Success Story of Marigold Farming in Tamil Nadu: An Intervention by Naip - Value Chain on Flowers for Domestic and Export Markets

Marigold gained popularity amongst farmer and flower dealers on account of its easy culture, wide adaptability, attractive colour, shape, size and good keeping quality. Lack of technical know-how of scientific flower cultivation among the growers and high level of post-harvest losses, lack of awareness on market opportunities, lack of timely and precise price information were the major missing links in the marigold value chain in India. To address all those missing links in the marigold value chain Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), proposed a project entitled ‘Value chain on flowers for domestic and export markets’ to the NAIP, with the aim of contributing to the promotion of the nation’s floriculture industry. The project period is September 2008 to June 2012 and it is operated in the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping.Mr.R.Rangasamy one of the farmer in the project area, marigold is the major source of income for his family and his livelihood depends mainly on the marigold farming. Since he is having ten years of experience in marigold farming he says that over the year the yield marigold was reduced to 4-5 tonnes per acre due to indiscriminate use of pesticide, fungicides and fertilizer. Before NAIP intervention he received very low price (Rs 2-3 per kg) due to exploiting nature of market channel. After NAIP intervention the farmer undergone different training programs related to production, post-harvest and marketing aspects and adopted most of the technologies recommended by the NAIP scientist. Because of the adoption of advanced technologies he got the yield of 10-13 tonnes per acre. The farmer received daily price information through the cell phone that was disseminated by the NAIP scientists based on which he is able to get correct price from the buyer in the market. The farmer was entered into the contract farming with AVT natural Pvt Ltd who buys the marigold for xanthophylls extraction. Under this arrangement the farmer gets assured price of Rs. 6 per kg of marigold, timely inputs and consultancy services from the company. Now the farmer was reaping the benefit of Rs 2-3 per kg as net profit from the Marigold farming due to intervention of NAIP. Keywords: NAIP, Value chain, Technology adoption and Contract farming

File Secrecy in a Multi-User Environment

This paper deals with a method that provides in a multi-user environment file security of the order that even the system's people will be unable to break. The technique dealt with here is ASCII character by character encrypting of file using a KEY that is not physically stored anywhere in the magnetic media. This paper also covers problems encountered in the computer environment when using this technique

Integrated Approach to Design and Manufacture of Gas Turbine Components Based on Group Theory

This paper deals with a new method that provides an integrated approach to design and manufacture of gas turbine components by using the group theory and customising standard computer aided design and manufacturing system. With this approach time consuming and iterative design procedure and process planning are automated and become more efficient. Due to the intricate and diverse nature of gas turbine components, grouping them is not easy as in other industries. A possible way of grouping the gas turbine components based on design and manufacturing attributes on a broad basis is presented. A case study of high pressure turbine disc is included with illustrations for design and process planning of this component. The proposed system is implemented on a personal computer and offers an alternate solution to sophisticated and expensive main frame based systems

Correlation and path analysis studies in Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrids Hort.)

Correlation and path analysis were carried out in 12 varieties of gladiolus for different yield attributing traits at the Horticultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yercaud. The results indicated that the Rachis length was positive and significantly correlated with mother corm weight (g), plant height at 60th days after planting (DAP) (cm), number of leaves per plant at 60th (DAP), length of spike (cm), weight of daughter corm (g) and vase life (days). But, it is negative and significantly correlated with number of days taken for first floret opening (rg: -0.714 & rp: -0.664), number of daughter corms per plant (rg: -0.826 & rp: -0.724) and marketable spikes per plant (rg: -0.561 & rp: -0.418) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. For path analysis the residual effect was 0.174 and it was evident that the highest direct effect on length of rachis was observed in case of mother corm size (0.951) and weight of the daughter corm (0.943), followed by number of daughter corms per plant (0.859), number of florets per spike (0.849), length of first floret (0.832), marketable spikes per plant (0.385), number of leaves per plant at 60th DAP (0.384), diameter of first floret (0.374) and length of spike (0.221) under Shevaroys condition

Variability for Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba L.)

Glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.) is one of the major medicinal plants of India cultivated for its seeds which are exported to developed countries for pharmaceutical use. Identifying germplasm is an important component for efficient and effective management of plant genetic resources. Variability for qualitative and quantitative traits was investigated in 18 genotypes of G. superba collected from different regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. For qualitative traits, these genotypes were subjected to diversity analysis based on NBPGR descriptors. Fourteen qualitative and twenty quantitative traits of G. superba were evaluated to assess morphological variations among the genotypes collected. In qualitative traits, a large number of genotypes of the 18 clustered together, at 77% similarity in two clusters. Dendrogram constructed on the basis of twenty quantitative traits for the same set of genotypes did not reveal any clear pattern in grouping, and the genotypes were grouped into seven different clusters. Cluster analysis based on qualitative and quantitative traits revealed a different group of genotypes for each of the data-set. This clearly indicated that less variation existed between genotypes with respect to morphological traits. These easily observable morphological traits are useful tools for preliminary evaluation, because, they offer a fast and reliable approach for assessing extent of diversity in G. superba genotypes

Packaging Technology for Export of Jasmine (Jasminum sambac Ait.) Flowers

A study was conducted to standardize packaging technology for export of jasmine flowers. Experiments were laid out in FCRD in three replications, with 12 chemical treatments, and packing with unit packing boxes and thermocol boxes under gel-ice cold condition. Effects of various chemical treatments and their interaction with packaging were studied and observations were recorded on visual quality (freshness index, flower-opening index, colour retention index and fragrance score) of flowers and physiological parameters associated with post harvest quality of flowers. Export suitability of the package was also studied and Cost:Benefit ratio (CBR) worked out. Chemical treatment of flowers with 4% boric acid, packing in aluminum-foil lined boxes and further packaging in thermocol boxes under gel-ice cold condition was found to be significantly superior to Control, and recorded a shelf life of 42.88h. This package also recorded maximum freshness index (70 to 90%), minimum flower-opening index (10.5 to 50%) and maximum colour retention index (77.77 to 88.88%) of flowers. CBR was 1:2.5

Standardization for Drying, Bleaching and Dyeing Processes in Dried Flowers

An experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2009-2010 to standardize processing techniques for dried flower production. Foliage of silver oak (Grevillea robusta), thuja (Thuja orientalis) and camellia (Camellia reticulata) was best preserved by glycerinization; leaves were soft and pliable, with lowest moisture and highest overall acceptability. In the case of fully-opened flowers in button-type chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum), gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) and plumeria (Plumeria alba), a combination of sand and silica gel, and microwave-oven embedded method was found to be suitable for drying, with high overall acceptability. Dried pods of jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and castanospermum (Castanospermum australe) were fully bleached by soaking overnight in 10% sodium hydroxide and subsequent treatment with 2% sodium hydroxide + 2.5% sodium silicate + 35% hydrogen peroxide. Bleached pods were given dye treatments where acrylic dyes showed good dyeing consistency, light fastness, wash fastness and rubbing fastness

Responses of mixed light-emitting diode ratios on vegetative, flower regulation, and stalk elongation of cut chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev)

A Greenhouse experiment on the study of responses of mixed light-emitting diode ratios in cut chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev) was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatment comprises of seven varied light-emitting diode irradiance levels viz., L1 – 100% White; L2 – 100% Red; L3 -  80% Red + 20% Blue; L4 – 80% Red + 20% Far-red; L5 – 75% Blue + 25% Far-red; L6 – 60% Red + 20% Blue + 20% Far-red; L7 - High pressure sodium vapour lamp (as check) in Salvador and Pusa Centenary varieties. The results revealed that the growth in terms of height of the chrysanthemum at critical stages was maximum (48.88 cm in Salvador and 41.92 cm in Pusa Centenary) under the light irradiance of B75FR25 (L5) during the peak vegetative stage and registered maximum leaf area. Highest internodal length  up to 3rd leaf of 1.07 cm was registered in sodium vapour lamp irradiance (L7) and 1.39 cm in 100% Red irradiance (L2). The early flower bud emergence (39 days in Salvador and 50 days in Pusa Centenary) was observed in B75Fr25 spectral irradiance (L5). The highest total cut stem yield per square meter (42.65 in Salvador and 41.99 in Pusa Centenary) was registered in R80B20. The study revealed that blue LEDs combined with Far-red promoted early flowering and inhibited stem elongations. Red and Blue wavelength increased the total leaf area and registered improved flower yield.

Diversity assessment of Nerium accessions for growth and flower yield

Thirty nerium accessions were evaluated for growth and flower yield. Each accession had specific vegetative and flowering traits, among them ACC-19 (Rasipuram pink double) recorded the maximum plant height (236.84 cm) and flower yield per plant (333.09g). ACC-2 (Panamarathanpatty white single) recorded the maximum number of primary branches (6.80). Leaf area (33.61 cm2), early flower bud initiation (90.47), flower bud length (3.40), number of inflorescences per plant (24.17), number of flowers per plant (10.67) were maximum in ACC-12. Accessions 12 (Rasipuram pink single) displayed profuse blooming and long-lasting blooming characteristics, which made them an excellent choice for commercial cultivation and landscaping

Assessment of Farm Financial Literacy among Jasmine Growers in Tamilnadu, India

The unique nature of farm financial management calls for farmer to act as an entrepreneur. Being an farm entrepreneur the farmer should have enough financial literacy for effective financial management. Apart from training on production, post-harvest and marketing NAIP had given some information on farm financial management. A study was conducted to assess the financial literacy of jasmine farmers. Standardized knowledge test was employed to assess the financial literacy of farmers. For that, 100 farmers from Erode and 100 famers from Madurai district was surveyed. The collected data were analyzed using percentage analysis, multiple regression and factor analysis. It was concluded that, Erode farmers has high financial literacy than Madurai farmers. The results revealed that, age, education, experience, farm income, years of relationship with the bank, size of landholding, frequency of bank visit and bank account were significantly influenced the financial literacy of farmer. Key words: Financial literacy, NAIP, knowledge test and factor analysi