Detailed Project Report on organic farming of millets, dairy and vermiculite/vermiculture

ORGANIC FARMING OF MILLETS, DAIRY
AND VERMICULITE/VERMICULTURE
[CODE NO.3724]  


In the present agricultural scenario, crop yield is declining day by day despite maximization of chemical inputs. Vicious cycle of chemical farming is now exposed in the increasing crop un-sustainability, higher input requirement, poor soil quality as well as recurrent pest and disease infestation. Moreover, in the pretext of climate change yield interference has become quite predictable under the unpredictable weather conditions vis-a-vis hike in biotic potential. The excess/indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers has led to the entry of harmful compounds into food chain, death of natural enemies and deterioration of surrounding ecology. Enhanced use of pesticide has resulted in serious health implications to man and his environment.  Hence, enhancement and maintenance of system productivity and resource quality is essential for sustainable agriculture. Organic farming can solve many of these problems as this system helps to maintain soil productivity and effectively control pest by enhancing natural processes and cycles in harmony with environment. Today, it is clear to the agricultural community that organic farming is the best option for not only protecting/sustaining soil-plant –ecological relationship but to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change. However dearth of proper technological advancement is the major hindrance towards achieving the true objectives of organic farming. In this background, an Indian organic farming practice called Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology has demonstrated some promising results that have brought bring forth the relevance of organic farming in today’s agricultural scenario.

Though the organic movement was initiated over a decade ago it has failed to gain the expected momentum due to several ambiguities. Organic farming is mostly envisaged as the stoppage of synthetic inputs and their replacement by organic alternatives i.e.use of organic manures and natural methods of plant protection instead of using synthetic fertilizers/pesticides. But this is not true. However, organic farming is a far deeper concept that mere non-chemicalization. In real sense it refers to a comprehensive approach towards improvement of both health of underlying productivity of the soil and plant leading to the enrichment of the surrounding ecology; which is a pre-requisite criterion for sustainable agriculture. According to IFOAM, “Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people”. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. The major objectivity of organic farming resides on development of a self-sustainable farming system in harmony with nature which delivers ecologically and economically sustainable pure food with enrichment of surrounding biodiversity and its entire components.

Millets

Millets are some of the oldest of cultivated crops. The term millet is applied to various grass crops whose seeds are harvested for food or feed. The five millet species of commercial importance are proso, foxtail, barnyard, browntop and pearl. In China, records of culture for foxtail and proso millet extend back to 2000 to 1000 BC Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) probably originated in southern Asia and is the oldest of the cultivated millets. It is also known as Italian or German Millet. Its culture slowly spread westward towards Europe. Foxtail millet was rarely grown in the U.S. during colonial times, but its acreage increased dramatically in the Great Plains after 1850. However, with the introduction of Sudan grass, acreage planted to foxtail millet decreased.

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) was introduced into the U.S. from Europe during the 18th century. It was first grown along the eastern seaboard and was later introduced into the Dakotas where it later was grown on considerable acreage. In North Dakota acreage has ranged from 50,000 to 100,000 acres while in Minnesota only a few thousand acres have been grown.

Today, foxtail millet is grown primarily in eastern Asia. Proso millet is grown in the Soviet Union, mainland China, India and western Europe. In the United States, both millets are grown principally in the Dakotas, Colorado and Nebraska.

Barnyard or Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentaceae L.), is a domesticated relative of the seed, barnyard grass. It is grown for grain in Australia, Japan and other Asian countries. In the United States, it is grown primarily as a forage.

Browntop millet (Panicum ramosum) is a native of India and was introduced into the United States in 1915. It is grown in southeastern United States for hay or pasture and bird and quail feed plantings on game preserves. It is sometimes sold to Minnesota sportsmen for this purpose. Seed and forage yields of browntop millet have been low in Minnesota tests and it did not compete well with weeds.

Pearl or cattail millet (Pennisetum glaucum) originated in the African savannah and grown since prehistoric time. It is grown extensively in Africa, Asia, India and Near East as a food grain. It was introduced into the United States at an early date but was seldom grown until 1875. It is primarily grown in southern United States as a temporary pasture. It is preferred over sudangrass as a forage crop in the south. Varieties planted at Rosemount, Minnesota produced very little seed, and their forage yield was low compared to foxtail varieties.


COST ESTIMATION


Land & Building (81 Acres)      Rs. 32 Cr         
Plant & Machinery                      Rs. 2 Cr     
Working Capital for 2 Months     Rs. 2.08 Cr
Total Capital Investment              Rs. 46.54 Cr
Rate of Return            24%                   
Break Even Point             43%                



INTRODUCTION    
VERMICULITE    
USES AND COMPOSITION OF MILLET    
TABLE: AVERAGE COMPOSITION OF PROSO MILLET.    
TABLE: THE AVERAGE COMPOSITION OF FOXTAIL MILLET HAY
   AND ITS COMPARISON TO OTHER HAY CROPS.    
ORGANIC FARMING AND CERTIFIED ORGANIC    
TYPES OF ORGANIC FARMING    
USES & APPLICATION OF ORGANIC FARMING    
RAW MATERIALS    
CONSTRAINTS FACED BY THE INDIAN ORGANIC GROWERS    
ABSENCE OF SUPPORTIVE POLICY    
LOSS OF CROP YIELD    
NON ACHIEVEMENT OF EXPECTED QUALITY    
FAILURE OF ORGANIC PEST MANAGEMENT    
SHORTAGE OF BIOMASS AND LIVESTOCK    
LACK OF QUALITY SEEDS SUPPORTING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE    
LACK OF STORAGE, TRANSPORT &ORGANIZED ORGANIC MARKETING
   SYSTEM    
VESTED INTERESTS OF CHEMICAL AND PESTICIDE LOBBY    
LACK OF AWARENESS AND GUIDELINE FOR ORGANIC FARMING    
INABILITY TO MEET THE EXPORT DEMAND    
COMPLEXITY AND HIGH COST OF ORGANIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEM    
SCARCITY AND HIGH COST FOR QUALITY ANALYSIS    
PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE OF ORGANIC FARMING IN INDIA    
TABLE: EXPORT OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY
   FROM INDIA (2014-15 TO 2016-17)    
PROSPECTS AND SWOT ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC DAIRY FARMING IN INDIA    
STRENGTHS    
WEAKNESSES    
OPPORTUNITIES    
THREATS    
TABLE: MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ANIMALS PER HECTARE
   (DRAFT INDIAN STANDARD)    
WORLD SCENARIO OF ORGANIC FARMING    
SOME KEY POINTS    
FIGURE 1: DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC LAND AS PER USE TYPE    
FIGURE 2: PERCENT SHARE OF ORGANIC OVER TOTAL AGRICULTURAL LAND    
OVERVIEW OF ORGANIC COTTON IN INDIA    
HIGH LEVELS OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION:    
CONSUMER PRESSURE:    
WIDE GENETIC VARIABILITY:    
LONG DURATION CROP WITH AMPLE SCOPE FOR COMPENSATION:    
ORGANIC COTTON CULTIVATION IN INDIA – A CULMINATION OF NON- CHEMICAL PEST MANAGEMENT    
TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES IN ORGANIC FARMING    
MECHANISM OF PLANT ENERGIZATION UNDER IRF TECHNOLOGY
  FOLLOWING EEA PRINCIPLE    
RANKING OF DIFFERENT PACKAGE OF PRACTICE IN TERMS OF CROP EFFICIENCY & COST PER HECTARE FOR MATURE TEA    
TABLE: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CROP CULTIVATION UNDER IRF ORGANIC & CHEMICAL FARMING PRACTICE (SOURCE: WORLD SCIENCE CONGRESS, 2017)    
TABLE: INDIAN SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARD VIS-A-VIS SEEDS
   PRODUCED AT BLOCK SEED FARM, CANNING, WEST BENGAL
  (SOURCE: CANNING REPORT, 2017).    
ORGANIC DAIRY FARMING    
OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGES IN ORGANIC DAIRY FARMING    
BENEFITS OF ORGANIC MILK    
KEY ASPECTS FOR ORGANIC MILK PRODUCTION    
EU STANDARDS    
STARTING CONVERSION    
TIME SCALE    
FEEDING    
FORAGE    
CONCENTRATES    
MINERALS AND VITAMINS    
GRASSLAND    
LIVESTOCK MANURES    
HOUSING    
ANIMAL HEALTH    
BSE    
EXISTING STOCK    
REPLACEMENTS    
CALVES    
BULLS    
SELLING AND BUYING STOCK    
ORGANIC COTTON CULTIVATION AND ITS MERITS    
MERITS OF ORGANIC COTTON CULTIVATION    
(A) ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY    
(B) REDUCTION IN COST OF CULTIVATION    
(C) MANAGEMENT OF INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE    
CULTIVATION/FARMING METHOD OF ORGANIC COTTON    
1] SELECTION OF SITE    
2] VARIETAL SELECTION    
3] SEED RATE AND SOWING    
4] MANURING    
A] FARM YARD MANURING [FYM]    
B] FODDER COWPEA    
C] DHAINCHA (SESBANIA ACULEATA)    
D] VERMICOMPOST    
E] BIOFERTILISERS    
5) TECHNOLOGY FOR COMPOSTING    
(I) VERMICOMPOST    
(II) COMPOSTING OF COTTON STALKS THROUGH TRICHODERMA VIRIDE    
6) WEED MANAGEMENT    
7) SELECTION OF ROTATIONS    
8) IPM STRATEGIES FOR CROP PROTECTION    
ORGANIC CULTIVATION METHOD OF MILLET    
A. CLIMATE:    
B. SOIL:    
C. SEED PREPARATION AND GERMINATION:    
CULTURAL PRACTICES:    
A. SEEDBED PREPARATION:    
B. SEEDING DATE:    
C. METHOD AND DATE OF SEEDING:    
D. FERTILITY AND LIME REQUIREMENTS:    
TABLE: ANNUAL NITROGEN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MILLET.    
TABLE: ANNUAL PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM RECOMMENDATIONS
   FOR MILLET.    
E. VARIETY SELECTION:    
RECOMMENDED FORAGE VARIETY:    
OTHER VARIETIES    
F. WEED CONTROL:    
G. DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL:    
H. INSECTS AND MITES AND THEIR CONTROL:    
I. HARVESTING:    
J. DRYING AND STORAGE:    
YIELD POTENTIAL AND PERFORMANCE RESULTS:    
A. MINNESOTA:    
TABLE: YIELD AND AGRONOMIC DATA FOR SEVERAL MILLET VARIETIES.    
METHOD OF ORGANIC SOYBEAN CULTIVATION AND PESTS &
  DISEASE MANAGEMENT    
ROW SPACING    
PLANT POPULATION    
SOIL FERTILITY    
WEED MANAGEMENT    
INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT    
CROP ROTATION    
TILLAGE    
SOIL FERTILITY AND PH MAINTENANCE    
VARIETY SELECTION AND EARLY PLANTING    
NARROW ROWS    
REMEDIAL MANAGEMENT    
MAJOR SOYBEAN INSECT PESTS AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT    
CORN EARWORM AND TOBACCO BUDWORM    
STINK BUGS    
SOYBEAN LOOPER    
BEAN LEAF BEETLE    
DISEASE MANAGEMENT    
ORGANIC CASH CROPPING (CEREALS & SOYBEAN)    
LAND BASE    
TRANSITION    
ROTATION    
FERTILITY    
ESTABLISHMENT    
SOYBEANS    
CEREALS    
CHALLENGES    
WEED CONTROL    
ELEMENTS OF ORGANIC COTTON CULTIVATION    
VARIETALS SELECTION    
SEED RATE AND SOWING    
SOIL FERTILITY    
WEED MANAGEMENT    
PEST MANAGEMENT    
BIOCONTROL BASED PEST MANAGEMENT    
METHOD OF ORGANIC FARMING FOR BANANA    
ORGANIC PRODUCTION:    
CLIMATE AND SOIL    
LAND PREPARATION    
VARIETIES    
PLANTING MATERIAL    
PLANTING AND INFILLING    
INTERCROPPING    
MANURING    
IRRIGATION    
INTERCULTURE OPERATIONS    
PROPPING    
MULCHING    
DESUCKERING    
OTHER OPERATIONS    
PLANT PROTECTION    
HARVESTING    
YIELD    
LINKAGES:    
VERMICULTURE    
VERMICULTURE PROCESS    
SELECTION OF SUITABLE SPECIES    
PRELIMINARY TREATMENT OF COMPOSTING MATERIAL    
PRE-TREATMENT OF LEAF LITTER AND AGRICULTURAL WASTE    
VERMICULTURE AND POLLUTION HAZARD    
MANUFACACTURING PROCESS OF BIO COMPOST    
FROM FARMYARD FARMING:-    
COMPOSTING:-    
PROCESS FLOW SHEET FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOST    
SUPPLIERS OF RAW MATERIALS    
SUPPLIERS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY

APPENDIX – A:

01.    PLANT ECONOMICS    
02.    LAND & BUILDING     
03.    PLANT AND MACHINERY    
04.    OTHER FIXED ASSESTS    
05.    FIXED CAPITAL    
06.    RAW MATERIAL    
07.    SALARY AND WAGES    
08.    UTILITIES AND OVERHEADS    
09.    TOTAL WORKING CAPITAL    
10.    TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT    
11.    COST OF PRODUCTION    
12.    TURN OVER/ANNUM    
13.    BREAK EVEN POINT     
14.    RESOURCES FOR FINANCE    
15.    INSTALMENT PAYABLE IN 5 YEARS    
16.    DEPRECIATION CHART FOR 5 YEARS    
17.    PROFIT ANALYSIS FOR 5 YEARS    
18.    PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET FOR (5 YEARS)