77 research outputs found
Towards F1 Hybrid Seed Potato Breeding
No full textCompared to other major food crops, progress in potato yield as the result of breeding efforts is very slow. Genetic gains cannot be fixed in potato due to obligatory out-breeding. Overcoming inbreeding depression using diploid self-compatible clones should enable to replace the current method of out-breeding and clonal propagation into an F1 hybrid system with true seeds. This idea is not new, but has long been considered unrealistic. Severe inbreeding depression and self-incompatibility in diploid germplasm have hitherto blocked the development of inbred lines. Back-crossing with a homozygous progenitor with the Sli gene which inhibits gametophytic self-incompatibility gave self-compatible offspring from elite material from our diploid breeding programme. We demonstrate that homozygous fixation of donor alleles is possible, with simultaneous improvement of tuber shape and tuber size grading of the recipient inbred line. These results provide proof of principle for F1 hybrid potato breeding. The technical and economic perspectives are unprecedented as these will enable the development of new products with combinations of useful traits for all stakeholders in the potato chain. In addition, the hybrid’s seeds are produced by crossings, rendering the production and voluminous transport of potato seed tubers redundant as it can be replaced by direct sowing or the use of healthy mini-tubers, raised in greenhouses
Community extension approach in bio - management of rhinoceros beetle, the major pest of coconut
No full textNot Availabl
constraints in adoption of integrated management for root (wilt) disease affected coconut areas- an analysis of Allappey district
No full textanalysis of the constraints faced by the farm community in root (wilt) affected area was done during 2010 - 2011 at Alleppey district, Kerala, India. it was found that irrespective of the holding size only 50% of the coconut trees were in bearing stage whereas around one third were seedlings and one fifth pre - bearing stage. Adoption of recommended practices were statistically significant with the area under coconut cultivation. The farmers identified 30 major constraints which were categorized as technical, input, economic, social and bio physical constraints in order of importance. Participation of the coconut farmers in meetings related to farming was only 18.9% and participation in training programmes was meager and only 10% of the sample respondents were members in any farmer groups. the results indicated need for coconut farmers' clusters / societies for improving technology adoption in community basis
Labour availability in coconut cultivation and impact on technology adoption as perceived by coconut farmers
No full textLabour is an important resource for sustainable farming. Coconut, a perennial tree crop, requires skilled and unskilled labour components for adoption of scientific management practices. The study indicated that both hired and family labour were utilised in seedling planting and management, whereas family labour was prominently utilised in case of chemical fertiliser application and basin management with green manure. Hired labour was critical in basin opening, organic manure application, plant protection and harvesting. Most of the technologies adopted were irregular in nature which was indicated due to escalating input costs and declining output price. Majority of the respondents (76.32%) adopted keramithra for de-husking coconuts. Farmers who adopted mechanisation in land preparation opined 60-75 per cent reduction in expenditure compared to manual labour. Seventy eight per cent of respondents recorded scarcity in labour availability. The responses of the farming community towards the high wage rate and scarcity were discontinuation of milch animals in coconut homesteads, reduction in number of regular harvests, untimely harvests of coconut, reduction in intercropping, irregularity in basin opening and cultural practices, low level of organic manure application etc. Mechanization in coconut cultivation among small/marginal holders is meagre and needs impetus from supporting agencies. The constraints and suggestions of the farmers were also documented
Not Available
No full textNot AvailableLabour is an important resource for sustainable farming. Coconut, a perennial tree crop, requires skilled and unskilled labour components for adoption of scientific management practices. The study indicated that both hired and family labour were utilised in seedling planting and management, whereas family labour was prominently utilised in case of chemical fertiliser application and basin management with green manure. Hired labour was critical in basin opening, organic manure application, plant protection and harvesting. Most of the technologies adopted were irregular in nature which was indicated due to escalating input costs and declining output price. Majority of the respondents (76.32%) adopted keramithra for de-husking coconuts. Farmers who adopted mechanisation in land preparation opined 60-75 per cent reduction in expenditure compared to anual labour. Seventy eight per cent of respondents recorded scarcity in labour availability. The responses of the farming community towards the high wage rate and scarcity were discontinuation of milch animals in coconut homesteads, reduction in number of regular harvests, untimely harvests of coconut, reduction in intercropping, irregularity in basin opening and cultural practices, low level of organic manure application etc. Mechanization in coconut cultivation among small/marginal holders is meagre and needs impetus from supporting
agencies. The constraints and suggestions of the farmers were also documented.Not Availabl
Ammathengum thaikalum - paricharana mikavu pradhanam
No full textNot AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl
Spatial and social dimensions of community extension approach in management of coconut red palm weevil
No full textCoconut red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier is a killer pest of coconut posing threat of crop loss to small and marginal farmers. The participatory area wide study was conducted since 2014-15 in Bharanikkavu grama panchayat in an area of 2100 hectares involving 6249 households with 174667 coconut palms of various age categories. The interventions included assessment of RPW infestation through combing survey involving stakeholder teams, extension interventions, area wide surveillance, removal of infested palms, adoption of bio management in associated pest rhinoceros beetle and leaf rot disease, weekly coconut clinics, advisory support, technology backstopping and area wide adoption of management practices. The implementation area was mapped with remote sensing and GIS and the reduction in RPW mapped comparatively in pre and post intervention period as a tool to assess the results. The infestation reduced to 0.38 from 2.98 per cent in the pre intervention period. Cheap and simple early detection tools and biological control measures are badly needed for the small scale growers community for managing red palm weevil.Community Extension Approach was evolved for marginal land holdings of coconut with threat of red palm weevil infestation. Sustaining the interest, motivation and support of relevant stakeholders is the challenge in area wide community management which warrants sequential surveillance assessment and participatory social mechanisms
Not Available
No full textNot AvailableFarmer field schools is one the extension methods, which is field based group method, where learning attains prime importance. Many of the coconut technologies, especially plant protection aspects are knowledge intensive and experiential learning opportunities could provide sustainable skills to the FFS participants. The study was conducted on the FFS programme organized during the period 2013 to 2015 in Kerala state. It was found that the mean average knowledge index of the FFS farmers (51.31) was 65 per cent more than the non-FFS farmers (31.10). The difference in knowledge level of farmers of both gender was non significant indicating effectiveness of FFS methodology in improving knowledge regardless of the gender. The study also indicated non significant difference among FFS and Non FFS men and women farmers on all the knowledge items and a significant difference between FFS and Non FFS farmers of both the gender. Hence the gender aggregated knowledge index before and after the FFS indicated that FFS methodology is effective as an extension methodology for improvement of knowledge among both gender.Not Availabl
Not Available
No full textNot AvailableCoconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.), is a versatile crop supporting livelihood of more than 10 million farm families, directly and indirectly. The coconut farmer faces several challenges like pest and disease incidence, low productivity, inadequate level of knowledge and adoption of scientific recommendations, climate change and absence of policies and plans for rejuvenating the crop. Rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros Linn.) is a major pest of coconut, widely prevalent in the coconut growing countries of the world. The pest incidence causes 10 percent reduction in the yield of coconut palms. Hence Farmer Field School (FFS) was chosen as the most appropriate extension strategy for improving the knowledge of the coconut farmers in integrated biomanagement of Rhinoceros beetle.Coconut Development Board, Koch
- …
