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MANURES & FERTILIZERS 

The soils of Lakshadweep is formed by disintegration of coral limestones underlined with pebbles of different shapes and sizes are deficient in macro and micronutrients essential for plant growth. It is poor generally in the level of Nitrogen (N) and Potash (P) and fairly of good status in regard to Phosphorus (P). Coconut being the perennial crop requires judicious application of recommended doses of soil nutrients, along with prudent attempts for organic dressing and fertility improvement. Mainly chemical fertilizers were resorted to in the previous plan periods. The declining of both soil and land productivity, fragile eco-systems and land degradation are of great concern to this territory.

 The environment impact assessment (EIA) made over in the Ninth Five year  Plan suggested to do away with the use of chemical fertilizers and to switch over to Organic manure and Bio-fertilizers. It is of vital importance to enrich the soil fertility judicially taking up organic recycling, green manuring, etc.

 While there is no scope for expansion of area for cultivation, it is necessary that production from the unit holding is increased by application of manures and fertilizers. The scheme proposes to multiply production of coconut, vegetables and fruits through application of suitable micronutrients, bio-fertilizers and organic manure.  Retention capacity and availability of moisture, plant nutrients and supply of oxygen to plant roots are enhanced when physical condition of the soil is improved. Considering the fragile ecosystem of the islands, only organic manure and bio-fertilizers are proposed to be used . It is an established fact that the production will be more than the     double in the case of vegetables and fruits and 20-40 per cent more in the case of coconut by application of organic manures.

 At present micronutrients and organic manure are distributed to the farmers on 30% subsidy. The subsidy is proposed to scale down to zero level at the end of the X^th plan period. The entire requirement for farmer’s use and farm use of the department will be produced/ procured. Programmes like production of green manure, pith-plus compost, Organic compost from biodegradable rural waste and compost are implemented through Panchayat bodies. This is an ongoing programme but making a total shift from the use of chemical fertilizers to organic manure and bio-fertilizers.

 300Mt quality Organic Manure & 30Mt different basels (coconut micro food, vegetable micro food, & micro food banana basels) for the use of  Department farms/Panchayat functionaries and to distribute on subsidiesed  cost to farmers will be procured from Govt. organization, reputed suppliers etc and distributed to islands considering their requirements.

 The pith plus compost is produced from waste coir pith left out by the fiber factory  by way of pith plus (pleurotus) techniques. Though this organic manure doesn’t give high nutrient content as compared to certain quality organic manure will help to hold water in many fold. So the Lakshadweep being a rain fed cropping area this pith plus organic manure will help both way of supplying nutrients and release of water to crops.

 The earthworms are seen naturally in various part of the territory. So far the ability of earthworm in acting on other waste biomass and fish waste have not been explored. Nationally vermi compost is considered as one of best organic manure. It is learnt that vermin compost with fish waste is supplying (N) to the level of 15%. So this programme has been proposed to implement in five islands Kadmat, Minicoy, Andtrott, Kalpeni, Kavarati and Kiltan. The training on vermi composting techniques will be imparted to the officials of the respective Unit through KVK Kiltan.

         Urea is an essential component for the production of pith plus composting. Though the use of chemical fertilizer has been banned for Manuring purpose, the availability of the item for production of pith plus composting is to be ensured. Therefore 20 Mt Urea is proposed to procure from FACT Kochi and utilized exclusively for the purpose of pith plus composting.

Coconut Development programme  Extensive Inter Crop Management   Human Resource Development in Agriculture  Manures & Fertilizers  Integrated Pest & Disease Management  Agricultural Engineering Services  Research & Development  Land Development & Water Conservation Management   Macro Management Mode   Agricultural Census  Extension Support to U.Ts Including Goa & Sikkim