Journal of Krishi Vigyan

National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) was implemented in Vadavathur and Jambumadai villages of Namakkal district. Cultivation of sole cropping is predominant in the district leads to poor market returns due to huge arrival of single crop. To alleviate such problems additional crop cultivation in small area with other annual vegetables in an area to minimize market risk and ensure reasonable returns for small and marginal farm women. After the cropping season in many fields the excess water of bore and open wells during the normal year, which has not been effectively utilized for the cultivation of additional crops may enhance the farm women income during the summer season. KVK provided technical guidance for cultivation of annual vegetables as additional crop to the 350 women farmers and thus now vegetables are being cultivated in an area of 44.8 ha during rabi season by 132 farm women and 11 farmers adopted Panthal system of vegetable cultivation, at their own cost and contribution of NADP scheme. KVK also facilitated to get Uzhavar santhai card to vegetable growers of NICRA village in convergence mode with Department of Agriculture Marketing. Hence, the farm women became empowered through direct sale of their products in Uzhavar santhai and getting an appreciable income of Rs.800 to Rs.1500/- day through growing of aan additional crop.