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| Extension Approaches That Helped Farmers Increase Farm Income | | The Diary of an Extension Worker | |  Subdesh Kumar Khajuria
Agriculture is the way of life for more than 70 per cent population in Jammu and Kashmir State. Although only 52 per cent of the state’s land is arable of which 74 per cent is rainfed which contributes 70 per cent to its total food production. Kachhair (Low Hilly Area) is the village in Kathua district where farmers suffer from crop failure because of weather aberrations and poor road connectivity. This write up attempts to highlight the efforts of the Department of Agriculture though various schemes to increase the household income and raise the living standards of the farmers from a remote and far flung village of District Kathua.
Weather aberration is still a rule in Jammu & Kashmir rather than an exception. Weather during the subsequent seasons bears the testimony of this statement. Weak monsoon results in abnormal rainfall which completely ruins a large share of agriculture production in the state. We are helpless spectators of the dance of nature in the form of the drought and floods on the same platform. Though, there has been enormous progress in the development of irrigation facilities in the state but still the lion’s share of our cultivated land of the state is under rainfed (70%). The socio- economic conditions of the rainfed farmers are miserable. Interestingly there are some bright spots in this shade of dark. Success stories of the extension approaches of the Department of Agriculture Kathua through crop diversification, Soil Health Card Scheme, PM Kissan, Kissan Credit Cards have predominantly helped the farmers to come out of the mess.
Kachhair Panchayat of District Kathua predominantly comes under the rainfed area of the state. It is characterized by water scarcity and undulating topography. Economically, the farmers of this area are poor with small holdings. Moreover the adoption of scientific technologies in the crop production is low because of low literacy, lack of awareness regarding the mode of adoption of modern technologies resulting in low and unstable income since agriculture is mostly in rain fed conditions. Panchayat Kachhair is situated in Zone Nagrota Gujroo under Agriculture Sub Division Billawar District Kathua. It lies at a distance of 40 Km from National Highway from Dyalachak and 10 KM away from the road connectivity
Three Years back, during my first visit and interaction with farmers regarding the awareness of Kissan Credit Card, one farmers Mr. Lal Chand showed disinterest with the scheme and also started provoking fellow farmers not to adopt the scheme. I requested the farmer not to spread the rumours. Later on, I separately met with him and cleared his apprehensions about the scheme. Just after two days I visit Sh. Lal Chand’s home as well his field I observed that the farmer totally depended on agriculture and interestingly was found very keen to increase his farm income, but due to unawareness of new technology even having sound location and fertile land 24 kanals (Pond in middle of the field), he remained laggard so far.
He was found only cultivating the traditional crops like wheat maize paddy, during interaction he told that due to low quality of vegetable seeds and lack of proper guidance from experts, he always bears loss. After assurance from my side regarding continuous visits and deliver modern techniques, he got convinced and a journey for new achievements was mutually targeted. The First step was production of hybrid onion in one kanal. He undertook hybrid onion cultivation nd used Hybrid seeds brought from Kapurthala Surprisingly the production was 30 Qtls. in one Kanal. The farmer was happy with yield and earning. Simultaneously he started hybrids of different vegetable Viz; cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and tomato ) in 5 kanals of land. In the next season, he adopted the same practices over other crops as well, like bottle-gourd, bitter-gourd and lady-finger and developed his 11 kanals of land under the said crops. To the surprise of the entire farmer community; he made a name for himself in the list of progressive farmers in a very short time. Not only in vegetables he also adopted modern package of practises in rest of land with cereals crops, surprisingly his yield per acre increased at very high rate than previous practices.
The secret of his spectacular success is the adoption of integrated farming system approach. Annual income amounts to 2.5-3.0 lac from 12 kanal of land. Features that played a vital role in his farm success are:
o Efficient use of inputs like land and water.
o Science based approach in farm layout.
o Land consolidation and proper levelling.
o Adoption of integrated farm management system through the use of farm yard manure and fertilizers.
o Cultivation of high water requiring crops in the upland was avoided.
o Production was planned keeping in view the market demand.
o Timely inputs from the department of agriculture.
o Adoption of integrated pest management through the use of light traps and other chemical traps.
Rainfed area has its inherent problem but if one is able to master the necessary inputs like land, labour, capital and farm management skills, modern technology adopted through farming system mode can generate very high income. The challenges of rainfed areas thus can be converted into opportunities provided the supply of necessary inputs is insured and if the farm is located near some town or city area which provides better market for the various farm products, the success can be taken to some good level. For efficient use of inputs including fertilisers farming system approach is the answer. |
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