Technology Demonstration Component

National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

VADAVATHUR VILLAGE, NAMAKKAL DISTRICT.

Tamil Nadu

B.Mohan

Programme Coordinator

TANUVAS - Krishi Vigyan Kendra

Veterinary College and Research Institute Campus,

Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.

Technology Demonstration Site

Village(s) : Vadavathur & JambumadaiPanchayat: VadavathurTaluk:NamakkalPopulation : 2850

No. of households : 869

Cultivated area : 124 ha

Major crops : Onion,

Ground nut, Sorghum

Source of irrigation :

Open wells - 374 nos

Bore wells - 125 nos

Community water bodies

: 4 pondsMajor climate challenge:

Drought Average annual rainfall:410 mm

Latitude:11.9241NLongitude: 78.11917E / 531 MSL

Major Challenges

• Drought ( Frequent Dry spells above 20 days)

• Annual Rainfall – 410 mm

• One Crop – Onion or Sorghum

• Eight months farmers migrate to urban area for job

Natural Resources Management

Community Ponds

Community Pond – 1 – Out come

Capacity12 lakhs CFT

Present storage4 lakhs CFT

Water table

increased

39 wells by 8 to 12

ft

27 acres onionGrown

Community Pond -2 AayiramKuttai

Capacity12 lakhs CFT

Present storage8 lakhs CFT

43 acres onion grown

Natural Resources Management

Individual farm ponds

Conventional temporary water storage pond

Polythene sheet lined water storage tankPond formation by farmer ( Rs.12,000)

Plastic lining by NICRA scheme ( Rs.14,000)

Stocking fingerlings in temporary water storage pond

Temporary water storage ponds – Plastic lining - Outcome

Crops cultivated before NICRA

Crops cultivated after NICRA

Pond area(L X B X H)

Area irrigated

Onion,

Sorghum

30 cents / day

= 2.1 acres

Turmeric,

Onion,

Snake gourd

& Ridge gourd

70x60X6 feet

(1,10,000 lts)

40 cents/day

= 2.8 acres

Temporary water storage ponds – Plastic lining - Outcome

Crops cultivated before NICRA

Crops cultivated after NICRA

Pond area(L X B X H)

Area irrigated

Onion ,

Bhendi

20 cents /day=1.4 acres

Onion,

Red gram,

Cluster bean

57x40x6 feet

(63000 lts)30 cents

/day=2.1acres

CROPS

Groundnut

Technology demonstrated 1.Variety ‐TMV ‐13, CO – 6 ( Drought tolerant)

2. Micronutrient Mixture (TNAU ‐ Groundnut rich)

3.Intercropping of Groundnut with Red gram

4.Groundnut seed Production ‐TMV 13 and CO 6

5.Conservation of Groundnut Haulms

Drought tolerant Ground nut - TMV 13

•Based on the past 17 year (1994-2011) rain fall data, •August 2 nd or 3 rd week is optimum time of sowing for rainfed crops

TMV 13 Groundnut

SowingJuly 15th to

30th

Dry Spell from 20th

July to 15th

Aug Rain fall -348 mm

26 rainy days July and

August Max temp

37.9 0c and 39.5 0c

Haulm yield1250 kg/ac in

TMV 13 vs760 kg in

TMV 7

Pod yield 640 kg /ac in TMV13

vs450 kg in

TMV 7 Groundnut TMV 13

recommended

Onion

1.Small onion- Farm pond lining with plastic sheet.

Farmer Before After Observations

Onion (Bulb) Before After

P.Ramar,Vadavathur-9585587336

0.5 acre

0.75 acre

Weight bulb cluster

(3 -5 bulbs)

9 - 11 g 23 - 25 g

Water loss 15 cm /day

5 cm / day

Shrinkage loss & unmarketable

bulbs :

720 kg/15 cent

560 kg /15 cent

2.Mobile Sprinkler to remove frost

Temp – min 120 C to 140 c - for 17 days Management of Tip drying in onion

(Dew drops) by Rope method

Losses minimized : 3 tonnes / 24 acre

3.Drip irrigation for onion ( 4.35 acres)

Drip irrigation for small onion intercropping with Turmeric

.

Before After ObservationsOnion (BULB) Before After

1.40 acre

Onion + Turmeric Sorghum

2.5 acre

Onion + Turmeric Groundnut

Weight - bulb cluster

(3 -5bulbs)

15 g 23 g

1.45 acre

Onion +TurmericGroundnut

2.5 acres

Onion , Lab lab,Bhendi, Fodder

Irrigation frequency

- Once in6 days

Flower crops

Drought tolerant Flower crops ( Peak temp 37 to 39.2o C for 64 days)

Before After

Jasmine= 33.75 % survived

67.2% survivedVariety Ramanathapuram

TuberoseVar.Boomudi 64% survived

87 % survivedVariety Prajwal.

Fodder

Fodder – Bajra Napier Grass (CO 4) – 89000 slips for 5.3 acres

Temp 37 to 39.20 C ( 64 days.)Irrigation once in 15days.76 % of the plants survived.

Yield – SummerApr to Aug (25t /acre)

( Day light was 1.5hours more and intense)Vs Winter ( Oct to Feb) (18 t/acre)

Fodder – Multicut fodder Sorghum (COFS 29) 29. 5kg supplied for 7 acres

Temp 37 to 39.20 C ( 64 days ).

No Irrigation for 3 months.

88 % of the plants had re‐ growth after first NE rain.

Total yield 35 t /acre/year

Withstood trampling by goats

Survived even once in 20 days irrigation