials, Supply of water soluble fertilizer, Supply of bio inoculants, Supply of Bio pesticides

Details of Unit cost for Precision Farming in Mango under High Density Planting (HDP - 5m × 5m)

Promotion of Pesticide Free vegetables in sub-basins through climate resilience activity in Pesticide Free Village

Tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum is the world’s largest vegetable crop, which occupies an outstanding place among the important vegetables of the world and commercially cultivated for its fleshy fruits. In India, productivity of tomato is very low as compared to its production potential of the developed countries. There are many reasons for low production potential and among them pest infestation is major one. Presently, chemical pesticides are preferably used by farmers for the protection of tomato fruits against leaf miner and other pests. The over dependence and indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides has resulted in several problems like Development of resistance to pesticides, outbreak of secondary pest, reduction of biodiversity and natural enemies. Indiscriminate use of pesticides resulted in failure of control of the tomato fruit borer (Lal and Lal, 1996). These drawbacks of chemical pesticides emphasized the need to identify alternate at the same time organic mode of production of vegetables.

3.10. Formation of Pulse commodity groups

Farm Implements:

4. IEC Measures (Information, Education and Communication)

4.1. Capacity building

4.1.1. Training to stakeholders

Under this activity, imparting training to all the beneficiaries either as off-campus or as on-campus is planned.

4.1.2. Exposure visit

In-order to have practical knowledge on various improved farming practices prevailing across the District and State, it has been proposed to expose the stakeholders by organizing educational tours for having better cross learning.

4.2. IEC Activities (Information, Education and Communication)

4.2.1. Awareness creation

Organize awareness campaign

• Informal meetings with Farmers / Water Users Association through PRA methods – Focus group discussion and transect walk
• Ensure transparency
• Explain about the scheme – organization objectives, activities, project contribution and farmers share
• Emphasis the role of stake holders in the project
• Project the expected benefit

4.2.2. Documentation

• Maintenance of records and registers
• Field note for each activity
• Daily memorandum sheet
• Receipt and issue of inputs
• Technical observations on soil, water and crop

4.2.3. IEC Equipments

• Computer / laptop
• Camera
• Computer accessories

4.2.4. Out sourcing charges

• Vehicle /TA

Outsourcing of vehicle

• Expenditure on TA /DA for the purpose of TN-IAM Project
• Fuel bill of university vehicle utilized for the project
• Hire charges of university vehicle utilized for this purpose

5. Management cost

Outsourcing of technical staff

Outsourcing of technical staff is included in TNAU sub basin plan to carry out the field activities.

6. YEAR WISE ACTIVITIES

Year wise budget for Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub Basin (in Lakhs) Table in Portrait format

P –Physical in ha F – Financial in lakhs

8. Total budget for Krishnagiri to Pambar Sub Basin (in Lakhs)