Bio Input Production

Erode District is located in Western zone of Tamilnadu. The climatic conditions prevailing in the district is suitable for cultivating various crops like cereals, millets, pulses, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, Banana, Turmeric, Tapioca, flowers and vegetable crops.  In the present situation, the farmers are using exorbitant usage of chemical pesticide, intensive cultivation practices and so on which declines the population beneficial micro-organisms and deteriorate the soil microbes also and reduces in the organic carbon which in turn gives poor yield in crops and lowered the income of the farming community. Keeping the view KVK conducted the skill training on on-farm production of bio inputs which includes Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viride, Waste Decomposer and Bio-fertilizers like VAM, Azospirillium and Phosphobacterium to rural youths in the district under ARYA project.  Presently the trained 7 youths involved in production of Bio inputs and started a group called “ARYA BIOINPUT PRODUCTION YOUTH GROUP” in Kallipatti Village, and actively involved in the mass production aspects of bio inoculants and bio fertilizers.  KVK arranged an exposure to ICAR Perunthalaviar Kamaraj KVK, Puducherry to enrich and update their technological skills and knowledge in mass production techniques and sub culturing of the microbial bio inputs.  Now they established decentralized bio control production unit (Laminar flor chamber, Auto clave, 100 litre capacity fermenter).

Performance of the Bio inoculants production unit;

The youth producers groups have produced 2 tons of Pseudomnas fluorescens and 1.5 tons of Trichoderma viride and 1 ton of VAM bio-fertilizers.  In order to ensure the quality of the products the samples have been sent to TNAU Bio control laboratory for testing and confirmation. The products mostly consumed by farmers in and around the production units, since this group made availability of the quality products in time/season. During the reporting period, the group could generate income of Rs.94,500/month, according to the farmers indent/season.

Value addition in Banana Fiber

Banana is the major crop of Erode district and being cultivated in more than 10,000 hectares. KVK is promoting value addition in banana with various technical interventions, apart from the production technologies provided to enhance the yield like micro nutrient mixture (banana special, bio- fertilizer). KVK regularly conducts skill training on Post-Harvest Management and Value addition in Banana for farmers and youths. Under ARYA project, identified 10 youths in different blocks of Erode district based on their interest.  The activities have been initiated with the technical backstopping by KVK in three clusters promoted in Athani,  Anthiyur and Bhavani

Production details of the clusters

• In Anthiyur cluster prepared 1000 bags (Thampoolam bags) from banana fiber mats for marriage function.
• In Bhavani cluster initiated process of Non-woven fabric from banana fiber.
• In Gobi cluster are involved in producing fiber extraction (1 ton/month) and by-products (500 kg./month).
• The project helped the youth entrepreneur in earning monthly income of Rs.15000 to 20000.

Honey Bee Rearing & Vaue Addition in Honey

KVK conducts bee keeping training to the rural youth / entrepreneurs to increase the income and to maintain their livelihood under ARYA project.  They were trained on identification of bees, colony maintenance, colony separation, honey harvesting and value addition in honey and exposed them into the successful entrepreneurs’ field to practically know about the maintenance, harvesting and value addition techniques. The selected youths were the age group between 25 to 35 years, and they are actively involved in the farming activities for more than 5 years.

Interventions:

• Establishment of 4 bee colonies with accessories in village level
• Collection and storage of honey (1000 liters capacity honey storage tank)
• KVK mobilized and supplied 2 boxes to the same youths for strengthening and sustaining the activities from other sources.
• KVK organizes interface meeting among the youths in their farm on rotational basis to share their feedback and challenges faced by them on colony maintenance.

Performance of the Individual Honey production unit

• The rural youths are harvesting honey on regular intervals. On an average, 5 kg of honey has been harvested from each unit. Since there was a high response in their village for natural honey, currently they are marketing directly to the regular customer’s @ Rs. 800.00 / kg honey.
• Ever increasing demand on the honey, triggered the ARYA rural youths on extends their boxes from 6 to maximum of 16 boxes. Now the youths are act as a master trainer in colony separation, honey harvesting.
• Apart from these beneficiaries with the support of KVK, 13 other rural youths and progressive farmers established bee rearing unit with 260 boxes.

Desi Bird Rearing

KVK conducted training programme on backyard poultry farming for 50 identified youths from different blocks of Erode district.  Out of 50 youths, 10 youth farmers are selected based on their interest, age group (25-35 years) and experiences in backyard poultry farming.  Selected youth farmers were trained about recent technologies in backyard poultry farming which includes breed selection, feeding management, health management, hatchery operations and poultry waste management.  As part of the training, exposure visit arranged to TANUVAS- College for Poultry Production & Management (CPPM), Hosur.  In order to get regular income from egg, meat, chicks and concentrate feed under ARYA project, KVK supported youths to establish the following units:

• 2250 chicks (225 chicks/youth ) capacity of 10 desi bird production units
• 1020 Eggs capacity community Hatchery units (Each Hatchery unit for 5 youths)
• 3 tons per day capacity Feed mixing unit – 1 No. with group approach for 10 youths
• Azolla production unit-10 Nos. ; Termite production unit- 7 Nos.
• Black solider fly production unit – 2 Nos.; Ethno Veterinary Medicinal garden – 6 Nos.

Status of individual average production/units/Month:

1. Eggs – 1200 Nos. @ Rs 12,000/ month
2. Meat- 40 Kg/month @ Rs 12000/ month
3. Incubator charges income @ Rs 700/ month
4. Feed mixing unit @ Rs 1500/ month

Economics:

Total Gross income         :               Rs 26200/youth/month

Production cost                :               Rs. 9800

Net income                        :               Rs. 16400/youth/month