More profit at less cost
"The improved variety and new technology gave an average of 3 tonnes of dried groundnut pods per hectare. The cost of cultivation was Rs 10 000 (US $ 280) per hectare, and the produce was sold at Rs 10 000 per tonne", said the beaming Mr Deshmukh.
"The use of the improved variety and the new technology gave us more value for the money we invested", says Mr Deshmukh. On an average, 70% of those who adopted this improved technology package generated higher yields and earned greater profits. Increased yield is a result of the combined impact of improved varieties and better soil, nutrient, and water management practices. The broadbed-and-furrows technology is not restricted to groundnut cultivation alone. Farmers are also using this method to maximize production of cotton, sunflower, soybean, chickpea, onion, and a host of vegetables. |
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"The broadbed-and-furrows method was designed and advocated to ease
certain agricultural operations. It was observed that operations like interculture,
weeding, irrigation, and harvesting required less labor among those who adopted the
improved package as compared to those following local practices", say Drs Ma Cynthia
S Bantilan and P K Joshi of the Research Evaluation and Impact Assessment Project,
ICRISAT.
