Five on-farm trials in Karivemula and Devanakonda watersheds of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India, demonstrated the economic viability of improved production technologies for pearl millet. The package included improved cultivar (ICTP 8203), seed rate of 4.0 kg/ha, seed treatment with thiram (3 g per kg of seed), and fertilizer dose of 60 kg N per ha and 30 kg P2O5 per ha

Ramakrishna, A

Ramarao, M

Rao, C S

Reddy, G T

Wani, S P

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most drought tolerant domesticated cereal, and is the fourth most important cereal food crop in India. Being an arid and semi-arid crop, it is traditionally a component of drylan

A Ramakrishna

Sp Wani

Ch Srinivasa Rao

G Tirupathi Reddy

M Ramarao Icrisat

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Economic Impact of Improved Pearl Millet Production Technology in Resource-poor Rainfed Areas of Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh

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ISMN 45, 2004 75SocioeconomicsEconomic Impact of Improved PearlMillet Production Technology inResource-poor Rainfed Areas ofKurnool District of Andhra PradeshA Ramakrishna1,*, SP Wani1, Ch Srinivasa Rao1,G Tirupathi Reddy2 and M Ramarao3 (1. ICRISAT,Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India; 2. AwakeningPeople Action for Rural Development (APARD),Kurnool 518 002, Andhra Pradesh, India; 3. District WaterManagement Agency (DWMA), Kurnool 518 002, AndhraPradesh, India)*Corresponding author: A.Ramakrishna@cgriar.orgIntroductionPearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most droughttolerant domesticated cereal, and is the fourth mostimportant cereal food crop in India. Being an arid andsemi-arid crop, it is traditionally a component of drylandcropping systems (Harinarayana 1987). Traditional farmingpractices include the use of locally adapted varieties withpoor yield potential and little application of manures andchemical fertilizers. The production potential of pearlmillet needs to be commercially exploited in such areas.Given quality seed, optimum amounts of fertilizer, andgood cultural and water management practices, it ispossible to increase millet productivity and attainstabilized yield levels.The drought-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh, Indiainclude Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Anantapurand Prakasam and are characterized by low soil fertility,inappropriate soil and water management practices causingland degradation, lack of improved varieties, pest anddisease incidence, declining land:man ratio, and resource-poor farmers, which contributes to the burgeoningproblem of rural poverty. The International Crops ResearchInstitute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh have initiated a projectwith the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme(APRLP) to help reduce poverty through increased agri-cultural productivity and improved livelihood opportunitiesthrough technical backstopping and convergence througha consortium of institutions. Watersheds are used as anentry point for these activities.Materials and MethodsWatersheds for undertaking on-farm research wereselected in Karivemula and Devanakonda villages inKurnool district, based on representative typology of thewatershed, extent of rainfed area, current crop productivityand willingness of community to participate in on-farmresearch activities. The strategy adopted was a knowledge-based, bottom-up and participatory approach, whichinvolved close interactions with the project implementationagencies (PIAs) and farmers. The detailed socioeconomicsurveys using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in eachwatershed helped us to understand the constraints toreduced crop productivity. From this analysis, we wereable to better understand how to achieve increasedproductivity from the farmer’s perspective.Soil samples were collected from thirty farmers’ fieldsin Karivemula and Devanakonda watersheds of Kurnooldistrict on a toposequence and were analyzed for physicaland biological parameters and various nutrients. The resultsindicated that all the fields were low in N (599 mg kg-1soil), low to medium in available P (9.8 mg kg-1 soil)(Olsen’s P), high in exchangeable K (133 mg kg-1 soil),and low in available Zn (0.4 mg kg-1 soil), S (3.2 mg kg-1soil) and B (0.3 mg kg-1 soil). The information from soilanalysis along with historical rainfall and minimum andmaximum temperature data enabled us to calculate thelength of the growing period (LGP). This critical informationassisted in identifying better options to improve yieldlevels and for sustaining natural resources.Five on-farm trials in Karivemula as well as inDevanakonda were conducted during the rainy season in2003 to demonstrate the beneficial effects of improvedproduction technologies in pearl millet. The packageincluded improved cultivar (ICTP 8203), seed rate of 4.0kg ha-1, seed treatment with thiram (3 g kg-1 seed) andfertilizer dose of 60 kg N ha-1 and 30 kg P2O5 ha-1. Fullapplication of P and 50% of N were applied as a basaldose and the remaining 50% of N as topdressing at 30days after sowing. Basal application of micronutrientsincluded a mixture of 5 kg borax (0.5 kg B) ha-1, 50 kgzinc sulfate (10 kg Zn) ha-1 and 200 kg gypsum (30 kg S)ha-1. Two intercultivations at 25 and 50 days after sowingwere used to control weeds. The crop was free from pestsand diseases. Improved production technology wascompared with the farmers’ method in an area of 1000 m2in each of the farmers’ fields. The farmers’ methodincluded a seed rate of 3 kg ha-1 and a fertilizer dose of 32kg N ha-1 and 23 kg P2O5 ha-1. Full application of P and9 kg N ha-1 were applied as basal and 23 kg N ha-1 applied76 ISMN 45, 2004as topdressing at the panicle initiation stage. Theseasonal rainfall was 307 mm in Karivemula and 470 mmin Devanakonda, much below the previous normal rainfall(572 mm).Results and DiscussionThe improved production technologies gave higheryields in both locations and recorded a mean grain yieldof 2.11 t ha-1 which was 164% higher than that obtainedwith farmers’ practice (0.80 t ha-1) (Table 1). In additionto increased grain yields, improved technology alsoresulted in a higher fodder yield of 1.81 t ha-1. Fodderyield is very important in this area, as the major cropsgrown are groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum), sunflower (Helianthus annuus)and castor (Ricinis communis). Only groundnut is used asa source of fodder. Severe scarcity of fodder is beingexperienced in Kurnool district due to continuousdroughts, which is leading to yearly reductions in cattlepopulation.The increased grain and fodder yields with improvedproduction practice were due mainly to higher plantpopulations, increased total dry matter, increased headsweight, higher threshing percentage, higher 100-grainmass and higher harvest index (Table 2). Traditionaldryland cropping systems are characterized by low riskand low yield. It must be recognized that low risk willcontinue to be the guiding principle in view of socio-economic conditions of dryland farmers. The problemwould be how to combine low risk and high yield. Forrealizing full yield potential, optimum plant populationper unit area is very important. Selecting suitable varietywill not only help increase production of a single crop butalso help increase cropping intensity. Plant populationdepends not only on seeding rate but also on the time andmethod of sowing which are low monetary inputs. Therainy season crops should be planted with the first“soaking” rains to enable the crops to make use of earlyseason rains which should allow them to complete theirlife cycle before the cessation of rains. Split applicationof fertilizers in relation to crop needs and moistureavailability also helps increase fertilizer-use efficiency.Robust plants with yield contributing factors like higherthreshing percentage, bold grain and uniform maturityare encouraged. Yield increases in response to balancedfertilization have been reported by Bationo et al. (1993).The economic viability of improved technologies overtraditional farmers’ practice was calculated using prevailingprices of input and output costs. The additional cost ofUS$29 ha-1 (Table 1) incurred in the improved technologyas compared to farmers’ practice was mainly due tobalanced fertilization (micronutrients and additional Nand P) and one additional weeding by intercultivation.However, the improved technology resulted in increasedmean income of US$146 with a cost-benefit ratio of 2.6(Table 1). This additional income could substantiallyTable 1. Yields and economics of pearl millet in ten on-farm trials conducted at Karivemula and Devanakonda watersheds inKurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India.Grain yield Fodder yield Cost of cultivation Net return Benefit-costCultivation method (t ha-1) (t ha-1) (Rs ha-1) (Rs ha-1) ratioImproved production technology 2.11 1.81 3500 (78)1 9148 (203) 2.6Farmers’ practice 0.80 1.13 2200 (49) 2581 (57) 1.2SE± 0.14 0.18 91 764CV (%) 21.0 27.2 7.1 29.11. Figures in parenthesis are in US$.Table 2. Yield components of pearl millet in ten on-farm trials conducted at Karivemula and Devanakonda watersheds inKurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India.Plant population Total dry matter Heads weight Threshing 100-grain mass HarvestCultivation method (number ha-1) (t ha-1) (t ha-1) (%)  (g) indexImproved production technology 129212 4.34 2.53 83 1.07 0.48Farmers’ practice 127282 2.17 1.04 76 0.64 0.37SE± 3335 0.32 0.16 0.72 0.10 0.02CV (%) 5.8 21.7 19.8 2.0 25.0 9.9ISMN 45, 2004 77benefit resource-poor farmers and improve their livelihoodsin the dry regions of Kurnool district. Significantincreases in grain yields of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)by 120% and maize (Zea mays) by 76% were observeddue to balanced fertilization (TJ Rego, ICRISAT, personalcommunication). Arromratana et al. (1993) reported thatapplications of micronutrients like gypsum and Bsignificantly increased test weight. Similar results werealso reported by Joshi (1997) and the response tomicronutrients was more evident during a drought yearthan in normal years. Rajat De and Gautam (1987)reported that with scientific management practices, cropyields could be increased at least three-fold. The resultsfrom our study clearly bring out the potential benefits ofimproved production technology in enhancing pearlmillet yields and net returns in the dry ecoregions ofAndhra Pradesh.Acknowledgment. We gratefully acknowledge theAPRLP/DFID for financial assistance and all the farmersfor their overwhelming support in conducting the trials.ReferencesArromratana U, Nagara TN, Ratawarat S andPaisancharoen K. 1993. Relationship of soil water status,gypsum and boron management on yield and quality of peanutin the wet season. Page 34 in Abstract on AgriculturalDevelopment Research Center in Northeast Thailand (11)1988–1993, Moe Din Daeng, Khon Kaen, Thailand.Bationo A, Christianson CB and Klaij MC. 1993. The effectof crop residue and fertilizer use on pearl millet yields in Niger.Fertilizer Research 34:251–258.Harinarayana G. 1987. Pearl millet in Indian agriculture.Pages 5–17 in Proceedings of the International Pearl MilletWorkshop, 7–11 April 1986, ICRISAT Center, India.Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India: InternationalCrops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.Joshi NL. 1997. Response of pearl millet-based croppingsystems to nitrogen in the arid region. Pages 5–23 in Fromresearch station to farmer’s field: nutrient managementresearch for millet-based cropping systems of westernRajasthan: proceedings of a planning workshop, 20–22 May1996, Jodhpur, India (Seeling B and Joshi NL, eds.).Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India: InternationalCrops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics; andJodhpur 342 003, Rajasthan, India: Central Arid ZoneResearch Institue.Rajat De and Gautam RC. 1987. Management practices toincrease and stabilize pearl millet production in India. Pages247–253 in Proceedings of the International Pearl MilletWorkshop, 7–11 April 1986, ICRISAT Center, India. Patancheru502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India: International Crops ResearchInstitute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

Economic impact of improved pearl millet production technology in resource-poor rainfed areas of Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh

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Economic impact of improved pearl millet production technology in resource-poor rainfed areas of Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh

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