Dr. MuthuvelIyyamperumal
Associate Professor and Head
Horticulture Research Station
Kodaikanal
With extensive knowledge of precision agriculture and its application for about 50 horticultural crops, 10 successfully implemented projects, over 40,000 farmers trained under his leadership and author to 5+ books to his credit, Dr.Muthuvel Iyyamperumal has gone a long way in his 15 years of work experience.
“I have over 15 years of experience, mainly in precision farming system. The Tamil Nadu Government, in 2004, had initiated a pilot project via the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University to improve the farmers' yield called the Tamil Nadu precision farming project. Being part of that project, I worked on precision farming system on the farmers' field. So, my main experience is in the precision farming system, protected cultivation and also high density planting system in perennial crops.”
Today, Dr Muthuvel is the Associate Prof and head of Kodaikanal Horticultural Research Station, which comes under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
Tell us about the pilot project you were part of, in Dharmapuri and Krishnapuri districts.
The major problem in agriculture is that farmers are unable to make a regular income and yield level is very less compared to farmers hailing from developed countries. Water scarcity is yet another problem, especially in Tamil Nadu.
This project started in 2004 to tackle the above-mentioned issues. Back then, we established this technique in about 400 hectares of land. The total project cost was about 7.21 crores. We selected 400 farmers from Dharmapuri and Krishnapuri districts and we implemented this technique in their farms.
We scientists stayed in the village where we were implementing this technique and gave regular training on precision farming techniques to the farmers. This helped them to get a very good yield. For example, in the case of tomatoes, growing the normal variety of tomatoes may fetch them a yield of about 30 tonnes. If we consider the natural output, it is about 17-18 tonnes per hectare. If the farmers go for the improved hybrid version, the yield is around 50 tonnes per hectare. Here, they practice the precision model techniques. The total maximum yield we recorded, using precision farming, is 170 tonnes per hectare. This yield was on an open field not in a closed poly house or any other structures.
Another example is brinjal. Normally farmers can get up to 30-40 tonnes of brinjal per hectare. But through the precision technique they can ramp up their yield to about 300 tonnes per hectare but the duration of the crop will be extended up to 15 months. This is mainly because of the management practices under precision system.
Unlike in other countries, where precision farming mandatorily requires poly or glass house, it can be implemented on the open fields in India owing to our climatic conditions. Due to this the cost of implementing this technique is also comparatively less.
Can you explain precision farming in detail, please?
Precision farming technique was developed and established in western countries where the climatic condition is not highly favorable for crop cultivation. Out there, they experience 6 months of severe cold and they may get just 6 months to cultivate one crop. In our country things are very different.We can go for a year-round cultivation, maybe except in May and December when we experience slightly extreme temperatures. I am talking about the South of India.
In traditional farming system, farmers provide soil inputs without considering the crop requirement and also with less knowledge on the soil’s scientific background. In precision farming, we recommend farmers to go for application of quality inputs as per specific soil and crop requirement. Nothing more, nothing less. As a result the yield improves multifold.
Another advantage of this technique is that it addresses the issue of water scarcity too. For example, on a farmland that requires 100 litres of water, drip irrigation and fertigation, they can use water optimally and not excessively.
A third advantage is that the normal duration of the crop may be extended. For example, tomatoes, brinjals or chillies can get their 1st harvest by the 70th day of planting the crop. In precision cropping, the crop duration may get extended giving them better yield. It is an additional advantage for the farmers to get more income by continuous harvesting and supply to the market.
How prevalent is precision farming in horticulture today?
In three years, since 2004, we continuously implemented it in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. From 2007, it was quite well spread within Tamil Nadu. The government has also highly recommended this technique. The major issues that farmers can face is implementing drip irrigation systems on their farms, which may be expensive. For this the government does give subsidy, which is currently about 50%. So, farmers must make use of the subsidies and go ahead to implement this technique. The farmers are getting information based on the crop and soil requirement. As far as I have seen, the implementation is happening.
To put it in a nutshell, precision technique gives precision in quantity of inputs that should be applied to plants. Another thing is use of quality inputs and it also gives you precision of time - when exactly we need to give the input. If all these three things are followed, yield will spiral up automatically.
For example, raising of the seedlings. In traditional farming, farmers sow the seeds in the raised bed or flat bed system directly in the soil. But that way the plants do not grow uniformly. Most of the fiber roots remain in the soil when they go for transplanting system. It gets damaged. So, in precision farming, we suggest protray system to sow seeds. Here, only composted coir pith is used and so it has more air holes in the root media. So, automatically we get fibrous root system and so without disturbing the roots transplanting can be done. So the very next day, it begins to grow in the soil. This is the major difference. This single technique in farming practice can bring about 20% increase in yield.
\
Do you have any live success stories?
We have published many in the Hindu. There were many success stories in terms of tomato, brinjal, banana, maize, water melon crops, etc. In fact, we also published three books on precision farming in Tamil. All the precision techniques are consolidated into that book. These books include details on how to maintain the crop with all techniques and how to give the right nutrient application to the crops. Farmers are getting knowledge and clear their field problems daily.
Can we apply precision farming to organic farming as well?
Of course we can. Having said that, in my expert opinion, 100% organic farming is not possible in current times in precision farming system. The nutrient requirement can be supplemented by organic equivalents. But, for other plant protection sprays, we can reduce the dosage. But 100% may not be a feasible option. We have to do more research for using organic inputs in precision system.
Is precision farming applicable for coconut farming?
For coconut farming, drip system is absolutely effective. That reduces the water wastage against the flood irrigation system, that farmers generally employ for coconut farming. In flood irrigation system many problems occur to reduce the yield. Based on the soil properties, application of water quantity, nutrients through fertigation, micro nutrient application, biocontrol agents and biofertilizers etc can be applied precisely for more yield. This certainly reduces immature nutfall and improve the yield. Most often nutrient application in coconut farms is not frequent in traditional system. Farmers apply nutrients only once in 6 months or once a year. But with meticulous fertigation systems, yield gets doubled.
In general precision technique is applicable for all crops, not just coconut. In terms of perennial crops, for instance, high density farming is advisable. That is, instead of going for the normal or traditional system which is placing crops at a 10x10 meter distance for mango, which caters to about 100 trees in a hectare. In high density farming, you can plant trees at a distance of 3x2 meter; that gives space to about 1666 trees per hectare. This improves the yield. Of course, the trees will be much closer to each other. When we give wider gap between plants, we are not making use of optimum land space.
But, won't that be too restrictive a place for plant growth?
To give plants enough space, we need to go for canopy management properly. Without adopting pruning system, high density farming fails. So, this prevents the trees from growing to great heights. But you can have more trees per area and this gives a higher yield.
In the traditional system, the trees may grow up to 10 meters in height. But, harvesting, input application, etc. becomes difficult tasks.
With high density farming, per plant yield may reduce, because of limited growth per plant but overall, your yield is bound to be higher.
So, if we adopt all techniques - canopy management, mulching system, drip irrigation system, nutrigation, etc. in total it will reap benefits - absolutely! It is not the same if it is adopted in fragments. If it is adopted in totality, we can realize a crop harvest of 20-25 tonnes per hectare instead of 7 - 8 tonnes per hectare in Mango.
Which is the best tender coconut seedling?
For tender coconut you can go for Chowghat orange dwarf or Chowghat orange yellow varieties are preferred. Under the Tamil Nadu agricultural University, we have Aliyarnagar and Veppankulam coconut research stations that supply all coconut varieties.
What are the challenges in popularizing precision farming techniques?
The initial cost to implement this technique is on the higher side. So, when we recommend this technique, farmers must have drip irrigation system. Now the Government is giving subsidy for the installation of drip system. Evennow, mostly the farmers would have been growing the traditional way, so changing the mindset is a huge hurdle especially when there is cost involved.
Marketing is yet another problem. The issue is this method increases the production on the farm; but, when the market price is less, they fail to realize the end benefit. So, the cluster approach is the successful one. Instead of one farmer, clusters of about 20 farmers were formed so that they can afford to send their produce to distant markets as well because using this methodology the quality and quantity of the produce to the market shoots up. So, they can target markets where price is high.
How does research on precision farming in India fare against that in other countries?
We have a long way to go in comparison with other countries. In western countries, this technique existed since a very long time especially for glass house conditions. The climatic conditions in many countries is not favorable for open farming. So, they implemented glass house farming to attain 100% precision farming environment.
For each crop, the soil requirement is different. Also, at each crop stage, the crop has varied requirements - the temperature conditions, humidity levels, nutrient requirements etc. These issues are tackled through precision agriculture. So, in western countries when they implemented this technique the yield automatically rose. We have different requirements in our country. Research has to be done in open conditions and poly houses/glass houses as well. We should also focus studies on how to reduce the chemical requirement so that organic inputs can be implemented. So, research has a long way to go in terms of precision agriculture. As scientists, we have to deliver the final package of practices for crops in precision techniques to farmers so that they can implement it and reap high yields and income. Therefor, there is a lot more work that needs to go into this study.
Contact
Dr. Muthuvel Iyyamperumal,
Associate Professor and Head,
Horticultural Research Station,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Observatory, Fairy Falls,
Kodaikanal,
Tamil Nadu - 624103
Mobile: 9443715948
E-Mail: im74@tnau.ac.in
Associate Professor and Head
Horticulture Research Station
Kodaikanal
With extensive knowledge of precision agriculture and its application for about 50 horticultural crops, 10 successfully implemented projects, over 40,000 farmers trained under his leadership and author to 5+ books to his credit, Dr.Muthuvel Iyyamperumal has gone a long way in his 15 years of work experience.
“I have over 15 years of experience, mainly in precision farming system. The Tamil Nadu Government, in 2004, had initiated a pilot project via the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University to improve the farmers' yield called the Tamil Nadu precision farming project. Being part of that project, I worked on precision farming system on the farmers' field. So, my main experience is in the precision farming system, protected cultivation and also high density planting system in perennial crops.”
Today, Dr Muthuvel is the Associate Prof and head of Kodaikanal Horticultural Research Station, which comes under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
Tell us about the pilot project you were part of, in Dharmapuri and Krishnapuri districts.
The major problem in agriculture is that farmers are unable to make a regular income and yield level is very less compared to farmers hailing from developed countries. Water scarcity is yet another problem, especially in Tamil Nadu.
This project started in 2004 to tackle the above-mentioned issues. Back then, we established this technique in about 400 hectares of land. The total project cost was about 7.21 crores. We selected 400 farmers from Dharmapuri and Krishnapuri districts and we implemented this technique in their farms.
We scientists stayed in the village where we were implementing this technique and gave regular training on precision farming techniques to the farmers. This helped them to get a very good yield. For example, in the case of tomatoes, growing the normal variety of tomatoes may fetch them a yield of about 30 tonnes. If we consider the natural output, it is about 17-18 tonnes per hectare. If the farmers go for the improved hybrid version, the yield is around 50 tonnes per hectare. Here, they practice the precision model techniques. The total maximum yield we recorded, using precision farming, is 170 tonnes per hectare. This yield was on an open field not in a closed poly house or any other structures.
Another example is brinjal. Normally farmers can get up to 30-40 tonnes of brinjal per hectare. But through the precision technique they can ramp up their yield to about 300 tonnes per hectare but the duration of the crop will be extended up to 15 months. This is mainly because of the management practices under precision system.
Unlike in other countries, where precision farming mandatorily requires poly or glass house, it can be implemented on the open fields in India owing to our climatic conditions. Due to this the cost of implementing this technique is also comparatively less.
Can you explain precision farming in detail, please?
Precision farming technique was developed and established in western countries where the climatic condition is not highly favorable for crop cultivation. Out there, they experience 6 months of severe cold and they may get just 6 months to cultivate one crop. In our country things are very different.We can go for a year-round cultivation, maybe except in May and December when we experience slightly extreme temperatures. I am talking about the South of India.
In traditional farming system, farmers provide soil inputs without considering the crop requirement and also with less knowledge on the soil’s scientific background. In precision farming, we recommend farmers to go for application of quality inputs as per specific soil and crop requirement. Nothing more, nothing less. As a result the yield improves multifold.
Another advantage of this technique is that it addresses the issue of water scarcity too. For example, on a farmland that requires 100 litres of water, drip irrigation and fertigation, they can use water optimally and not excessively.
A third advantage is that the normal duration of the crop may be extended. For example, tomatoes, brinjals or chillies can get their 1st harvest by the 70th day of planting the crop. In precision cropping, the crop duration may get extended giving them better yield. It is an additional advantage for the farmers to get more income by continuous harvesting and supply to the market.
How prevalent is precision farming in horticulture today?
In three years, since 2004, we continuously implemented it in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. From 2007, it was quite well spread within Tamil Nadu. The government has also highly recommended this technique. The major issues that farmers can face is implementing drip irrigation systems on their farms, which may be expensive. For this the government does give subsidy, which is currently about 50%. So, farmers must make use of the subsidies and go ahead to implement this technique. The farmers are getting information based on the crop and soil requirement. As far as I have seen, the implementation is happening.
To put it in a nutshell, precision technique gives precision in quantity of inputs that should be applied to plants. Another thing is use of quality inputs and it also gives you precision of time - when exactly we need to give the input. If all these three things are followed, yield will spiral up automatically.
For example, raising of the seedlings. In traditional farming, farmers sow the seeds in the raised bed or flat bed system directly in the soil. But that way the plants do not grow uniformly. Most of the fiber roots remain in the soil when they go for transplanting system. It gets damaged. So, in precision farming, we suggest protray system to sow seeds. Here, only composted coir pith is used and so it has more air holes in the root media. So, automatically we get fibrous root system and so without disturbing the roots transplanting can be done. So the very next day, it begins to grow in the soil. This is the major difference. This single technique in farming practice can bring about 20% increase in yield.
\
Do you have any live success stories?
We have published many in the Hindu. There were many success stories in terms of tomato, brinjal, banana, maize, water melon crops, etc. In fact, we also published three books on precision farming in Tamil. All the precision techniques are consolidated into that book. These books include details on how to maintain the crop with all techniques and how to give the right nutrient application to the crops. Farmers are getting knowledge and clear their field problems daily.
Can we apply precision farming to organic farming as well?
Of course we can. Having said that, in my expert opinion, 100% organic farming is not possible in current times in precision farming system. The nutrient requirement can be supplemented by organic equivalents. But, for other plant protection sprays, we can reduce the dosage. But 100% may not be a feasible option. We have to do more research for using organic inputs in precision system.
Is precision farming applicable for coconut farming?
For coconut farming, drip system is absolutely effective. That reduces the water wastage against the flood irrigation system, that farmers generally employ for coconut farming. In flood irrigation system many problems occur to reduce the yield. Based on the soil properties, application of water quantity, nutrients through fertigation, micro nutrient application, biocontrol agents and biofertilizers etc can be applied precisely for more yield. This certainly reduces immature nutfall and improve the yield. Most often nutrient application in coconut farms is not frequent in traditional system. Farmers apply nutrients only once in 6 months or once a year. But with meticulous fertigation systems, yield gets doubled.
In general precision technique is applicable for all crops, not just coconut. In terms of perennial crops, for instance, high density farming is advisable. That is, instead of going for the normal or traditional system which is placing crops at a 10x10 meter distance for mango, which caters to about 100 trees in a hectare. In high density farming, you can plant trees at a distance of 3x2 meter; that gives space to about 1666 trees per hectare. This improves the yield. Of course, the trees will be much closer to each other. When we give wider gap between plants, we are not making use of optimum land space.
But, won't that be too restrictive a place for plant growth?
To give plants enough space, we need to go for canopy management properly. Without adopting pruning system, high density farming fails. So, this prevents the trees from growing to great heights. But you can have more trees per area and this gives a higher yield.
In the traditional system, the trees may grow up to 10 meters in height. But, harvesting, input application, etc. becomes difficult tasks.
With high density farming, per plant yield may reduce, because of limited growth per plant but overall, your yield is bound to be higher.
So, if we adopt all techniques - canopy management, mulching system, drip irrigation system, nutrigation, etc. in total it will reap benefits - absolutely! It is not the same if it is adopted in fragments. If it is adopted in totality, we can realize a crop harvest of 20-25 tonnes per hectare instead of 7 - 8 tonnes per hectare in Mango.
Which is the best tender coconut seedling?
For tender coconut you can go for Chowghat orange dwarf or Chowghat orange yellow varieties are preferred. Under the Tamil Nadu agricultural University, we have Aliyarnagar and Veppankulam coconut research stations that supply all coconut varieties.
What are the challenges in popularizing precision farming techniques?
The initial cost to implement this technique is on the higher side. So, when we recommend this technique, farmers must have drip irrigation system. Now the Government is giving subsidy for the installation of drip system. Evennow, mostly the farmers would have been growing the traditional way, so changing the mindset is a huge hurdle especially when there is cost involved.
Marketing is yet another problem. The issue is this method increases the production on the farm; but, when the market price is less, they fail to realize the end benefit. So, the cluster approach is the successful one. Instead of one farmer, clusters of about 20 farmers were formed so that they can afford to send their produce to distant markets as well because using this methodology the quality and quantity of the produce to the market shoots up. So, they can target markets where price is high.
How does research on precision farming in India fare against that in other countries?
We have a long way to go in comparison with other countries. In western countries, this technique existed since a very long time especially for glass house conditions. The climatic conditions in many countries is not favorable for open farming. So, they implemented glass house farming to attain 100% precision farming environment.
For each crop, the soil requirement is different. Also, at each crop stage, the crop has varied requirements - the temperature conditions, humidity levels, nutrient requirements etc. These issues are tackled through precision agriculture. So, in western countries when they implemented this technique the yield automatically rose. We have different requirements in our country. Research has to be done in open conditions and poly houses/glass houses as well. We should also focus studies on how to reduce the chemical requirement so that organic inputs can be implemented. So, research has a long way to go in terms of precision agriculture. As scientists, we have to deliver the final package of practices for crops in precision techniques to farmers so that they can implement it and reap high yields and income. Therefor, there is a lot more work that needs to go into this study.
Contact
Dr. Muthuvel Iyyamperumal,
Associate Professor and Head,
Horticultural Research Station,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Observatory, Fairy Falls,
Kodaikanal,
Tamil Nadu - 624103
Mobile: 9443715948
E-Mail: im74@tnau.ac.in