In-situ Propagation Technique-A Boon for Mango Growers of Panchmahal District of Gujarat

Panchmahal district of Gujarat is having 44.05 per cent population of tribal farmers namely Nayak, Rathva, Baria etc. Male members of the family migrate in the urban areas for their livelihood. Women and old persons remain at home. Therefore, in other seasons, the land remains unutilized. Many institutions aware and motivate them for growing fruit crops with intercropping but costly planting material is the main reason for not getting desired level of popularity of horticultural crops among the tribal farmers which are in-habitant of interior villages those away from KVK, Horticulture Centers or other fruit plant nurseries. Transportation and labour are costly factors in the remote areas of tribal farming community. Therefore, KVK-Panchmahal conducted training, advisory services, demonstrations at the farmers’ field since the year 2014–15 to 2016–17 to standardize the in-situ propagation technique through soft wood grafting in mango (Mangifera indica L.) at farmers field and analysis of input cost and technology adoption ratio. Kesar, Alphonso, Mallika and Rajapuri varieties in mango were selected. In situ soft wood grafting was performed in the month of September. The highest success per cent was noted in Mallika (86.0) followed by Kesar (84.0). Similar trend was recorded in respect of number of leaves per plant; which was recorded highest in Mallika. This technology ascertains the purity of the variety and gives certainty of quality planting material and also minimizes other problems like transportation, wastage of time and mental stress of the farmers. It has become an effective means to confine the migration of the tribal farmer in other areas. As a result, in-situ propagation technique is doing well and adoption rate is satisfactorily among the tribal farmer for enhancing livelihood security in interior tribal areas of Panchmahal.