The present study was carried out to estimate the growth rate of area, production and yield and to measure the contribution of different components to the growth rate of millets in India during the last six decades i.e. from 1950-51 to 2011-12. Area under sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet and total millets registered positive growth during 1950-51 to 1980-81 and negative growth subsequently. The production of total millets registered significant growth during overall study period due to increase in yield. Increase in production of sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet and total millets were contributed by their yields, whereas area and its interaction with yield have adversely affected the production. Decline in production of small millets was due to area effect and interaction effect. The main source of growth in production of millets has been the growth in yield per hectare during the period from 1950-51 to 2011-12.
Integrated Pest Management in cotton production was demonstrated under Front Line Demonstration (FLD) in two villages in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh during 2008-09 to 2010-11. The results revealed that IPM practices were superior in controlling aphids, mealy bug and Spodoptera as the incidence of these pests was significantly lower in the production of cotton. The activity of beneficial insects also improved in IPM fields when compared with non IPM fields. Seed cotton yield obtained was 16.6% higher in IPM fields than non IPM fields. Higher net returns (` 54217/ha) and B:C ratio 2.69 registered in IPM fields compared to non IPM fields (` 40488/ha and 2.15, respectively).
Three-row multi-crop bullock drawn planter developed by Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad was tested, refined and demonstrated for sowing soybean and other dryland crops on farmers' field during 2008-13. Its performance evaluation was carried out with conventional sowing by bullock drawn tifan. Based on farmers feedback and on-field observations; refinements such as scrapper on ground wheel, boot with seed and fertilizer delivery pipes, fluted roller type fertilizer agitator and increased hole size on fertilizer controlling lever were incorporated in the planter. Field tests showed that the refined planter performed well for sowing soybean, soybean + pigeonpea, chickpea, sorghum and groundnut crops in the district. The field capacity of the planter was 2 ha/day with an average field efficiency of 75% and an average sized bullock could easily pulled it. The planter saved 9-27% seed, 63-75% labour and increased crop yield by 11-20% as compared to conventional sowing by bullock drawn tifan.
Food security tops the Government agenda as production stagnates and prices continue to be high. Pulses on account of their vital role in nutritional security and soil ameliorative properties have been an integral part of sustainable agriculture since ages. Presently, the pulses are grown in 23 million hectares with 13-15 million tonnes of production in the country. National Food Security Mission on pulses, a centrally sponsored scheme is implemented in the country during 2007 with a goal to increase production and productivity in pulse crops by providing farmers the high yielding variety seeds with improved technology as the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji emphasised in seven points strategy document for doubling the farmer's income by 2022. This paper describes the sequential extension methods adopted in Cluster Front Line demonstration (CFLD) by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nizamabad, Telangana State for the promotion of Bengal gram and Green gram under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) during 2012-2018 in 381 demonstration plots in 152.4 ha to enhance the farmers yield and income. The extension methods used to disseminate the scientific production technologies during different crop stages in CFLD resulted in enhancing the farmers average yield and income in Green gram (8.82q/ha) with 16.67 % increase and Bengal gram (15.56q/ha) with 23.30 % increase in comparison to farmers practice. Besides, these CFLDs also expanded the area under pulses in the district as Nizamabad district is dominated by paddy crop. The high yielding varieties of Green gram and Bengal gram helped the farmers in realizing benefits with assured income especially when paddy could not be taken up in the district during severe drought period (2014-15 with rainfall -48.9 % & 2015-16 with rainfall -51.4 %).
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