it prroject glorylily (6)

Decision Support System for productivity enhancement and socio economic analysis of Gloriosa superba

2. Technical Description

a. Briefly state the problems you plan to solve and its relevance to Indian Agriculture and Food

Gloriosa superba is a high value medicinal crop cultivated in India for extraction of colchicoside and colchicine used for treatment of cancer, gout, muscular pain. Tamil Nadu leads in export of Glorylily with an annual production of 800-1000 ton with a foreign exchange of Rs.150 crores. The crop is cultivated in dry regions and is the main source of income for the farmers. A wide range in yield and income is prevalent among the farmers. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore has taken up research in this species and has standardised technologies like pollination, fertigation and post harvest techniques to enhance the yield and income. TNAU identified reasons for short fall in yield viz., use of poor quality tubers, non uniformity in population, use of fertilizers and chemicals more than its requirement, poor post harvest methods adopted. TNAU has evolved cost effective technologies to address these problems. The species has scope for adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on account of high exports and for its use in many invaluable medicinal preparations. The focus area of research will be to evolve Decision Support System for the crop by involving IT based programmes for dissemination of technologies for improving the productivity through Good Agricultural Practices, improving the marketability besides organising the farmers into commodity group/federation, FPO to empower them.

b. Give the numbers of sections in the SFM report that contain the problems you have chosen.

3.1.1 Crop production: (3) Realisation of inherent crop yield potential, (5) development of expert systems, modelling and forecast of pest and diseases, (6) lack of innovative tools for precision farming

3.1.2 Soil, water and weather, (1) Water management, (2) Soil nutrient management, (3) Weather based agriculture management

3.1.4 Marketing and Agribusiness (3.2.5) Decision Support Systems

c. What are the major challenges represented by these problems and what is the state of the art

Crop production: Not adoption of use of Quality planting material: Use of optimum size tubers

Soil: Lack of organic content, high pH:, addition of vermi compost, Soil test based nutrient application and scheduling based on active plant growth phase

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Water: Judicious use of water through drip: Use of soil moisture sensors

Weather: Humidity: Data mining using the local Automated Weather Forecast System and advisories to take up plant protection measures, pollination and post harvest through mechanised threshing, drying seeds hygienically.

Marketing: Lack of unity among farmers: Formation of federation/Commodity Group/FPO and providing market predictions, promotion of contract farming to solve the marketing problems

d. Provide an outline of your proposed solution

Use of optimum size tubers Basal incorporation of vermi compost, Soil test based nutrient application,

foliar diagnosis for deficiency of macro and micro nutrients, scheduling of fertigation based on plant growth phase

Judicious use of water through drip, use of soil moisture monitoring sensors

Forecasting seasonal fluctuation: plant protection during high humid period, assisted pollination and improved post harvest through mechanised threshing, drying seeds

Development of Decision Support System Reliable baseline data for future market

e. What is the unique or novel about your approach that you think should lead to better or acceptable solutions.

1. Evolving a Decisive Support System to synergise the crop productivity enhancement techniques.

2. Drip and fertigation, use of water soluble fertilizers based on the need & use of moisture monitoring sensors for improving the water use efficiency

3. Use of IT for Forecasting seasonal fluctuation, dissemination of messages to farmers on improved crop production techniques like cost effective pollination methods: fertigation, plant protection, improved post harvest techniques

4. Market analysis, empowering farmers to form Commodity Group/FPO

f. Briefly list your technical deliverables-Components of your technical solution

1. Maintaining uniformity in population and enhancing the yield

2. Soil management through use of organic manure, fertigation and scheduling

3. Judicious use of water through drip, use of soil moisture monitoring sensors for enhancing plant growth and yield

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4. Use of Weather Forecast data for need based plant protection measures, maximising seed set through adequate pollination methods and improved post harvest

5. Use of IT for registration of farmers, farmer producer organisation, Empowerment of farmers by forming Commodity Group/FPO

3. R&D Objectives

Briefly state upto 5 technical objectives of your proposed work

1. To improve the crop productivity through use of quality planting material (tubers), optimised plant population

2. Judicious and precise use of irrigation and fertigation at scheduled interval, to improve seed set by improved pollination methods

3. Data mining to forecast weather to take up need based plant protection measures

4. To minimise the post harvest losses by adopting improved seed threshing and drying methods

5. To develop market information system for making informed production and marketing decision Development of Decision Support System & Reliable baseline data for future market

4. Plans to pursue each R&D objective

a. Objective 1

To improve the crop productivity through use of quality planting material (tubers) and suggesting optimised plant population of 25,000 plants /Ha (2 ton tubers/Ha.)

1.Relationship of the objective to SFM problems and explain how this objective contribute to your solution

Use of quality seeds is the major factor determining the success of crop productivity as outlined in 3.1.1 (1) of SFM. Though the recommended size of tubers for planting is 40-50 g per tuber, farmers use varied sized tubers which are of inferior ungraded quality. Use of under sized tubers has been the main cause of low seed yield. Grading and selection of tubers will be done to overcome this problem. By maintaining an ideal population of 25,000 plants /Ha coupled with use of quality planting material, crop productivity enhancement can be achieved.

ii. Participating Researchers and their roles

1.Name of the researcher leading the work on this objective

No. Name Role1 Dr.K.Rajamani

Professor & HeadTo spread awareness on GAP and use of quality

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Department of Medicinal & Aromatic PlantsTamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore

planting material

2. Names of other participating researchers

No. Name Role1 Dr.G.Vanitha

Assistant Professor (CS)Department of Physical Science Tamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore

Data analysis on tuber production in farmers field, distribution, demand and supply

3. R&D challenges posed by this objective and the contribution the work proposed on this objective would make

The estimated annual demand of tubers is more than 1000 ton which are mostly collected from wild posing threat to the natural habitat diversity. A supply chain for Gloriosa tubers for use as planting material is required which is the major challenge. TNAU has expertise in mass propagation of quality planting material. Using IT application, exact requirement of tubers will be arrived based on which TNAU will prepare plan to meet the requirement involving FPOs, NGO.

4. Past and ongoing work of the researchers relevant to the work proposed on this objective

Under the aegis of National Medicinal Plants Board funding, TNAU standardised the protocol for production of quality tubers. The technology will be upscaled to meet the high demand for quality tubers. TNAU has adequate lab, nursery, green house and field for production of tubers.

5.Expected number of PhD students to work on this objective

One

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4.b. Objective 2

To promote plant growth, flowering, seed yield and tuberisation through use of fertigation at scheduled interval


Though seed is the economic part, tubers are equally important for the next generation growth and yield. Gloriosa superba demands nutrients at constant interval and at prescribed doses. Making the macro and micro nutrients available at desired dose and frequency will facilitate better plant growyh and promote higher number of productive branches, flowering, seed set and yield. Besides, the tuber growth also would be enhanced to meet the demand of planting material for the subsequent season. Through this crop productivity will be enhanced.


1.Name of the researchers and their roles


Professor & HeadDepartment of Medicinal & Aromatic PlantsTamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore

To disseminate the fertigation scheduling techniques to farmers




Data mining on use of fertilizers and other inputs like biofertilizers, organic products

2. Dr.S.D.SivakumarProfessor & HeadDept of Agrl & Rural ManagementTNAU, Coimbatore

Analysis of cost benefits through adoption of technology specified in this objective


The quantum of fertilizers and organic inputs used for the crop varies from region to region and farmer to farmer. The major challenge is that Gloriosa superba is a tuber crop that produces high biomass but has a shallow and surface root system. Nutrients have to be supplied to the crop as desired dose and frequent interval to make the nutrients available at critical phases of growth,

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flowering, seed set, maturity as well as for the tuberisation. However the knowledge available to farmers on this nutrient requirement is meagre restricting the seed yield. As majority of farmers are literate in this region, dissemination of the soil nutrient management will be easy through use of IT.


TNAU has standardised the soil nutrient requirement for Glorylily and has also developed the fertigation schedule to get higher seed and tuber yield. The technology will be disseminated among the farmers through extension activities.


Two

4.c. Objective 3

To improve the seed set by assisted hand pollination, use of micro nutrients and biostimulants


Flowering and seed set in Gloriosa superba is determined by factors viz., photoperiod, temperature, humidity besides wind and pollinators like bees, wasp and small insects. Pollination is mainly due to wind which accounts for 40 to 60% and the rest by other pollinators. Unless pollination is done, 100 per cent seed set cannot be achieved. Progressive farmers adopt assisted hand pollination through which higher seed yield is obtained. TNAU has deviced cost effective pollination method by use of wind blower combined with foliar application of 0.5% boron to facilitate pollination.

The other factors governing the seed set is soil nutrition to support the nutrient requirement of the crop as critical stages. However, the tubers have a shallow fibrous root system restricting the absorption of nutrients when applied at higher or lower doses. The only option is to induce the plant growth, flowering and seed yield by using biostimulants besides micro nutrients like Magnesium, boron and zinc. These techniques will be popularised among farmers through IT extension tools. The crop productivity will thereby be increased.





To disseminate the pollination techniques for increasing the seed yield

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Data mining

2. Dr.S.D.SivakumarProfessor & HeadDept of Agrl and Rural ManagementTNAU, Coimbatore

Analysis of cost benefits through adoption of technology specified in this objective


Assisted Pollination is a cumbersome method involving more of skilled labours. On the other hand, the low cost pollination developed by TNAU will be adopted. A wind blower (power sprayer operated wind blower) is used to facilitate movement of air to aid pollination followed by a foliar spray of boron (0.5%) to facilitate pollen tube germination and seed set.


TNAU evolved an alternate simplified solution for facilitating pollination. The method consists of using a wind blower (power sprayer operated wind blower) to facilitate movement of air to aid pollination followed by a foliar spray of boron (0.5%) to facilitate pollen tube germination and seed set.


One

d. Objective 4

Use of moisture sensors for utilizing the irrigation water economically


Though Gloriosa superba requires low amount of water, it requires irrigation to support the growth of plants and also to help the plant derive soil nutrients especially during critical stages of crop growth. Water being scarce in dry regions, an irrigation system based on soil moisture content using IT gadgets like sensors needs to be developed. Through these IT devises, irrigation system will be efficiently monitored to get more yield per drop of water.


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To evolve an efficient soil moisture monitoring system to avoid wastage of water




Data mining


Analysis of cost benefits through adoption of technology as specified in the objective


Soil moisture monitoring sensors are effectively utilized in arid zone agriculture to judiciously apply water at required dose and interval. The same technique will be adopted for this dry land crop. Through this, the irrigation water will be efficiently utilized to raise the productivity of the crop.


No research on water requirement in Gloriosa superba has been done in India or elsewhere. Hence this objective will be a new research area proposed.


One

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e. Objective 5

Data mining to forecast weather to take up need based plant protection measures


Production and productivity in Gloriosa superba is mainly dependent on the local weather conditions viz., rainfall, temperature, sun light, humidity and wind. Analysis and interpretation of the past climatic data on productivity will help in understanding the sensitivity of the species to the vagaries of the weather apart from study on productivity trend, loss due to pest and diseases etc.


1.Name of the researcher and their roles

No. Name Role1 Dr.S.Pannerselvam

Professor & HeadDept of Agro Climate Research, TNAU, Coimbatore

Data mining, interpretation of weather and forecast




Data mining and interpretation


To make any forewarning for pest or diseases, weather data should be available for a considerable period. This would be a challenge especially in the dry region where automated weather stations have only recently been established. However use of IT tools would ease this challenge.


TNAU has installed Automatic Weather Station in almost all the blocks in Tamil Nadu. The weather date would be monitored for forewarning of pest and diseases to help the farmers save the crop.

5.Expected number of PhD students to work on this objective: -

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f. Objective 6

To minimise the post harvest losses by adopting improved seed threshing and drying methods


Gloriosa is a high value medicinal plant with a 25 year average market selling price of Rs.750 per kg of dry seed. Due attention is not paid by farmers to safeguard the produce resulting in loss of income. Seed threshing and drying are important as it involved many labours. TNAU has evolved machine thresher to ease this problem and also has standardised an efficient drying system. These techniques will be suggested to the farmers to enable them to get more income.



No. Name Role

1Dr.K.RajamaniProfessor & HeadDepartment of Medicinal & Aromatic PlantsTamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore

Dissemination of improved methods of post harvest


Seed threshing is a laborious method involving many labours and time for separating the seeds from locules. Similarly, drying of seeds is another cumbersome process which takes many days and consumes more labour. Improper drying of seeds often cause microbial contamination and affect the marketability of seeds. Improved post harvest techniques to ease these problems should be made available.


TNAU Glorylily seed thresher prototype will be used for demonstration to farmers who can lend the machine. The cost of the equipment is less than Rs.80,000. However the cost would be available for a lower price when many equipments are manufactured to help the farmers save labour and time.

5.Expected number of PhD students to work on this objective: -

g. Objective 7

Decision Support System

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Modelling various information inputs to decision making for increasing productivity and profit



No. Name Role1 Dr.S.D.Sivakumar

Professor & HeadDept of Agrl & Rural ManagementTNAU, Coimbatore

Evolving models for the Decision Support System


Use of inputs only when needed at right dose so as to economise the cost of cultivation. Use of models to predict the profitability


5. Expected number of PhD students to work on this objective:

h. Objective 8

Reliable baseline data

1. Relationship of the objective to SFM problems and explain how this objective contribute to your solution

Baseline data on area, production, productivity, demand and supply, future market assessment using the data

IT based dissemination of market information



No. Name Role1 Dr.S.D.Sivakumar

Professor & HeadDept of Agrl & Rural ManagementTNAU, Coimbatore

Baseline data on area, production, productivity, demand and supply, future market assessment using the data

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Baseline data on area, production, productivity will be assessed and probable solutions to overcome will be made


TNAU has the expertise in price forecast through the DEMIC. The same methodology will be adopted. Price forecast for Gloriosa superba will be made through IT enabled tools like messages for the benefit of farmers.

5.Expected number of PhD students to work on this objective:

5. Impact of R&D on curriculum

a. Briefly list the objectives of how the proposed research and development activity will be used to advance the curriculum including disciplinary, interdisciplinary, labs and other contents

The project involves multi disciplinary and multi institutional research in providing an IT based solution for rapid outreach of critical technologies to increase the productivity in Gloriosa superba with the major objectives of adopting Good Agricultural Practices for this export oriented medicinal crop and to evolve Decision Support System to organise the production and marketing for ensuring reliability to farmers. These will help in evolving standards and models covering Good Agricultural Practices besides market analysis using IT tools. The contents will strengthen the curriculum and serve as models for improving the productivity of dry lands involving IT. The major objectives are:

1. Adoption of quality planting material2. Need based Irrigation based on the soil moisture sensors3. Use of fertilizers and other inputs based on soil analysis, 4. Cost effective pollination methods to improve seed yield and quality 5. Improvement of the post harvest for enhancing the marketability and

income to farmers6. Forewarning for taking up need based plant protection measures based

weather data, 7. Reliable baseline data Decision Support system and future market

prediction

b. For each objective, name of the researcher taking lead of the work

No. Objective Name of Researcher1 Adoption of quality planting material Dr.K.Rajamani

Professor & HeadDepartment of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

2 Need based Irrigation based on the soil moisture sensors

3 Use of fertilizers and other inputs

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based on soil analysis Tamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore4 Cost effective pollination methods to

improve seed yield and quality 5 Improvement of the post harvest for

enhancing the marketability and income to farmers

6 Forewarning for taking up need based plant protection measures based weather data

7 Reliable baseline data Dr.S.D.SivakumarProfessor & HeadDept of Agrl & Rural ManagementTNAU, Coimbatore

8 Decision Support system and future market prediction

c. Mechanism to facilitate the work on the curriculum objectives stated above

1. Baseline data on area, production, productivity of Gloriosa superba in India

2. Status on use of planting material and Seed Supply Chain to check Biodiversity norms

3.Data on soil nutrient status in one district viz., Tirupur to serve as model

4. Data collection on farmers practice for improving seed yield through pollination and use of other inputs

5. Collection of data on local weather parameters and correlation with yield

6. Information on harvest, post harvest practices in adoption

7. Evolving Decision Market Support System

8. Suggesting Good Agricultural Practices to overcome the bottle necks in production and marketing

6. Outreach Plan:

Briefly list upto 4 objectives of the outreach plan

a.Objective 1

To use IT tools for popularising Good Agricultural Practices to enhance crop prductivity

1.State the impact the work on that objective could make in the field

The standards of GAP involving use of quality planting material, judicious use of water for irrigation, precise fertigation, cost effective pollination, improved post harvest methods and need based use of plant protection will be disseminated among the farmers. Progressive farm in Tirupur district will be selected. IT based extension outreach tools will be used for popularisation.

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ii. Do you propose to build a prototype of the solution: Yes

’iii. Do you propose to take the prototype to the field: Yes

iii. Name of the researcher leading the work on this objective

Dr.K.RajamaniProfessor & HeadDepartment of Medicinal & Aromatic PlantsTamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore

iv. Name of the collaborator involved

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a.Objective 2

Baseline data and evolving Decision Market System


Data mining will help in better understanding of the crop in terms of area, production, productivity, price trend in the past 25 years and suggest the future market intelligence

ii. Do you propose to build a prototype of the solution’ : Yes

iii. Do you propose to take the prototype to the field: Yes



iv. Name of the collaborator involved: -

a.Objective 3

Data mining and analysis


ii. Do you propose to build a prototype of the solution: Yes

iii. Do you propose to take the prototype to the field: Yes


Dr.G.VanithaAssistant Professor (CS)Department of Physical Science Tamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore

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7. Mentors:

For each Mentors you propose to have, provide the following information

a. Prof.E.S.Raja Gopal, Emeritus Professor, Dept of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore- 560012Mob: 9880093745, [email protected]

b. 1.Justification for the choice: Renowned person in IT who has done R&D with relevance to Agriculture

ii.. Past/ ongoing interactions, if any

8. References

9. Any other information

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10. Estimated Budget (in lakhs)

Institute Capital Budget Recurring Budget Total BudgetLIN 1 70,00,000 80,00,000 1,50,00,000LIN 2 70,00,000 1,00,00,000 1,70,00,000PIN 1a 20,00,000 20,00,000 40,00,000PIN 1bPIN 2aPIN 2bPIN 3aPIN 3bTotal 1,60,00,000 2,00,00,000 3,00,00,000

11. CVs (of PIs and CoPIs)

a. Lead PI (LIN1)

i.Name

Dr.K.Rajamani, Professor & Head, MAP

ii. Education (Graduation onwards)

Year Degree Institute1985 B.Sc (Hort) TNAU1987 M.Sc (Hort) TNAU1997 Ph.D (Hort) TNAU

iii.Positions held (in chronological order)

Period Position Name of the organisation1988-2002 Assistant Professor TNAU2003-2006 Associate Professor TNAU2007 till date Professor & Head TNAU

iv. Awards & honours

1. Godrej Young Scientist Research Fellowship2. Rotarian Award for Best Researcher3. Best Research Award of TNAU 20074. TNAU Best Scientist Award, 20105. TNAU Meritorious Award 2014

v.Professional society, membership[ and activities

1. Served as Co-opted Expert in the High Level Committee on Medicinal Plants (1997-98) in the Govt. of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi

2. Served in the Editorial Board, Madras Agricultural Journal since May,20033. Serving in the Editorial Board in South Indian Horticultural Journal since

July,2004

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4. Served in the Editoral Board, INMAP- National Monthly journal on medicinal plants since April, 2004

5. Member of AMRUTH (FRLHT, Bangalore since 1998)6. Member of South Indian Horticulture Association7. Acted as a member in the UG Admission Cell for counseling of new

admissions to TNAU during the year 2004

vi.Total number of publications in

1. Journals: 542. Conferences: 1233. Others (Books: 6)

vii. 5 publications most relevant to the proposed work

1. Chitra,R and K.Rajamani. 2009. Per se performance and correlation for yield and its quality characters in glory lily (Gloriosa superba). Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 2 (1): 39-43

2. Chitra,R and K.Rajamani. 2009. Per se performance and correlation for yield and its quality characters in glory lily (Gloriosa superba). Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 2 (1): 39-43

3. Chitra, R. and K. Rajamani 2009 Per Se Performance and Correlation for Yield and its Quality Characters in Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba L.) Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 2 (1): 39-43, 2009

4. Chitra, R. and K. Rajamani 2009 A Rapid High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic method for quantitative analysis of anti-cancerous Active components in Gloriosa superba tubers Journal of Pharmacognosy Vol 1 (Issue 2) : 138-142

5. Reproductive biology of Gloriosa superba. 2012. Open Access Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

viii. 5 most recent publications

1. Anandhi Selvarasu, Rajamani Kandhasamy. (2013). Analysis of Variability, Correlation and Path Coefficients in Induced Mutants of Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba L.). International Journal of Plant Breeding, 7(1):69-75

2. Anandhi Selvarasu, Rajamani Kandhasamy. (2013). Intraspecific Hybridization in Glory Lily . Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology, 7(1), 99-102

3. AnandhiSelvarasu, RajamaniKandhasamy. (2013). Reproductive Biology of Gloriosa rothschildiana. Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology, 7(1):45-49

4. S. Anandhi, K. Rajamani, M. Jawaharlal, M. Maheshwaran and R. Gnanam. (2013). Correlation and Path Coefficients in Induced Mutants of Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba L.). International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research,3(4), 85 - 92

5. S. Anandhi, K. Rajamani, M. Jawaharlal, M. Maheshwaran and R. Gnanam. (2013). Interspecific hybridization in glory lily. American International Journal

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of Research in Formal, Applied & Natural Sciences, 2(1), March-May, pp. 01-04

ix. Total research funding received : Rs.2.30 crores.

i. Principal Investigator for ‘Participatory Research Programme on Gloriosa superba’ funded by Alchem International Ltd, New Delhi

ii. Principal Investigator for ‘NMPB project on Rapid multiplication of Gloriosa superba and feverfew, National Medicinal Plants Board

iii. Participatory Research Programme on Gloriosa superba’ funded by Alchem International Ltd, New Delhi from 2009-2012

iv. Cadbury Cocoa project: 2010 till date

x. Any other information

1. Associated in breeding of seven new varieties in horticulture crops including Coleus forskohlii and turmeric (2012)

2. Participated in the International training programme on Natural products, medicinal & aromatic crops at Rutgers University, USA between 11.8.09 to 27.8.09

3. Got adequate exposure on the Supply chain management in fresh produce at Michigan State University, USA between 26.7.2005 till 17.8.2005

4. Participated in six weeks International training on Protected Agriculture in Arid and Semi Arid Zones” at Hebrew University, Rehovat, Israel from Jan 29th to March 8th, 2001

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a. Lead PI (LIN2)

i.Name

ii. Education (Graduation onwards)

Year Degree Institute

iii.Positions held (in chronological order)

Period Position Name of the organisation

iv. Awards & honours

v.Professional society, membership[ and activities

vi.Total number of publications in

1. Journals2. 2.Conferences3. 3.Others

vii. 5 publications most relevant to the proposed work

viii. 5 most recent publications

ix. Total research funding received

x. Any other information

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it prroject glorylily (6)

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