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Precision Farming Project. K. Sandhya Rani Asst. Director of Agriculture WALAMTARI. Introduction. Precision farming is a farming system which adopts location specific, field specific and crop specific approach Input application is precisely monitored i.e., in
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Precision Farming Project K. Sandhya Rani Asst. Director of Agriculture WALAMTARI
Introduction Precision farming is a farming system which adopts location specific, field specific and crop specific approach Input application is precisely monitored i.e., in measured form to match the varying growth stage of each crop in the field It takes adequate care of technology upgradation and marketing support
Need for Precision Farming Non- availability of labourers. Increased cost of cultivation . Inadequate irrigation water or availability of water in deeper soil layers Indebtedness of farm families. Insufficiency of existing extension tools.
Implementation Precision farming project was a turnkey project implemented by the Government of Tamilnadu at Dharmapuri and krishnagiri districts covering 400 ha of land with budget of Rs. 7.20 crores for a period of three years (2004- 05 to 2006-07). The out come was obtaining an all India record production in eight crops and 60 % increase in yield and 90% marketable quality in respect of 23 crops
Subsidies • Rs. 40,000 per ha towards installation of drip system for annuals [Rs. 28,800 from MIS and Rs. 11,200 under NADP]. • Rs. 15,000 per ha towards supply of water soluble fertilizers in kind. • Rs.5000 per ha towards plant protection chemicals in kind • Rs. 5000 ha towards seeds and plants [The cultivation expenses for annuals has been worked out as Rs. 50,000 per ha and Rs. 25,000 inputs have been supplied as subsidy. The balance 50% money shall be spent by the farmers]. • Two days hands on training programme for the beneficiary farmers • Community shade net nursery @ one unit[300 sm] for every twenty farmers in a cluster.
Key technologies Use of chisel plough Usage of chisel plough loosens the soil to depth of two feet It insures better aeration and drainage and helps in better root growth It facilitates availability of micro nutrients in a better way
II. Community shade net nursery Protrays having 98 pits are used. 50% shade net on top and insect proof net on sides. Pits are filled with cocopeat and vernicompost. Seedling are transplanted along with growth media. 100 % population and 100% productive plants are produced. Physically and physiologically uniform seedlings are produced
III. Planting in Raised Beds Beds and channels are used for planting Beds are one feet high and four feet wide Channels are one feet deep form the ground Two rows of crops are grown on each bed at distance of three feet
IV. Drip Irrigation Tubes of finger thickness are used. Water is controlled so that, based on water requirement irrigation is done upto maximum of one hour per day. Reduced water usage is one major reason for the success of precision farming especially in water scarcity areas. Ensures 100% effective utilization of available water
V. Fertigation Water soluble fertilizers are used. The required chemical at required time in the root zone is the speciality of the system . As a result weeds are reduced to a large extent . Fertilizers applied to one acre of field by traditional method can be applied to three acres by this method.
VI. Remote sensing Remote sensing technique is used to assess soil and water fertility status in field. The N, P, K status of the soil is obtained precisely and soil fertility status is maintained . Uniform soil fertility throughout the field.
VII. Improved Crop Management Practices Scientists from TNAU are closely associated with farmers to educate and guide them. Crop rotations are done exclusively under their guidance. Crops of different families are rotated for better soil and water management in the field.
VIII. Integrated Crop Protection Usage of bio- fertilizers and bio-pesticides instead of chemical inputs for control of pests and diseases leads to increased yields.
IX. Market Based Agricultural Production: Scientists from TNAU accompany the farmers to the markets of Coimbatore, Cochin and Safal markets and help the farmer in assessment of demand to their produce. Hence production is based on demand . They are taught about careful handling, grading and packing of their produce to minimize the role of middlemen. MNC like Reliance and Trinetra are invited for discussions regarding the marketing of precision farming produce
X. Providing Non Toxic Food to Consumers By means of little or nil usage of chemical inputs, the farmers adopting Precision Farming are providing non- toxic food to consumers.
XI. Farmers Association: • Associations with 20 or more farmers are formed for their mutual benefits. • In course of time, farmers have understood that they can perform better and their individual problems can be solved in a better way. • Clearing doubts and fixing the price. • Government has also recognized certain Associations.
Benefits of Precision farming • It not only boosts the production but also the morale of the farmers. • Fruits and vegetables have increased uniform size, high quality and extended shelf life. • The crops have increased duration to tackle the demand and supply position. • The inputs are available to the farmers at the manufacturers price instead of dealers Price as a result of meetings of the manufacturers with scientists & farmers. • Absence of middlemen • Cost of labour is minimized due to Drip fertigation.
Market knowledge to the farmers . • Microbial status of the soil is enriched. • The income from growing a few crops in earlier days is now obtained by growing a single crop.
Examples Tomoto : Var: P K M Var: syngenta variety 80 tons / Ha Capsicum: Var: East West Company : Yield of 23 tons / Ha 1701 25 tons / Ha Watermelon : Fruit size : 3.5 to 4 Kgs Yield : 15 to 16 tons / Ha Net profit : Rs. 1.75 lakhs / Ha
Rose Mary : Rs.31,878 in three years from half acre Rs. 17,500 from 3.5 acres of ragi and beans. Mango: Biennial Crop but through precision farming the trees can made to bear fruits every year.
Mrs. Puttiyamma, tribal lady farmer of Bargur hills in Erode district of Tamil Nadu in her Rosemary field.
Paprika ready for harvest First grade fruits