Dr G Shankar of Rallis India says Shivaji Kendre is an example
of a new generation of Indian farmers who blend technology with conventional
wisdom to take Indian agricultural practices into the modern age
Shivaji, a young farmer growing pigeonpea (toor or arhar) in Kumta
village in Latur district in the state of Maharashtra, showed personal
initiative, courage for experimentation and perseverance when he attempted
an innovation in the cultivation of pulses that has never been tried
before – drip irrigation.
Pulses in India have traditionally been a rainfed crop, and most farmers
use minimal irrigation. Yet when Shivaji’s pigeonpea crop was
about a month old, he took the help of Jain Irrigation to put up a
drip irrigation facility on his 2.5-acre plot. Seeing Shivaji’s
example, some of his friends followed suit.
These young farmers of Kumta have used BSMR 853 variety seed (of
160-day duration), sown in paired rows with spacing of 6 feet between
rows (fig 1). Within the pairs of rows, the distance was 1.5 feet
(fig 2). Each plot received 40kg of DAP and 19:19:19 water soluble
at 4 kg per acre on the 60th day. The drip is used for 2 hours a
day, once in an interval of 15 days. The frequency is slightly altered
depending on the rain and the moisture level in the soil.
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When we visited the plot, we saw the crop in full bloom and with very
good growth of lateral branches. According to Shivaji, the normal
yield of this variety of seed under standard conditions of sowing
is just 4 quintal / acre. With drip irrigation, the yield has increased
dramatically – he is expecting as much as 10 quintal /acre.
Shivaji also explained another benefit – by regulating the distribution
of water by using the drip method, he could double the area under
irrigation using the same amount of water.
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Shivaji has spent Rs20,000 per acre on drip irrigation. On this
he will get a 50 per cent subsidy from the government. He and his
friends are confident that the cost of the drip can be earned back
within the first season itself.
For this group of young farmers, this experiment is just the beginning.
They are now exploring the possibilities of growing chickpea (chana)
with drip irrigation (fig 3). In this plot, the drip lines have
been located every 4-5 rows. As per the calculation, it takes about
2 hours to irrigate each row, and then the pipe is shifted to the
next row.
The final results of the drip irrigation experiments are not in, as
the crop has not yet been harvested. But the farmers who are part
of this uncommon initiative are very optimistic that they will see
a much higher level of revenue and prosperity by employing this simple
method of drip irrigation with pulses.
Dr G Shankar is general manager (customer relations) at Rallis India
Ltd
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