Floriculture a cash crop
By Dharmender Singh Thakur
PEOPLE in the Dhartee Dhar area of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh are fast adopting floriculture as a cash crop in place of conventional farming which they practised for centuries. Repeated failure of the ginger crop for over three decades had left them with no other choice but to grow maize and other coarse grains, which was not a lucrative proposition for want of irrigation facilities in the entire stretch of land called “sookee dhartee” or dry land in Sirmaur district.

Phytophtora — threat to citrus orchards
By Khushwant Ahluwalia
PHYTOPHTORA, a soil-borne fungus, is one of the oldest fungi known to man. In fact the most devastating! Today, it threatens the 12,000 hectares of citrus plantation in Punjab.

Farm operations for June

Buffalo a promising dairy animal
By D.S. Chawla

THERE are 92.19 million buffaloes in India. About 40 per cent buffaloes are classified into 20 different breeds whereas 60 per cent are non-descript. Buffaloes contribute 55 per cent of the total milk produced in the country. The home tract of the world’s best dairy buffaloes is in India, especially the north-western region. The famous dairy breeds of buffaloes are Murrah, Nili-Ravi, Jaffarabadi, Mehsana and Surti. Although buffaloes contributed significantly towards the economy of the country and farmers, this species is neglected in respect of appropriate breeding, feeding and management. Buffalo milk is the major source of milk supply to the organised dairy sector. There is the need for the establishment of commercial buffalo dairy farm which are more economical and viable. It is necessary that between 10 and 50 breedable buffaloes, producing 1,800 to 2,500 kg of milk per lactation, should be the minimum herd size for the economical, viable and sustainable dairy unit.

In Punjab there are 35 lakh breedable buffaloes comprising Nili-Ravi and Murrah and a mixed breed of these two.

The Nili-Ravi and Murrah are the known milk breeds not only in India but also in the world. Both Nili-Ravi and Murrah have the same genetic potentiality in production and reproduction, therefore cross-breeding of these two will not produce advantage and heterosis for commercial production. Many countries have purchased and imported Nili-Ravi and Murrch buffaloes because of their higher milk production. Trinidad, Nepal, China, Bulgaria, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and Iran have improved the milk production of their local buffalo breeds by crossing with Murrah and Nili-Ravi breeds of Punjab.

The Nili-Ravi and Murrah breeds are well adapted to the local agro-climatic conditions. These buffaloes are resistance to the extreme cold climate of winter and hot in summer and tropical diseases. These buffaloes are more efficient converters of crops residue and coarse roughases into milk and meat. Buffalo is a promising major dairy animal contributing about 122 lakh litres of milk daily in Punjab. Per capita milk consumption in Punjab is the highest (800 gm per day) as compared to other states.

There is a big gap between achieved and achievable targets of milk production of this dairy animal. Buffalo milk production can be increased by using appropriate breeding methods and improving feeding and management. A selective breeding system is by selecting bull on the basis of pedigree followed by progeny testing performance. As there is no superior other breeds of buffalo, therefore cross-breeding is not possible to improve the genetic potential of these breeds in Punjab. Nili-Ravi, Murrah and the mixed breed buffaloes can produce on an average 2,000 to 2,500 kg of milk per lactation. High-yielding buffaloes with more than 3,000 kg of milk per lactation are very common. Selected and progeny tested bulls can be used for breeding high-yielding buffaloes to produce superior breeding bulls. With this technology 40 to 50 kg of milk per year per buffalo can be increased.

All the farmers in Punjab are doing mixed farming. He wants to produce everything required for home consumption with his small holdings but he does not know the economic viability of each farming.

On the other hand, farmers of developed countries understand the economic viability and sustainability of his farming. As farmers are very experts in their kind of farming, they plan all operations in advance and work accordingly. A dairy farmer will only rear milch cows and another farmer will rear calves for veal and spent cows for meat production. Therefore, he knows about his income, advantages and disadvantages.

There is the need that farmers of Punjab are motivated for commercial and specialised dairy farming so that sustainable and economical viable dairy units can be established. Surplus male and spent buffaloes should be reared for meat production separately.

A farmer should be taught about appropriate breeding, feeding and management to improve the productivity of buffaloes by using modern technology. Buffaloes have not been exploited for their actual genetic potential, economic viability and as a sustainable farming units.

Buffalo milk is richer in fat, protein, minerals and bioproductive factors as compared to cows’ milk. It has been observed that cross-bred cows produce more milk in quantity than buffaloes, but it may not be true if milk is measured in both quantity and quality. A Nili-Ravi buffalo producing 2,100 kg of milk with 7.1 per cent fat and 4.38 per cent protein shall be at par with a cross-bred cow producing 2,800 kg of milk with 4.5 per cent fat and 3.4 per cent protein. Similarly, a Nili-Ravi buffalo producing 2,800 kg of milk with 6.8 per cent fat and 4.2 per cent protein shall be superior to the cross-bred cow producing 3,600 kg of milk with 4.2 per cent fat and 3.30 per cent protein.

Buffaloes of Punjab have an edge over cross-bred cows in milk production when reared under a similar systems of management. Buffaloes are well adapted to local physical environment and thrive well under traditional managements.

Therefore attempts should be made to improve the genetic potential of buffaloes in the state by coordinating all agencies.

Floriculture a cash crop
By Dharmender Singh Thakur

PEOPLE in the Dhartee Dhar area of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh are fast adopting floriculture as a cash crop in place of conventional farming which they practised for centuries. Repeated failure of the ginger crop for over three decades had left them with no other choice but to grow maize and other coarse grains, which was not a lucrative proposition for want of irrigation facilities in the entire stretch of land called “sookee dhartee” or dry land in Sirmaur district.

Tula Ram Shastri retired as Subedar from Punjab Regiment in 1980 with vast experience gained from placement all over India. Keen to raise the standard of people of his area, he became the torch-bearer of this concept in the district.

He observed that scientific cultivation with planned marketing strategy could give farmers good return. He tells proudly that he earns between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh from flower seed and almost same amount by selling flowers.

Tula Ram had seen poverty in his area which was largely due to lack of knowledge and skill. It was his desire to make his people self-sufficient.

In the beginning, he introduced tomato cultivation in the area packed in kiltas and buckets,” he marketed them in Nahan and Saharanpur mandis. He also distributed these plants free of cost among other farmers in the area.

After tomato cultivation he observed that European vegetables could yield more money, therefore, for the first time, he introduced broccoli, kail, parsley, globe artichoke, leek, asparagus and celery to farmers with the support of the Agriculture Department. In a small town like Nahan, people got a chance to taste these vegetables.

These vegetables have a large demand in big hotels of New Delhi but ensuring regular supply was not possible a small supplier like Tula Ram. In these hotels, he learnt, that there existed a big demand for flowers and more money could be earned in this business.

Marketing was the biggest hurdle in the beginning Florists in Chandigarh, considering him a layman, refused to pay a good price for his crop. These shops with one another quoted unreasonably low rates in the hope that he would throw the flowers. Ultimately, when Tula Ram started packing back flowers, shopkeepers gave him a good price. Step by step, he developed a good market in Chandigarh and Delhi.

Tula Ram says: “Most often shopkeepers evade payment to farmers. They are duped in the market which becomes a dissuading factor for growers.” He feels the strong need of a government agency to market flowers.

He has formed a floriculture society, Mohyon Floriculture and Marketing Co-operative Society, which has associated 250 floriculturists who grow gladiolus marigold, gerbera, lily, tulip, etc in the adjoining villages along the Nahan-Renuka road.

Phytophtora — threat to citrus orchards
By Khushwant Ahluwalia

PHYTOPHTORA, a soil-borne fungus, is one of the oldest fungi known to man. In fact the most devastating! Today, it threatens the 12,000 hectares of citrus plantation in Punjab.

Some of the symptoms of phytophtora on citrus tree are less foliar growth, smaller leaf size, empinasty i.e. inward curling of the leaves and pale colour of the plant. There is excess fruit drop and there is an increase of dead wood on the plant. Drying of the bark can be seen on the stem and the branches and the bark starts splitting.

Phytophtora nicotine, phytophtora parasitic, phytophtora citropathora are the three common species which attack citrus trees the world-over. Mainly it travels with water and infects the entire soil. For example, if a test is conducted on two extreme ends of a phytophtora plagued orchard, the results will show phytophtora at both the ends. It is such a dreaded fungus all over the world that in Australia “we don’t allow other farmers tractors to enter our orchards as the tyres many carry phytophtora infected soil,” says Dr Teri O’ Brien, a biologist. “Some farmers don’t allow other people to enter their farms with their shoes on,” he says.

Immediate precautions and therapeutic measures need to be taken by farmers to control the epidemic of phytophtora. The only solution to deal with this menace is to prevent or control it. It cannot be eradicated. For this farmers need to educate themselves on the causes and means to prevent and control the outbreak of phytophtora.

Conditions congenialto phytophtora

— Heavy watering in orchards, especially where there is heavy or clayey soil, is very encouraging for phytophtora. Water should not be allowed to stagnate in any part of the orchard because phytophtora can travel from that source to other parts of the orchard. Excessive watering should be avoided and the frequency of watering should be reduced. There should be a dry period between two irrigations but at the same time stress should not be given to the roots because stressed roots become vulnerable to phytophtora. Frequent light irrigation should be practised. But while deciding the time table for irrigation a farmer must keep the local conditions in mind.

The area of irrigation should also be reduced. For example, farms in Abohar and Muktsar are canal irrigated and since the water inflow is of high volume the farmers have to make wider kiyaras. This allows excess quantity of water which is encouraging for phytophtora.

— Phytophtora also attacks stems if there is an injury. Care should be taken when tilling orchards. In fact once the orchard comes to the fruit-bearing stage zero tillage should be practised and weeds should be controlled with weedicides.Care should also be taken when hoeing the orchard.

— Phytophtora also attacks the bud-union point. Bordeaux paint should be applied on the lower part of the stem preferably by June-end. It stops contact of the fungus and the water with the injury or the bud-union point.

— A temperature of 24°C to 32°C is the most favourable for phytophtora spores to get activated.

— Whenever the fibrous (newly emerging) roots are put under stress or are damaged the attack is more severe.

— The single largest factor for the spread of phytophtora in orchards is the poor conditions of our nurseries. There no care is taken to raise disease-free kinnow plants. Utmost precaution should be taken when selecting plants from a nursery.

Control of phytophtora

— Control of phytophtora has become imminent for kinnow growers as a survey points out that practically there is no orchard which is not phytophtora infested and it is only a matter of time that it will spread its paws to all the plants.

— Timely application of fungicides is the only way to control phytophtora. According to the PAU recommendations and some information sought on the Internet from Florida University, the following steps need to be take.

There are two fungicides which are to be used alternately.

Ridomil (metalaxyl plus mancozeb): Ridomil comes under a lot of formulations. Abroad Ridomil Gold is used as it is more effective in combating citrus-related phytophtora species. In India Ridoml M2 is used and is marketed by Novartis. It is also available under a different brand name ‘Matco’ marked by Indofil Chemicals. It costs Rs 1,150 per kg.

For a fully grown kinnow tree the PAU recommends 25 gm of Ridomil mixed in 10 litres of water. It is supposed to be sprayed on the soil surface below the canopy area. Though roots are spread beyond the canopy area, a majority of the roots of a plant are below the canopy. Since this fungicide is systemic, even if 60 per cent roots are also covered. The remaining 40 per cent get covered through the internal plant system.

Light irrigation should be applied immediately as dilution will only take place after this. Controlled irrigation is required as the fungicide should not leech more than eight inches from the surface.

The application of Ridomil should coincide when the fibrous roots are having a new flush. March-end to the first week of April is the appropriate time. But those who have missed the March application can apply it in October.

Aliette (Fostyl al): Since the excess use of Ridomil gives immunity to the fungi, Florida University recommends Aliette for foliar spray in July. There is no recommendation of the PAU on the use of this fungicide but some experts feel that since the pathogen is the same and gets activated under similar conditions and the host is similar i.e. (citrus trees) there should be no problem in applying this recommendation. 2.5 gm per litre of water is recommended for foliar spray in the orchard. The Florida Pest Management Guide recommends five pounds per acre in a single application. Aliette is marketed by Rhone Poulene and is available at Rs 1,100 per kg.

It’s time the government comes out with a concrete proposal to fight this problem. 

Farm operations for June

Groundnut:

— Under irrigated conditions, sow groundnut from May-end to mid-June after applying pre-sowing irrigation. Use of bolder seeds ensures high yields.

— Treat the seed with 5 g Thiram or 3 g Indofil M-45/kg of seed before sowing to control coller rot disease.

— Use 44 kg of seed for M-13, 40 kg for M-335, 30 kg for M-522 and 25 kg for M-37.

— Apply 50 kg of superphosphate and 13 kg of urea per acre with last ploughing. Also 50 kg gypsumper acre may be applied.

— Treat the seed with 12.5 ml of Dursban 20 EC per kg kernel and apply 4 kg Thimet 10 G or 13 kg of Furadan 3 G per acre into the field before sowing to prevent the attack of whitegrub in groundnut.

Kharif pulses:

— Sowing of the AL-201 and Al-15 variety of arhar should be completed during the first fortnight of June whereas mash and moong sowing, particularly in light-textured soils should be started from last week of June.

— Weed in moong can be controlled with Stomp 30 Ec @ 1.0 litre/acre applied within two days of sowing of the crop or Basalin 45 EC @ 600 ml/acre applied before the sowing of the crop. Herbicide should be sprayed by dissolving in 200 litres of water.

— Arhar, mash and moong seed should be treated with Captan @ 3 g per kg of seed before sowing.

— Apply one quintal of superphosphate and 11 kg of urea at the time of sowing of these crops.

— In summer moong, Thrips cause shedding of flowers, deformation of buds resulting in lower yield. Spray the crop at the flower initiation stage with 100 ml of Rogor 30 EC (dimethoate) or Malathion 50 EC or 35 ml of Dimecron 85 SL (Phosphamidon) or 120 ml Metasystox 25 EC (Oxydematon Methyl) in 80-120 litres of water per acre.

Soyabean:

— Grow SL-295/PK-416 variety of soyabean resistant to yellow mosaic virus, using a seed rate of 35 kg per acre.

— To supplement the nitrogen supply to the crop, seed of soyabean should be treated with specific bacterial culture at the time of sowing. If soyabean is being sown for the first time in the field, use the bacterial culture.

— Treat soyabean seed with Captan or Thiram @ 3 g/kg of seed against soil-borne disease.

— Sow the crop in good water with presowing irrigation during the first fortnight of June. The crop should be sown in lines 45 cm apart.

— In this crop, weed can be controlled with the use of Stomp 30 EC @ 600 ml/acre as pre-emergence application i.e. within one or two days sowing. Dissolve the recommended quantity of herbicide in 200 litres of water per acre and spray it uniformly.

— Progressive Farming, PAU