B. Behera, S. N. Dash, A. Lenka, P. Nayak, L. Rout and R. K. Paikaray Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Introduction
Kandhamal, a centrally located tribal district of Odisha, lies between 190 34’ N to 200 54’ N latitude and between 830 30’ to 840 48’ E longitude. The district has geographical area of 8, 02,000 ha and represents 7.14% of the total geographical area of the state. It is located in North Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha. It is situated in high elevation of 300 to 1100 m above mean sea level. The district receives average annual rainfall of 1427.9 mm. About 71% of the geographical area (5, 71,000 ha) is covered with forest. Kharif and rabi irrigated area constitute 11 and 5% of the cultivated area respectively. The district is dominated by tribal community ‘Kandha’ and they constitute 52% of the total population in the district.
They practise age-old traditional agriculture. The per hectare fertilizer consumption is the lowest (10.11 kg/ha during 2009-10) in the state. Upland, medium and low land account for 75, 16 and 9 % of the total cultivated area of 1,28,000ha in the district. The livelihood condition in three districts is very wretched due to several bio physical, socio economic, institutional and technological constraints. Planning commission, Govt. of India has identified this district as disadvantaged on the basis of index of backwardness under ‘National Food for Work programme’. Cultivation of off season vegetables during kharif season can contribute significantly towards improvement of tribal farmers of the district. The high altitude nature of land creates a congenial environment for growing vegetables round the year, particularly off-season vegetables in rainy season. Due to higher elevation ranging from 300-1100m, the mean temperature remains 2 - 60 C less in comparison to places in coastal districts. Round the year cultivation of cole crops is possible in the district. During rainy season, a number of off-season vegetable viz. cauliflower, cabbage, knol-khol, tomato, radish, runner bean, onion and potato are grown profitably. Behera and Mohanty (2008) found off season vegetables highly remunerative in high altitude districts of Odisha, particularly in Kandhamal. There is acute shortage of vegetables in coastal district during kharif due to non-availability of adequate uplands for cultivating these crops. Popularization of off-season vegetable cultivation during kharif and market linkage has potentiality to improve livelihood of tribal farmers.
Methodology
The NAIP component-3 sub - project entitled “ Sustainable rural livelihood and food security to rainfed farmers of Odisha” started functioning in 2008-09 to improve livelihood
conditions of the people living in three disadvantaged districts of Odisha including Kandhamal with objectives to increase farm productivity, enhance farm profitability, create more employment opportunities and to promote capacity building through training and demonstration for farmers and farm women, formation of self help groups and creation of Farm Knowledge Centres. The sub-project is operating in consortia mode comprising multi- institutional and multi-disciplinary team of scientists from OUAT, Bhubaneswar (Lead Centre), Regional Centre of CTCRI, Bhubaneswar and Directorate of Water Management, Bhubaneswar and officials from IMCO and KARRTABYA, Kalahandi. Cluster approach was adopted and 3-5 contiguous villages with approximately 300 households constituted a cluster. Works were concentrated in two cluster of villages per district. Holistic development of clusters was attempted. Six - member landless, marginal and small farm families in rural Odisha with 0, < 1.0 and 1-2 ha land should earn more than Rs 56,940 per annum to cross the threshold of poverty line conceptualised by Planning Commission, Govt of India to reside in sustainable rural livelihood security system. The landless, small and marginal farmers were provided with technical and critical input support. In Kandhamal, Katadaganda, Kilakia and Bearpanga village under Ghumusar Udayagiri cluster and Pradhanpada, Adasipada, Bhuktakanali, Kurupadi and Badabhuin village under Khajuripada cluster were adopted. The high value vegetables viz. cauliflower, tomato, cabbage, radish and runnerbean were taken up during kharif seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Results
Off-season vegetables viz tomato (Utkal kumari), cauliflower (Megha, Mahima and Himlata), runner bean (Local) and radish (Pusa chetki) were taken up in two clusters of Kandhamal in an area of 12.0, 6.6, 8.5 and 2.4 ha during three years (Table 1). Among the vegetables, cauliflower proved most remunerative with mean net return of Rs. 1,56,250 /ha (Table 2) followed by runnerbean, tomato and radish with net return of Rs. 85,625, Rs.85,625 and Rs 31,666/ha. The farmers of G. Udayagiri and Khajuripada cluster sold the vegetable
Table 1 Variety, area and households involved in cultivation of off season vegetable during rainy seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2011
Crop Variety Area(ha) Household(No)
2009 2010 2011 2009 2010 2011 Total 2009 2010 2011
Tomato BT-10 BT-10 BT-10 1.0 5.0 6.0 12.0 14 40 60
Cauliflower Megha Mahima, Himlata, 1.0 1.6 4.0 6.6 09 28 56
Megha Megha
Runner bean - Local Local - 1.3 7.2 8.5 - 29 90
Radish Pusa Pusa Pusa 0.4 1.6 0.8 2.4 10 08 20
Chetki Chetki Chetki
in nearly market located at G. Udayagiri and Phulbani, respectively and transported to Bhubaneswar and Berhampur city market for getting better price.
Table 2 Yield and net return of off season vegetable crops grown under NAIP 3 during rainy seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2011
Crop Yield (t/ha) Net return ( Rs/ha)
2009 2010 2011 Mean 2009 2010 2011 Mean
Tomato 18.00 18.45 19.58 18.67 72,500 80,000 87,500 80,000
Cauliflower 14.50 8.125 23.20 15.275 1,07,500 1,36,250 2,25,000 1,56,250
Runner bean - 3.00 8.75 5.875 - 80,000 91,250 85,625
Radish 5.40 11.25 10.05 8.9 27,500 30,000 37,500 31,666
Reference
Behera, B. and Mohanty, S. K. 2008. Productivity and profitability of rainfed vegetable + rice strip cropping systems under broad bed and furrow planting in bunded uplands of Eastern Ghat, Orissa. Indian Journal of Soil Conservation : 36 (1) : 40-41.