Agriculture world august 2016

Volume II | Issue 8 | August 2016 | `70

ISSN 2455-8184

AGRICULTURE

W RLD The Pulse

Global Agriculture

GST Goods & Services

Tax

Echoing Sustainable Environment and Agriculture krishi.jagran

@krishijagran

+91 9891 405 403

www.krishijagran.com

AGRICULTURE WORLD The Pulse

Volume 2 Issue 8 August 2016 Total Page- 44

Global Agriculture

CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE

Editor-in-Chief MC Dominic Directors Shiny Emanuel MG Vasan Sr. Executive Editors Dr. KT Chandy RK Teotia Ajith Kumar V R Dhanya M. T. Technical Editor Dr. B C Biswas Assistant Editor Ruby Jain Sr. Correspondents Imran Khan Snigdha Choudhury Correspondents Manish Chauhan Sameer Tiwari Deepshikha Jyoti Sharma Vipin Mishra Dhanya M.H. V.P. Int. Business D.D. Nair Gavrilova Maria Marketing Head Sanjay Kumar GM - Marketing Farha Khan Sr. Manager Marketing Mukundan Nair K J Saranya Sara Khan Marketing Manager Megha Sharma Afsana Malik Sr. Executive Marketing Chunki Bhutia Poonam Bishwakarma Rinki Pundir Laxmi Pandey Soniya Mahajan Shifali Mahajan Preeti Chauhan Hema Sharma Rajni Kumari Meena Pandey Priya Tripathi Vanita Singh Meenu Laxmi Koli Priyanka Circulation Head Nishant K Taak Circulation Manager Rahul Singh Abdus Samad Sr. Executive Circulation Prashant Sharma Anku Yadav Pappu Rai Mohit Furkan Qureshi

Shahzeb Ahmed Kanchan Singh Karishma Lehri Aayesha Khan Pawan Kumar Head Pre-Press Alka Gupta Graphic Designer Yogesh Kumar Accounts Udit Mittal K. B Indra OďŹƒce Assistant Devender Kumar Jagdish Jana Prem Kumar Rajiv

Farmers declare GST bill a boost for the agriculture sector.................................................8

DD Nair VP International Business (Russia & CIS Countries) 6 Mikluho-Maklaya STR, Moscow, Russia 117198 Mob: +7903729 98 30, Tel: +7499501 99 10 Email: ddnair@krishijagran.com

Biochar from Weed Biomass for

M Mezhukanal E-16F - 33, Hamriya Free Zone, Sharjah, UAE Mob: +971 50 2870465 Email: mezhukanal@krishijagran.com

Perspectives for a

For Circulation & Subscription Nishant Kr. Taak Mob: +91-9953756433 Email: circulation@krishijagran.com, subscription@krishijagran.com CONTACT US Enquiry info@krishijagran.com Editorial editor@krishijagran.com Marketing response@krishijagran.com Printed and Published by: M. C. Dominic 60/9, 3rd Floor, Yusuf Sarai Market, Near Green Park Metro Station, New Delhi 110016.

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Copyright @ Krishi Jagran Media Group.

Agriculture World is published by Krishi Jagran Media Group.

Editor: MC Dominic Disclaimer: While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information contained in this publications, the publishers are not responsible for any errors or omissions that might have crept into this publications.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or kept in a retrieval system, without the express permission of the publishers.

Soil Acidity Management........................................10

Viable Land Restructure...........................................12 In-vitro Banana Plantlets' Acclimatization for Better Survival............................24 Effective Sharing of Agricultural Technologies .......................................27 Rock Phosphate enriched Compost for Soil Phosphorus Management in Acidic Soils....................................29

EDITORIAL

A

s the passage of the GST bill rolls in towards scripting history, various sectors agreed-disagreed with the India's biggest tax reform. Snigdha Choudhury, Krishi Jagran gives us an extensive overview of Indian farmers’ perspective on the bill.

Rock Phosphate enriched compost preparation has been narrated by Shaon Kumar Das and R. K. Avasthe, ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute, Gangtok, Sikkim which is famous for organic farming.

Eighty five per cent of the landholdings in India belong to small and marginal farms occupying almost 50% per cent of the cultivated area. If the present trend land inheritance continues soon three forth of the agriculture land will be small and marginal holdings. Such situation will be detrimental to agriculture sector affecting production and food security. In this context Dr. K. T. Chandy presents proper perspectives for a comprehensive land restructuring.

Bioachar is charred organic matter. It is applied to soils to sequester carbon and improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Locally available weed biomass can be used for bioachar preparation. Shaon Kumar Das & R. K. Avasthe, ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute, Sikkim are the authors of this article.

Agricultural biotechnology including Plant tissue culture (PTC) is an applied microbiology and has become very popular among people to propagate banana. The article “In-vitro Banana Plantlets' Acclimatization for Better Survival” by Ankita Trivedi and Co., Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, is very encouraging to people in horticulture.

The role of social media in agriculture extension and education is highlighted by Sivaraj Research Scholar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore is rightly emphasized in his article. The only limitation is such technologies will be accessible to nearly 85 per cent of the farming community in India because they are illiterate and resourceless.

M C Dominic Editor-in-Chief dominic@krishijagran.com

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AGRICULTURE WORLD | AUGUST 2016

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Farmers declare GST bill a boost for GST Impact on Farmers

the agriculture sector

T

Snigdha Choudhury, Krishi Jagran

sunami of debates and discussions came crawling in ever since the GST bill has been given a go-ahead from the centre. As the passage of the GST bill rolls in towards scripting history in the Indian economy, various sectors agreed-disagreed with the India's biggest tax reform.

While PM Modi made a strong pitch saying it will put an end to tax terrorism, some were skeptical if India was ready to take such a great leap forward.

Indian agriculture sector which contributes around 16% to GDP, are yet to pull down the curtain on how the implementation of the bill would affect the sector as there are mostly marginal and small farmers in the country.

However, many lauded the centre's decision saying it will help in the free flowing of the agriproducts without any hindrance although there might be slight variation in taxation.

“Farmers appreciate this decision,” claimed P. Chengal

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AGRICULTURE WORLD | AUGUST

Reddy, Chief Advisor of the Consortium of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA).

While Pangali feels that the introduction of the constitution (122nd) amendment bill will play “GST is like a big boost to the a weighty role in the affordability agriculture sector,” commented of agri-machineries. “It will give P P S P a n g a l i , P r e s i d e n t o f incentives on the sale of diesel BORLAUG Farmers Association which is the main product with which trucks carrying goods and for South Asia. tractors on the “Interstate moving “Interstate moving field operate. needs permission or needs permission or I n c e n t i v e t o approval as there are approval as there are agri-machinery various taxes charged various taxes charged on which excise by different states. Now, by different states. Now, duty is high will this GST bill will solve this GST bill will pave make it easily most of the problem way for free market and affordable. In and will pave way for moving from one part to India, where free market and moving another for retail and the farmers are from one part to mostly small processing." another for retail and and marginal processing. Traders and cannot when they take a particular afford expensive machineries, it product across the country, at will be a positive factor,” Pangali every point they are subjected to said. various taxes, approvals, However, the agri-commodity permissions and license. So this sector is still hanging by thread as GST bill is the first act towards total to whether the APMC or mandi liberalization of agriculture marketing,” explains Reddy to taxes will be abolished and only GST will be applicable.

Krishi Jagran.

2016

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Biochar from Weed Biomass

Biochar from Weed Biomass for

Soil Acidity Management

B

iochar is commonly defined as charred o r g a n i c m a t t e r, deliberately applied to soils to sequester carbon and improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Locally available weed biomass which is not economically important and caused crop loss can be used as an important source of biomass for preparation of biochar. ICARNational Organic Farming Research Institute, Tadong, Gangtok has utilized six different locally available weed biomass viz., Ageratum spp., Lantana spp., Artemisia vulgaris, Chromolaena odorata, Bidens spp., Neyraridia spp. which were

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used to prepare biochar.

Effect of biochar on soil properties Biochar guarantees long term benefit for soil fertility and productivity. It can enhance plant growth by improving soil physical characteristics (i.e., bulk density, w a t e r h o l d i n g c a p a c i t y, infiltration, porosity), soil chemical characteristics (i.e., pH, nutrient retention, nutrient availability), and soil biological properties (i.e., microbial biomass carbon) all contributing to increased crop productivity. The important quality of biochar that makes it attractive as soil amendment is its highly porous structure which is responsible for

AGRICULTURE WORLD | AUGUST 2016

improved water retention and increased soil surface area.

Biochar application improved the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the top soil. It also increases the water holding capacity in sandy soil. The pores in biochar provide suitable habitat for many microorganisms by protecting them from predation and drying while providing many of their diverse carbon (C), energy and mineral nutrient needs. The intrinsic properties of biochar and its ability to form complex with different soil type can have an impact on soil-plant-microbe interactions.

How can biochar help farmers?

Using locally available

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Effect on soil pH

Biochar is alkaline in nature (pH > 7.0). In order to neutralize acidic soils, farmers apply tonnes of lime/dolomite to farm soils at great expense. Biochar have an effect on soil pH. It can react similarly as agricultural lime do (by increasing soil pH). If a soil has low cation exchange capacity, it is not able to retain nutrients and the nutrients are often washed out leaching. Biochar in its pores having large surface area develop some negative charges and thus, provides more negatively charged sites for cations to be retained when added to soil. The negative charge developed on the surface of biochar can easily buffer acidity in the soil (as does organic matter). Due to its highly alkaline nature it has been demonstrated to reduce aluminium toxicity in acid soils.

Application of biochar in soil Generally farmers apply biochar in their own field only by hand. But due to prolonged contact with airborne biochar particulates, it is not viable on large-scale considering human health. Broadcasting application needs large amount to cover

whole field. Suitable method of application deposits biochar directly into the rhizosphere, and may be viable for perennial cropping systems, and previously established crops. Deep banding of biochar has been successfully implemented in several wheat fields in Western Australia.

Mixing of biochar with composts, manures and other organic input may reduce odour, colour and improve nutrient performance over time due to slower leaching rates. Mixtures may be applied for uniform topsoil mixing without incorporation.

Application rates There is no specific rate of application of biochar in soil. It depends on many factors including type of biomass used, the types and proportions of various nutrients (N, P, K etc.), the degree of metal contamination in the biomass, and also climatic and topographic factors of the land. It was found that rates between 510 t/ha (0.5-1 kg/m2) have often been found better. Even low rates of biochar application can significantly increase crop productivity assuming that the biochar is rich in nutrients.

Shaon Kumar Das, R. K. Avasthe ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim-737102 e-mail: shaon.iari@gmail.com krishijagran.com

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Biochar from Weed Biomass

materials (viz., weed biomass) for making biochar could provide an unique opportunity to improve soil fertility for longer period of time to the farmers. Biochar should be applied along with other inputs like compost, manure or biopesticides at the same rate every year to realize the actual benefits. Application rates of these organic inputs can be reduced when nutrients are combined with biochar because it also contains some nutrients. During conversion of organic residues into biochar, farmers can also obtain an energy yield by capturing energy given off during biochar production process. In hilly areas like Sikkim soil loss, weathering and degradation occurs at unprecedented rates which causes imbalance in ecosystem properties. Biochar can play a major role in organic agriculture for sustainable soil management by improving existing best management practices, not only by decreasing nutrient loss through leaching by percolating water but also improving soil productivity.

Viable Land Restructure

Perspectives for a Viable Land Restructure

C

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Viable Land Restructure

Land Use pattern Based on the ration between vertical to horizontal a tentative land use pattern is given below.

Table 1: Recommended Land use pattern as per slope of the land.

No.

Verti/Hori (ft/mt)

Type of recommended land uses

1

1:1-3

Under perennial tree cover

2

1:3-10

Fruit trees, plantation crops, fuel wood and timber trees, any perennial crop

3

1:10-40

Terraced cultivation of un-irrigated seasonal, annual & biannual crops,

4

1:40-45

Terraced flood Irrigated crops, seasonal, annual & biannual crops,

5

1:45-100

Terraced flood Irrigated crops, seasonal, annual & biannual crops,

6

Levelled land

Rain water storage, impounded water.

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Viable Land Restructure

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Viable Land Restructure

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Viable Land Restructure

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Viable Land Restructure

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Viable Land Restructure

Dr. K.T. Chandy Senior Execu ve Editor Krishi Jagran

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Micro Propagation of Banana

In-vitro Banana Plantlets' Acclimatization for Better Survival MICROPROPAGATION: An efficient method for rapid and mass propagation of many species has been widely utilized to propagate good quality materials that may substantially improve production. A tissue-culture technique in which propagules are cloned from tissue taken from a single plant is known as micropropagation. The use of defined growth media enhanced with appropriate growth regulators enable morphogenesis to occur from naturally growing plant parts. However, its sample application is restricted by the high rate of percentage loss of plants when transferred to ex-vitro condition. Various factors and conditions are responsible for the loss of plant parts when transferred to external conditions (ex-vitro). In-vitro regenerated plantlets gets adjusted to abnormalities in environment like high level of irradiance, low humidity, and low hydraulic conductivity of roots and root-stem connections, which makes water a limiting factor for the plant growth. Acclimatization of regenerated plantlets is necessary to overcome these problems.

Micro-propagating the banana shoot tip is the main method for fast propagation of banana plants. The plantlets are developed through tissue-culture technique by taking utmost care while handling the explants and transplanting them to particular media. Care must also be taken in moving it from its sterile, artificially controlled environment to more exposed greenhouse and less

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AGRICULTURE WORLD | AUGUST 2016

protected field conditions. Banana plant may become infected with many diseases such as BBTV, it may spread through the use of infected suckers as planting material and other infected plant tissues used in banana propagation. The time (incubation time) taken by the aphid to cause inoculation of BBTV and show its initial appearance of disease symptoms may be many weeks.

The plants that appear symptomless may already contain the virus, further if such plants are used as explants for micropropagation or to establish new plants may spread BBTV or other diseases throughout the orchard and to off-farm locations to which the planting material is taken. Therefore, there should be certain methods undertaken for promoting the acclimatization and protection of in vitro regenerated banana plants between rooting in the laboratory (through tissue-culture technique) and their establishment in greenhouse nursery and for field planting.

The environments of plants growing in tissue culture and those in a greenhouse are very different.

Differences include physical parameters such as, lighting, both quantity and quality; relative humidity; nutrients and other growth promoters; the gaseous composition; and the medium substrate. Not only physical parameters, even difference in rooting conditions are also seen. In greenhouses, a high-auxin quick dip is used for rooting cuttings. Free-draining is

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micropropagated plants. Physiological and structural changes allow in-vitro plantlets to adapt to the new environmental conditions, mainly to low relative humidity and high light intensity. Morphological and physiological changes have also been described in plants including functional stomata (MarĂ­n et al., 1988), efficient water transport through the roots and acquisition of sun-leaf structure (MarĂ­n and Gella,1988) and the sugar and starch metabolism of plantlets (Van Huylenbroeck and De Riek, 1995), that were translocated to the emerging roots, and afterwards, starch accumulation began.

Adaptation includes a number of hardening changes related with the control of water loss, and autotrophy. As a result, plants adapt and become autotrophic , developing as normal plants.

Studies have shown that micropropagated plants, showed high survival rates during acclimatization , when exposed daily to low relative humidity, under a plastic tunnel in the greenhouse. In contrast, when humidity was kept high continuously, few plants survived , indicating that the exposures to low relative humidity may stimulate the changes to become a functional plant. Utmost care should be taken to keep the substrate well watered, in order to provide enough water to restore water loss from transpiration. In this way, plants soon started to adapt and new leaves were visible during the first week of acclimatization. In addition, water transport through the

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Micro Propagation of Banana

used to flush out excess auxin , aerated potting medium.

This contrasts to in vitro rooting where a low auxin concentration is available over several weeks in a poorly aerated, gelled medium. Therefore, it is not surprising that the transfer of plantlets, whether rooted or not, from the tissue culture environment to the greenhouse causes tissue stress and is often associated with slow growth and significant plant losses.

In- vitro culture results in the formation of plantlets of abnormal morphology , anatomy and physiology. After ex vitro transfer, these plantlets might easily be impaired by sudden changes in environmental conditions, and so need a period of acclimatization to correct the abnormalities.

Steps to grow individual plantlets and preparing them for adaptation to the external environment are taken during the last phase of banana micropropagation. Plantlets thus developed are small and not yet capable of surviving in the soil. The hardening, or acclimatization, process begins while the plantlets are still in in vitro , i.e., growing under artificial tissue culture conditions. The acclimatization procedure includes various strategies ranging from culture room to natural environmental conditions.

Gradual hardening is one of the acclimatization procedure which takes around 30-60 days. Rooted in-vitro plantlets of 68 cm (2.5-3 inches) tall are subsequently transferred to pot containing sterilized soil, vermiculite, and perlite in equal proportion for acclimatization. In-vitro generated plantlets gets acclimatized to external conditions after 60 days, which leads to their better survival. Whereas, greenhouse protected potted plants showed poor results of acclimatization, not a single plantlet could survive in non-acclimatization condition. From the above information, it is clearly reflected that acclimatization of in-vitro propagated plantlets is essentially needed for better survival, thus reducing the shock of tissue stress .

For micropropagation, development of successful hardening technique is prerequisite. Hardening accounts for about 60% of the total production cost.

Many computer based acclimatization units are available nowadays, but at high cost. Therefore, an efficient and cost-effective acclimatization technique is necessary for raising in-vitro plantlets. During acclimatization, various changes are noted in

Micro Propagation of Banana

crops alternative propagules (e.g., microtubers) are an option as they do not experience the acclimatization problems observed in tissue culture plantlets.

roots was stimulated since plants were able to recover from a moderate wilt after the exposures to low relative humidity. Acclimatization is not always an easy step, as in several species , low survival percentages of acclimatized plantlets were obtained.

Recognization and understanding of differences between an in vitro and a greenhouse environment is very important. There are different factors which are responsible for adaptation or acclimatization of plants.

By manipulating the in vitro environment of micropropagated plantlets, leaves that have greater tolerance to water stress and are photosynthetically competent can be developed as par t of the acclimatization process in preparing plantlets for transferring out of culture. Roots formed in culture can be beneficial for enhancing early growth following transfer from culture. The optimum growth rate of plantlets frequently does not occur until new leaves and roots develop in the greenhouse environment. However, as species differ greatly in their requirements there is no universal acclimatizing protocol. However, for some

PRECAUTIONS  Proper root development has been taken place, before removing plants from test tube/bottle.  Sterilization of the plotting media is necessary.  In-vitro regenerated plantlets should be removed carefully and washed thoroughly under running tap water to remove adhered agar.  Incubation of the plantlets must be done after placing them in sterilized cotton bearing half strength MS media over night.  Application of systematic fungicide (0.2 % Bavistin) must be done to avoid fungal infection at initial stage.  Humidity should be reduced gradually from 95% (initially) for development of functional stomata to control water loss and enhance nutrient uptake. This contribute to both higher survival and improvement in net assimilation rates.  Hoagland solution of half strength should be used initally for irrigation.  In -vitro regenerated plantlets must be transferred to greenhouse after 60 days, plantlets should be shifted in shade net house or screen proof net house.

Ankita Trivedi, Reshu Chaudhary & R.S.Sengar Department of Agriculture Biotechnology, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Modipurum, Meerut, 250110 Email: sengar65@gmail.com

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'Social media in Agriculture' is an emerging pasture focusing on the development of agricultural extension services in India. It involves innovative applications using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools in the rural domain. The advancements in ICT can be utilized for providing accurate, timely, relevant information and services to the farmers, thereby facilitating an environment for more remunerative agriculture through social media tools.

Social media depend on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify user-generated content. Social media differ from traditional media in many ways, including quality, reach, frequency, usability, immediacy, and permanence. Social media operate in a dialogic transmission system (many sources to many receivers). Some of the most popular social media websites vizFacebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, blogs, youtube etc., Statistics shows the number of social network users in India; there were 181.66 million in 2015 and it is projected that it will go up to 283 million in 2018.

Social media in Agricultural Extension Extension mechanisms will have to be drive the farmers' needs, bea location specific information and to address diversification of demands in agriculture. The focus is on availability and accessibility of knowledge-based technologies to upgrade and improve the skills of not only Extension functionaries but also for the farmers.Extension services must maintain close and effective relationships with sources of appropriate information, expertise, practical, specific problems from the farmers. Ratio of farmers to the extension workers in India 1000:1 (Rajendrakumar, 2009). Social

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media encapsulates digital tools and activities that enable communication and sharing across the network. The idea behind most of this phenomenon, as with many websites, is to help people feel socially connected and part of a community, even though they may be sitting home alone at their computer.

Hence, these extension systems are to be altered to use social media for its service provision to the farming community.

Facebook Facebook is a popular free social networking website that allows registered users to create profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues. It is where the farmers can also make use of

advantage this network to establish a wider contact for sharing their experience, success stories and necessary information can be helpful in solving the problem by themselves. Facebook is a great place to start a positive conversation about agriculture, connect with the farmers, and get farmers excited

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Social Media in Agriculture

Effective Sharing of Agricultural Technologies

Social Media in Agriculture

about agriculture information sharing activities like 1) Post photos/image of cultivation practices, 2) Share agricultural messages in local languages, 3) Connect with agriculture/experts pages, 4) Share farm facts/ experience on own page, 5) Post videos of your operation/ practices and 6) Advertise inputs/ products/ marketing events.

WhatsApp It is an instant messaging tool which helps to communicate farmers by text, audio, video and picture. WhatsApp can also be used, for the technology dissemination from extension personnel to the farmers to provide agro services like new technologies, market information and weather forecasting for the upliftment of farmers to attain their livelihood security.  A cross-platform mobile messaging app.  Platform to share real-time information which allows user to exchange messages, audio, video, photographs.  Allows users to create groups, broadcast / send unlimited images, video and audio media messages simultaneously to one person, or to a group.

Requires a smart mobile phone with internet data access.

WhatsApp is the largest community of users of any IM client on any device, ever, has been on the rise since its inception. With over 600 million users it is the most popular application for Instant Messaging, and has found mainstream acceptance and popularity now world over (Senthil Kumar, 2015).

Twitter Twitter has more than 140 million active users and is easy to use once you get a hang of the language. All you need to do is signup; create a username and find interesting people to follow. Twitter is a popular option that allows you to “tweet” 140 character updates and connect with people from around the world. You can share agricultural technical information news links, pictures/ photos, or new technologies. Re-tweet farm related messages to increase reach, and send direct messages is another way to share your thoughts betterment of farming community.

You Tube YouTube is a free video-hosting website that allows members to store and serve video content. YouTube members and website visitors can share YouTube videos on a variety of web platforms by using a link or by embedding HTML code.It is one of the best apps for better understanding of any technology 



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with very good illustration for it provides information through videos. The technology related videos can be uploaded by the extension personnel with an intension to cover larger number of people across length and breadth of the nation.

(Agriculture without sand is not correct statement) Blogs Blogs allows us to keep our customers up-to-date on company news. They were allowsadmin to have conversations with variety of people. They serve as platform elements for professionals looking to build exposure and gain a solid reader base. One can easily publish success stories in their own blog and also blogs provide platform to share experience of farmers, information about new schemes and technologies by extension personnel to farmers, publish reports and achievements about innovation and also for to publish low cost for advertisements of farm inputs and farm produces through blogs.

Farmersareusedsocial media found that 42% of farmers who use Facebook and Twitter are using it every day. Whether sharing personal stories or using the sites as news sources, farmers are making their presence known online.YouTube is the most popular social media platform for agriculture professionals. Of the 51% of farmers that use the site, 60% seek out general news, 58% tune in for music, and 56% enjoy educational or how-to videos. Farmers are more likely to be found on social media in the early morning hours or in the evening (ChannaPrakash, 2015).

Conclusion: The social media are helping the farmers in getting required information from various tools at low cost. It help the extension personnel to collect information from different sourcesfor enriching their knowledge level and updating it.Proactive use of social media tools will bring a knowledge revolution in agriculture at gross root level. Its tools will helps to create, share and store a knowledge, skill and attitude of the farmers in local language. It will helps on line storage of information and data and to access easily in anywhere at any time.

P. SIVARAJ Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Email: sivarajtnau@gmail.com Mobile: +91- 8675534200 krishijagran.com

Management of Acidic Soils

Rock Phosphate enriched Compost for Soil Phosphorus Management in Acidic Soils

P

hosphorus is immobile in the soil system and fixationis a serious problem in acidic soils.

Only labile pool of P has significance to soil fertility. In organic farming systems P is supplied to soils through recycling of on-farm organic materials, viz., compost, animal manure, and green manure crops. Sustainable management of limiting soil P can be enhanced with phosphocompost preparation. Rock phosphate having chemical formula 3Ca3(Po4)2.CaF2 is the primary raw material for producing soluble P fertilizers. It can be applied directly and can solubilize in the soil, making the P available to crops depending on the soil proper ties, climatic conditions, cropping systems and nutrient management practices. krishijagran.com

Rock phosphate is recommended for application to acid soils where P is an important limiting nutrient on plant growth. Rock phosphate (18% P2O5) is ground and marketed for direct application in acid soils and the particles are such that a minimum of 90% passes through 0.15 mm IS sieve and the balance 10% through 0.25 mm IS sieve. But when it is mixed with compost and finally decomposes for a minimum period of 70-90 days it produces rock phosphate-enriched compost. Penriched compost can be made by mixing rock phosphate @ 5% to 10% w/w with the composting mass (FYM, goat manure, poultry manure or pig manure). Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, namely Pseudomonas striata and Bacillus polymixa; N-fixer (Azotobacter chroococcum) etc.

may also be used in this composting process to accelerate the decomposition process.

The addition of insoluble source of P to enrich compost is a more rational and practically useful approach since solubilization of insoluble P occurs during composting process.

Following compostable materials consisting of crop residues, grasses, weeds, tree leaves, animals feed wastes or their mixtures and cattle dung are used along with P sources. Rock phosphate enriched compost application is important with respect to soil fertility and plant nutrition. It contains 1.5-2.0% N, 2.0-3.0% P with 16-18 C:N ratio.

Preparation of Rock P enriched compost is very easy. As per our requirement we have to

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stage. Some plant leaves high in nitrogen content Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania reticulata, karanj (Pongamia glabra), Ipomea, and Jatropha gossipifolia etc. can be added into the composting process to increase the nitrogen content and thus the prepared compost is called as nitro-phospho-compost.

Generally in this process rock phosphate is used @ 5% to 10% depending upon the situation.

Hence, layer wise mixing should be done with rock phosphate along with manure and weeds/fresh crop residue. Add water to the heap so that moisture remains about 60 to 70%.

Cover the heap with soil or polythene and add water 15-20 day interval to avoid dryness in the compost.

Compositing of rock phosphates with agricultural wastes is known to increase solubility of rock phosphates. Supplementing composted livestock manure with added phosphorus to

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make phospho-compost makes the compost into more complete nutrient source for strongly acidic soils. The use of composted livestock manure on strongly acidic soils not only improves soil productivity and soil P but is also a way of recycling waste materials and protecting the environment from pollution. It is eco-friendly, non-toxic organic manure. It increases microbial biota of soil as well as soil health. Farmers can save considerable amount of chemical fertilizers by the application of plant nutrients through phospho-compost without any adverse effect on crop yield in acidic soil at low cost.

Shaon Kumar Das & R. K. Avasthe ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim-737102 e-mail: shaon.iari@gmail.com krishijagran.com

Management in Acidic Soils

prepare one kuccha or RCC structure where the composting process will be carried out. But the base should be made of hard, woody materials such as sticks, bamboo sticks etc. Waste material like FYM, poultry manure, pig manure or goat manure should be dumped in the structure and mixed properly with rock p h o s p h a t e . S i m p l y, r o c k phosphate + raw animal waste + water are used to prepare enrich P compost. We can also add dif ferent weeds/fresh crop residue produced in the farm.

However, weeds should be considered only before flowering

Consult Agri-Scientists for Inputs: Sovan Chakravorty advice to farmers

Interview

I

ndia being the second most populous country in the world, catering to the needs of 122 crore families can be challenging at times. We largely depend on farmers for food so crop productivity should be in the descending order if every household is to have sufficient food and income.

High crop productivity means higher income for farmers.

Krishi Jagran team is in conversation with Sovan Chakravorty, Executive Director, DCM Shriram Fertilizers Ltd: 1. Elaborate on the details of DCM Shriram DCM Shriram mainly produces fertilizer, seeds and pesticides. Our products are available in every corner of the country in East, West, South and North. Besides providing the benefit of urea, UAP, MOP and SOP to the Shriram farmers, we also provide advanced fertilizers, Shankar seeds and also pesticides.

2. What are the challenges faced by farm sector?

Some of the challenges mainly faced by the Indian agriculture sector are non-availability of good quality seeds and fertilizers, inadequate crop price, market tax and shortage of cold storage facilities. And one of the most common challenges faced by the farm sector is updating the farmers about the latest developments or reaching the information to the farmers. Around 70% of the land areas are used for cultivation by big farmers and 30% by small and marginal farmers. Out of this 30%, the percentage of marginal farmers is higher. Since the marginal famers have limited resources and knowledge, their productivity is very low. That is the reason why the small and marginal farmers earn much less income.

3. So what steps need to be taken to overcome such problems?

These are the biggest challenges faced by the agricultural sector today; however the government has come up with various policies and schemes to combat the problems. But, the question arises as to how do all the government implemented plans and policies reach farmers?

To battle these problems, we have to use advanced farming methods and techniques to increase the production and thereby increase farmers' income. Also use of quality seeds and fertilizers is necessary to increase production.

4. What is DCM Shriram's contribution to help the farmers in the country?

To help the farmers of the country, Shriram Pesticides and Chemicals have taken many steps. We have more than 80 centres around the country. These centres provide information about cultivable land, using quality seeds and

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fertilizers, using modern farming techniques, etc. to the farmers. Other than this, we are also working on an app for farmers. Through ITC, we are reaching lakh of farmers and has already helped to increase their income.

5. What is your take on Agro-chemical and organic fertilizers?

According to me, crop production cannot be increased by only using organic fertilizers. The government has taken various steps to increase the crop productivity and in the last 20 years we have seen a significant change in the agriculture sector.

6. Experience of DCM Shriram with the farmers We have always worked towards ensuring profit to more and more farmers. Our main aim is to educate the farmers and spread awareness about latest developments in the farm sector.

7. How are Shriram Fertilizers and Chemicals contributing to farm solutions?

We have opened up a different unit called Shriram Farm solutions solely for this purpose. We are playing a vital role in educating the farmers and providing information about using modern techniques of farming and using new advanced technologies not only in our centres but also from regional centres.

8. What is your opinion about liquid fertilizers?

Liquid fertilizers are soluble in nature and have reached many places in the world. If we look into it closely, using liquid fertilizers will be profitable for farmers. Research work is going on for the use of liquid fertilizers and other effective fertilizers.

9. What is your message to the farmers?

My most important message to farmers is to use modern techniques of farming that will help in increasing their profit and therein income. Farmers should be in contact with agriexperts in order to be updated in the sector. They should always use right quality products. krishijagran.com

News

BKT Tires forays into the two-wheeler tyre segment Famous Bollywood actor & the company's brand ambassador, Sunny Deol attends glittering launch ceremony New Delhi, 10 August , 2016: Balkrishna Industries Limited, also known as BKT, India’s leading off-highway tire manufacturing company announced its entry into the twowheeler tire market of the country at a press conference on 10th August, 2016. After having established its leadership position in tire manufacture for agriculture, construction, industrial vehicles as well as earthmoving, port and mining, ATV, and gardening applications, BKT Tires is now set to tap the booming market for two-wheeler tires in India. In a glittering ceremony attended by the ‘Macho man’ of Bollywood & BKT’s brand ambassador Sunny Deol, BKT announced its foray into the new category and also showcased its two new product offerings in this segment.

With an estimated total market size of 840 lakh tires per annum and a replacement market size of 360 lakhs per annum, the two-wheeler vehicle market in India will receive a great boost with the entry of BKT Tires. The company aims to

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make significant headway in rural transportation through the rapid proliferation of the highest quality two-wheeler tires across the remotest villages and areas in India. The entry of BKT in this category has been further aimed to provide continuous business opportunities to existing BKT dealers on a round-the-year basis. Furthermore, foraying into a massive market such as the twowheeler tire segment would enhance BKT s visibility in rural markets across India.

Two flagship pattern types -BK Pilot and BK Raftar, were launched during the event. Both the tires are fully-equipped with features that make a journey safer, faster and more enjoyable. While the former are front tires equipped with features such as directional grooves for better steering, wide shoulders to establish firm on-road contact and high-performance, BK Raftar are rear tires that combine aggressive design with rigid looks. Made of a high-performance compound, BK Raftar provides an excellent wet grip on the road.

Commenting on the foray, Rajiv Poddar, krishijagran.com

Joint Managing Director, BKT Tires, said, “The two-wheeler tire industr y has reported a Compounded annual growth rate of 8.5%.

Considering the tremendous potential of the market and its reach in rural India, we plan to introduce our flagship tires at sizes that permeate more than 70% of the total market scope. We also plan to introduce tires in other sizes to provide complete services to our buyers and gather at least a 10% market share of the Indian agricultural transportation market within the next few years.”

Headquartered in Mumbai, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT) has operated with great success for the last 29 years in the off-highway tire segment. Its proficiency, quality of products and superior services has endeared BKT to customers and its entry into the two-wheeler tire market segment provides users with further reasons to rejoice.

About BKT Tires : Headquar tered in Mumbai, India, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT) is a leading

manufacturer in the Off-Highway tire market.

Since its founding in 1987, BKT has successfully focused on specialist segments such as agricultural, construction and industrial vehicles as well as earthmoving, port and mining, ATV, and gardening applications. As a result, BKT has developed into a global player in the Off-Highway tire industry with a 6% market share and a sales volume of around Rs. 3500 Crores.

Presently, we have four subsidiaries in Europe and North America assisting our head office in sales and marketing activities: BKT Europe S.r.l. in Seregno, Italy, BKT Tires USA Inc. in Akron, BKT Tires, Inc. in Brentwood, Tennessee and Ohio, BKT Tires Canada Inc. in Toronto. We sell our products in 130 countries worldwide through a network of national distributors. Our five state-ofthe-art production sites in Aurangabad, Bhiwadi, Chopanki, Dombivali and Bhuj employ more than 7,000 people.

News

Sonalika unleashes India's first manufactured 120 HP tractor New Delhi: Sonalika ITL unleashed a 120 HP tractor 'Solis 120', first one to be developed and manufactured in India at an event in New Delhi.

Solis 120 is ergonomically designed to cater to the need of its user with international styling and built with 6 cylinder, turbo charged engine with 24+24 gear box ensuring 4500kg of huge capacity.

“Sonalika group from past two decades has endeavoured to empower the farmers by providing complete agricultural solution that will enhance their agricultural productivity. Our company exports to 24 European market and takes pride being market leaders in many countries. Through this 120 HP tractor, the company is focusing on

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commercial farmers by providing an ease in arduous work,” Deepak Mittal, MD, Sonalika ITL said at the launch.

The 120 HP tractor is however only for the export purpose and not for its use in the Indian agri sector. “It is not to be available to the Indian agri sector as 50 HP tractor is the maximum for our farm sector. So, considering 120 HP tractor for India is still some years away,” said Mittal to Krishi Jagran.

Sonalika ITL is the biggest tractor exporter in India exporting more than 1500 tractors as of July. It has exported more than 4000 tractors in the first four months of this fiscal year and witnessed 24 per cent growth during the tenure. krishijagran.com

NEWS

Mahindra Plans for driveless tractors in India Mahindra group is planning to introduce driverless tractors and commercial vehicles, its chairman Anand Mahindra said.

"Tractors that operate autonomously could change the future of food production.

This is an area where Mahindra, as the largest tractor producer in the world, intends to play a pioneering role," said Anand Mahindra.

"Mahindra is investing in the future of mobility by combining our innovative manufacturing capabilities with our investments in downstream platforms," he said.

Dr. M. Ramasami appointed as the chairman of newly-formed Rasi Hyveg Pvt. Ltd After high-level discussion, the new board of directors for newly-formed Rasi Hyveg Pvt. Ltd that demerged from Rasi Seeds Pvt. Ltd was announced.

The company will function under the chairmanship of Dr. M. Ramasami. S. Senthilnathan was appointed as the Executive Chairman, Dr. Arvind Kapoor as the Managing Director and Rajendran Ramasami as the Director.

Dr. Ramasami said the company has massive plans to expand its activities within and outside the country.

“This will create opportunities for the employees to grow and expand their roles. The board is committed for the career and financial growth of the employees and provide them new opportunities to demonstrate their talent and knowledge”, he said.

Tata Chemicals offloads urea business to Norway's Yara Fertlisers

Tata Chemicals sold its Babrala urea plant and distribution business in Uttar Pradesh for Rs.2,670 crore to Yara Fertlisers India, a wholly owned arm of Norwegian company Yara International ASA. “The divestment of the urea business by Tata Chemicals will unlock value for the company, strengthen its balance sheet and will help to pursue growth potentials and

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opportunities in line with its strategic directions,” read the company's statement.

R Mukundan, managing director, Tata Chemicals said, “The sale was part of our strategy to cap the capital exposure in the fertiliser business.” The company was trying to offload this business for almost two years due to delayed payment of subsidies.

Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara Internationa said, “This acquisition represents another significant step in our growth strategy, creating an integrated position in the world's second-largest fertiliser market.”

“India has strong population growth and increasing living standards, and significant potential to improve agricultural productivity.” krishijagran.com

Insecticides (India) Ltd. ties up with Japan’s Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd. to launch SUZUKA and HAKKO in India

News

SUZUKA is a new genera on insec cide, which controls lepidopteran pests in various crops like paddy and vegetables New Delhi, August 2016: Leading agrochemicals manufacturer Insecticides (India) Ltd. (IIL) announced its new tie up with Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd., Japan, under which IIL will launch a new generation insecticide with the brand name SUZUKA. With this new partnership, IIL also plans to introduce one more brand HAKKO, an insecticide for BPH in paddy crop.

Under this tie up, IIL would market SUZUKA, the new generation insecticide flubendiamide 20% SG of Nihon Nohyaku, Japan, which is an effective solution for control of lepidopteran pests in different crops like paddy, vegetables and pulses.

This will add another feather to Tractor Brand Range of products, further strengthening the product kitty with latest technology products.

Other product Hakko, Buprofezin 25% SC, an insecticide for control of BPH in paddy will also be launched in tie up with the Japanese major.

“We always endeavour to bring the new technology products to the farmers within their reach.

We are very pleased to partner with Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd, Japan, for launching SUZUKA, for the benefit of our farmers. This is another prestigious addition to our product range. ” says Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Limited.

“With this partnership, we wish to reinforce our commitment to Indian farmers to help them with new solutions for crop protection,” Mr Aggarwal added.

About Insecticides (India) Ltd. Insecticides (India) Ltd. (IIL), a BSE & NSE Listed company is India's leading and one of the fast growing Agro chemicals manufacturing company. IIL has emerged as a front line performer in India's Crop care market with a top line of Rs. 988.15 crores in 2015-16 as against Rs 964.19 Crores in 2014-15.

The Company is set to grow at a robust pace this year. The Company owns the prestigious Tractor Brand which is highly popular among the farmers. This umbrella brand of its agro products signifies the company's deep connection with the farming community. The largest selling brands of IIL include Lethal, Victor, Hijack, Xplode, Mycoraja, Monocil and Prime Gold. Recently, the company has launched a new herbicide Green Label, which is being

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manufactured in India for the first time for the Indian farmers.

The Company has entered into Technical and marketing MoU with American Vanguard Corporation (AMVAC), USA to manufacture and market “Thimet” & “Nuvan”, leading international insecticide brands in India. Also, they have a proud tie-up with Japanese.

Addition to this, in the current year, the company has tied-up with Momentive, USA and launched AgroSpred Max in India, which is super spreader, that will help farmers and to increases the efficacy of agro chemicals.

The Company has state-of- the-art formulation facilities in Chopanki (Rajasthan), Samba & Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir) and Dahej (Gujarat). IIL also has technical synthesis plants at Chopanki and Dahej to manufacture technical grade chemicals such as Bispyribac Sodium, Imizathepyr, Dichlorovos, Glyphosate, Thiamethoxam, Thiaphenate Methyl, Difenthiuron, Tricyclazole etc. providing the competitive edge by backward integration.

In 2014, IIL has set up a product discovery R&D centre in JV with OAT Agrio, JAPAN for the first time in India. It plans to invent 2-3 new agro chemical molecules in five years of time.

IIL Foundation is an initiative by Insecticides (India) limited which works closely with Indian farmers to impart them knowledge regarding modern agricultural practices and techniques. krishijagran.com

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