DECENTRALIZED PRODUCTION OF TRICHODERMA VIRIDE: A VIABLE ECOENTERPRISE R. Rengalakshmi, B. Selvamukilan, P. Thamizoli, K. Balasubramanian and S. Bose M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation III cross, Taramani Institutional Area Chennai – 600 113
[email protected] Abstract: The paper describes how the demystification of technology can help to take the benefits of science and technology to the societies using a field experience in establishing rural women Self Help Group managed ecoenterprises. In rural areas such ecoenterprises helps to create a multiple livelihood opportunities that ensure generation of ecojobs and additional income. This paper focus the process involved in establishing a decentralized village level Trichoderma viride mass multiplication unit and how demystification of technology is helpful in enhancing socio, economic and agronomic benefits to the rural people. Introduction Harnessing the benefits of science and technology is crucial to realize Sustainable Development in improving the living standards as envisaged in the UN millennium development goals. Though the developments in biotechnological sector are tremendous, access to the cost effective biotechnological innovations for small holders is still very limited. Large and medium scale industries are gaining advantage from such technological innovation. Very limited efforts are being made to decentralize the production of these products, which could benefit small and marginal farmers and labourers. Small Scale Enterprises are the second largest employment provider to the Indian workforce after agriculture. Though it provides considerable size of employment, only 13 % of them are located in rural areas and serving rural populations. Currently, the rural employment opportunities in agriculture sector especially for women are declining due to modernization, agricultural intensification, change in the cropping system etc. Hence it is essential to promote multiple livelihood opportunities in the rural sector.
While entrepreneurship is recognized as an essential factor of economic growth, generally it doesn’t help for the conservation of nature. There is an increasing need for environmental responsibility in entrepreneurship to meet the environmental problems like climate change, biodiversity loss etc. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) made an attempt to promote ecoentrepreneurship1 in rural areas to develop multiple livelihood systems among landless and marginal households through promoting Self Help Group (SHG) approach. Mobilization of women and men, group formation and federation of SHGs, identification of enterprises, capacity building to manage the enterprises as a successful business venture are the crucial aspects involved in developing a multiple livelihood systems among the rural men and women. One such example is Trichoderma viride production and marketing taken up as an ecoenterprise by Elayathendral Women Self Help Group, located in S.Pudur, Kannivadi region of Dindigul district. Trichoderma viride is a green coloured, fast growing beneficial fungal species, has multiple uses in crop production, as a bio control and decomposing agent. It also acts as a growth promoter by producing growth hormones. It is commonly used as a biofungicide against root-rot (citrus, chick pea, groundnut, soyabean, sugarcane, sunflower), sheath blight (paddy), damping-off (cotton, chilli, tomato), rhizome-rot (ginger, turmeric), quick wilt (pepper), capsule-rot (cardamom) and primary root-rot (tea, coffee, rubber) diseases. Kannivadi region is a semi-arid agro ecosystem where agriculture is the main economic activity, supplemented by cattle rearing. The cropping pattern includes the irrigated paddy, horticultural and fiber crops, dry land pulses, grains and oil seeds. The changes in the cropping pattern from the annual to tree crops (coconut and banana) during the last one-decade especially coconut cultivation in the region diminished the labour opportunities in agricultural fields. On the other hand no new opportunities were created to engage the labour force. Seasonality map and livelihood analysis in Kannivadi region reveals that the rural job opportunity in this region is very limited especially for the
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The eco-entrepreneurship is defined as the technical, managerial and marketing capacities of the rural women and men to mobilize and organize themselves as entrepreneurs producing environmental friendly products and services for sustainable development.
landless and marginal farm holding households. Seasonality calendar prepared by the men and women of the villages shows that the men have an average of 107 labour days and women get 157 labour days in a year and rest of the year both men and women of the hamlet remain unoccupied. The prevailing low wage and competitive environment in the labor market, reduces the opportunity to improve their earnings. This paper describes the process involved in establishing a decentralized village level Trichoderma viride production unit and how the harnessing technology is helpful in enhancing socio, economic and agronomic benefits in the rural areas. Methodology Multiple tools such as conventional survey method, anthropological tools such as participant observation and participatory development tools such as Focused Group Discussions were the major tools, which have been utilized during the study. The conventional survey was used to study the socioeconomic condition of the group members using separate questionnaires, which is a kind of baseline to the activity. The anthropological tools such as participant observation were used to study the constraints in the production methods and their coping strategies. Focused group discussions helped to collect the production details, and also the socio, economic and agronomic benefits acquired/visualized by the members. Initiation process Mass multiplication of T. viride: The production technology of T.viride is simple and can able to produce good quality product. Till now academic institutions and commercial companies are producing on the larger scale. An attempt was made to decentralize the technology and convert it as a low cost cottage industry. With the support of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore two members of the SHG were trained in the production aspects and it was an intensive hands-on training for five days at the university. Subsequently the SHG members developed a business plan with the support of a charted accountant and established the unit. The unit was designed with a capacity of producing 1000 kg per month using low cost techniques especially in the process of mass
multiplication. For instance, locally available materials were used for multiplication instead of fermentor, which is one of expensive machinery for its production. The faculties of TNAU extended their technical support in establishing the unit. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,40,000/- inclusive of the registration fees. The group has applied for the registration at Central Insecticides Board, Directorate of Plant Protection, Faridabad under Central Insecticides Act of 1971. Technology refinement and Quality control:
In the process of production at
establishment phase, they came across several constraints such as contamination, mother culture maintenance, long incubation period, and high production costs. The production rate was slowly improved over the period of time with a corresponding decrease in the labour input. It took four months for them to stabilize the production. In the process the experts of TNAU and MSSRF facilitators helped the members in overcoming the constraints. Through constant effort and experimentation the group members refined the protocols in each and every step. The group members are careful and keen in maintaining the quality of the product. For every batch they are randomly assessing the quality by serial dilution method. The product was tested by TNAU and certified that the quality is excellent contain a spore load of 20 x 108 cfu/g. However, though the backward linkages provide the technical skill to the group members, establishing an appropriate forward linkage with the market is the crucial aspect in the ecoenterprises. The facilitating agency (MSSRF) helped the group to identify the regular market for their product. The group entered into a three-year contract agreement with a marketing agency to supply 5 tonnes of the product every year. In addition to this the group members are involved in the product promotional activity among farmers by participating in district level farmers meeting, state level agri conferences, farmers day programmes etc., They are also interacting with the local agricultural and horticultural extension departments and the farmers clubs promoted by NABARD from the neighbouring states. By this way slowly they are establishing a network for marketing with farmers and other agencies. Socio, Economic and Agronomic benefits of the T.viride production
Agronomic benefits: It controls the soil borne pathogens through either antibiosis or competition or hyperparasitism on harmful fungus. It acts against harmful pathogens like Fusarium, Phytppthora, Botrytis, Pythium, Verticililium and Sclerotina and reduce the use of chemical fungicides thus protects the agro-ecosystem. The demand for such product has been steadily increasing in the context of sustainable agriculture. The product in compatible with biofertilizers like azosprillum and rhizobium and other biofungicdes like pseudomonas and Bacillus subtilis. Application of the product through seed and seedling/tuber/corm treatment helps the farmer to protect the seeds from the diseases and ensure vigorous and uniform plant establishment. Many studies reported the efficacy of Trichoderma in controlling root rot disease against chemical fungicide like carbendazim, captan, thiram etc (Ramakrishnan et al.,1994; Jeyarajan et al., 1994; Sankar and Jeyarajan, 1995; Ushamalini et al., 1997a and b; Nakkeran and Renukadevi, 1997; Manoranjitham et al., 1999). When it is applied in the soil it acts against fungal diseases as well as decompose organic matter in the soil, which in turn helps for the plant growth. The Kannivadi region covers around 20,000 ha of cultivable area that has the scope to use nearly 30-40 tonnes annually. But at present only 30 kg of the product is supplied through agricultural department in a year. The SHG members are closely working with local farmers association and producing site and crop specific strains, which has better biocontrol efficiency compared to the commercially available products in the market with the technical support of TNAU and MSSRF. Economic benefits: The unit has stabilized its production process and maintained its production to 500 kgs per month. On an average it generates ninety labour days per month. In the future they are planning to expand the production to 1000 kgs per month based on the market demand. Thus there is a scope to generate around 200 labour days per month. This would ensure the members to get continuous employment through out the year. In addition to their wage, each member is getting an income of Rs 750-800/ per month. Social benefits: Regular income from the unit provides a chance for the women members to develop the behaviour for petty savings. They are training the other SHG members on
the production of biofungicide at the village level and sharing their experiences with bank officials, agricultural officers, development agencies etc., resulted in increasing their selfconfidence. It developed the sense of ownership among the members who never managed any permanent assets in their life and the mobility and out side exposure of the group members have increased considerably. Conclusion The experience reveals that harnessing the technological improvements in biofungicide mass production into a small-scale rural ecoenterprises help to create a multiple livelihood system especially for the poor, landless and marginal land holding women and men farmers. Facilitating the access to technology through demystification as well as capacity building brings more agronomic, economic and social benefits to the local communities, which will help to attain Sustainable and Equitable Development. Consistent capacity building, proper backward and forward linkages and entrepreneurial qualities are essential to extend the benefits of Science and Technology to the rural areas.
