Quality Planting Material Production of Elephant Foot Yam through Farmers Participatory Approach in the Tribal Belts of Kerala

Abstract

Multiplication and distribution of quality planting materials of tuber crops is one of the major limitationsfor the undue delay in the spread of high yielding varieties among the farmers. An attempt was madeto involve tribal farmers of Attappadi region of Palakkad and Wyanad districts of Kerala for qualityplanting material production of elephant foot yam, one of the tropical tuber crops attaining commercialstatus nowadays. The programme was implemented under the project on Development of tuber cropsfinanced by Govt. of Kerala during 2013-14 and 2014-15. Fifty tribal famers were selected from Agalipanchayat of Attappadi, Palakkad and Amblalavayal panchayat of Wyanad. Quality planting materialsof variety Gajendra, were distributed to 50 beneficiary farmers for covering an area of 10 cents each,thus covering a total of 2 ha in each location. Multiplication was carried out under the direct supervisionof ICAR-CTCRI scientists under rainfed conditions. Farmers got an average yield of 3-5 kg per plant byplanting 500g seed corms. Based on random sampling, an average corm yield of 42.5 and 60.12tha-1was estimated at Agali and Ambalavayal respectively. Keeping aside 20% of the produce for ownplanting and home consumption, rest was available for disposal among the neighboring farmers andnearby areas for planting. The area expansion possibility was estimated based on the seed supplychain over a period of three years. It was projected to cover an area of 1000 ha with the improvedvariety Gajendra, within a period of three years, if the seed chain goes successfully.