The tribal sub plan programme was started with laying out of 25 demonstration plots in the year 2014-15 in tribal farmer fields of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. The plots were monitored regularly by the team of Scientists of this Directorate during the period and technical advice was given as and when required. A subsidy of Rs. 3, 72,000/- was distributed to the farmers as first year installment.
In 2015-16, 26 new FLD plots were established in tribal farmer fields of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and Kasaragode district of Kerala. The plots were visited by TSP team of DCR comprising of Dr. M.G. Nayak and Dr. Sajeev M.V. for identification of farmers, grouping of interested farmers at village level, identifying suitable plots and for provision of assistance during planting and aftercare. Also, 25 FLD plots established under TSP programme during 2014-15 were also monitored regularly and technical advice was provided on aftercare, pest management and manuring. Financial support amounting to the tune of Rs. 2,93,800/- to 26 tribal farmers as first year installment and Rs. 57190/- as second year installment to 25 tribal farmers were also disbursed under TSP programme.
During 2016-17, 40 new FLD plots were established during 2016-17 in tribal farmer fields of Dakshina Kannada and Madikeri districts of Karnataka. About 51 FLD plots established during 2014-15 and 2015-16 in tribal farmer fields of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and Kasaragode district of Kerala were visited regularly by TSP team of DCR for provision of assistance during planting and aftercare and monitoring and technical advice was provided on aftercare, pest management and manuring. Hence, a total of 91 FLD plots were established over a period of 3 years. During 2017-18, a financial assistance of RS. 2,86,235/- was disbursed to 71 TSP beneficiaries for adopting improved cultivation practice in different parts of Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri and Kasaragod districts. From 2014-15 to 2017-18, a total financial assistance of Rs. 10,09,225/- was disbursed to TSP beneficiaries.
Campaigns/ trainings imparted to TSP beneficiaries
The Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur in association with SKDRDP, Puttur conducted training on pest management in cashew for tribal farmers at Perlampady village, Kolthige, Puttur on 23-02-2014. More than 100 farmers participated enthusiastically in the programme in which officials of SKDRDP also shared their views and experiences along with scientists of DCR Puttur. After inauguration of the programme, Dr. M.G. Nayak, Principal Scientist (Hort.), DCR handled session on advances in cashew cultivation. He advocated that the adoption of scientific management practices along with high yielding cashew the need of the hour for realizing the quantum jump in production and productivity varieties is of cashew nut. Dr. P.S. Bhat, Principal Scientist (Ento.), DCR handled session on pest management in cashew. Field visit to demonstration plot of DCR was arranged in the post lunch session. Farmers were taken to Irde, Papanadka where ultra high density planting by Sri. Deranna Rai was demonstrated to them. The various aspects of ultra high density planting was shown and explained to farmers in detail during this field visit. The training and field visit created huge interest among tribal farmers and more than 25 farmers expressed their interest to go for cashew cultivation immediately after the training programme.
This Directorate in association with SKDRDP, Puttur conducted training on cashew production technology for tribal farmers at Bettampady village, Irde, Puttur on 25-02-2014. After inauguration of the programme, Dr. M.G. Nayak, Principal Scientist (Hort.), DCR handled session on advances in cashew cultivation. Dr. T.N. Raviprasad, Principal Scientist (Ento.), DCR handled session on pest management in cashew. Field visit to demonstration plot of DCR was arranged in the post lunch session. Farmers were taken to ultra high density orchard of Sri. Deranna Rai, a frontline demonstration farmer of DCR and the technology was demonstrated to them. The various aspects of ultra high density planting was shown and explained to farmers in detail during this field visit.
The Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur (DCR) in association with SKDRDP, Puttur conducted training on ‘Cashew Apple Utilisation’ for tribal women at DCR campus on 28-03-2014. Mr. M.N. Venkata Krishna, progressive cashew farmer and entrepreneur shared his experiences in cashew processing and marketing with the gathering. He also shared some of his cashew based recipes for the benefit of tribal women. Later, Dr. D. Balasubramanian, Principal Scientist (AS&PE), DCR conducted practical demonstration and shared the various cashew apple recipes for preparation of juice, squash, jam and pickle. Later the tribal women were divided into groups and hands-on training was provided on juice extraction, pickle and jam preparation in the post harvest technology laboratory.
An orientation training on ‘Establishment of Cashew Orchard under Tribal Sub Plan’ for 30 selected tribal farmers at DCR campus was conducted on 05-09-2014. Smt. Thulasi Maddineni, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat, D.K. District, Karnataka inaugurated the training programme. She addressed the trainees and spoke about the various phases through which cashew cultivation passed in the district. Field visit to demonstration plot of DCR was also arranged in the post lunch session. Farmers were taken to Kadamajalu village where an orchard demonstrating normal density, high density and ultra high density planting of cashew laid out by Sri. Subhash Rai. The various aspects of establishment of a cashew orchard were explained to farmers in detail during this field visit.
The training programme on cashew cultivation to tribal farmers of Chembu village, Madikeri Taluk was conducted on 27th February 2018 at Sri Vishnumurthy temple, Kudrepaya. Lecture on various aspects of cashew production technology like varieties, site selection, planting, maintenance of plants with proper pruning and training, fertilizer application, soil and water conservation, pest management, harvesting and value addition was delivered. Later, the trainees were taken to the field where the aspects of managing cashew plants, identification of pests like CSRB and TMB followed by their management were explained.
Education Tour
Eight TSP farmers were taken on agricultural education tour to Kerala during 12-14th March 2018. The farmers visited Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut and came to know about different pepper propagation techniques, nutmeg and turmeric varieties.
They were exposed to different cashew varieties, cultivation practices and value addition aspects of cashew apple at Cashew Research Station, Madakkathara, Kerala. A visit was made to Agricultural Research Station, Munnuthi where the concept of Food Security Army was explained and different machineries for paddy cultivation were shown. They also visited a farmer’s cashew plantation to learn about the practice of eco-friendly ways of controlling Tea Mosquito Bug. Futher, the farmers visited Regional Research Station, Pilicode to know about different value addition possibilities in coconut and cashew.
