Chittoor District is suffering with drought due to non-receipt of rains for the last 4 years. The groundwater is depleting and the farmers could not take up the traditional crops like Paddy & Sugarcane.

REASONS FOR ADOPTION :

ATMA, Chittoor has conducted number of awareness training programmes to grow alternative crops which requires less water. Exposure visits were also conducted to Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore to exposure the farmers in the cultivation of vegetables and Floriculture duly meeting the needs of the local demand. The farmer also participated in the meetings and involved in  Exposure visit.

The farmer is having only 2 acres of land and taken up cultivation of hybrid Drum Stick with available water. He has dug pits at 8x8 distance and filled the pit with organic manure and planted 200 plants. The plants are regularly watered. After the plant attains 3 feet high, topping is done to have more branches and to avoid breakage of plant due to wind. After six months each plant has given 250 to 350 fruits, the farmer spent Rs.3000/- for manure, pesticides and labour cost. He has got Rs.10000/- as gross income with in 6 to 7 months. The plant will give good yield upto 4 years depending on the management practices with less water consumption.

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