Rehabilitate stray cattle for profit
By Soshil Rattan
BECAUSE of religio-political constraints there has always been a need to find a practical way out of the burgeoning stray and abandoned cattle population across the country. The keenness to alleviate the suffering of these ill-fated animals always lacked proper monitoring. In Punjab, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is active in each district but the animal welfare organisations at the village level do not exist.

Agro-tech techniques for potato cultivation
By C.B. Singh
PRESENTLY potato is cultivated in our country in more than 1.3 million hectares giving an average yield of approximately 19.4 tonnes/hectare. However, the productivity levels are not uniform throughout the country. For instance West Bengal has the highest productivity (yield) on one hand, the states like Bihar and Assam show very low yields, on the other. Considering the ever-increasing population to be fed, potato is one of the most promising crops in this connection. So a focused scientific approach is needed for improving the yield all over the nation.

Reform package for farming
By S.C. Dhall
THE need to effect management changes has become apparent with the globalisation which is generating new opportunities for agriculture. For the first time in five decades, the Government of India has formulated a reform package for the agriculture management. The package favours changes in approach on central assistance to states from a programmatic one to a macro-management mode.

Farm operations for Sept

Grow toria for additional income
By J.S. Kolar and H.S. Randhawa

TORIA is very successful as an additional oilseed crop though is not cultivated as a main crop due to its low-yield potential. Being of short duration it can fit well as a relay crop between the kharif and rabi crops. A number of farmers are taking an early crop of paddy, while others have the fallow area due to one or the other reason. All such areas can be brought under toria cultivation as no other crop except fodder can be grown after which the rabi crop can be harvested. The areas around cities grow toria for marketing the crop for saag as the crop is early in maturity and can be sown earlier than sarson or gobhi sarson.

The crop is considered to have low potential yield and much attention is not given to it but actually it is not true. Viewed in terms of seed yield per unit area per unit time the toria crop is as efficient as raya and sarson and more efficient than gobhi sarson.

Punjab Agricultural University recommends two varieties of toria PBT-37 and TL-15 for general cultivation. PBT-37 is an early maturing variety suitable for toria-wheat rotation. It takes 91 days to mature. It has long main shoot laden with pods and has profuse branches. The seeds are bold and dark brown in colour. Its average yield is about 5 q/acre though it has the potential to yield as high as 6 q/acre. Another recommended variety TL-15, matures in 88 days. Its average yield is 4.4 q/acre in farmers field.

The crop should be sown in early September. The recommended seed rate is 1.5 kg per acre. It is suggested that the seed should be obtained from a reliable source. Punjab Agricultural University has sufficient stock of seed which can be purchased from the seed shop on the PAU campus. The seed is also available at the Regional Research Station, Dabwali Road, Bathinda, the University Seed Farm, Naraingarh, near Amloh. (Fatehgarh Sahib) and the Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur. The seed is sown with a drill or a pora attached to a plough. Manually operated oilseed drill can also be used for sowing the crop. Toria and gobhi sarson are grown as a mixed crop also in alternate rows of 22.5 cm apart or sowing toria by broadcast and gobhi sarson in lines 45 cm apart using 1 kg seed of each crop. Toria is harvested round mid-December and gobhi sarson continues in the field. For the control of weeds 1-2 hoeings with improved wheel hand hoe may be given or alternatively Trifluralin (Terflan 48 EC) at a rate of 400 ml be used as per-plant incorporation in the field.

As the crop is of short duration, it should be grown on heavy but properly drained soils. In soils with poor drainage, the crop is attacked by a fungus leading to “damping off” which results in patchy growth and low yields. In poor soil, the plants do not attain the required vegetative growth and are poor yielder. The crop should be applied 25 kg of N which is available from 55 kg of urea. In addition, 50 kg of superphosphate is also required for the cultivation of the crop. The fertilisers should be drilled 7 to 10 cm deep before sowing of the crop.

The crop should be regularly inspected and need-based irrigation is given. In sandy or poor soil, an additional dose of nitrogen can be given for obtaining higher yield. The crop is not attacked by any serious insect pest or disease but is liable to be damaged by the storage fungi after harvest. As the produce has high moisture content at harvest, it should be properly dried. Sometimes the harvesting coincides with rains and it becomes difficult to dry the produce in the open. Under such situation, the produce may be dried under shade in thin layers and proper ventilation should be ensured. If proper care is not taken, then the produce develops mustiness, is covered with a white layer of microbes, lose germination and fetches a low market price. The crop should be marketed after proper drying.

Rehabilitate stray cattle for profit
By Soshil Rattan

BECAUSE of religio-political constraints there has always been a need to find out a practical way out of the burgeoning stray and abandoned cattle population across the country. The keenness to alleviate the suffering of these ill-fated animals always lacked proper monitoring. In Punjab, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is active in each district but the animal welfare organisations at the village level do not exist. The SPCA is now conscious of the need to provide animal shelters for stray cattle in cities. This has been made convenient owing to the liberal grants from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). There is a great need to provide animal shelters at the village level since the stray cattle ramble along the villages being kicked, starved and mercilessly treated by unfeeling persons.

If animal welfare organisations (AWOs) are established in big villages, much of the stray cattle problem can be solved. This can be effectively made possible by the coming together of the respective veterinary officer and the sarpanch of the village. It is necessary to get each such AWO registered to make it eligible for various grants, especially for animal shelter from the AWBI. It is imperative that a veterinary officer should be entrusted with the job of pursuing panchayats in his area to get constructed at least one animal shelter in each big village. This will also provide job opportunities to the needy young persons in the village. Let commendation and incentive be insured to the veterinary officer and the sarpanch who get an animal shelter constructed in their jurisdiction. This can be managed by the panchayat concerned or registered AWO.

It is not wrong to believe that the interest of the productive animals are being trampled under the hooves of the so-called unproductive stray cattle. This can be made wrong if a registered AWO gets created a unit of 100 stray cattle in its jurisdiction. This will solve much of the rehabilitation problem of the stray cattle to the benefit of all concerned. The functions of a registered AWO will be rescuing, sheltering and feeding of stray cattle. This will make the cattle owners and cattle living economically self-sufficient by the proper utilisation of their dung and urine for the preparation of organic manure, medicines, pesticides and bio-gases, etc. These products are liable to fetch money sufficient to maintain these cattle shelters. The AWBI entitles any such unit or organisation having a minimum of 100 cattle to a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh. To make this programme beneficial and result-oriented, the AWBI has started a massive 15-day training programme through seven model goshalas identified for this purpose on the usage of cow dung and urine for converting into beneficial commercial product. Such big goshalas are entitled to attractive incentives and cooperation from the AWBI. This programme will ensure cattle preservation and protection from slaughter, besides self-sufficiency of cattle shelters in India.

This is undoubtedly a gigantic leap into an era of compassion and security to stray cattle from cruelties perpetrated by unfeeling humans. Never before in the history of India, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has so liberally gone in for programmes to alleviate the suffering of the helpless stray animals. This is evident from the facts that the number of animal welfare organisations had doubled in one year and there is an unprecedented flow of financial aid. All that is of paramount importance is the power-packed publicity of these programmes in print and electronic media to catch the beneficiaries’ eyes and ears for proper implementation. It is understood that the AWBI will be gladdened to send their campaigners for causing awareness among veterinary officer and panchayats about the prevalent animal welfare programmes worthy of implementation.

Agro-tech techniques for potato cultivation
By C.B. Singh

PRESENTLY potato is cultivated in our country in more than 1.3 million hectares giving an average yield of approximately 19.4 tonnes/hectare. However, the productivity levels are not uniform throughout the country. For instance West Bengal has the highest productivity (yield) on one hand, the states like Bihar and Assam show very low yields, on the other. Considering the ever-increasing population to be fed, potato is one of the most promising crops in this connection. So a focused scientific approach is needed for improving the yield all over the nation.

The potato crop is very sensitive to temperature, rainfall and humidity along with photoperiod. So for a good crop sunny days and cool nights are favourable. The optimum temperature for sprouting is 18-20°C. The highest tuberisation is obtained when the day temperature is 20°C and night temperature is 14°C. Potato grows well is sandy-loam to clay-loam soils rich in organic matters. Plant prefers soil in acidic to neutral range (Ph 5.5 to 7.5). The field should be cleared of stubble and perennial weeds at the time of plantation. Ploughing the fields during summer (May-June) is recommended to reduce the incidence of soil-born diseases and pests. Moreover, it controls perennial weeds.

Use of pre-sprout quality seeds before planting helps developing multiple, thick, stout, green and health sprout. This reduces emergence time of sprout in the field and maintains uniform plants, besides early crop maturity. In plain areas, the seed should be taken out of cold storage 14-15 prior to planting. In plains, for early crop (Haryana, Punjab, Western UP) mid-September and for Haryana and Rajasthan, mid-October are the best plantation times. Potato plantation and digging time varies with the climatic conditions of the region. The seed material chosen should be pure (disease free and no mixing to different varieties). This is must for the crop to mature uniformly and the tubers to conform to shape, size and colour. Moreover, this also affects the keeping quality and cooking behaviour of the variety.

Farmers can plan out their potato crop now by making proper choice of potato varieties, crop duration, plantation time, crop manuring, irrigation and plant protection schedules, both for seed and table crops. Varieties like Kufri Ashoka, Kufri Chandramukhi and Kufri Jawahar can give yields in 70-80 days crop age and are suitable for early crop in plains. These varieties are ideally suitable for rice-potato-wheat and maize-potato-wheat cropping systems. The early potato crop also economises on nitrogen application and diseases control measures. Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Sutlej, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Bahar and Kufri Badshah are the main crop varieties (100-110 days) for plain areas.

Farm yard manure (FYM) has been very useful and effective in increasing potato yield. It may be applied at the rate of 50 tonnes hectare about 2-3 weeks before planting. If the FYM applied, the doses of phosphorous and potash fertilisers can be reduced to half. For early maturing varieties, 125 kg of nitrogen and for late maturing varieties, 150 kg of Nitrogen is required. Ideal requirement of potash and phosphorous are 100 kg and 50 kg per hectare, respectively.

Reform package for farming
By S.C. Dhall

THE need to effect management changes has become apparent with the globalisation which is generating new opportunities for agriculture.

For the first time in five decades, the Government of India has formulated a reform package for the agriculture management. The package favours changes in approach on central assistance to states from a programmatic one to a macro-management mode.

With the new approach, the present pattern of rigidly conceived and uniformly structured centrally sponsored schemes will be dispensed with even as the Centre will not dilute or absolve itself of its responsibilities.

The government intends using the stick to enhance the productivity of the farm sector. It proposes to make it mandatory for farmers to use high-yield varieties of seed, fertilisers, and employ modern agricultural equipment.

Meanwhile, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) had recommended a seven-point strategy, which includes focus on agricultural exports, reduced dependence on rainfall and private sector involvement, to ensure an annual 5 per cent growth in the agricultural sector along with an increase in the productivity as per international standards. According to the Assocham, investments in irrigation and water conservation should get top priority on any policy agenda for the agricultural sector.

To generate resources, the expenditure on subsidies should be curtailed and money saved should be diverted to create productive infrastructure — irrigation facilities and watersheds in dryland areas. Special attention needs to be given for building roads, markets, other transportation facilities, cold storage and handling facilities. Restriction on the movement of various agricultural commodities should be completely removed. Various laws and regulations, which continue to stifle the growth of the agricultural sector, need to be reviewed and amended or done away with.

Agricultural and allied products, which are covered under the small- scale industry reservation list, should be gradually dereserved. Investment in research for high-yielding varieties of basic foods and high value products such as horticulture and dairy should be increased and greenhouse technology encouraged.

The rural credit delivery system needs strengthening through further deregulation of interest rates and allowing more private local area banks and self groups to meet the needs of the farmers. Products in which India has a competitive advantage should be treated as extreme focus areas for generating surplus for exports.

Further it is suggested to strengthen the network of krishi vigyan kendras and ensure that each district has a local centre. The infrastructure of kendras should be geared up so that it starts functioning as a training centre. The government should set up agro-processing vocational schools in every panchayat or district, agro-processing units in each panchayat to provide a bridge between farmers and the industry and should provide 100 per cent income tax and excise exemption for next 20 years.

This change has been necessitated by the government thinking that the limited allocations available to the sector must find timely use and intended application in intended areas.

Central assistance will be based on the schemes in the formulation of which the states are fully involved rather than on the basis of schemes thrust on them by the Centre. The Government of India will concentrate on regionally differentiated initiatives through a location-specific, crop specific and need-based approach implemented by the states.

A number of meetings have already been held at the Central and state levels.

The Madhya Pradesh Government has a new bill in the Vidhan Sabha as a measures from the part of the MP Land Management Act, the new comprehensive legislation will replace the 40-year-old Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code. The new legislation also seeks to quicken the pace of disposal of land revenue cases and delegates to the Panchayats in wide range of powers. Under the new code the farmers will have to get permission before reducing the area under cultivation. Penalty is in store for the farmers who refuse to obey the government diktats on efficient land management. The bill also equips the government with powers to notify benchmarks for agricultural productivity and the optimum use of land.

Farm operations for Sept

Ornamentals

Annuals: After the rainy season is over the winter season annuals seeds may be sown in the raised nursery beds. Small sized or seeds of some special varieties can also be sown in the big earthen pots or trays. The water should be sprinkled immediately after sowing the seed and thereafter in the mornings or in the evenings. Protect the seeds from ants etc. Seeds of sweet pea after soaking in water overnight may be sown directly into the beds.

Permanent plants: Unwanted growth of ornamental shrubs, climbers, etc may be trimmed, plants may be staked or tied in position according to the effect/shape required. If some young growing plants look weak, apply well rotten farm yard manure.

Sprouted/development cuttings of bougainvillea and other shrubs which were planted in the last week of February must be ready now for lifting from the nursery beds to plant the same in polythene bags or in earthern pots for their further growth and development. This is the time for air layering of some ornamental plants which cannot be easily propagated through cuttings e.g. rubber plants, variegated varieties of bougainvilleae, etc.

Lawns: The lawns must have gained good growth during the rainy season. Adjust the lawn mower knives is such a way that the lawn is mowed as close to the ground as possible. Where the lawn growth is not up to the mark, apply 1 kg of CAN or 500 gm of urea per 1000 sq. ft.

Chrysanthemum: Do not allow the rain water to stand in the chrysanthemum pots for a long period, tilt the pots to drain out excess water. Keep on training the plants according to the method described in the last issue. Use the Bavistin fungicide to control fungal diseases and monocrotophos insecticides spray against the attack of insect.

Roses: In the second half of the month, the water should be withheld to prepare the rose plants for pruning in the next month. Planting of new rose plants can also be started in the next month.

Bulbous plants: Well-developed bulbs of gladiolus, narcissus (Nargis), freezia, etc can be planted now. The soil should be well drained and rich in organic matter. Double dahlia plants can be developed both from the terminal cuttings as well as from the bulbs.

Horticultural operations

— It is the optimum time for the planting of evergreen fruit plants like mango, sweet orange, mandrain, lime, lemon, litchi, guava, loquat and papaya as the atmospheric temperature cools down considerably and there is enough moisture in the soil.

— The newly planted fruit plants are very tender, and, therefore, operations like irrigation, removal of stock sprouts, training, staking and plant protection measures should be undertaken with extreme care.

— For checking pre-harvest fruit drop, spray the trees with 10 ppm of 2, 4-D and 0.5 per cent zinc sulphate. For spraying one acre of citrus orchard 6 g of 2,4-D and 3.0 kg of zinc sulphate is dissolved in 550 litres of water. For the control of pathological fruit drop in citrus, spraying the trees with 20 g of Aureofungin in 500 in 500 litres of water of Bavistin 500 g in 500 litres of water during this month.

— In citrus, leaf miner and whitefly/psylla can be checked by spraying 625 ml Nuvacron 36 SL or 670 ml of Rogor 30 EC in 500 litres of water per acre. To check withertip or die back and melanose or stemend rot diseases, spray the plants with Bordeaux mixture 2:2:250 in mid-September for the control of downy mildew. Give one pinching to Anab-e-Shahi variety of grapes having luxuriant growth during this month.

— To the ber plants give first spray at flowering with Karathane 50-80 ml in 100 litres of water of the control of powdery mildew.

— To control lac insect in ber, spray 250 ml Rogor in 250 litres of water during this month. For the control of leaf spot in ber, spray the trees with Bordeaux mixture 2:2:250 or with 0.3 per cent copper oxychloride.

— If there is attack of mangoscab, the mango trees should be sprayed with 1.25 litres of Basudin (diazinon) or 300 ml of methyl-parathion in 500 litres of water.

— To full grown loquat trees apply 50 kg farmyard manure along with 2 kg of superphosphate, 1.5 kg muriate of potash in this month.

— Progressive Farming, PAU