Enhancing turmeric productivity through KVK interventions in Chamarajanagar District

Introduction

Turmeric is a major spice in India, valued for culinary and medicinal uses, and popularly known as haldi or Indian saffron. India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter, contributing >70% of global trade and ~80% of world production (~11 lakh tonnes annually), followed by China (8%), Myanmar (4%), Nigeria (3%) and Bangladesh (3%). Major producing states include Maharashtra (3.30 lakh t), Telangana (1.14 lakh t), Tamil Nadu (1.04 lakh t), Karnataka (1.02 lakh t), Madhya Pradesh (0.91 lakh t), Odisha (0.74 lakh t) and West Bengal (0.53 lakh t) (Anon, 2023).

In Karnataka, Chamarajanagar district cultivates turmeric on >9,750 ha as a commercial crop (Anon, 2016). Productivity has been lower than national levels-3.12 t/ha in 2011-12, 3.40 t/ha in 2014-15, but improved to 4.1 t/ha by 2023-24 due to ICAR-KVK interventions. The main reasons for earlier low productivity were reliance on local cultivars (Salem, Kadapa, Erode, Chamarajanagar types) with poor yield potential (15-20 t/ha), low curing (16-18%), and low curcumin (2-2.5%). In addition, farmers lacked awareness of improved varieties and access to quality seed rhizomes (Vinay et al., 2023) [18] . Other areas of concern are; Farmers face constraints such as erratic rainfall (>40% deficit), poor irrigation water, shortage of organic manure due to declining cattle population, increasing saline/alkaline soils, and lack of skilled labour. Faulty agricultural operations further affect quality (Biswajith Sahoo et al., 2023) [14] . To address these, ICAR-KVK Chamarajanagar has intervened since 2012-13 through participatory research and extension: on-farm trials (2 ha, 10), front line demonstrations (10 ha, 50), method demonstrations (54), trainings (72), and seed production via PPP mode. Emphasis was on promoting the high-yielding, good-quality variety IISR Pratibha (IISR, Calicut).

Materials and Methods

Ten on-farm testing (OFT) trials were conducted jointly by scientists and farmers during 2012-13 and 2013-14 at Byadmudlu and Dollipura villages, covering 2.0 ha to assess suitable turmeric varieties for Chamarajanagar district. Trials were laid out in RCBD during kharif season with observations recorded on yield and economics. Five treatments were evaluated: T 1 -Chaithanya (Odisha, 260-280 days, yield ~30 t/ha, curcumin 3%, curing 18%), T 2 -IISR Prabha (IISR Kozhikode, 230-240 days, yield ~35 t/ha, curcumin 5%, curing 21%), T 3 -IISR Pratibha (IISR Kozhikode, 230-240 days, yield ~38 t/ha, curcumin >5%, curing 21-22%), T 4 -IISR Alleppey Supreme (IISR Kozhikode, 230-240 days, yield ~38 t/ha, curcumin >5%, curing >22%), and T 5 -Salem local (Chamarajanagar, 270-280 days, yield 15-20 t/ha, curcumin 2-3%, curing 16-18%). From 2014-15 to 2024-25, KVK Chamarajanagar conducted 50 front line demonstrations on 10 ha to disseminate IISR Pratibha variety among farmers and seed producers. Demonstrations emphasized Integrated Crop Management practices including timely sowing, seed rhizome treatment with Mancozeb @ 2 g/litre, spacing of 45 cm × 30 cm, organic mulching at sowing and 45 DAS, integrated nutrient management with FYM @ 10 t/acre + 60:50:100 kg NPK/acre + foliar spray of Turmeric Special @ 5 g/litre at 60, 90, and 120 DAS, integrated pest and disease management practices, and harvesting at proper stage. Each participating farmer received quality seed rhizomes with intercultural operations conducted under supervision. Capacity building programs and exposure visits to advanced seed production blocks were organized to strengthen seed producers. The details of Front line demonstrations conducted by KVK Chamarajanagar are as follows; Farmers were selected based on criteria: FPO membership, at least three years of turmeric experience, adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), maintenance of seed logbooks, and regular linkage with KVK. Key GAPs (Anon., 2020) included green manuring 60 days before sowing, use of healthy rhizomes, Mancozeb seed treatment (2 g/L for 20 min), raised-bed planting at 45 × 30 cm spacing, irrigation at 10-day intervals, and weeding at 25, 45, and 90 DAS. Nutrient management consisted of 25 t/ha FYM and 150:100:250 kg NPK/ha with potassium topdressed at 45 DAS. "Turmeric Special" was applied at 60, 90, 120, and 150 DAS. IPDM was followed, with genetic purity ensured by rouging and avoiding admixtures. Harvesting was done only after full maturity. This effort enabled large-scale production and district-wide distribution of quality IISR Pratibha seed rhizomes.

Results and Discussion

The superiority of the improved variety IISR Pratibha is conformed with the OFT's in both the season. The results clearly shows that among the different varieties IISR Pratibha excelled with Fresh rhizome yield in both the season (37.48 t/ha; 31.61 t/ha and 34.54 t/ha at 1 st , 2 nd season and pooled data respectively) followed by IISR Alleppy supreme. A similar result was reported by Sasikumar. B., (2005) [16] , highlighted the high yield potential of IISR Pratibha. Least fresh rhizome yield was recorded with Salem local (21.65 t/ha; 23.46 t/ha and 22.55 t/ha at 1 st , 2 nd season and pooled data respectively). Overall 53.17% higher fresh rhizome yield was observed from IISR Pratibha compare to check Salem local variety (Table 2). Curing percentage is higher in Allepy supreme (22.32%) (Table 2) followed by IISR Pratibha (20.42%). Very low curing was observed with Chaithanya (16.90%) and salem local (17.31%). The cured rhizome yield is high in Allepy supreme (7.23t/ha) followed by IISR Pratibha (7.04t/ha). Least was observed with Chaithanya (3.84t/ha and salem local (3.97t/ha). Apart from high yielding IISR Pratibha is 41 days earlier than local cultivar Salem with 53.17% higher yield potential, which is evident in both the season. The results are in accordance with Kumar et al (2017) [11] for superiority and wider adoptability of IISR Pratibha in Chamarajanagar district. Vinay et al (2023) [18] confirmed the suitability of IISR Pratibha for southern dryzone-6 Mysore region through introduction to farmers. www.extensionjournal.com The results of OFT are in accordance with the findings of (Sasikumar. B., 2005) [16] ; Kadam et al (2023) [9] in Konkan condition of Maharastra. Vinay et al (2023) [18] at Mysore district of Karnataka. Both the researchers found high yield, high net income, high B:C ratio of IISR Pratibha compared to low yield and low B: C ratio of Salem variety confirmed by Chandu et al (2024) [6] , Dinkar et al (2012) [8] .

Front Line Demonstrations

Front line and large-scale demonstrations of IISR Pratibha were conducted in Chamarajanagar district from 2014-15 to 2024-25 to disseminate the variety and promote seed production under PPP mode. Integrated crop management practices were also included. Results ( Similar demonstrations were conducted and reported by Kamal Kant et al (2020) [10] Bhagalpur District of Bihar and Abhimanyu Chaturvedi et al (2024) [7] in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh, found that higher net income and B:C ratio over farmer practice (Meena et al., 2021) [12] . [17] in Bundhelkhand of Uttar Pradesh. The infusion of a variety in to farmer's level is evident through improving productivity of turmeric crop in the district. During 2011-12 the productivity was 3.12 t/ha, 2014-15 it is 3.40t/ha. gradual improvement in the productivity is visible and now it has reached to 4.10 t/ha during 2023-24 (Figure 5). existing variety needs to be addressed.

Conclusion

From the present study, it can be concluded that Turmeric productivity is enhanced through KVK interventions viz., OFT, FLD, Method demonstrations, Capacity building programmes and Large scale Seed rhizome production at PPP mode in Chamarajanagar district. IISR Pratibha is suitable for doubling the farmers income concept, indirect benefits clearly shows that additional 10 q of cured rhizomes per acre worth of 0.5-0.6 lakh rupees, considering the larger area of >4500 ha, it is estimated that an additional 60-70 crore additional income generated to the farmers of the district in a season. Availability of the quality seed rhizomes of IISR Pratibha locally; Improvement in Turmeric productivity; Enhancing the farmers income through additional yield are other advantages. "It is the beginning of precision farming through seed production, inturn it will help to enhance the productivity".

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentThe authors did not receive any financial assistance or external support for this study.

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