Annual Progress Report (October 2006 – September 2007)

18. Details of villages adopted/farm families selected and survey conducted
a) No. of villages adopted : 7
b) No. of farm families selected : 34
c) Survey/PRA conducted :
During PRA the cropping pattern of the sample households revealed that
cash crops i.e. seed potato and pea dominated all other crops by contributing 70 to 72 per
cent to the total cropped area. The rest of the 28-30 per cent of the area was being occupied
by other crops such as wheat, barley, rajmash, vegetables, buckwheat, kuth, hops, fruits and
pasture/ghasnis. Leaving aside the commercial crop rest all were being grown in small
areas for their own domestic use. Through triangulation the consensus developed on
various problems that needed external help for solution were; high yielding disease resistant
varieties of pea and potato, lack of knowledge on control of weeds, insect-pest and diseases,
substitute or alternative for cash crops of pea and potato, declining productivity of pea and
potato, costly inputs, transportation and marketing. Based on the feedback received during
PRA, the action plan of KVK was formulated in which OFT, demonstration and training
programmes concerning the problems so revealed were conducted. The KVK started search
for alternative cash crops such as vegetables and fruits besides introduction of new high
yielding disease resistant varieties of pea and potato in addition to training and
demonstration on full package of practices for both the crops.
The survey revealed that during 2006, 100 per cent plant infestation in potato by
cutworm was observed in many fields of the villages in Madgran. It was followed by
infestation in pea and cabbage. However, during 2007, cutworm incidence in pea and potato
was less than previous year.
The survey on fruit crops revealed that many of the orchards in the valley are
showing deficiency of micro nutrients especially Zn and B as has been visually identified
through their symptoms. The other problem identified through survey was sunburn/canker
problem in apple plants due to poor management practices and poor quality planting
material. The finding will be utilized in planning for the next year. In the next year the
survey on the soil and leaf nutrient status will be conducted in the district. The Kendra has
already started the nursery work and has submitted 2 projects on nursery development
facility for propagation of quality planting materials.
11