Tribal Sub-Plan Activities by ICAR-DOGR in Maharashtra

Objectives
•    To conduct training, demonstrations and input distribution on cultivation and seed production of onion and garlic to provide a source of livelihood to the ST population.

Targets  
•    Organize training programme for commercial cultivation of onion and garlic.
•    Conduct demonstration trials on cultivation and seed production of onion and garlic at selected fields of farmers.
•    Provide planting material and inputs to the selected farmers for cultivation and seed production of onion and garlic.

Activities under TSP
Demonstrations
•    Bulb production of high yielding onion varieties during rabi season
•    Bulb production of high yielding onion varieties during kharif season
•    Quality seed production of onion varieties during rabi season
•    Bulb and seed production of garlic varieties during rabi season
Training/ Field day
•    Organize trainings-cum-awareness programme in tribal belt of Nandurbar
•    Organize Field days in the field of tribal farmers in Nandurbar
•    Organize trainings at ICAR-DOGR for tribal farmers and field visits
Input Distribution
•    Distribute inputs like onion seeds/ onion bulbs/ garlic bulbs, fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides etc. to the selected farmers for conduct of demonstration trial at farmers’ field.
•    Distribution of Hi-tech Spray Pump, Ridger, Bamboo for construction of storage structure.
•    Installation of drip irrigation system at fields of selected farmers groups (each on one acre land) in Navapur taluka of Nandurbar.

Background of ICAR-DOGR
•    ICAR-DOGR has developed ten onion varieties and two garlic varieties as well as several production and post-harvest technologies which can improve onion and garlic cultivation in India. Onion and garlic are known as cash crops which can boost socio-economic status of tribal farmers after adoption of these improved technologies. After approval of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) by ICAR in April 2013, we have selected tribal declared district Nandurbar in Maharashtra for implementation of TSP and to livelihood development of tribal population through commercial cultivation of onion and garlic.

Scientists involved in TSP
•    Dr. A. J. Gupta, Pr. Scientist (Hort.)/ Nodal Officer (TSP)
•    Dr. S.S. Gadge, Sr. Scientist (Agril. Extension)
•    Mrs. Ashvini A. Benke, Scientist (Genetics)
•    Mr. R.M. Patil, SMS (Hort.), KVK, Nandurbar
•    Dr. A.R. Wakhare, Sr. Tech. Assistant
•    Mr. H. S. Gawali, Sr. Technician

Major Achievements
•    Onion and garlic are important commercial crops which can improve livelihood of farmers. The tribal belt of Nandurbar in Maharashtra has congenial climatic conditions for production of onion and garlic at commercial level. But cultivation of these crops was limited to the kitchen garden only before the initiation of TSP in this area by ICAR-DOGR. The scheme was initiated in this area in April, 2013.
•    About 550 tribal farmers were selected from 55 farmers groups. Each group undertook demonstrations on onion and garlic cultivation in one acre of land in Navapur, Akalkua and Dhadgoan Talukas of Nandurbar.
•    In total, 124 demonstrations on newly improved varieties of onion and garlic and improved production technology were undertaken. Kharif onion production was also demonstrated in Navapur Taluka of Nandurbar. Thirty-two tribal villages have been benefited by commercial cultivation of onion and garlic.
•    More than 2000 tribal farmers have been trained by organizing 21 field day/ trainings by ICAR-DOGR. Most of the farmers of selected areas now cultivate onion and garlic on commercial scale. Onion and garlic are giving more profit than traditionally grown crops in these areas.
•    Farmers have earned a net income of Rs. 0.70-0.80 lakh per acre by production of about 110 q bulbs of onion variety Bhima Shakti/ Bhima Kiran during rabi whereas earned same net income by production of about 85 q bulbs of Bhima Super in kharif.
•     Cultivation of garlic at commercial level has also been introduced in this belt. By garlic cultivation, Rs. 0.80-1.00 lakh per acre net income is earned by production of about 35 q bulbs per acre of Bhima Purple.
•      Production of onion seed was also demonstrated under TSP in this area. Farmers have earned 0.60-0.80 lakh per acre net income by production of about 200 kg seeds per acre of Bhima Kiran/ Bhima Super.
•    All the demonstrations conducted at fields of selected tribal farmers with the help of free-inputs provided by ICAR-DOGR.
•    Installed 30 drip irrigation system at selected fields of tribal farmers and also benefited by ridgers and sprayer pumps.

   

Demonstrations conducted under TSP

S. No.	Activities	Varieties Used	Number of Demonstrations	Benefited Farmer’s
1	Onion production during kharif	Bhima Super	25	250
2	Onion production during rabi	Bhima Shakti and Bhima Kiran	60	600
3	Onion seed production	Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, Bhima Super, Bhima Red, Bhima Raj, Bhima Shweta and Bhima Shubhra	29	290
4	Garlic production	Bhima Omkar and Bhima Purple	10	100

Technology dissemination and adoption
After intervention of ICAR-DOGR through TSP Scheme following technology dissemination and adaption are noted:
•    Commercial cultivation of newly released onion varieties viz; Bhima Kiran and Bhima Shakti during rabi season.
•    Commercial cultivation of newly released onion variety Bhima Super during kharif season.
•    Quality seed production of onion varieties Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, Bhima Super, Bhima Red, Bhima Raj, Bhima Shweta and Bhima Shubhra.
•    Cultivation of newly released garlic varieties viz; Bhima Purple and Bhima Omkar.
•    Kharif onion production technology on BBF (Broad Bed Furrows).
•    Enhancement of water and nutrient management through drip irrigation and fertigation in onion and garlic cultivation.
•    Integrated Pest and Diseases Management (IPDM) in onion and garlic
•    Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in onion and garlic.
•    Post-harvest management in onion and garlic through construction of storage structure.

Trainings organized under TSP

S. No.	Date	Subject	Framer’s Group	Number of Farmer’s
1	30 September, 2013	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nandurbar	250
2	13 November, 2013	Quality seed production in onion	Kalyani Mahila Bachat Gat, Palipada	80
3	15 November, 2013	Nursery management in  onion	Ganga Mahila Bachat Gat, Karanjali
4	20 February, 2014	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	Nav Chaittanya Purush Bachat Gat, Nizampur	195
5	21 February, 2014	Quality seed production in onion and garlic	Maharana Tantra Mandal, Dhanaje
6	16-17 June, 2014	Kharif onion production Technology	ICAR-DOGR, Rajgurunagar	34
7	6 September, 2014	Quality seed production in onion and garlic	Mangal Murti Purush Bachat Gat, Karanjali	77
8	28 October, 2014	Kharif onion production Technology	Jai Bajrang Jalsrot Upbhogta Gat, Nimbhoni	121
9	19-21 March, 2015	Scientific cultivation of onion and garlic	Saraswati Mahila Bachat Gat, Palipada; Eklavya Shetkari Mandal, Nimbhoni; Jai Kisan Shetkari Bachat Gat, Palshi	200
10	16-17 June, 2015	Kharif onion production Technology	ICAR-DOGR, Rajgurunagar	84
11	6 October, 2015	Scientific cultivation of onion and garlic	Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nandurbar	95
12	27 October, 2015	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	Nimbhoni	50
13	28 October, 2015	Onion seed production	Khandbara	50
14	14 December, 2015	Cultivation of onion and garlic	Deomogra Shetkari Gat, Sonpada	75
15	28 January, 2016	Onion production management	Nimbhoni	65
16	8-10 March, 2016	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	Shivshakti Shetkari Bachat Gat, Shravani; Jai Balaji Shetkari Gat, Khairve; Meraliyaha Shetkari Bachat Gat, Palipada	160
17	19-20 May, 2016	Construction of low cost onion storage structure to improve bulb storability	Sai Krupa Shetkari Gat, Shravani; Pragati Shetkari Purush Gat, Palsun	145
18	23-24 August, 2016	Kharif onion production technology	Bandharpada, Raingan	123
19	4-6 October, 2016	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	Kisan Harit Kranti Utpadak Gat, Savarat; Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nandurbar; Jai Siyaram Shetkari Gat, Khairve	250
20	3-4 January, 2017	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	Kisan Harit Kranti Utpadak Gat, Savarat; Navyuvak Shetkari Mandal, Nimboni	155
21	26 August, 2017	Commercial cultivation of onion and garlic	KVK, Nandurabr	160

List of farmer’s Groups Selected under TSP