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AGRICULTURE TRIBUNE | Monday, July 31, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
Flying high on wings of birds By Harvinder Khetal Amid reports of stagnation and even decline in agriculture production in Punjab, the progress of Mr Ranjit Singh Sidhu of Naudrani village in Malerkotla tehsil, Sangrur district, comes as a refreshing and encouraging example. Integrated pest management in cotton Cold-water fishery in hills Haryana ranks first in fish output Low-temperature dryer for grains Management of poultry and honey bee colonies |
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Flying high on wings of birds Amid reports of stagnation and even decline in agriculture production in Punjab, the progress of Mr Ranjit Singh Sidhu of Naudrani village in Malerkotla tehsil, Sangrur district, comes as a refreshing and encouraging example. Son of an Army officer, Sardar Bahadur Rattan Singh, OBI, who has seen both the world wars, Mr Ranjit Sidhu took to farming after graduating in science. By sheer dint of hard work, he transformed 35 acres of alkaline and sandy land in Malerkotla into a verdant green field. Soon, his green touch spread to 65 acres and in 1981, the progressive farmers diversified into poultry. Beginning with 500 birds, Sidhu, along with his two nephews, built the farm to be the biggest of its kind in Punjab. Even as poultry farms elsewhere, specially small ones, became losing propositions, the innovative scientific techniques adopted by the Sidhus saw them to be proud owners of 2 lakh birds and a soon-to-be realised dream of an automated poultry farm with a capacity of 1.5 lakh hens. Commercialisation led to prosperity and recognition. The Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, recently honoured him with the Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award for Innovative farmer. The certificate of honour makes note of his achievements. Known as the "king of poultry farming", Sidhu has devised ways for optimum utilisation of poultry and its byproducts. He has banned the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in his farm. The manure comes from poultry waste. He has, thus, not only saved money (fertilisers take a major chunk of a farmer's input resources), but also saved the ecology and environment of his area by shunning toxic chemicals. The poultry waste is also made good use of in the production of biogas in his massive farm and bungalow. The biogas plant produces gas four times more than that produced by cow dung. Sidhu has also devised his own ways to heat the brooder and exhaust ammonia out of the sheds. He adopted the nipple system to give water to the chicks. The water sprinkler system brings the temperature of the sheds down by 12° F to 15 °F. Foggers in the sheds dampen the feed of the birds. In this way, the egg-laying capacity of the birds increases. The Sidhus sell eggs in Jammu and Kashmir Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. To manufacture poultry feed, they have built a factory and themselves produce a nourishing feed. They have a novel method of protecting birds from houseflies: They put jaggery in jute bags, which attracts the flies. The bags are then sprayed with DDVP. The Sidhus have an eminent place in Punjab farming and have been honoured with many prizes. |
Integrated pest management in cotton COTTON the most important cash as well as fibre crop, not only earns millions of dollars in foreign exchange but also provides employment to millions of people in field and factories. It being a long-duration crop of hot humid weather is attacked by a large number of insects but about a dozen are the most important pests which cause 50 to 60 per cent reduction in the yield. The main insect pests are cotton leaf hopper (jassid), whitefly, thrips and aphid as sucking pest; pink, spotted and American bollworm as pests of fruiting bodies and hairy caterpillar, cotton semilopper and grey weevil as leaf eating pests. For the contol of all these pests the farmers had been using insecticides which proved helpful
initially but the sole dependence and indiscriminate use of the insecticides has put us in the crisis phase and the returns have become uneconomical. To protect the crop, the farmer and the industry, it is imperative to adopt an approach which may save us from entering into the disaster phase and provide protection to the crop from pests. And that approach is integrated pest management (IPM). In this system all the available methods of plant protection are integrated in such a way that desired pest control is achieved safely and economically without disturbing the environment. It is important in cotton because more than 52 per cent of the pesticides in India is consumed only on cotton which is grown on 5 per cent of cultivated area. IPM strategies which need to be followed are as below: — In a termite-prone area the seed should be treated with Chlorpyriphos @ 10 ml/kg seed, before sowing. However, if the problem becomes acute during the crop season (10 per cent plant infestation) Chlorpyriphos @ 21/acre may be applied in the field soil along with the irrigation water. — The short duration, early maturing recommended varieties should be grown so that the overwintering generation/population of pink bollworm is reduced. — Thinning should be done meticulously so as to maintain the spacing of about 30 cm from plant to plant. Thick plant population provides favourable microclimates for the multiplication of the pests like whitefly and American bollworm. — Grow the intercrop like bajra or seteria (kangani) so as to provide live purchase to the birds. — Make balanced use of fertilisers. The use of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash in required quantities/balanced manner makes the crop
tolerant to pest attack. However, excessive use of nitrogen alone makes the plants vulnerable to pests. — Irrigate the crop when required. The first irrigation should be given when the crop looks thirsty in the morning, while the subsequent irrigations should be given when the crop looks thirsty in the evening. No irrigation should be given after the complete boll formation stage (September 25), otherwise the pest attack will continue to increase. — Monitor the pests regularly at a week’s interval during the vegetative phase and twice a week during the reproductive phase. For this 10 plants should be selected at random in a field and examined thoroughly for sucking as well as bollworm pests and adopt control measures on
the basis of dominating populations. — Understand and follow the concept of economic threshold (ET). This is that level of pest population/damage at which control measures should be adopted so that the pest population may not reach economic injury level. The ET for leaf hopper is 2 nymphs/leaf; for whitefly 6-8 adults/leaf and for bollworms 5 per cent infestation in fruiting bodies or five larvae/10 plants. — Cut, collect and destroy the pest infested twigs, leaves and other fruiting bodies. — Follow field sanitation. Weeds and crop refuses provide food and shelter to pests in the field. —To protect American cotton/narma from cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV), destroy the weeds in and around the cotton fields, water channels and the road sides; uproot and destroy the CLCV-infested plants as and when noticed, and control whitefly which transmits the disease from diseased to healthy plants. — Delay the pesticide application to the extent possible so as to provide opportunity to the natural enemies to multiply and help in pest management. — Use bio-pesticides when the pests are in the early stages of development. Neem application avoids the pests entering the treated fields and also acts as deterrent to the early stages of the pests. — For the control of sucking pests at ET use systemic insecticides like 350-450 ml Metasystox or Rogor or 100-120 ml Phosphamidon or 40 ml Imidaclorpid (Confidor) in 150-175 of water per acre. — For the control of bollworms at ET, use conventional insecticides (Endosulfan, Quinalphos, Triazophos, Chlorpyriphos,
Carbaryl) and Synthetic pyrethroids (Fenvalerate, Cypermethrin, Alphamethrin, Decamethrin) on alternate turns during the reproductive phase of the crop. Do not use the synthetic pyrethroids alone or in combination with other insecticides for American bollworm control. — At the time when there is simultaneous attack of leafhopper and bollworms, particularly during peak reproductive phase, tank mix insecticides recommended for bollworm and sucking pest control and spray with fine tuned nozzles. — Do not use the same chemical or the chemical of the same group repeatedly. Every time change the chemical as well as the group to which it belongs. — Follow all the safety measures while using pesticides. |
Cold-water fishery in hills THE ever-increasing population has compelled us to tap all the natural resources judiciously and on sustainable basis to maintain economic vigour of future generations too. In the hills where per capita land holdings are small and pure crop farming is economically unviable, the supplementary enterprises like dairy, poultry, fishery,
rabbitry, piggery, apiculture, sericulture and mushroom growing hold great relevance. The fisheries sector has been identified as one of the most important and integral components of modern agricultural practices. In Himachal Pradesh cold-water fishery is one of such virgin areas which requires the attention of scientists, environmental conservationist and policy makers. After the Green and White Revolutions, now the hope lies in the Blue Revolution to contribute its bit to solve the problem of malnutrition by developing aquaculture or by judicial use of our available water resources. Today fish is considered to be one of the best sources of animal protein and contains 45 to 60 per cent protein supplemented with different minerals and vitamins. Aquaculture has been identified as one of the most important and integral components of the farming system worldover so as to get the maximum output of the farm produce in a given space and time. The cold-water fisheries remained as a less attended are until the 1970s. Indigenous fish mahseer and exotic trout are sport fishes and attract tourists in large number for sport fisheries. There are 73 species (3.32 per cent of total Indian fish
germplasm) of cold-water fishes inhabiting the Himalayas and peninsular regions of India which hold great potential for economic growth of hill regions. The golden mahseer
(tor putitora) was included in the list of endangered species by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources
(NBFGR), Lucknow. The main reasons for its declining are damming, dynamiting, human interference, over exploitation and loss of habitat. The cold-water fishes have thermal tolerance in the lower limit range 4 to 5°C and upper limit range 25 to 32°C. These fishes require higher levels of dissolved oxygen in the range 5 to 8
ppm. The total cold-water resources of hills are estimated about 7,000 km, including certain principal tributaries. The approximate fishable stream length in northern and western Himalayas has been assessed at 3,200 km. In the Himalayan zone the most important reservoirs are Gobind Sagar and Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh, Salal in Jammu and Kashmir and Tehri in Uttar Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is endowed with rich diversity of water resources such as snow-fed perennial river (3000 km), seasonal streams (775 km), reservoirs (60,000
hac.), ponds, natural lakes and irrigational channels (2,000 hac.). Himachal Pradesh is leading among the hill states of our country as far as total fish production per unit area is concerned. The total fish production from two major reservoirs (i.e. Gobind Sagar — 16,000
hac. and Pong Dam — 24,000 hac.) is about 1,550 metric tonnes which has registered approximately 100 per cent increase in the production level during the past 10 years. However, the total fish production in Himachal Pradesh has increased at a compound growth rate of 9.80 per cent per annum from 700 metric tonnes in 1969-70 to 6,265 metric tonnes in 1996-97. The benefit-cost ratio in fisheries was worked out to be 1.85:1. The net income from fish pond of one hectare in Himachal Pradesh has been estimated as more than Rs 31,000 (Sharma, 1989). The production potential of culture fishery in the state has been evaluated as 4 tonnes per hectare per year, as such the total production should increase manifold. The actual production is not even one-tenth of the estimated production, primarily because of lack of suitable technology as a very little research work has been done on the culture fishery of hilly region. Whatsoever technology is available pertains to tropical climate and cannot be replicated in this region. The multifaceted dangers are posed by construction of dams, barrages across the river, on one hand, and over-exploitation on the other. While uncontrolled fishing deplete fisheries resources, the construction of dam and barrages acts as physical barrier to migrate fishes tending to prevent fish to the usual breeding, feeding and rearing grounds. Besides these unfortunate changes, another most significant development in the foothills of the Himalayas is the construction of a network of roads. That has resulted in deforestation and soil erosion, and the rapidly changing land use pattern has brought in many subtle and irresistible long-term ecological changes in the soil, temperature and moisture regimes. The standard technology for seed production of some of the major cold-water fishes — mahseer and snow — is yet at the experimental stage in the laboratories of various research institutes. This is a major constraint in the revival of cold-water fisheries. The intensive stocking of seed and providing quality fishing nets to fishermen of the Pong Dam reservoir has helped in raising fish production (to 453
tonnes) by 26 per cent during 1999-2000 over the preceding year and highest in the past decade. The Pong Dam reservoir is the only water bowl in the country where approximately 100 tonnes of golden mahseer is caught annually. For the development and optimal exploitation of fisheries resources, the state would need a battery of scientists and technical manpower in different disciplines of fish and fishery sciences. According to Dr R.S
Paroda, Director-General, ICAR, it can only be possible if all the states have their own college of fishery. Moreover, to solve the location specific problem it is necessary that education in the particular discipline is imparted in that particular environment and condition so that the manpower so trained is well versed with the constraints and limitations. There is an urgent need to conserve aquatic resources and rehabilitate and save the dwindling fish fauna of our rivers. The efforts should not be limited to passive conservation, which is limited to the deployment of watch and ward duty and declaring certain area as fish sanctuaries. But the pragmatic approach should be towards quantitative improvement of stocking of commercially important species by transplantation of farm reared stocking material in the improvised streams. The revision of mesh-size of nets being operated in reservoirs production of mahseer fish and the construction of anglers lodge will also help in raising revenue. Setting up of hatcheries near the stream sites followed by artificial breeding in the farms and later stocking the young ones in the streams is the only measure left for revival of our precious fish fauna. The development of technologies for cage culture in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and polyhouses for thermal controls are other important areas of research. Raising disease resistant species for trout farming also needs intensified research. Control on aquatic pollution and conservation of water bodies and fish germ plasm can go a longway in the development and sustainable production from our cold-water fishery resources. The integration of cold-water fisheries and aquaculture with agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, forestry and environmental programmes can bring about significant changes in the development of hill regions in India. |
Haryana ranks first in fish output DESPITE limitations on resources Haryana has made good progress in the field of fishery. Against the national average of 2,187 kg per hectare of fish production, Haryana, according to the Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Fisheries, Mr L.M. Jain, has achieved an average production level of 4,139 kg per hectare and the state ranks first in the country. He said that the main thrust of the Fisheries Department was to bring derelict ponds under fish culture by creating a class of fish farmers by imparting them training and providing the necessary technical and financial assistance. So far about 70 per cent of the available water area in the state has been brought under intensive fish culture. Quality fish seed is the pre-requisite for sustaining and increasing fish production. Though the fish seed production in the state has increased manifold yet dependence on other sources is also there. Special emphasis has, therefore, been laid on promoting fish seed production in the private sector. At present 84 fish farmers are engaged in fish seed production and rearing of spawn for commercial supply. Five Chinese circular hatcheries with the production level of 200 lakh fish seed per year have been established in the private sector. Out of 10,000 hectares water area available in the shape of ponds, 80 per cent is seasonal. To bring the seasonal water area under intensive fish culture, improvement by way of deepening, shapening, provision of outlet and inlet and construction of water courses are required. As these ponds belong to village panchayats, they are persuaded to lease out ponds on long-term basis. The lessees are given training and arranged institutional finance for undertaking improvement of ponds. The Fisheries Department provides assistance to the fish farmers on various activities like excavation, renovation, seed production and inputs. So far 70 per cent of the available water area has been
covered under the intensive fish culture. Due to scanty rainfall in 1999-2000, most of the seasonal ponds dried up, affecting the production of fish seed and fish in the state. There were 7,349 fish farmers in the state in 1998-99 and 1,599 farmers were imparted training. Financial assistance of Rs 33.2 lakh was provided in 1998-99. In 1966-67 the fish production from all sources was about 756 metric tonnes which increased to 32,520 metric tonnes in 1998-99. As against the target of production of 32,500 metric tonnes in 1999-2000. 12,150 metric tonnes were produced in the six months up to September 30,1999. In order to diversify and increase the income of fish farmers, the department initiated fresh water prawn culture on experimental basis in 1997-98. The results of fresh water prawn culture have been encouraging and the department took over fresh water prawn culture along with fish culture in a limited way in 1999-2000. In one of the ponds, a farmer has produced 1,000 kg per hectare of prawn in six months. Most of the land in Haryana has saline and brackish water which is unfit for agricultural practices. In order to utilise this, the department has initiated a collaborative research with the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, for the development of technologies and its standardisation for the use of brackish and saline water. Similarly, the department has provided 10 hectares of the national seed farm, Lahli in Rohtak district, to the ICAR for development of technologies for mangur and prawn culture. The results of these researches will be used for enlarging the scope of fishery development. |
Low-temperature dryer for grains POST-HARVEST technology is an important aspect in agriculture, and it can contribute significantly to ensuring better shelf life for agricultural produce and thereby better returns to the farmers. Timely drying of agricultural produce to the right moisture content is a critical operation as it can help arrest heavy financial losses. Farmers have experienced serious losses during untimely rains which hamper the drying process. A simple dryer which can reduce the moisture content to an optimal level for milling and subsequent storage is what a rice farmer would need. The dried paddy can then give the maximum milling yield in terms of whole rice grains. An advanced “low-temperature dryer” known by the name “ventilating dryer” imported by a New Delhi firm meets all the requirements for getting the best of freshly harvested paddy. This dryer, “SKS-480”, has a capacity of one tonne per batch, and each batch would take between 60 and 90 minutes to dry to 13 per cent moisture, according to Mr Pramod Sehgal, Director of the company, which imports the equipment. The cost of the equipment is Rs 1.80 lakh. Run on kerosene or premium diesel, the equipment can be used for drying a host of grains and seeds. All the drying process and temperature setting in this equipment is automatic. For drying paddy, the best method is to use low heat, large air flow volume, stable temperature, even circulation and a thin dry crop. The level should be maintained within 15 per cent accuracy using a computerised meter. This dryer has been designed to meet all these requirements. Freshly harvested paddy normally has a moisture content ranging between 22 and 25 per cent. Par-boiled paddy has 30 per cent moisture. An optimum moisture content of 14 per cent is deemed safe for storage of high-quality rice such as basmati. Reducing the moisture content of basmati from 20 per cent to 14 per cent needs several days and nights of drying. For other paddy also the time taken for drying is long. As the grain is being dried, it also should be conditioned when the moisture content reaches 16 per cent. The drying process is stopped for a while, and then resumed, using appropriate temperatures and drying times. This interval is called conditioning, hot storage or temperating, and it may vary with the variety of the rice and the severity of the process. This dryer will dry paddy for 10 minutes at a time and continues after a rest period. Each pass of wet grains would take between 60 and 90 minutes. The grains exposed to hot air in drying section would last about 10 minutes. About 50 to 80 minutes are needed to allow moisture inside paddy to move outward for the next drying process. In one cycle of drying, moisture removal can be reached to 0.65 to 1 per pass, that is, 1,520 times of circulation to complete drying from initial moisture content of 25 per cent to the final moisture content of 13 per cent. This dryer simplifies the drying process, and the mechanically dried rice can be stored for long. There is no need to worry about drying problems during wet seasons, and it would ensure a good quality produce. It helps in better utilisation of produce, production and by-products. It can create job opportunities in the rural areas and reduce post-harvest losses substantially. |
Management of poultry and honey bee colonies Poultry: — The poultry feed to be used in hot and humid season should have 16-20 per cent more proteins, minerals and vitamins. — Drinkers should be sufficient so that the birds do not have to walk more than 8 ft. to reach them. Water must remain cool and clean. Change water three-four times during the day. — Avoid dampness during the rainy season to avoid incidence of coccidiciosis. Add coccidiosats in the poultry feed for prevention of this disease. Provide
curtains whenever necessary to avoid the entry of rain inside the sheds. Farm forestry: Transplanting of most of the tree species (except poplar) like safeda, kikar, subabul, tahli, dek, neem, sagwan, etc. should be done during the rainy season. The pits of 50x50x50 cm should be filled with 50 per cent topsoil and 50 per cent farmyard manure. Plant the seedlings in the centre of the pit after gently removing the polythene bag. Care should be taken that the earth ball and roots may not get damaged. The plants should be watered immediately. Honey bee colonies: This is the monsoon season during which there is scarcity of bee flora. Honey bee colonies are also attacked by waxmoth, wasps, black ants and bee eating birds. Colony strength dwindles. Sometimes colonies become weak and laying worker. Due to food shortage robbing menace may also start in the apiary. Examine the colonies with utmost care and don’t keep them open for too long a period. If there is food scarcity, provide sugar syrup (1:1) feeding with the tin, feeler or polythene bag method. Prevent/check robbing in the apiary. Store empty combs after fumigation with burning sulphur or celphos under air-tight condition. Check the honey bee colonies from the attack of waxmoth, black ants, wasps and bee-eating birds. Unite week, queenless and laying worker colonies with medium strength colonies having otherwise good laying queen bers. Commercial beekeepers can migrate their apiaries to the khair plantation in the foothill areas of Hoshiarpur, Ropar, etc. — Progressive Farming, PAU |