Crop Advisory for Hudhud affected areas in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

On the fateful day of 12th October, 2014 a severe cyclone HudHud has stuck the north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of acres of paddy fields, banana, coconut, cashew and mango orchards were severely damaged. Over 250,000 people in 320 villages in the districts of Vishakapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh have been severely affected. Crops planted over 144,174 hectares have been damaged and the expected production loss is 230,206 tonnes. In Odisha, Hudhud has impacted 247,557 hectares (ha) of agricultural land, of which 40,484.5 ha have sustained crop loss of over 50 per cent in Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts.

Suggested contigency measures

Crop-wise advisory is given below for adoption of contingency measures to minimize and prevent further damage in standing crops.

For any further details, please contact Mr G. Chandra Sekhar @ 09440450994 or Mr. Raja Ambati @ 099385 02109.

Preparation of organic inputs

Vermiwash

• Take 10 lit of mudpot or plastic container for preparation of vermiwash. Arrange a tap for it at the bottom.
• Place 10 cm gravel or broken bricks at the bottom. Spread coconut husk upto 4 cm. on this.
• Place partially decomposed agricultural waste material and dung and moisten the material with water.
• After wetting the material for 2 days, release earthworms.
• In 2 weeks, the wastes get transformed into black compost. At this stage pour 3 litres of water. After 24 hrs, 2 l vermiwash can be collected through the tap.
• Continue this method for one week, remove the compost from the container and it can be used as manure.
• Again refill the container as explained above and prepare vermiwash.

Method of application:

• 10 lit. vermiwash is mixed in 100 lit water and sprayed on the crop of one acre.
• Vermiwash can be used on all crops, nurseries and fruit crops.
• Can be sprayed 1-2 times during crop duration to get good results.
• By spraying vermiwash micronutrient deficiencies to some extent managed.

Cattle dung-Urine-Hing solution

Large number of microbes present in the cow dung and urine are useful for controlling many fungal diseases. Nutrients present in the solution are useful for effective plant growth. This can be applied two to three times during a crop period.

Required material:

• Cow dung – 5 Kgs
• Cow urine – 5 lts
• Hing - 200 g
• Lime – 150 g

Preparation:

• Store 5 Kg cow dung, 5 l of cow urine and 5 l of water in a tub
• Cover the tub and allow the solution for fermentation for 4 days
• Stir the solution with a stick every day
• After 4 days filter the solution, add 150 g of lime and 200 g of hing to it
• Add 100 l of water to the solution to spray it in 1 acre

Precautions:

• As this solution is thick use a mesh or gunny bag to filter the solution (first time)
• After that add water and filter through a thin cloth
• We can store the solution for 1 or 2 days (farmers’ experience).

Note:

This solution will help to manage fungal diseases·
This solution will improve the resistance power of the crops.
Spraying of this solution will improve the drought resistance capacity.

Jeevamrut

Dosage: 200 litres can be applied per acre through irrigation water or soil spray.

Required Material:

• Cow Dung : 10 Kg
• Cow urine : 10 l
• Black Jaggery : 2 Kg
• Soil : fistful
• Besan (Chick Pea) flour : 2 Kg
• Plastic Drum : 200 Litres Capacity

Method of Preparation:

Take 200 litres of water in the drum. Add 10 kg of cow dung to it and mix well. Add powdered jiggery and chick pea flour, mix it well. Cover the drum with jute bag and let it ferment for a week by mixing every two days. This mixture can be used within 2-3 days of mixing.

After a week, the microbes develop in this mixture which can be used with irrigation water, sprinkler system or drip system. If a large container is not available, this mixture can be made in the soil by digging a pit capable of holding 200 litres, coated with cow dung and dried for 24 hours before use.

Panchagavya

Dosage:

• 5% or 5 litres in 100 litres of water and spray per acre of rice field
• For other plants – 3% or 3 litres in 100 litres of water

Required Material:

• Cow Dung : 5 Kg
• Cow Urine : 3 l
• Yoghurt made from cow milk : 2 l
• Cow Milk : 2 l
• Ghee made from cow milk : ½ kg
• Coconut water : 3 l
• Toddy : 3 l
• Ripened Bananas : 12
• Water : 3 l
• Black Jaggery : 1 Kg

Method of Preparation:

• Mix ghee and cow dung.
• Mix it every morning and evening in a clay pot to get the ghee mixed with the cow dung.
• On the 5^th day mix milk, cow urine, yoghurt, toddy, coconut water and jaggery well.
• Mash and add the ripened bananas to this mixture.
• Secure the opening of the pot or the drum with a cloth to prevent flies and insects.
• After 15 days, filter the mixture through a muslin cloth. This mixture can be stored and used up to 6 months. If the mixture becomes dry, add some water.

Source: Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (with inputs from various sources)