Santosh Mundhe, Wed Aug 6,
Agriculture Innovation: A special cotton project has been implemented for three years through Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Through that, improved technology and various aspects of it have been disseminated to farmers.
Tech in Agriculture: A special cotton project has been implemented for three years through Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Through that, improved technology and its various aspects have been disseminated to the farmers. The project has created more awareness among the farmers about the use of technology. Production has increased by up to four quintals per acre. Apart from this, various other benefits are also being received.
Cotton productivity has decreased due to climate change, outbreak of pests and diseases, increase in production costs, etc. The financial calculations of farmers have also deteriorated. Against this backdrop, a special cotton project is being implemented through Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Agricultural Science Center-1 (KVK) under Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University. It is receiving technical guidance from the Central Cotton
Research Institute, Nagpur. This is the third year of the project.
Project scope
In the first year, i.e. 2023, the project was implemented in 12 villages and 25farmers from three talukas (Sillod, Soygaon, Kannada) of ChhatrapatiSambhajinagar district. This involved an area of about 61 acres. In view of the success of the first year, in the second year (2024), 95 farmers from 19 villages in four talukas participated. This year (2025), the project is being implemented in four talukas of Sillod, Sambhajinagar, Soygaon, Paithan.This year, the total area is 250 acres and about farmers have been included.
...this is how technology was used
Under the project, farmers used the dense planting technology recommended by the Nagpur-based research institute. In this, planting was done at a spacing of 90 by 30 centimeters in the dense method, and 90 by15 centimeters in the intensive method.
In the dense planting method, four packets of seeds were used per acre. The number of trees per acre was about 14,814. In the intensive planting method, the number of seed packets was six. The number of trees per acre was about 29,629. In traditional planting, the branch growth of the cotton crop is uncontrolled. Due to this, the tree becomes large, but the fruiting is reduced. If the sowing is done late or not done on time, the incidence of pink bollworm increases. Due to this, the production decreases. Keeping this problem in mind, the Dada Lad technique was used.
Bt and upright varieties were used for cultivation. Shallow or light soils were recommended for intensive cultivation. The culms are removed after 35 to40 days of planting. The tops are picked after 80 to 85 days. This provides more nutrients to the fruiting branches. The number and weight of the buds increase. The buds on the branches at the top, i.e. the upper part, also benefit from this.
To control the crop growth, Mepiquat chloride, a plant growth regulator, was sprayed two to three times as needed. Due to this, the crop does not grow too tall. The first-placed pods survive.O soil health through the use of compost, biochar, biofertilizers, and
micronutr
f course, crop growth management is also based on factors such as soil type, climate, variety, and water availability. For this, KVK provides regular guidance.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Emphasizing
ients.
After harvesting, the straw was mechanically crushed and recycled, thereby promoting
an increase in the organic carbon content of the soil.
Technology diffusion
In the first year, KVK conducted 11 programs for technology extension. These included field days and fairs. KVK scientists visited farmers' fields throughout the season. They recorded observations and provided guidance from time to time. Thousands of farmers participated in the extension programs every year. This initiative increased their awareness about technology and productivity.
Per acre production increased
Before the use of technology, the cost of cultivating cotton using the traditional method used to be around Rs 28,000 per acre. The cost increased by about 2.84 percent in the improved method. This was due to the increase in labor costs for tasks such as de-stripping and pruning. In2023, the average production per acre was 11.68 quintals, while in 2024 it was 10.72 quintals. In the traditional method, the same production was around 7 quintals. That is, the improved method increased the production by more than four quintals per acre.
Contribution to the project
The valuable contribution of the Chief Scientist of the Central Cotton Research Institute, Dr. Arjun Tayde, Dr. Vishlesh Nagarare, KVK Head Dr.Deepti Patgaonkar (Project Officer), Dr. Baswaraj Pisure (Associate Project Officer), Satish Kadam and Jaydev Singh Singal (Technical Trainers) was received for the implementation of the project. That is why a lot of confidence was created among the farmers about the project in these three years.
Benefits of using technology
The crop is completed in about 150 days. This allows for timely planning orbit season crops.
Early harvesting has reduced the risk of pink bollworm. Choosing varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting can reduce dependence on labor.
The organic carbon of the soil increases by using the residues left after the cotton crop as compost.
Since the profit is higher than the additional costs, the income of the farmers also increases.
Farmers' knowledge and self-confidence increased.
The training increased awareness and acceptance of improved farming techniques.