Large Scale Adoption of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) for Drought Mitigation for Rice in Nagapattinam District.
In Nagapattinam District around 73,600 ha of rice crop raised during samba and thaladi season (Rabi 2012-13) affected due to severe drought. Out of 11 blocks, Nagapattinam, Keelaiyur, Thirumarugal, Thalainayur and Kilvelur blocks are severely affected by the prevailing drought. About 56,000 ha of rice under water stress condition can be saved with supplemental irrigation. As part of the Samba package II announced by the Government of Tamil Nadu, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sikkal, Nagapattinam is actively involved in taking up the mass spraying campaign cum demonstration programme of foliar spraying of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) through mobile sprinkler and boom sprayer for mitigating drought in rice crop under the guidance of TNAU.
Around 7097 ha of rice fields was covered by using 3425 litres of PPFM and 6503 farmers were benefitted in Nagapattinam district. District Collector, District Revenue Officer, Nagapattinam, Director, Tamil Rice Research Institute, Director of Extension Education, TNAU, Director, Water Technology Centre, TNAU, Dean, Agri. Engineering College and Res. Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore, Joint Director of Agriculture, Nagapattinam and other Extension Officials of the district were present in the demonstration programme and encourage the farmers to utilize the facility from KVK and extend the coverage by using this technique as quickly as possible.
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, TNAU inspected the demonstration at Seeravattam village, Keelaiyur block about the performance of the mass spraying campaign using PPFM on 04.01.2013 and discussed with farmers regarding the importance of mass spraying at this crop stage and also addressed to Jaya TV about the drought mitigation programme in the Cauvery Delta Zone.
The TNAU video team under Training Division, TNAU, Coimbatore has recorded direct live interview with farmer at Perungadambanur and Nangudi villages in Nagapattinam and Kilvelur blocks on 6.1.2013 about the feed back after spraying PPFM.
On 10.01.2013 a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Finance Minister, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, accompanied with Agricultural Minster with six state Ministers and 15 IAS officers including Agricultural Production Commissioner and Commissioner of Agriculture inspected the mass spraying campaign organized by KVK, Sikkal at Seeravattam village, Keelaiyur block and interacted with the farmers about the performance and feedback of PPFM to mitigate the drought in rice crop. During the occasion the Director, TRRI, Aduthurai along with Joint Director of Agriculture, Nagapattinam explained the results of PPFM spray to the high level committee.
Impact analysis:
| Name of the farmer | : | Tmt. Mallika |
| Village | : | Perungadambanoor |
| Block | : | Nagapattinam |
| Farmers view | : | The sprayed field has some realistic effect. However, the field should be under minimum wet at the time of PPFM spray. |
| Name of the farmer | : | Rajendran.V |
| Block | : | Kilvelur |
| Village | : | Nangudi |
| Farmers view | : | It encourages panicle initiation and flowering in the affected crop and also it stimulates the uniform crop growth for 10-12 days. |
The impact assessment on the performance foliar spray of PPFM on samba rice to mitigate water stress in Cauvery delta zone were taken in 12 farmers’ field of Nagapattinam District and reported to the professor & Head, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 3.
Mass spraying of PPFM to Mitigate Water Stress in Samba Paddy 2013-14 in Nagapattinam District
In Nagapattinam District around 96000 ha of rice crop were raised during samba 2013-14. Out of 11 blocks, Nagapattinam, Keelaiyur, and Kilvelur blocks were affected by drought. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sikkal, Nagapattinam was given foliar spraying of PPFM with boom sprayer and 135 liters of PPFM were distributed to the farmers through Assistant Director of Agriculture for mitigating drought in rice crop under the guidance of TNAU. Around 82 farmers with 276 hectares of rice field were covered in Nagapattinam district
Based on the effectiveness of PPFM in withstanding drought and favouring crop growth, this technology has been spreading large scale among the rice farmers due to its positive impact.
