Besides concrete field work and impact of the project activities in the villages, DSC's LEPNRM programme is receiving recognition at district and state level. The farmers’ leaders and DSC Visnagar field  unit shared the experiences of the project and achievements in  government forums. In one such programme, the Team Leader Rajendra Patel and Branch federation-2 Chairman Shri Haribhai Choudhary were invited as guest speakers in Gujarat Governments Krishi Rath Programmes 2008  inaugurated in village Hirpura of Vijapur talluka of Mehsana district. Haribhai was the main guest speaker after the Minister of State Shri Raman Vora. He spoke about his federation and LEPNRM projects’ objectives, approach and achievements made during last one season. The district Agriculture Director Shri Anil Patel, District Collector Shri Ajay Bhado, DDO Shri Bharatbhai Raval and the MLAs of Mehsana district appreciated LEPNRM project and its efforts for reducing cost, risks and increase in productivity and marketing of agriculture. About 15000 farmers attended the Krishi Rath programme. DDO said that the LEPNRM project of DSC had objectives similar to that Government of Gujarat. But it was nice to learn that the local federation of farmers has already taken initiatives in this direction. It was a help to the government.

Crop demonstrations:
Rational: Ground-nut, Cotton, Paddy, Pigeon Pea and Maize are the main Kharif crops of the irrigated and rainfed areas of DSC. DSC conducted Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) for understanding practices of these crops and their issues that require immediate attention and outside support. It was found that most of the farmers have been cultivating these crops, but the farmers are not satisfied with the production and net income from the crop agriculture. DSC`s agriculture professionals observed that old crop practices and use of old- genetically degraded seeds are responsible for the low yield and net income. Most of the farmers found unaware about selection and availability of latest-improved seed varieties and improved package of practices recommended by the scientists and other farmers in local area that give better production and net income.  The other types of demonstrations are technology demonstration including Micro Irrigation Systems, Varmi compost, SRI method of Paddy and farm tool - equipments etc that help in cost of cultivation, risk mitigation, improving production and its quality etc.

Management Process of demonstrations: The demonstrations are set up at farmers’ private land that belongs to the Village Institute. The average size of one crop-demonstration is about 0.25 hectare crop area; locally called one “Beegha”. The farmers are selected through participatory process involving federation, Village level institutions and DSC. DSC`s technical staff, Community Organisers and Village Extension Volunteers provide support the farmers. The cost of demonstration is shared by the farmer and the project. The beneficiary farmer also pay registration fee to the federation. Generally new inputs viz. seeds, nutrients & materials are procured and provided through the project while the major cost of on-farm management, irrigation and fertilizer inputs etc is born by the beneficiary farmer. The demonstration materials are selected and procured by the team of DSC`s local field unit and farmers. Training, exposure and field days are arranged for farmers for experience sharing of the practices and results with the farmers of surrounding areas.

Cost sharing of demonstrations: Over the period, about 975 farmers including 679 of irrigated area and 296 of rainfed area has paid about Rs. 35,045 to the Village Institutions against the registration fee for taking up demonstration. These funds have been deposited in the Bank account of the concerned federations for generating funds for future agriculture development activities. The total cost of the demonstration is Rs. 16 lakhs including financial assistance of Rs. 4.08 lakhs provided by through LEPNRM project and about Rs. 12.08 lakhs spent by the farmers on seeds and other materials for carry out the demonstrations. 

Rational: Cotton is the most important cash crop and grown by numbers of farmers in both rainfed and irrigated area of DSC. The area under BT cotton has been increased in many folds during last few years because of its good production and net income, but the PRAs with the farmers revealed that many farmers suffer with un fluctuation in production and some times from crop failure. The reason is that most of the farmers have not been following recommended package of practice for B.T Cotton viz. No application of micro nutrients and not improper timing of irrigation. The Agriculture Universities and research centres have also not done much field or research work on the subject. Farmers are also not sure about the seed companies and local shops keepers.

Hence, looking to the need, DSC and the federations of Visnagar and Modasa  decided to set up demonstrations on B.T. Cotton, selecting Bollgourd varieties of Double BT developed by Mahyco company and Krishidhan variety of Double BT developed by Gujarat State Seed Corporation for the demonstration. Total 70 farmers have taken the demonstrations in 32 villages in irrigated area. Total 37 kg seeds, 300 kg micro nutrients procured and provided to the farmers. The beneficiary farmers have been made responsible for all the other inputs like irrigation, labor, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. The agriculture professionals of DSC and extension Volunteers are supporting the farmers for the demonstrations.

Rational: Rabi and summer crops are very important for the farmers because they give maximum net returns to the farmers due to more favorable and controllable conditions. The farmers of both the irrigated and rainfed area apply excess or under dose of irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides and other inputs and suffer with high cost of cultivation, production risks and poor quality production. The Micro Irrigation System (MIS) i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation help to deal with these problems. The Government of Gujarat Gujarat Green Revolution Company (GGRC) and Private Company dealers have been working to promote the MIS for last few years. But the progress of MIS adoption by the farmers is very-very slow because of lack of motivation, proper dialogue on cost benefits & integration of MIS with high value crops and the high capital cost of the system. The government subsidies on the MIS are directly proportionate to the size of the land, thus the small and marginal farmers indeed get lowest incentive. Keeping in view the need, DSC has taken up selected demonstrations of MIS with for motivation and awareness of small and marginal farmers.

Drip Irrigation system installation in Dharoi irrigated area:
In Dharoi irrigation project, DSC has developed 130 Irrigation Cooperatives and their three branch canal federations. Besides their involvement in canal water distribution, the ICs and federations are thinking to help the member farmers for on-farm irrigation management for better crop production. Presently a few large farmers or say the farm House owners have installed drip system but there is a need to set up some demonstrations for small, marginal and medium farmers for motivation and awareness. In the context,  The federation and the Visnagar unit prepared the list of progressive farmers and held meeting with them that are interested to install drip irrigation system and asked them for submitting applications. The farmers submitted application to the IC and federation.

The federation and DSC team visited the fields and selected 2 demonstration plots in village Dediya of branch-1 canal and village Hasanpur of branch-2 canal. The first demonstration is a group drip system of 6 hectares to be developed by 6 small farmers while the second plot in Hasanpur is to be developed on 1 hectare land to be developed by single farmers. The NETAFIM irrigation company has completed technical survey of the proposed plots. The farmers had put up the case to GGRC for receiving loan and subsidy that has been sanctioned. The total budget of the two systems is Rs.7.90 lakhs. Out of which farmers will share Rs.4.02 lakhs and GGRC will give subsidy of Rs. 3.88 lakhs. The farmers and VIs have requested DSC for providing financial support of Rs. 0.95 lakh against the capital investment of Rs.  4.02 lakhs they have to pay for the demonstration. The farmers have insured DSC to spread the learning to other villages. The farmers have deposited the down payment to GGRC against the sanctioned budget and have started excavation works for laying the drip pipes. After completion, it will be a first demonstration of group drip irrigation system by the farmers in Branch-1 canal command area that will motivate other farmers.

Demonstration on porous pipe in Dhari district Amreli:
Almost all the villages of Dhari rainfed area of Amreli district have black cotton soil that is technically not much suitable for the surface drip irrigation system.  As an alternative to this, porous pipe system is one type of underground drip irrigation system that consist a network of water filters, control valves and underground porous pipes that apply water directly to crop root zone. It prevents conveyance and evaporation transpiration losses considerably. The farmers after exposure to near by places have decided to set up the pours pipe demo with one farmer. The survey of the plot and documentation process for bank loan is completed. The  Aprotek irrigation company, Baroda has been selected for installing the porous pipe demonstration. DSC is providing technical services for the demonstration.

Among DSC`s 6 field units, Dharoi project has largest area under fodder crop. Dairy is the second occupation of the farmers in the area. Most of the farmers grow sorghum crop for cattle feeding. During the PRAs with the farmers, DSC identified following issues in cultivation of sorghum crop including shortage of pure good quality seeds in the villages, no seed treatment, reducing production and inferior quality of fodder. Hence, on farmers demand, DSC decided to take up sorghum demonstrations for soil testing, introducing new variety and improved crop practice. 110 KG seeds of Gujarat Jowar hybrid -5 and seed treatment material distributed to 11 farmers for the demonstration. The costs of other inputs were born by the respective farmers. The highlights of improved crop practice adopted by the farmers under the demonstration are as follows;

1. Received guidance and supervision from the scientists throughout the season.
2. First time conducted soil testing for sorghum crop and applied recommended doses of fertilizers.
3. Replaced old home produced seeds with certified new varieties seeds
4. First time conducted seed treatment and shifted from broadcasting method to seed drill method of seed sowing.
5. Reduced seed rate from about 80 KG to 40 KG per hectare
6. Irrigated the crop at critical stages of root development, vegetative growth, flowering and grain formation

Among DSC`s 6 field units, the largest crop area of groundnut comes under Dhari field unit in Amreli district Saurashtra region. Some farmers of Mazum project in Modasa talluka of Himmatanagr district also have started growing it. During PRAs with the farmers, following issues were observed in cultivation of summer groundnut including using home made or local shops seed, only 60-70 % germination, excess seed rate, either no use or excess use of fertilizer, no seed treatment and fungus attack (Collor Rot) during initial stage of the crop. All these lead to low yield or crop failure. On farmers demand, DSC decided to take up groundnut crop demonstrations for tackling the issues. 450 kg seeds of GG-2 and GG-6 varieties and seed treatment material were distributed to  18 farmers of Mazum project, Modasa  for the demonstration. The costs of other inputs have been born by the respective farmers.

The highlights of improved crop practice adopted by the farmers under the demonstration are as follows;

1. First time conducted soil testing for taking groundnut crop and applied recommended doses of fertilizers
2. Replaced old home produced seeds with certified new varieties seeds
3. First time conducted seed treatment for prevention from fungus attack
4. Reduced seed rate from about 160 KG to 100 KG per hectare
5. Started spacing of the crop plants
6. The farmers that not used to apply fertilizer started input of 100 KG DAP and 16 KG Urea per hectare
7. The farmers that already used to provide fertilizers, have reduced inputs of both DAP and Urea from 160 KG to 100 KG per hectare 
8. Stopped providing urea at later crop stages

Introduction of new variety: On farmers demand, DSC decided to take up Kharif groundnut crop demonstrations for tackling production and risk related issues in Dhari and Mazum. 250 KG seeds of GG-20 varieties and seed treatment material was distributed to 10 farmers of Mazum project, Modasa  for the demonstration. The costs of other inputs have been born by the respective farmers. During the month of June these demonstration are successfully going on.The crop will be harvested in October 2008.

Introduction of micronutrients: The Dhari Rainfed field unit has set up 10 demonstrations on micronutrients applying in the groundnut crop in 5 villages to aware the farmers about role of micro nutrients in the production of kharif groundnut that is not in applied by the farmers currently. Total five micronutrients are necessary for the groundnut viz, Zn, Mn, Co, Mg, S. These all nutrients are available in the market in the mixture form.

Introduction of Trichoderma
The Dhari Rainfed field unit set up 22 demonstrations in 7 villages of Trichoderma fungus in the groundnut crop for the control of the wilt disease which is seen in the groundnut during excess rainfall.

From the PRAs conducted with the farmers on agriculture issues, DSC came to know that farmers need to be aware about improving and maintaining soil health that has been affected severely due to improper soil management. The farmers expressed the concern about declining soil fertility that can be observed visually in terms of hardness, change in natural color and decreasing per unit production. In nutshell, the organic components have been declined in the soils that are very important for the plant growth and overall production. The excess use of fertilizers is also contributing to this problem. Vermi compost; a method of making rich manure by verms has been tried out by the farmers across the country for improving and maintaining soil fertility. In this method, cow dung and the agriculture by-products are mixed in proper ratio. Some special species of useful verms convert the moist mixture into rich manure. This entire process takes about two months.

DSC`s Visnagar and Vehlal field units selected some interested farmers for a exposure trip to the farmers that are making vermi compost. Inspired by the exposure, 18 farmers have has set up vermi compost demonstration farms in 11 villages on pilot basis. DSC has provided financial support for procuring verms, and preparing platform for doing the activity while farmers have taken up the responsibility for watering, procuring cow dung and labour. The farmers will prepare vermi compost for next three four months and will use it during rabi season 2008-09. The farmers from surrounding area visiting to the demo and thinking to take initiatives.

Soil testing in Kharif 2007-08
From the PRAs, DSC came to know that less than 5% farmers practice soil testing in all its field units, all the DSC field units took up soil testing programme on large scale. Soil testing has become a regular and common phenomenon before start of any crop season. DSC has a plan to cover all the farmers under soil testing campaign by the end of the project through direct and indirect interventions.  Focus is given on quality of the laboratory test and discussing the report and recommendations with the farmer in time. The farmers have been cash contribution for the soil testing as described in the earlier section.

Till June 2008, total 1081 375 soils samples were collected from the farmers including 780 from irrigated area and 301 from rainfed areas. The test were have been conducted by soil testing laboratory of IFFCO, Kalol, Mehsana that is considered as the best laboratory in the State. The samples have been explained to the concerned farmers.

It has been observed that the soils of North Gujarat have Nitrogen deficiency while they are rich in phosphorus and potash. The soils of Saurashtra region have deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus and are rich in potash. The farmers are very happy with the finding and are curtailing the doses of DAP and Urea referring their results and have stopped using potash that will help in reduction of the cost of fertilizer inputs and maintaining soil health.