Agriculture Update

M. Malarkodi ¹, K. Bharathi ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Bio-fertilizers are fertilizers containing living microorganisms, which increase microbial activity in the soil. This study was conducted at randomly selected five villages of Erode district of Tamil Nadu. 100 per cent awareness of bio-fertilizers was found in that area but awareness on crop specific usage of biofertilizers was only 19 per cent. The main source of information about bio-fertilizers was the shop owners (46 per cent) and Agriculture Officers (29 per cent). Usage level of bio fertilizers was 60 per cent and the main reason for using bio fertilizers were to restore the soil fertility (34 per cent) and increase crop yield (32 per cent). Reason for not using these bio fertilizers was unaware of usage method of bio fertilizers (80 per cent). So, a step has to be taken to educate the farmers about bio-fertilizers.

Keywords

Strategies, Bio-Fertilizer, Sustainable Agriculture.

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M. Malarkodi ¹, K. Bharathi ², A. Janakirani ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN
2 Department ofAgricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN
3 Department of Agricultural Extension, Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yetahapur, Salem (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Tamil Nadu is one of the major cane growing states in India. Sugarcane productivity was 126.66 t/ha in safe and semi-critical areas while it was 123.72 t/ha in critical and over exploited blocks in the Western Zone. The total cost of cultivation (variable cost) was Rs.79272 per ha in critical and over exploited blocks whereas it was only Rs.75802 per ha in safe and semi-critical blocks. Strategy to maintain or increase the current Western Zone cane production can be done by continuation of sugarcane production only in the safe and semi-critical blocks (13 blocks) and expansion of the sugarcane area in safe and semi-critical blocks, which presently has minimum area under sugarcane cultivation.

Keywords

Sustainable Sugarcane Production, Ground Water Level, Cost of Sugarcane Cultivation.

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