A Success Story

Through Raised Bed Sowing

In Bahraich district, farmers generally follow the rice-wheat cropping system, which is posing a serious threat to natural resources like water and soil. So, there is need to diversify the existing cropping system. During the winter (rabi) season, winter maize is one of the best alternative to diversify the cropping system in the district. Winter-sown maize is coming out to be better option than the rainy (kharif) season maize owing to its higher yield, slow growth of weeds and lesser insect pest infestation. Non avalability of quality seed of improved cultivars, high soil moisture, poor fertilizer management, lack of awareness about suitable cultivars and plant protection measures were the production constraints by the maize growers. Raised bed planting technique is the best method for maize during monsoon and winter season both under excess moisture as well as limited irrigation availability conditions. Using raised bed planting technology, 20-30 % irrigation water can be saved with higher produtivity. This indicates the acceptance of rabi maize technology on raised bed by farmers of this district by clear cut comparative advantage over kharif maize.

Mr. Hira Lal Nishad S/o Sri Ram Nagina is a literate farmer of Alia Bulbul village having a family size of 7 members. He is having a land area of 8.5 acres in which he was cultivating composite maize cultivar rice, wheat, pulses, oil seeds and one acre of fish pond. He was making a net income of only Rs. 96000/- annually from these crops and fisheries.

Trainings of small group of farmers were performed in the Soharwa, Alia Bulbul, Begampur, Banwari, and shahniwajpur villages of Chittaura block of Bahraich district. Total one hundred twelve farmers, farm women and rural youths were participated in this training programme.

The scientist of Krishi Vigyan Kendra idetified Mr. Nishad is in one of its off campus trainings on rabi hybrid maize cultivation in village Alia Bulbul of Chittaura block.

The scientists of KVK visited his hybrid maize fields and appreciated for raising successful maize hybrid (Seed Tech 2324) on ridge. The scientists of KVK encouraged him for cultivation of maize hybrids through the process of personal visit to his maize fields. He also visited the fields under FLD on hybrid maize to nearby village Raipur Kabula and was greatly influenced by the growth and development of hybrid maize. Mr. Nishad was earlier getting and average maize seed yield of 35 q/ha with smaller size cobs whereas he could receive an average yield of 62 q/ha which is 77% higher than the variety in practice. By adoption of the technology (hybrid maize of 5 acres) along with other crops like rice, pulses, vegetables and fisheries, he obtained a net profit of Rs.216800/- annually against Rs. 96000/- earlier. Mr. Nishad also started for replacing improved varieties and high yielding one in rice, pulses and vegetable crops. The fellow farmer of his village (Alia Bulbul) and nearby village (Banwari, SamshaTarhar, Shahniwajpur, Soharwa and Begampur) were greatly influenced by the yield and profit obtained by Mr. Nishad from hybrid maize crop. Farmers were convinced with the necessity of hybrid seed every year for its cultivation. The net income of the farmers was also increased considerably.

The Scientist of KVK have been regularly visit ing thr farmers and imparting training on hybrid maize, Integrated Nutrient Management in maize and Integrated Weed Management in maize to the farmers of other blocks of the district and consistently putting effort to improve the economic condition of the poor maize farmers.