Crop Diversification in Fruit Belts - Sole Way to Enhance Farmers Income.

Abstract

success of technological dissemination relies on the eagerness of the farmers to grow diversified crops in a scientific manner. The willingness of farming communities ultimately pays off with better remuneration. In this direction, farmers of the mango growing belt in Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh were sensitized and motivated about the production of different vegetables, flowers, rearing of goats, poultry etc. apart from main cash crop. This diversified crops grown on small size of land will helps to the farmers in earning profit by selling in local markets.Flowers particularly marigold, chrysanthemum, roses, gerbera, gladiolus etc. were introduced and farmers showed keen interest to grow as cash crops approaches for dissemination of technologies to farmers for enhancing their income (Table 1). The flowers were harvested and marketed easily in the local market as fresh flower as well as cut flowers. The cost of cultivation of gladiolus was ` 80,000 with net income of ` 2,04,000 with benefit:cost (B:C) ratio of 2.55:1 during second years at farmers field. The cost of vegetable crops like cabbage, tomato, cauliflower were ` 75,000/ha and net income of ` 2,33,000 with B:C ratio 3.06:1.Awareness programmes among the villagers for improving income through crop diversification and other problem solving approaches.Rural youth, men and women farmers and students were trained for skill development.Rural youth were trained about soil sample collection, preparation and laboratory analysis. This was done keeping in view of providing knowledge and opportunity to serve farmers for nutrient recommendations.Awareness programs for on-farm conservation of old and elite mango germplasms, production, protection and post harvest technologies, benefit of GI for Dashehari mango, value addition of products were conducted at farmers' field. Income generation through crop diversification was given the main focus in order to enhance farmers’ income.