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High Value Agriculture

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Krishi Vigyan Kendra Lakshadweep

Front Line Demonstration

Front line Demonstration on Horticulture Crops:-

1. BANANA:-

     This  FLD was  taken at Kiltan and Kavaratti  to  popularise the  crop  among  locals specially as  an  intercrop  in  coconut gardens.

Name of variety - Robusta - Collected from Mainland.

Local varieties - Palayan kodan, Monthan, Vaman Kathali.

 Result:-

          Robusta  planted  in  low  lying  areas  showed  better performance  with an average yield of 18 kg per plant than  those planted in sandy soil with an average of 5 kg per plant.

2. PAPAYA:-

          Papaya is a favourite fruit among locals. But nobody  is taken  up  on  commercial  basis.   This  FLD  was  taken  up  to popularise  of  fruit cultivation among locals  as  intercrop  in coconut gardens.  Variety tried - Co 2 and Surya.  Co2  purchased from  dealers  from  Kerala  and  Surya  from  IIHRI  Hassergatta Bangalore. 

Result:-   

          Two  varieties  of  Papaya was tried that  is  Co2  and Surya.  Co2 gave an average yield of 80 fruits per tree per  year whereas Surya from IIHRI Bangalore was a failure.

3. SWEET POTATO:-

          Sweet  potato  tubers brought from mainland  find  good market  here.  It is not grown on commercial scale here.   So  to popularise crop FLD was taken up.  

Result:-

          Sweet  Potato   performed better with an  yield  of  12 tonnes per hectare.

4. CURRY LEAF:-

          This  is a most used leafy plant for all curries.   The reason  may be due to its medicinal properties and also  for  its taste and flavour.  It is an introduced crop in the island.   The FLD was taken up to popularise the crop in coconut gardens as  an intercrop.

Results:

       Establishment  of plant is 100%  Plants have a  growth  of 10-12cm height and the tips are pruned to get bushy growth.  Only organic  manure is added and mulching with coconut waste.   Major pest  noticed  is  scales .    Neem  oil  plus Garlic and soap emulsion is sprayed for the control.

5. FLD ON SEA CUCUMBER CULTURE :-

          The  sea  cucumber  has  become  an  important  fishery resource of Lakshadweep.  Some fishes are economically  important and  possess export potential.  Processed sea cucumber  is  called beach-de-mer.  In recent years intensive exploitation of the same has  caused  depletion  of  this valuable  stock.   It  has  been demonstrated  by  scientist from CMFRI, Tuticorin  Branch,  Tamil nadu  that the culturing of some of the species in hapas  in  the sheltered  shallow  lagoon area of the island  is  possible.  The seeds required for the culture can be collected from the  natural environment. 

          As   such a survey of the sea cucumber resource of  the lagoon  area of Kiltan island was conducted.  Also sample of  the quality    specimens    collected   and   its    processing    was demonstrated.   The  processed specimen was  sent  to  CMFRI, Tuticorin  Branch for quality analysis.  The  recommendation  was for improvement of the processing. 

6. FLD On Fish Aggregating Device: 

          In  recent years in many countries  artificial  devices such  as  fish  aggregating  devices,  artificial  reef  etc  are developed in order to augment fish production.  Operation of such devices  are tried in many country and found to be successful  in attracting fishes.  In Lakshadweep Coral reef and boulders inside  the  lagoon provide shelter and protection for many other  fishes and  marine  organisms.   But in  recent  years  these  fragile  ecosystems  are being disturbed because of human interference  by way  of  dredging and deepening and removal of coral  stones  for construction  purposes.  This has adversely affected  the  marine habitat  of  the  fishes and  other  marine  organisms  causing reduction  in  population.   It  is   hoped  that  recreation  of suitable environment can revive the diminishing fish  population.  Hence proposed  one FLD on fish aggregating device in a  suitable area inside the lagoon adjacent to the reef.

Result:- 

          Observation  and monitoring carried out  daily.   After laps of 3 - 4 weeks fishes started aggregating.

7. FLD on suitable crop rotation for salinity management:-

     A  trial  on  crop rotation  for  salinity  management  was conducted  at  Kiltan  during 1999-2000.   Alternative  of  crops having  profuse root system was made with vegetables  susceptible to salinity.  The soil water available in almost all island  have many  soluble  salts which hamper the growth and yield  of  crops like  chillies and tomato. This vegetables rotated with  sorghum and  maize  in sequential manner.  The  rotation  resulted  better growth  and  yield of these  crops.

8. FLD ON MEDICINAL PLANTS:-

     Olden  days  the  flora  of  Lakshadweep  was  blessed  with  varieties  of medicinal plants.  Due to cultural  operations  and increased  peoples intervention on the surrounding have  resulted the  loss of many valuable plants from these fragile  ecosystem.  The  reduction of the indigenous flora will not only degrade  the soil but also availability of such plants.

          The  physical  conditions of the soil  and  remunerative returns  from  the  land can be improved  by  adding  new  plants particularly the medicinal plants.  Also helps to strengthen  the ecosystem .Hence the FLD is proposed.   The following plants  are proposed to be introduced.

     1. Karimkurinji

     2. Nagdhandi

     3. Ramachan (Vettiver)

     4. Chittaratha (Plumpago indika)

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