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COMPENDIUM, IEEC-2023   ( ISBN : 978-81-967860-4-5 )
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Theme 2: Recent Trends in Agriculture and Resource Management

Performance of Vegetables, Cereals and Plantation crops under Natural Farming

Dhananjoy Mandal, D. Mahata, S. Nandi, S. Sarkar, A. Sharma, M. Dey, D. Sekhar, P. Barman, S. Mahapatra

Uttar Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra (UBKV), Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal
dhananjoy17@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Intensive cultivation through inorganic fertilizer and pesticides is creating health hazards as well as depletion of soil nutrients and ecology. For Sustainable Agriculture the Natural Farming (NF) programme has been started at different villages of Uttar Dinajpur district with several vegetables (Broccoli, Cabbage, Tomato, Brinjal, and Leafy Vegetables) through demonstrations during rabi 2022; Side by side On Farm Trial (OFT) was carried out in boro Paddy and existing small Tea garden under NF to evaluate the performance. From the demonstrations, in rabi vegetables it was observed that overall cost of cultivation reduced by 36.87 per cent in NF than normal cultivation and average net profit increased upto Rs. 103323 ha-1 (37.48%) under NF. It is also observed that the overall vegetables production increased 4 to 13 per cent in NF except in Broccoli & coloured cauliflower production decreased upto 47.5 per cent, though the Gross return and Net return was increased due to higher selling price. Average Pest infestation and Disease incidence was reduced 38 to 79 per cent under NF in demonstrated vegetables. Whereas; in OFT, it was observed that 22 per cent and 29 per cent production increased in boro rice and Tea respectively than normal cultivation. In rice field, Infestation of Yellow Stem Borer (YSB) and Neck Blast (NB) disease were noticed only 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively under NF but it was observed that 17 per cent and 32 per cent by YSB and NB respectively under normal cultivation. In Tea, it was observed that looper, mite and Tea mosquito bug infestation was also reduced upto 65 to 73 per cent among the all pest complex in tea under NF. From the demonstrations and trial it can be revealed that major area may come under Natural Farming for sustainable Agriculture.

IEEC-2023 at RARI (SKNAU, Jobner), Jaipur, Rajasthan organised by Society of Extension Education, Agra, India