A Critical Analysis of Farmers Field School on Nutrient Management, Processing and Value Addition in Little Millet in Tumakuru District of Karnataka, India

Millets are of minor importance in the west but a staple food in the diets of African and Asiatic people. Their agricultural importance arises from their hardiness, tolerance to extreme weather and could be grown with low inputs in low rainfall areas. With this background the Farmers Field School programme was conducted in the Patrehalli village of Tiptur taluk, Tumakuru district, Karnataka, India. Totally 25 beneficiaries were selected for the programme and systematically implemented with technical sessions on improved production practices, value addition, processing, branding and marketing. The result reveals that, There was significant change in the soil nutrient was observed after effective management of nutrient during cropping season based on soil test analysis report in the initial stage. With this, there was a reduction in soil pH from 6.9 to 6.27, Electric Conductivity (pH) from 0.62 to 0.37, Organic Carbon percentage increased from 0.19 to 0.24. 68 percentage of beneficiaries were unaware of a new variety of little millet OLM-203 and 32% of farmers were known about importance of soil sampling before the implementation of the programme. And after the implementation of the programme majority (88%) of the beneficiaries had knowledge on new variety OLM-203, preparation of specified products. A good number (92%) of them were aware about importance of soil sampling, value added products of little millet, nutritional importance / health benefits and skill on milling, winnowing and labeling of value added products to get higher market price. With respect to economic analysis of the implemented programme, they obtained an yield of 10.10 Q against adoption of recommended practice (11.60 Q). Farmers have made an gross cost of Rs 11469 and obtained Rs 25,250 as gross return with their traditional practice and obtained benefit cost ratio 2.20. Because of intervention of KVK in little millet nutrient management practices, they made an gross cost of Rs 12,245 and obtained gross return of Rs 29,000 and benefit cost ratio of 2.36. KVK has organized technological interventions in scientific processing, packaging, branding and channelized with suitable marketing. With this the beneficiaries have made an gross cost of Rs 4700 per quintal for the above practices and obtained an gross return of 8000 per quintal with benefit cost ratio of 1.70.