A PROJECT REPORT

ON

RURAL AGRICULTURE WORK EXPERIENCE (RAWE)

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICLTURE
ALPINE INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY (A.I.M.T)
(AFFILIATED TO UTTARAKHAND TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY,
DEHRADUN)

UNDER THE OBSERVATION OF

MR.ASHUTOSH GUPTA
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT (H.O.D)
OF AGRICULTURE, A.I.M.T

SUBMITTED BY
KAMPU DAKPE
B.SC. AGRICULTURE VIII SEMESTER
BATCH: 2013-2017
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

At the outset, I whole heartedly thank and praise our Almighty God whose abundant blessing and
grace helped me to finish my project work perfectly.

With outmost gratitude, I give my uncountable words of cordial veneration and gratitude from
the deepest part of my heart to my project Advisor Mr.Ashutosh Gupta H.O.D, Department
of Agriculture, Alpine institute of management and technology, for his encouragement,
guidance, support and valuable suggestions that help me in completing my project work.

I express my sincere thanks to Mr. Anil Sharma (Chairman, A.I.M.T), Mr. S.K Chauhan
(Director, A.I.M.T), Dr. V.P Sharma ( Principal, A.I.M.T) and appreciations also goes to all the
Agriculture faculty members of A.I.M.T who has provided guidance and their constant support
with unfailing patience throughout the entire academic session.

Iam also highly indebted to KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK), Dhakrani for taking out time from
their busy schedule to teach us. Dr. A.K Singh who was our coordinator throughout the Rural
Agricultural Work experience (RAWE) programme.

I extend my special thanks to KrishiVan Training Centre, Mr. Manish Shah, in particular for
assisting, guidance and sharing knowledge.

Lastly, I would like to give my heartiest gratitude to my Mom and Dad, my family, friends &
classmates who has been a great inspiration in my whole life encouraging with an endless
support in making my project a complete success.

DATE: KAMPU DAKPE

PLACE: DEHRADUN B.Sc. Agriculture

VIII semester
 DECLARATION

I, hereby declare that the present project assignment entitled, "Rural Agriculture Work
Experience"submitted by me in partial fulfillment of the requirement of degree of “BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE” in Alpine Institute of Management & Technology under
Uttarakhand Technical University is my own work. The report has not been submitted for the
award of any other degree of this university or any other university.

Student: Kampu Dakpe

B.Sc. Agriculture VIII semester
(2013-2017) A.I.M.T

Forwarding: Mr.Ashutosh Gupta

Senior Grade Lecturer & Head
Deptt. of Agriculture, A.I.M.T
 CONTENTS

Sl.No INDEX Page.No

INTRODUCTION-RAWE 1
UNIT–I ATTACHMENT WITH AGRICULTURE 2
INSTITUTE
1. Introduction 3
2. Methodology 4
3. About K.V.K. Dhakrani 5-12
4. Conclusion 13
UNIT-II SOCIO-ECONOIC STUDIES 14
5 Introduction 15-16
6. Review of literature 17-18
7. Methodology 19
8. Field survey of Prateetpur village 20-28
9. Conclusion 29
UNIT-III MUSHROOM 30
11. Introduction 31-34
12. Cultivation of Oyster mushroom 35-38
13. Method of cultivation 39-45
14. Post harvest Technology 46
15. Diseases and pest of mushroom 47-48
16 Conclusion 49
UNIT –IV APICULTURE 50
17. Introduction 51-54
18. Species of Honey bee 55-58
19. Types and Input requirement of bee-keeping 59-62
20. Seasonal management of Honey bee 63-64
21. Important products obtained from bee-keeping 65
22. Extraction, Processing and Storage of Honey bee 66-68
&Bee wax
23. Conclusion 69
24. CONCLUSION 70
25. REFERENCE 71-72
 INTRODUCTION

RAWE (Rural Agriculture Work Experience) is a programme where one experienced

training provided by various supervisors belonging to different agricultural fields and also helps
us to understand their work as well as know more about agriculture and its allied activities. Such
program helps a student gain more knowledge about modern technologies being applied today in
the field of agriculture. Agriculture education is an important tool in ensuring increased
agricultural productivity, sustainability, environment and ecological security, profitability, job
security and equity. In India, Randhawa Committee (1992) recommended the Rural Agriculture
work Experience (RAWE) Program for imparting quality, practical and productive oriented
education towards self employment is very essential. It provides significant hands on experience
in acquiring skills which are mainly aim at creating product or providing a service to those who
demand.

RAWE Programme is an important competence and confidence building activity and tool
introduced to provide integrated various disciplines and practical training to farm graduates in
Agricultural Sciences. The combination of education on farm research and extension programme
had better exposure of fresh farm graduates to the real ground problems at the farmer’s field and
acted as a tool of the feedback to workers for the planning their research programmes.

RAWE Programme was included in the curricular of Agriculture graduate Degree Programme
with the following objectives:

 To gain knowledge and experience on operational aspects of agricultural technology

being used by farmers.
 To develop communication skills in interns by effective use of extension methods.
 To help the interns to understand and appreciate the agricultural problems of the village
with special reference to constraints.
 To acquaint the interns with functioning of various agricultural Researches,
Development, Agro-Based industries, Extension Agencies and other allied organizations
involved in rural development.

1
 UNIT-I

ATTACHMENT WITH [G.B PANT

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY] KRISHI VIGYAN
KENDRA (KVK), DEHRADUN (U.K)

2
UNIT-I ATTACHMENT WITH AGRICULTURE INSTITUTE

INTRODUCTION

We have been attached to Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and

Technology, KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK) Dhakrani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, for our Rural
Agriculture Work Experience (RAWE) Programme for the completion our course.

KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK) otherwise known as Farm Science Centre is a noble concept
developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which was rest upon a solid base
of transfer of technology from laboratory to farmer’s field with respect to Agriculture,
Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Floriculture ,Bee keeping, Mushroom Cultivation, Broiler
Farming and allied subjects. ICAR emphasized on the Research on Agriculture and allied subject
during 1960’s to generate new technology for increasing crop production in different Agro
climatic zones of the country. A lot of technologies were generated through constant effort of the
scientists to boost up the production. But the technologies so generated in the research field are
not transferred through extension agencies of different state Government.

It is observed that a lot of technologies could not reach the farmer due to high cost of
adoption and lack of interest of extension agencies. Hence the transfer of technology was not
complete and effective. As per the recommendations of Mohan Singh Mehta Committee during
1974 KVKs were established in different states for easy and active participation of farmers
through Front Line Demonstration (FLD) and On Farm Trial (OFT). Gradually working
guidelines are prepared to make all KVKs as the light house for the rural people. There are about
642 KVK’s established all over India today.

3
 METHODOLOGY

In this Institute, we are being worked for 21 days, i.e. February. This piece of work is an
attempt to study the various division and section of ICAR which is a great importance to us.
From this institute, we are being acquainted of new technologies, techniques, tools, implements
and many more. Here we also have a very important chance to interact with the scientist,
research associates, Subject matter Specialist (SMS), farm managers, field works, etc of getting
more ideas and thoughts from this different levels.

During our stay for 21 days, we gain valuable knowledge and technologies from various
levels of worker from different divisions and sections.

 Horticulture.
 Socio-economic studies.

From all this division we did class-room programme, field work, field visit, practical class etc.
for better interaction among scientist & students or any research workers.

Fig.1: Field work in KVK.Dhakrani.

4
 ABOUT KVK, DHAKRANI

NAME OF CENTRE: KrishiVigyan Kendra,Dhakrani, Dehradun.

LOCATION: Dhakrani, Herbertpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Pin No. 248142

HEADQUATER: Dehradun, Uttarakhand

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT: December 2004

AREA: 24 HECTARE

SCIENTIST: 5

KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK) located in Dhakrani, Herbertpur, and District Dehradun is a vast 24
hectare land with rich vegetation and suitable climatic conditions, fully equipped with the
modern technologies and facilities for a research station to fulfill the following objectives:

 Assessment and refinement (on farm testing) of technologies to identify location

specificity under various farming situation.
 Organize front-line demonstration to establish the production potential of improved
agricultural technologies at farmers’ field.
 Human Resource Development through training of farmers, rural youth and farm
women and also to organize long term vocational training courses in agriculture and
allied fir the rural youths with emphasis on “learning by doing” for generating self
employment through institutional financing.
 Organize training to update the extension personnel with emerging advances in
agricultural research on regular basis.
 Production and distribution of quality seeds and planting materials.

Formerly, it was known as Italy garden because of the previous cultivation of Olive in 1978 by
the state government in collaboration with the Italy government. But due to adverse climate
conditions the plantation was gradually abundant. It is still called by locals as Italy garden.

5
Fig.2: An Olive tree in KVK campus.

Presently, it is one of the 11 KVKs set up in every district of Uttarkhand. It was established in
December 2004 by G.B.Pant University of Agricultural and technology, Pantnagar in
collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Fig.3: Office of KVK.

6
ACTIVITIES:

KVK, Dehradun has several activities like conducting Frontline demonstration of proven
technologies on farmer fields in Agriculture and its allied sectors in order to circulate them at
gross root level. KVK has also a programme of on farm testing (OFT) of technologies on farmers
and fields and received feedback from the farmers of their refinement if required.

TRAINING PROGRAMME: - Training is one of the important activities of Krishi Vigyan

Kendra. Training is planned and systematic efforts to increase the knowledge, improves the skill
and change the attitude of a person towards a particular subject. Depending upon the need and
categories of trainees, KVK imparts mainly following 3 types of trainings:

a) Training to the practicing farmers and farm women,

b) Training to the rural youth,
c) Training programme for the extension functionaries.

Approximately, 100 trainings are conducted in a year which also includes SHG awareness
programs and Field day where the adopted techniques are demonstrated in the farmer’s field to
‘make believe’ of the proven technology to other farmers in the locality.

KVK, Dhakrani have contributed tremendously towards the welfare of the farming community in
collaboration with various department involved in the field of farming and its related aspects.
One of the latest contributions could be the management of shoot gall psylla in mango. The
technological intervention made by KVK, Dhakrani i.e. spraying of Thiamethoxam 1 gm. Per lt.
of water + Profenophos 2ml. per lt. of water done along with sticker , have been proven to be
effective and widely accepted by the farmers for their orchard.Lately, KVK have target to double
the area cover under the management of shoot gall psylla in the years to come by further
horizontal spread of the technology among farmers and contractors through awareness campaign
and Front-Line Demonstration (FLD).

7
The training is initiated by the following faculties:

SL. NAME OF THE DESIGNATION

NO. FACULTY
1. Dr. S.S. Singh Professor and Programme Coordinator in plant production

2. Dr. Kiran Pant Programme Assistant, Extension

3. Dr. A.K. Singh Associate Professor, Animal Nutrition

4. Dr. Sanjay Sachan SMS, Soil Science

5. Dr. Sanjay Kumar SMS, Agronomy

6. Dr. Lalita Shukla SMS, Home Science

7. Sh. Praveen Kumar Programme Assistant, Computer Programmer

KrishiVigyan Kendra, Dhakrani, also conducts both on and off campus training throughout the
year to educate the farmers with the knowledge of the new technologies introduced in the
following fields:

 Crop production.
 Livestock e.g. poultry, fodder etc.
 Vegetable production.
 Horticulture production in addition to IPM and INM.
 Training aspects on soil fertility.
 Home science.
 Preparation of the line department training.
 Rural youth training.

8
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOMENT:

 Establishment of Poly tunnel technology for nursery raising in vegetables crops.

 Two naturally ventilated poly houses and one glass house.
 Soil & water testing Laboratory.
 Establishment of litchi orchards.
 Establishment of pomegranate orchards.
 Strengthening of irrigation facility at KVK farm.
 Overhead tank.
 Poultry demonstration unit.
 Mushroom demonstration unit.
 Dairy unit.
 Home science Laboratory.

SURVEY ON THE ORCHARD OF KVK:

SL. NAME OF THE NO. OF AREA IN VARIETIES

NO ORCHARD TREE HECTARE

1. Mango 614 6 Langra, Chausa,Mallika,

Deshehari,
Ram kela
2. Litchi 280 1.20 Rose scented
3. Pomegranate 1800 2 Bhagwa
4. Aonla - 1 M-5, NA-6, NA-10,
Chakaiya
5. Guava - 5 L-49
6. Napier grass - 1 Co-5

9
Apart from the orchards, the poly houses and poly tunnels hold an integrated multi crop nursery
cultivation of vegetables such as cucurbits and onions. The production is distributed to the
farmers at the rate of 10 per plant of cucurbits and 60 per kg of onions. While, the orchard
productions are placed on auction during the fruiting season.

Fig.4: Poly houses and Poly tunnels in KVK, Dhakrani.

Fig.5: Mango Orchard in KVK, Dhakrani.

10
Fig.6: Litchi Orchard in KVK, Dhakrani.

Fig.7: Pomegranate Orchard in KVK, Dhakrani.

Fig.8: Aonla Orchard in KVK, Dhakrani.

11
Fig.9: Guava Orchard in KVK, Dhakrani.

Fig.10: Napier grass in KVK, Dhakrani.

12
 CONCLUSION:

During our stay for 21 days, we gain valuable knowledge and technologies from various levels of
worker from different divisions and sections. This training has been very informative and I have
learn in detail about how a research station such as KVK, Dhakrani works and functions and
what are its objectives, activities and operations they do for the farmers in rural areas.

From this institute, we are being acquainted of new technologies, techniques, tools, implements
and many more. Here we also have a very important chance to interact with the scientist,
research associates, Subject matter Specialist (SMS), farm managers, field works, etc of getting
more ideas and thoughts from this different levels.

13
 UNIT-II

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY

14
UNIT-II SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY

INTRODUCTION

Socio-Economic survey can be briefly described as the study of the farmer’s social and
economic status. Its main objective is to collect data and maintain a record of the farmer in order
to get a closer look into the background as well as to have an idea about the problems faced by
them. The survey is a process to know, to evaluate, to analyze and to find solutions to improve
the life of the farmers.For the survey, a questionnaire is prepared where the basic infrastructure,
cropping pattern, livestock, holding size, occupation, source of income, assets, constraints etc.,
are set for the farmers to be answered and filled by the concerned interviewer. The collection of
data from the farmers, are then used as a sample for the whole village.

KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK), Dhakrani conducts such surveys and holds a record of the
nearby villages in Dehradun District. The survey helps the centre to prepare schedule for the
entire district. Every year the action plans are implanted according to the constraints recorded.
Comparisons between villages are also done for the advancement of the proven technologies.
The recorded data is revised after every two years in order to keep it up-to-date.

One of the main tasks of KVK is to provide and improve the level of knowledge of the
trainees about the improved farm practices, because knowledge is cognitive component of
individual’s mind and plays an important role in covert as well as overt behavior. Individuals
with a greater knowledge of technical nature of improved practices would lead to a high adoption
possibly because knowledge is not inert. Once knowledge is acquired and retained, it undergoes
and produces changes in the thinking process and of mental alchemy. This study was, therefore,
conducted to ascertain the level of socio-economic condition of the farmers as well as their
prevailing level of awareness knowledge of the KVK training programme.

15
AIMS AND OBJECTIVIES:
Development of area depends on socio-economic setting of the area. Small unit like a village
help us for collecting data of various socio- economic conditions so the study of a local area is
very essential to the students.

The basis aims and objectives of the rural survey are:-

 To know about the local area, its past and present and various problems of socio
economic condition.
 To know about the education status of the particular village and reasons of their
educational backwardness if any.
 To get acquainted with the past and present geography environment.
 To get acquainted with the past and present socio environment.
 To know about the economic background of the village and the families.
 To know about the living standards of the villagers.
 To be able to appreciate the rich cultural heritage.
 To know about the transportation and communication facilities of the village.
 To know about the domestic production of the village.
 To know the attitude of the parents towards the education of their children.

16
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Socio economics of any society can be related to the contentedness of any social group
(closed or open). The sociologists and social engineering persons are always interested in these
studies as these studies provide basic data for program formulations and also developing the
implementation mechanisms. Forests have always been the main resource providers to the
society, right from the primary evolutionary development of the human race and also in the
present age.

The Uttarakhand scenario is quite different from other hill states, because it has a typical
history of development and mixed forest management systems which developed during the
regimes of feudal kings and lords. Their kingdoms prior to merging in independent India, has
their own forest department and had laid down rules and regulation for distribution of forest
resources to the local people, they were termed as rights and concession of the state. The
erstwhile UP diverted certain areas of present Uttarakhand to the industrial plantation of
Eucalyptus and Popular. During the decades of 30s Teak species was introduced in Kumayon
zone. During pre independence days Mr. Wilson was granted the rights of timber extraction in
Uttarkashi with sum of rupees 11,000. With the introduction of apple in Uttarakhand hills, large
chunks of forest was cleared but these plantations could not improve local economy to a
noticeable extent.

Adhikariet al., (2003) presented a paper whichdeals with distribution and use pattern of medicinal
trees in the State of Uttarakhand. Based on extensive literature survey, A list of 197 medicinal trees
found in Uttarakhand were listed. Their altitudinal distribution and parts used in various ailments
have also been mentioned.

Adhikariet al., (2004), wrote about the forest management plans in Bhutan, which,are
implemented under the premise that the species diversity is not significantly altered while
providing forest products and services to local communities.

Sharma et al., (2009) made a case study that explored forest resource-use patterns to understand
villagers' dependency on forests in four temperate villages situated in two forested sites in

17
Garhwal Himalaya: Mandal and Khalla in the Mandal area, Chamoli District, and Chaundiyar
and Dikholi in the Chaurangikhal area, Uttarkashi District.

Sharma et al.,(2012),Over the past few decades, the Himalaya has experienced unprecedented
land use changes driven by rapid population growth and intensified human activities.

Tewari et al. (2003)this case study explored forest resource-use patterns to understand villagers'
dependency on forests in four temperate villages situated in two forested sites in Garhwal
Himalaya.

18
 METHODOLOGY

On 11th February, our coordinator assigned us to Prateetpur village about 3 km away from
Herpertpur.Under the guidance of farmer Mr. Prakash Chand, the survey was taken among 15
farmer families. The data were collected through personal interview method using structural
schedule. The entire data was conducted in the Prateetpur village at the time frame of 12 days
with supervision from KVK officials.

The collected in the survey has been recorded in paper examination of the socio-economic
status of the area under survey. The whole survey was conducted under the guidance of Dr. A.K
Singh (animal Nutrition).

1.1 SELECTION OF THE SAMPLE: The sample household were chosen on a random basis
and most importantly the once who’s members were willing to co-operate and share the required
data with the survey team.

1.2 SELECTION OF THE METHOD: Various methods were applied for the collection of data
from all the survey teams, this method included – survey methods, questionnaire method,
observation method and interview method.

1.3 DATA SOURCE: For the collection of data there were namely two sources;

1) Household: the member of the contact 15 families and their family head is
specifically were the main source for the collection for data. All the information
regarding literary status, age structure and sex ratio, health and hygiene, economic
aspects – occupational structure, domestic production, income, housetype and
settlement pattern, transport and communication were shared by them.
2) Others: Panchayat member and various reference books were other source of
consolidating information for the socio economic survey of the area.

1.4 DATA PROCESSING AND PRESENTATION: All the data collected through data sheet
was further aggregated into relevant, tables, chart a master sheet was also made using data from
the 2 data sheets.

19
 FIELD SURVEY OF PRATEETPUR VILLAGE

PERFORMA FOR

BENCH MARK SURVEY SCHEDULE

1. Name of the investigator : KAMPU DAKPE.

2. Date of survey : 11-02-2017 to 22-02-2017

3. Name of the village : Prateetpur

4. Block : Herbertpur

5. District : Dehradun

6. Distance from:

a) Block headquater : Herbertpur 6-7kms

b) Market : Herbertpur 3-4kms
c) Railway Station : Dehradun 40-45kms
d) Bus Station : Herbertpur chowk 3-4kms

7. Common facility in the village:

SL.NO FACILITY AVAILABILITY REMARKS

(YES/NO)
a. Primary Health Clinic Yes General
b. Veterinary Hospital No Required
c. Post office Yes Available with low
d. Petrol pump No Required
e. Bank No Required
f. Water supply Yes Canal
g. Plant protection unit No Required
h. Seed store No Required
i. School standard Yes General+Mid Day
Meal
j. Tube well for Irrigation Yes General

20
 Fig.1: Data collecting from farmer at Prateetpur village.

SOCIO ECONOMIC CHARACTER OF THE SURVEYED HOUSEHOLD

2.1 SOCIAL ASPECT OF THE STUDIED FAMILIES:

 LITERARY STATUS: -The literary status survey household was most of the member
seems to be literate on occasional basis. In five and six families observed that the men
and women have study till 9th and 10th but a few of them would not study due to poverty
and negligence.
 AGE STRUCTURE AND SEX RATIO: -The age structure of the families varied with
adult members from the age of 18-80yrs. And those of children from 1-14yrs of age. The
sex ratio was balanced
 HEALTH AND HYGIENE: -Health of the family members seems to be two though
they were definitely under nourished and weak. They were physically fit four active
appear to be without any abnormalities or suffering from any kind of illness. Sanitary
condition of the surroundings was very desperate condition and needed mentionable
improvement as such. The lack of toilet fertility in every household though is a major
area of concern and needs to be given time importance and funds to be taken care of.

21
Table.1. Social Status of the villagers:

Total number of Household surveyed 15

Average family members 6

Literacy Rate 60%

House Types 70% Pucca house

Basic Social needs of the Villagers

Electricity 100%

Toilet facility 100%

Water supply 100%

2.2 ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE STUDIED FAMILIES:

 OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE: - There were no fixed jobs that the household

members were engaged in Agriculture activities for the purposed of self sustain only, and
few members engaged in daily wage earner. 70% of the villagers were involved in
farming.
 DOMESTIC PRODUCTION: - Almost all the families were engaged inagriculture
production for their own consumption and selling, also used to rear cow and buffaloes.
They rear it for milk and gain some money to support their livelihood. Other items
produced for self (family) consumption was vegetables, pulses, etc.
 INCOME: - The monthly income of the families was ranging from Rs.800-RS.10000/-
this reflects average states of earnings per family.
 HOUSETYPE AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN: -The majority of the houses in a
village were Pucca, Pacca house are made from bricks, cement etc; those houses which
were made of soil and thatched roof are classified as “Kuccha house”.
 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION: - There were very limited transport
facilities available for the villagers. Most of the villagers use their bicycle to transport.
For communication purpose there is use of mobile phones.

22
 Occupation Livestock
Farmers
05%

05% Government
70% servant Buffalo
Wage Labour 40%
10% cow
Private servant 60%

10% Self employed

Fig.2: Occupation and Livestock of Prateetpur village.

Fig.3: Cattles at Prateetpur village.

Landholding Status
40%
Medium
30% 35%
Small
20% 25%
20% Marginal
10% Landless
10% 10%
0% Large
Medium Small Marginal Landless Large

Fig.4: Graph of Landholding status of the villager.

23
Table.2.Cropping Pattern of the village:

CROPPING PATTERN

Rabi season crops Zaid season crops Kharif season crops

Wheat (Triticumaestivum) Vegetables (Seasonal) Paddy rice (Oryzasativa)

Sugarcane Brinjal (solanummelongonum) Lentils (Lens culinaris)

(Saccharumofficinarum)
Ladyfinger Maize (Zea mays)
Berseem (Abelmoschusesculentum)
(Trifoliumalexandrium)

Fig.5: Wheat field at Prateetpur village.

24
CONSUMPTION OF FOREST PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO LAND
HOLDING STATUS:
FODDER AND FUEL WOOD CONSUMPTION:

 Minimum i.e. 1.48 tonne/year was done by Landless Farmers.

 2.5tonne/year by the small farmers, 2.5 tonne/year by the Marginal Farmer.
 Minimum consumption was by the Landless farmers.
 4.8 tonne/year by the Medium Farmers, which was the Maximum consumption.
 Minimum consumption was by the Marginal farmers with an annual consumption of
1.4 tonne/year.
 Second minimum consumption was by the Medium farmers that was 1.9 tonne/year.
 2.15 tonne/year was used by the small farmers, 2.48 tonne/year by landless farmers .
 3.6 tonne/year was consumption by the Large Farmers which was maximum.

Table.3. Average Consumption of Forest Product According Farmer’s Category:

S. NO CATEGORY FUELWOOD FODDER

(Tonne/Year) (Tonne/Year)
1. Landless 2.48 1.48

2. Marginal 1.4 2.5

(Less Than 1 Hectare)
3. Small 2.15 2.5
(Between 1-2 Hectare)
4. Medium 1.9 4.8
(Between 2-10 Hectare)
5. Large 3.6 0
(Greater Than 10
Hectare)

25
ENERGY CONSUMPTION:

 Most of the households were dependent primarily on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)
cylinders for Cooking.
 But the main constraint was unavailability of Gas supply.
 Than firewood plays the main role which was obtained mainly from nearby Forest
and utilized for coking as well as heating purpose.

Table.4.Energy consumption by the village:

MEAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Energy utility Fuel wood Kerosene LPG Cowdung

(Tonne/Year) (Tonne/Year) (Tonne/Year) cake
(Tonne/Year)
Cooking 1.44 0.15 0.18 0.17

Heating 0.96 0.36 - 0.18

Other - - - -

Total 2.40 0.54 0.18 0.35

26
Fig. 6: Animal Husbandry training programme conducted by Dr. A.K Singh at Prateetpur village.

SOME OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE VILLAGERS:

♦ Lack of knowledge of disease, pest and its treatments.

♦ Lack of seed quality.
♦ More damage by wild animals.
♦ Lack of modern tools and implements.
♦ Lack of Dry and Green fodder.
♦ Lack of veterinary services
♦ Untimely availability of fertilizers in market.
♦ Lack of access to the market for crop produced.
♦ Low selling price.
♦ No proper electricity (sometimes)
♦ Storage problems.

27
 ♦ High cost of production.
♦ Uses of low yielding local varieties.

From the above information it is obvious that the villagers need good seeds and more protection
from wild animals and modern tools and implements.

How to sustain Agriculture/Farming system:

 Suggested comments:
♦ Proper educational seminars should be put up by the government in order to
educate the farmers.
♦ Diseases in crops and livestock should be completely eradicated with better and
modern facilities.
♦ They should visit the nearby KVK twice in a month for improved technology.
♦ Seed collection must be done from a trusted agency.
♦ Cost of farm implements should be at a price where farmers can afford easily.
♦ Bank loans to the farmers.
♦ Irrigation system should be improved.

28
 CONCLUSION

The entire data was conducted in the Prateetpur village at the time frame of 12 days with
supervision from KVK officials, the survey was taken among 15 farmer families.From the
survey and analysis of the information collected from the village, it is clear that the economic
and living conditions of the people of Prateetpur village is average, but the altitude of the people
towards the society is appreciable. Commissions and kickbacks are the running the productivity
and well beings of the farmers. There can be much more economic development of the village if
the village gets aids from government in utilizing advance technologies in Agriculture and
animal husbandry. We would say that this report is a looking glass, which reflects the face of
those villages.

In conclusion we can say that a part of field study “Socio-economic Survey” is a part and partial
of educational system. It is also a very essential and important part of educational because it
helps to us to known and realize the socio-economic condition of particular society, the living
standard of its people and their view towards education.

29
 UNIT-III

MUSHROOM CULTIVATION

30
UNIT-III MUSHROOM CULTIVATION

INTRODUCTION

Mushroom is a fleshy spore fruiting body of a fungus which is typically produced above
ground on soil or on its source. The word mushroom is most oftenapplied to those fungi that
have a stem, a cap, and gills or pores on the underside of the cap. Mushrooms are reproductive
structure of edible fungi that belongs to Ascomycotina and Basidomycotina. The mushroom that
lives on dead matter is called a saprophyte. Mushroom belongs to a group of organism called
fungi. The fungi are plants but don’t posses chlorophyll, the green coloring matter. Hence, the
direct sunlight is not indispensable to them for manufacturing their own food.

Mushroom is a short duration crop that takes only 20-30days to get the first harvest and
entire cropping cycle is completed within 45-60days. The mushroom commonly viewed is the
umbrella-shaped fungi belonging to basidiomycotina. There are edible Mushrooms and the
poisonous type.Mushroom comprises a large heterogeneous group with different shapes, sizes,
color and edibility. It poses an excellent source of many vitamins B such as thiamine, riboflavin,
nicotin acid etc. They also contains high percentage of protein(4.5%) and minerals like calcium,
phosphorus, iron, potassium and copper, Since Mushrooms are low in starch content mushroom
are grown on organic substrate either rawer composted.

Fig.1: Morphology of mushroom.

31
IMPORTANCE OF MUSHROOM:
Mushroom helps in plant growth, together with bacteria they help dead materials to get back into
soil so that it can be used again. Some are useful in controlling pests of crops. And it also has
nutritional and medicinal value such as:

Food value: -
 Mushrooms contains 20-30% protein which higher than fruit and vegetation.
 Mushroom proteins are very easily digestible and may be intermediate that of animals
and vegetables.
 Mushroom contain good amount of vitamin c and vitamin B-complex group.
 They are also rich in minerals like potassium, phosphorus and sodium.
 Low sugar and contain no starch.
 Cholesterol is absent and ergo sterol is present in the mushroom.

Medicinal value: -
 Studies in Japan and United States that cultivated A.bisporus.spp contain high amount of
retune, a substance that have an antagonistic effect on some form of tumor.
 Recently shiitake has found 80% inhibitory to tumor ,HIV virus helpful in reducing
blood sugar, blood pressure and constipation
 Some mushroom extract havethe ability to lower cholesterol level.
 It is useful for anemic patients and lactating women.

Economic importance:

 Mushroom has the ability to transform nutritionally useless waste into highly acceptable
nutrition food.
 Mushroom cultivation provides opportunities to the landless laborer and weaker section
of the society.
 Spent mushroom substance (SMS) along with low dung and other organic sources may
be used for biogas plant.
 Spent mushroom substance residues are converted into wealthy by vermicomposting.
32
  SMS could be used as animal feed.
 SMS are rich in NPK and cased as organic fertilizer.

OBJECTIVE OF MUSHROOM CULTIVATION:

 To help create new employment opportunities for rural women and the youth through
mushroom cultivation.
 To increase the production and consumption of mushrooms.
 To strengthen the promotion of mushroom cultivation by establishing a well-equipped
laboratory and offices.
 To provide the unit with appropriately trained personnel for the promotion of mushroom
production in the country.
 To empower rural communities with entrepreneurial skills through the production and
sale of mushrooms.
 To exploit possibilities and assist in building up a mushroom industry that will make a
significant contribution to the general economy.
 To foster self-reliance through the possibility of foreign trade opportunities, thus
diversifying the export base of the economy.
 To ensure adequate and satisfactory supply of spawn to rural communities involved in
mushroom production.

33
EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOM:

List of some edible mushrooms in India:

Sl. No COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

1. Button/European/temperate mushroom Agaricusbisporus

2. Edulis/Hot weather mushroom A.bitorquis
3. Oyster mushrooms Pleurotussajor-caju, P. flabellatus, P.
ostreatus, P. florida, P. sapidus.
4. Paddy straw/ Chinese/ tropical mushrooms Volvariellavolvaceae, V. diplasia.

5. Black ear mushroom Auriculariapolytricha

6. White milky mushroom Calocybeindica

7. Shiitake or black forest mushroom Lentinusedodes
8. Brown cap or giant mushroom Strophariarugusoannulata
9. Wood ear mushroom Auricularia species

List of poisonous mushrooms:

Sl. No NAME SYMPTOM PRODUCE IF

CONSUMED
1. Amanita phalloides Violent cramps, vomiting.
2. Boletulasatawas Diarrhoea
3. Helvellaesculenta Haemolytic intoxication
4. Lactoriustorminosus Sickness but not fatal.
5. Panaecoluspapilionaceous Disturbances in vision, haughting on
slight provocation, not fatal.
6. Russulaemetica Nausea, vomiting.

34
 CULTIVATION OF OYSTER MUSHROOM

The Pleurotus mushroom is generally referred to as ‘Oyster mushroom’ or ‘Dhingri’ in

India and grows naturally in the temperate and tropical forests on dead and decaying wooden
logs or sometimes on dying trunks of deciduous or coniferous woods. It may also grow on
decaying organic matter. The oyster mushroom is one of the most easily cultivated mushrooms
in the world and cost of production is also low. It was first cultivation in Germany as a
subsistence measure during world war and is now grown commercially around the world for
food.

 The common species of oyster mushroom are:

Fig.2: Pleurotusos treatus. Fig.3: Pleurotus florida

THE PROJECT WORK WAS BASED ON: - Pleurotus florida.

 Morphology: -
P.florida is characterized by a 4 to 25 cm cap of oyster or fan shape,caps range from
convex to plane or funnel shaped and has a smooth surface. Color is variable, usually
white but can be grayish-brown, tan or dark brown. The pileus ranges from 1.5 to 8.5 cm

35
 in diameter while the stipe is very short and ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 cm in length, the
Spore print is creamy white.

Classification

Scientific name: Pleurotus florida

Common name: Oyster mushroom

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Pleuroteceae

Genus: Pleurotus

Fig.4: Life cycle of oyster mushroom.

36
 Climatic requirement: -
Oyster mushroom can grow at moderate temperature ranging from 16to 300 C and
humidity 50-75% for a period of 6 to months in a year. The favorable growing seasons
are during Feb/mar-Oct/Nov in the hills and Sep/Oct-Mar/April in the plains.
 Material requirements: -
1. Paddy straw
2. Perforated Ply bags(18’x12’)
3. Mushroom spawn
4. Room with bamboo racks
5. Equipments like chaff cutter and boiling drum
6. Buckets and sprayers.
 Buildings and other facilities:-
Most ordinary buildings are not suitable for mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms have some
basic requirements for the environment.
a. Temperature of 150-200C and humidity of 80-90%. Both temperature and humidity
should be kept as constant as possible as any rapid changes in temperature will
cause disastrous changes in humidity.
b. Good ventilation: - It is needed for healthy mushroom and health of the growers.
Ventilation removes CO2 formed by mushrooms.
c. Light: - Light also helps in the growth of mushrooms. However natural daylight
does not work well.

37
 Fig.5: Room for mushroom cultivation.

ADVANTAGES OF OYSTER MUSHROOM CULTIVATION:

 Much smaller risk of crop failure compared to other mushroom cultivation.

 It is possible inside houses or unused structure.
 It is easy to control pest and diseases.
 Quick return of capital
 Production is possible throughout the yea

38
 METHOD OF CULTIVATION

The production of the oyster mushroom can be conveniently summarized into a number of stages
which are to be strictly followed in order to achieve higher biological efficiencies (B.E). The
stages are as follows:

1. Mushroom Hut disinfection

2. Substrate preparation
3. Straw sterilization
4. Spawning
5. Maturation
6. Harvesting
7. Post-harvest handling.

1. Mushroom Hut disinfection:

The mushroom hut is a very selective environment for the growing of the oyster
mushroom. This means that it must not give chance for the growing of other competitor
organisms which will compete for nutrients with our mushrooms e.g. bacteria, other
fungi, viruses and pests- flies, rodents etc. Since chemicals are not encouraged to practice
organic farming which involves the non chemical production of mushrooms by using
biological control methods. However, chemicals like hypo chloride, dettol, formaldehyde
or hydrogen peroxide can be used for initially disinfecting the mushroom hut or between
cycles.

Fig.6: Mushroom Hut made from lemon grass at KrishiVan Training center, Dhulkot.

39
2. Substrate preparation:
In the cultivation of oyster mushroom, most cellulosic farm waste is used as substrate.
These includes straw of paddy, maize and ragi, stalk and leaves of maize, millets and
cotton, used citronella leaf, waste paper etc., among them, paddy straw is found to be the
best substrate giving more bio efficiency and it is easily available and cheap. Paddy straw
should be fresh and well-dried.
3. Straw sterilization:
Cut the paddy straw into 2” long and then fill the gunny bag which is then soaked in
water for an hour after which the excess water is allowed to drain out. A drum of 220L
capacity is filled with a small amount of water with a wooden frame placed at the bottom
of the drum is taken. Straw filled gunny bags are kept at the top of the wooden frame so
as to avoid it from getting soaked in water. The open end of the drum is sealed with
plastic sheet during sterilization. Sterilization of the straw is considered once the water
starts boiling which should be done for an hour after reaching boiling point. On
completion of sterilization the gunny bags are taken out n allowed to cool.
4. Spawning of substrate:
The sterilized straw is filled into the perforated polybags by slightly pressing so as to
form about 3”thickness of the first layer. Then spread 20g of spawn uniformly over the
entire straw layer and repeat the process till 4-5 layers of strawensuring that there is
proper pressing for every layer.
5. Spawn running:
Now compress the bag n tie its mouth with binding rope and the spawned bags are kept in
a room away from direct sunlight for incubation at a temperature between 200-300C .
After 3 weeks or so the whole substrate turns white which indicate the spawn run
completion. So the plastic cover is removed and the bags are placed by tying in bamboo
poles inside the growing room. Watering should be done2 days after opening of the bag
and within 2-3 days mushroom primordial begins to form.
6. Harvesting and yield:
The right shape for picking can be judged by the shape of the fruit body. The first harvest
of mushroom can be taken in 5-7 days of pinhead formation by giving a gentle twist of

40
the fruiting body. Light watering should be given on daily basis and after a week another
sprout of pinhead will appear. 3-4 flushes during 1 cropping cycle can be obtained after
which the leftover substrate can be used for the production of manure.

An average yield of 0.75-1 kg fresh mushroom per cropping cycle is obtained.

Fig.7: Serilazation of straw. Fig.8: Cooling of straw.

Fig.9: Preparation of spawn. Fig.10: Filling in gunny bag.

41
Fig.11: Bag kept in growing room. Fig.12: Spawn run bag.

Fig.13: Removal of plastic bag. Fig.14: First harvest of mushroom.

42
FLOWCHART OF OYSTER MUSHROOM CULTIVATION:

Raw materials (paddy straw/vegetable plant residue)

Chopping

Soaking the straw (1 hr)

Drain off excess water

Fill up in gunny bag

Dip in hot water for 15 minutes

Drain off excess water

On cooling fill the bags 4-5 layers of 10 cm each with spawn

Arrange bags in shelves (spawn requires 20-25 days)

Pin head stage evolves (3-5 days)

Harvesting is done in 7 days

43
ECONOMICS OF OYSTER MUSHROOM PRODUCTION:
 CAPITAL INVESTMENT:

1 Mushroom house with racks 2 Nos ×7500(spawn 15,000

running cropping room)
2 Chaff cutter 1 × 4000 4,000
3 Boiler-100L cap 2 × 2000 4,000
4 Cement trough 2 × 200 400
5 Sprayer 1 × 1000 1,000
6 Heat efficient challah 1 × 600 600
25,000

1. Working expenditure:

1 Paddy straw 5 tonnes × 1000 5000

2 Spawn (25 beds/day-12 spawn bottle) 365 × 12 × 10 43,800
@ Rs.10/bottle.
3 Polythene bags (80 gauge) for bed 100kg + 10 kg × 45 4950
and packing kg
4 Fungicides, insecticides etc. 500
5 Labour (365 × ½ women) 365 × 15 5475
6 Jute thread 5kg × 40 200
7 Electricity Charges 500
8 Fuel 1500
61925

44
2. Fixed cost:

1 Interest on capital investment @15% 25000×15/100 3750

p.a.
2 Depreciation
i) Item 1@ %% 15000×5/100 750
ii) Item 2,3,4,5 &6 @ !0% 10000×10/100 1000
5500

3. Total cost of spawn production/year:

1 Working expenditure 61925

2 Fixed Cost 5500
67425

4. Income:

1 Yield 5kg × 365days=

1825
2 Value of mushroom (Rs.50/Kg)
3 Total cost 1825 kg ×50 91250
91250 – 67425 23825

45
 POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Mushrooms continue to respire after harvest and the respiration rate of oyster mushroom is 3
times greater than most fruits. However, there are certain measures which enhance the shelf-life
and make the availability of mushroom throughout the year at reasonable cost. These are the long
term and short term preservations.

SHORT TERM STORAGE:

 Harvesting and packaging: - Oyster mushroom should be harvested by giving a gentle

twist of the fruiting body. It is advisable to pick all the mushrooms at a time from the
bag so that the next flush will appear in time. Harvested mushrooms are then packed in
perforated polythene bags.
 Storage: - Freshly harvested oyster mushroom can be stored at a temperature of 0-50C
for 1-2 weeks without loss in quality.
 Transportation: - The mushrooms are placed in trays or baskets containing crushed ice
and overwrapped in paper. The tray or basket is then covered with polythene sheet of
sufficient perforation.

LONG TERM STORAGE:

 Drying of mushroom: - Drying or dehydration is the oldest method of preserving

mushroom and is still popular. Mushrooms for drying should be harvested at a matured
stage. It can be dried in the sun, vacuum or flow drier. After complete drying, mushrooms
should be placed in air-tight container in a cool and dry place. Dried mushroom can be
grinded into powder for mushroom soup.
 Mushroom pickle: - Pickling is an economically viable way of preserving mushroom
during the off-season. It is a process to relish mushroom lovers when the cost of
mushroom is too high.

46
 DISEASES AND PESTS OF MUSHROOM

Many diseases are known to occur in mushroom by different microorganisms i.e. fungi, bacteria,
viruses, etc. Diseases may appear in substrate, compost and casing soil. Some common and
important diseases of mushroom have been given as follows.

 Green Mould (Trichoderma spp.):

It is occur in compost which were not processed and pasteurized properly. They also
occur in casing soil, walls, wooden trays, and iron racks.
Symptoms: Small blue green cushions are seen on the spawned and cased trays/bags. It
also grows on dead pinheads of mushrooms and cut stumps.

 Bacterial Blotch:
It is also known as bacterial spot.This disease was reported from all the major mushroom
growing countries. The disease is common in mushroom farms where there is poor
ventilation system.

47
 Symptoms: The lesions induced by the pathogen on the mushroom tissues are initially
pale yellow but later it becomes golden yellow or chocolate brown.Severely affected
mushrooms may be distorted and the caps may split where the blotch symptoms occur.

 Sciarid flies: -(Bradysia pauper, B.tritici)

 The adults are found to be grayish black, 2.2 to 3.2 mm long.

 In the female flies, the abdomen is swollen with pointed ovipositor.

 Larvae with dirty white transparent with visible alimentary canal and 6.0 to 8.0 mm long.

48
 CONCLUSION

Mushroom cultivation has many facilities requirements. There are no shortcuts to those
requirements. If the requirements are not met, failure, or at least poor production is assured. The
facilities must provide the environment required for mushroom growth and must also provide the
primary protection against insects, other pests and disease. Without the environment and
protection provided by the facilities, management cannot protect the crop or obtain good yields.

As observed from the training institute there were adequate supplies of everything needed for the
cultivation of mushroom and this made the rearing process easier.

49
 UNIT- IV

APICULTURE

50
UNIT-IV APICULTURE

INTRODUCTION

Apiculture is the science and culture of honey bees and their management. It is a broad
term which includes social and solitary bees‚ their biology‚ behavior and management. Whereas
bee keeping refers only to the rearing of domesticated honey bee species and their management.
Most of the people are attracted to the fascinating world of honey bees as they help us in
pollinating many of our important cross pollinated crops and also provide economic output as
honey.Honey bees belong to the family Apidae of the order Hymenoptera. India is a unique
country where all the four species of honey bees have been found foraging under natural
conditions. Two of them are wild and make their nests in the open. They are
ApisDorsataFabricius and Apisflorae Fabricius. The other two makes their nest in the open and
can be domesticated to live in hives. They are ApisCeranaFabricius and ApisMellifera
Linnaeus.

In ancient times‚ honey bees were kept in crude manner in India as in other countries of
the world. Modern bee keeping has come a long way from the traditional clay pot‚ log live‚
bamboo basket‚ and wooden boxes to movable frame beehives in the beginning of this century.
With the discovery of this frame beehive based on principle of bee space (Rev L.L. Langstroth,
1851) ‚ honey extractor (Major Hruschka‚1865) and smoker (Moses Quinby‚1870)‚ the base of
scientific bee keeping has been established. First attempts to keep bees in movable frame hives
were made in 1882 in Bengal and 1883- 1884 in Punjab but with little success. In south India‚
Rev. Newton devised a hive for Indian honey bees during 1911 which was known as Newton
beehive. Bee keeping of India organized themselves and formed all bee keep’s association during
1938-1939 and published Indian bee journal. The Indian council of agriculture research (ICAR)‚
New Delhi coordinates the activities of Apiculture research in India. The ICAR established bee
keeping research station in Punjab in 1945 and 1951 at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. From 1980
onward‚ Indian council of Agriculture research conceived and formulated All India coordinated
project on Honeybee research and training. Since then the bee keeping has got the momentum for

51
its scientific venture as well as development activities. The research and developmental activities
of honey bee have broaden its field to Apiculture which include crop productivity through
pollination‚ toils of Honey bee i.e.‚ honey and other beehive products such as bee wax‚ Royal
jelly‚ Bee venom etc. honey bees plays the dual role of pollinating crop and producing honey.

SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF APICULTURE:

Apiculture offers tremendous potential for employment generation for the unemployed
and the landless poor as it can easily be adopted with little investment and simple technology as
part time as well as full time commercial venture. It definitely will diversify the economic base
for cash strapped farmers at the same time; it will tackle the problem of malnutrition and human
health.The concept of honey bees beyond honey make bee keeping’s future prospect very high in
the increasingly demand driven world market.With an increasing desire for alternative solutions
to meet the rising pressures on the agricultural community everywhere, apiculture offers a viable
and sustainable solution. This is why it has been established as the fifth element in agriculture.

The exploitation of honeybees for wax and pollination termed as beekeeping. Beekeeping
is recognized as a low input and high output activities suitable for rural‚ tribal and other weaker
section of rural population. Beekeeping as a rural industry is of considerable national
importance. It is such a profitable profession that can be successfully adapted by well to do as
well as small/marginal farmers‚ farm women‚ landless labourers‚ rural unemployed youth and
retired or in service personnel. It can provide the under employed agriculturalist with full
employment and with extra income. Honeybees produce honey‚ a food of high nutritive and
medicinal value. They also produce bee wax‚ pollen‚ bee venom‚ royal jelly and propolis as
another source of income. Multiplication of honeybee colonies and sale of extra multiplied
nucleus colonies of bees still another source that adds to the beekeepers income. Substantially
bees help to pollinate a large number of fruit trees such as apple‚ plum‚ cherry‚ guava and citrus
and vegetables such as cucurbits‚ fodder such as clover and brassica group of crops. Thus
increased crop yield due to bee pollinator without spending any input is just a bonus to the
farmers of the area. Beekeeping provides proportionately more and immediate return than any
other agro-based profession as can be combined as supplementary enterprise to crop cultivation.
One can get backalmost 2/3 of the investment made‚ in the very first year. This profession has a
minimum land and structural requirement. Initial cost to start beekeeping is also very nominal
52
and recurring cost is negligible. Moreover‚ this enterprise can be started at small or commercial
scale depending upon economic position of the beginner.

Economic Gains/ Advantages of Beekeeping from the socio-economic point of

view‚ beekeeping have the following advantages:

 Beekeeping provides employment to all members of the family-old‚ physically

handicapped‚ and grown up children‚ young men and women by way of rural beekeeping
extension.
 Beekeeping provides proportionately more and immediate return than any other agro-
based profession.
 This is a subsidiary agriculture activity that does not demand separate land or complete
with other farm animals for fodder and other animals.
 Beekeeping generates honey and other valuable products from naturally available nectar
and pollen that otherwise go waste.
 It can be adopted as a subsidiary enterprise to supplement the income of the low paid
section of the people.
 It is clean and hygienic agriculture profession which neither re-quires neither daily
feeding nor cleaning of the litter and as such considered as eco- friendly enterprises.
 Inputs in beekeeping are very low and recurring cost is negligible.
 It generates income which commensurate with its success.
 The output to input ratio is high‚ because the raw material for production of honey is
obtained free from nature.
 Bee keeping helps rural population to become self-reliant.
 It favours diversification of the local economy from manufacture of material necessary
for beekeeping by rural craftsmen‚ like carpenters‚ blacksmiths‚ and tailors
 Beekeeping augments national productivity through increasing oilseeds‚ pulses‚ spices‚
fruits and other crops by bee pollination
 It can be done in own backyard in his rural house.

53
 Bee keeping is advantageous especially for women who otherwise have to go long
distance for their livelihood and toil hard to earn subsistence income. The rural or tribal
women can have income from bee hives and can improve her socio-economic status.
 It contributes significantly to national economy and helps in augmentation of
environmental quality.

54
 SPECIES OF HONEY BEE

There are four species of honey bees in India. They are:

1. The Rock bee (Apisdorsata Fab.): -

Fig.1: Apisdorsata.

It is found all over the plains and hills tracts of India up to a height of about 1220m above sea
level. It is larger in size than all other honeybee species expect giant honeybee‚ to A. laboriosa
which is found in higher altitudes of Nepal. It builds single comb‚ fixed at a roof or rock.
Breadth of worker cells is about 5.3mm and drone cells are also of the same size. Bees cover the
comb like a curtain. A.dorsata combs may be as large as 1.5 to 2.0m in width.

2. The Little bee (Apisflorea Fab.)

Fig.2: Apisflorea

55
It is found in plains all over the India but rarely lives in places higher than 457m MSL. A.florea
is the best pollinator of several cultivated. It usually builds a single comb nest. The combs are
usually small about the size of the palm of the land. There are 3.5 cells per linear cm. drone cells
are 1.55times larger in diameter than worker cells. These bees usually construct their
nests/combs in shades places‚ bushes‚ hedges‚ branches of trees‚caves of building‚ crevices or
piles if dried sticks etc. combs are always covered by more than one layer of bees. Honey yield
per colony rarely exceeds 250gm. field crops.A.florea is the best pollinator of several cultivated.

3.The Indian bee(Apisceranaindica fab): -

Fig.3: Apiscerana.

This honeybee species are found practically throughout the India. There are several strains and
varieties of this species. Generally‚ plain and hill varieties have been recognized. The worker
bees of plain variety are generally smaller than those of higher altitudes. This bee makes parallel
combs in hollows of rocks‚ cavities of the trunks‚ poles and other covered places.

4. European bee (Apismellifera Fab.)

Fig.4: Apismellifera.

56
European bee is found all over Europe and had number of well recognized races. Geographical
races greatly differ in appearances.

This honey bee species is the most representative and well-known, which comprehends more
than 20 subspecies or races. In India it has spread to almost all the states. It is larger in size than
the other domesticated honeybee, Apis cerana. It is evident that A. mellifera is similar in habits
to the Apis cerana and make parallel combs. Appearance of bees in different areas is greatly
variable. Worker cell is about 3mm in width and drone cell is 1.3 times larger. This bee species
was introduces in India in 1965 and has successfully established in northern states i.e. Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and JK. Now this bee species is being introduced into newer areas.
Attempts are being made to introduce this honeybee species in southern and north-eastern states
of India where "Thai sac brood virus" has already devastated Apis cerana colonies. Average
honey yield is about 25-30 kg/colony/year.

My project was based on one species: -

EUROPEAN BEE (Apismellifera)

Advantages of rearing Apismellifera: -

 Apismelliferahelps to improve quantity and quality of crops production.

 Average honey yield is about 25-30 kg/colony/year which are more than Apiscerana.
 Apismelliferais gentle to handle, industrious and well-adapted to the ecological
conditions of South East Asia.
 Apismelliferahas replaced Apiscerana in most of places in Asia.
 Apismelliferais a well known general pollinator with a great ecological and economic
importance.

Disadvantage of rearing Apismellifera: -

 Colonies of A. Cerana are smaller than those of A. Melliferawhich facilitates there easy
handling.

57
 Chemicals are required in beekeeping in Apismellifera to control diseases, parasites and
predators.
 It is more susceptible to disease than A. Cerana

Fig.5: Apismellifera colony.

58
 TYPES AND INPUT REQUIREMENT OF BEE KEEPING

1) Queen bee: - The biggest and the only one that is fertile in the honey comb.

2) Drones: - Fertile male bees in the honey comb capable of reproduction.

3) Worker bee: - Sterile female bees not capable for reproduction.

Fig.6: Types of honey bee.

BEE KEEPING EQUIPMENTS AND THEIR USES:

 Bee hive: There are many types of movable frame hives being used in different parts of
the world. The Langstroth hive‚ Newton hive and Indian standards institute (ISI) hive are
more in use than other types in India.

59
 Fig.7: Indian bee box Fig.8: European bee box

THE LANGSTROTH HIVE:

1. STAND: any four legged stand 15-25cm high will do. Its upper dimensions should be
such as to support the bottom board properly.
2. BOTTOM BOARD: It can be made either by taking a piece of wood 550mm long‚
406mm brood and 22 mm thick‚ or by joining 2 wooden boards together nailing in
position with wooden rods.
3. BROOD CHAMBER: It is a rectangular box without top and bottom and is made of
22mm thick wood. Its length on the outside is 4O6mm and on the inside 363mm and its
height is 238mm. a rabbet 16mm deep and 13mm wide is cut along the entire length of its
width planks.

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4. FRAME: consist of top bar‚ two side bars and a bottom bar.
5. SUPER CHAMBER: The dimensions of the super and the super frames should be same
as those of the brood chamber and the brood chamber frames‚ respectively.
6. INNER COVER: This is a wooden board to cover the brood chamber or the super as the
case may be. It is 500mm long‚ 406mm broad and 9mm length wood. It has 9 mm thick
and 22mm wide wooden bar nailed into each of its four sides.
7. TOP COVER: It is made up to a 9mm thick wooden board nailed to a rectangular frame
50mm high‚ all covered over with a metallic sheet. So as to make it imperious to rain
water. Its inside measurements are 525mm×425mm. it rests loosely over the hive.
OTHER BEE KEEPING EQUIPMENT’s:

i. Comb foundation sheet: It is a sheet of bee wax on both sides of which are
depressions or marks of the exact shape and pattern of workers brood cells. It is
prepared on the comb foundation mill. The sheet is fitted on the frame‚ supported by
the metal wires fixed and tightened horizontally. Wiring gives extra strength to the
comb. In the super frame‚ only one wire is needed while in the broad frame‚ two
wires are needed. For fixing wires‚ small holes are bored in the side bars and after
passing the thin wire through them‚ there both ends are tied with the nails fixed on the
edges of side bars. After wiring put the foundation in the frame.
ii. Queen excluder: To obtain pure honey free from extraneous matter it is necessary to
separate the broodiness from the surplus honey stores. This is done with the help of
queen excluder which is perforated sheet of zinc or round wire assembles together
3.7mm apart.
iii. Honey extractor: It is a hand or motor operated centrifugal machine‚ with revolving
chambers‚ into which the frames fit. As the handle in worked‚ honey flows out of the
frames by the centrifugal force without breaking the can be used again.

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iv. Uncapping knife: It is a flat sharp edged knife used for cutting the wax capping of
sealed honey cells. The frames are them placed in the honey extractor.
v. Bee veil: it is a head vein made of mosquito-netting and is used to protect the face
from the sting of the bees.
vi. Smokers: it is used during inspection of the hive. The bees get subdued when the
entrance of the hive is puffed with smoker generated by a bellows-type smoker.
vii. Gloves: they are needed for a beginner to protect the hands from bee stings‚ but the
experienced beekeepers can handle the bees without gloves.
viii. Swarm-catching basket: This is a small basket made of bamboo and is used for
collecting a sitting swarm and bringing it back to the hive.

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 SEASONAL MANAGEMENT OF HONEY BEE

Bee keeping differs from other agro-based subsidiary industries as it needs more art and
skill and less physical involvement. During different seasons‚ different management
operations are to be adopted so that the difficulties faced by bees are minimized and their
population is maintained at higher level to exploit the honey flow seasonal. The seasonal
management is grouped into following three categories:

1. Management during spring:

In the second half of February the weather becomes favourable and consequently the
bee activity increases. By this time the colony need not waste their energy in
maintaining the hives and thus divert the worker force towards food collection and
brood rearing. During this time‚ the bee flora like rapeseed‚ mustard‚ eucalyptus and
temperate fruits become available in abundance throughout in thenorthern plains.
Thus‚ the additional availability of nectar and pollen act as stimulant for brood
rearing activity. The various managements/operations to be done during this period.
2. Management during summer:
The “spring honey flow” is followed by summer death period. During summer
months‚ flowering decreases in most places. This causes decrease in production of
honey and so decrease in honey flow to hives. As a result‚ the queen slows down egg
laying. The deserting bees behave almost in a similar fashion as swarming bees
except that there bees rise very high and it is difficult to get them settled down‚
“Absconding” is a phenomenon in which adverse conditions force the colony to
desert. During this summer‚ in certain region of India temperature goes as high as
47°-50°and gunny bags moisture with water can be spread over top covers. Proper
cross ventilation to be ensured in order to facilitate proper aeration and lowering the
hive humidity. Normally the hives should be placed under shade or “L” shaped
thatched cover in order to protect from scorching sun.

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3. Winter management:
Honeybees live in an environment of their own and regulated temperature between
32° and 35°C. The bees form cluster when the temperature falls below 10°C. In some
parts of India‚ the temperature goes below 0°. In such circumstances‚ the honey bee
should be exposedto sunlight; bee tried to regulate the temperature by muscular
movement and are possible by the consumption of honey. Bee colony can be held to
over winter by saving their energy in raising hive temperature. Insulation of hive with
doubling the thickness of wooden hives does give protection to the bees against chill
cold.

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 IMPORTANT PRODUCTS OBTAINED FROM BEE KEEPING

1) Honey: -It is a good source of vitamins & sugars. It is antiseptic, blood purifier and also
used to treat gastric problems.

2) Bee venom: - It is poisonous and also known as apitoxin. It is used in the treatment of
arthritis and for desensitizing people allergic to bee stings

3) Bee wax: - It is used by the honey bees as a foundation for selling large spaces in honey
comb. It is also used in shoe and furniture polishes as well as in candle making.

4) Propolis: -It is resinous substance collected by bees from the tree sap. It is used to seal the
small gaps in the honey comb and has wound healing, antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

5) Royal jelly:- It is secreted by 12 days old workers bees and mainly used for the nutrition and
development of the queen bees. It is used as medicine for ulcers, asthma, premenstrual
syndrome, menopausal symptoms and also used in skin care and cosmetics.

6) Pollen: - It is a grain of flowers collected by the bees which contain all 22 amino acids,
vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Pollen has high food value and large market for human and
veterinary medicines.

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EXTRACTION‚ PROCESSING & STORAGE OF HONEY AND BEE WAX

Honey extraction:

Honey is extracted and prepared for market in the different methods. This honey is
obtained after cruel destination of bees along their eggs and young ones which are squeezed
while obtained honey. This types of honey is obtained from wild nesting bees or rock bees found
mostly in forest‚ rock and old building etc. the honey from combs of hive species is extracted by
mean of a centrifugal machine called “Honey Extractor”. The extracted honey is always the pure
form of honey. It is obtained from domesticated honey bees such as Apismellifera and
Apiscerena.

Processing of honey:

Honey in the comb cell has desirable flavor in the aroma has no foreign particles except
pollen grains. During extraction of handing for marketing the quality of honey may be
deteriorated by the beekeeper himself. During extraction bits of comb wax are incorporated in
honey. The honey is extracted with the help of extracted and it is drawn in thin films from the
comb cell thus aroma is lost. During extraction some air borne dust particles may also be added
to honey. Faulty storage condition such as inappropriate containers‚ high storage temperature etc.
would further deteriorate the quality of honey. Raw honey is always loved by the consumers but
beekeepers wants to put the honey in market in a best way.Honeys from different sources vary in
physical characteristic and chemicals composition. The processing‚ therefore depends upon the
composition of honey. Some honey tends to granulate quickly whereas other do not or do
granulate but slowly. Heating is the only treatment given for processing honey.

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USES OF HONEY:

 As food: It is a rich, energy giving food and with milk forms a perfect and complete
food. It provides ready energy and is given as the first food for the new born infants. It is
so highly nutritious that 1kg of honey is estimated to be equivalent to 5kg of milk, 1.5kg
of meat, 40 oranges or 50eggs. It can be used with coffee, tea or milk in place of sugar.
Honey mixed with butter and curds can be used with chapatti, biscuits, etc. It is used on
fruits, in salad dressing, canning and preserving.
 As Medicines: It is used as a carrier in many Ayurvedic and Unami medicines. It is
by itself used as a laxative and a blood purifier and as a curative for sore, ulcers in tongue
and sore throat etc. Regular use of honey is advocated for stomach and intestinal ulcers,
being potentially alkaline as fruits, it does not produce acidosis.
 In religious functions: Honey is use in many religious rites.
 Other uses: In western countries, it is used in making alcoholic drinks and skin and
beauty lotion, for feeding race horses to increase their stamina, as an ingredient in
cigarette and chewing tobacco to improve their flavor and texture and in manufacture of
chewing gum.

Fig.11: Health benefits of Honey.

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USES OF BEWAX:

Bee wax is an important by- product of the beekeeping industry. It is produces from old combs,
capping collected after honey extraction and combs affected by wax mouth. The giant bee,
Apisdorsata provides almost all the bee wax available in our markets since the production of the
same from a modern apiary with Apiscerana is much less as the combs, after honeyextraction are
given back to the bees for storing honey. It is used in the manufacture of beauty lotions, creams
and lipsticks polish candles, etc.

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 CONCLUSION

Beekeeping is a non land based profitable vocation. In the modern agricultural system honeybees
can be considered as one of the important inputs for crop production. Beekeeping does not
require particular land and workers. Even the women and teenage school goes of the family can
look after the colonies. Considering ten colonies as an unit and average honey yield 10kg per
colony for Indian bee, 20kg for western bee and the market value of honey Rs.150/kg, then the
profit generated from honey will be Rs.20,000/- for western bee as worked out by AICARP on
honeybee, AUU, Jorhat centre.

It is observed from the above that Apiculture is very remunerative profession and it can certainly
help for economic upliftment of the farmers. A farmer can earn an income of Rs.12000/-
annually for 10 colonies. In fact, apiculture is recognized as a low input and high input activities
suitable for rural, tribal and other weaker sections of rural population.

Bee keeping as a rural industry is of considerable national importance. The most important
consideration is the effective utilization of family labor, particularly small/marginal farmer, farm
women, landless laborers, rural unemployed youth and retired or in-service personnel. Honey
bees produce honey, a food of high nutritive and medicinal value. On the other hand, bees help to
pollinate a large number of fruit trees such as apple, plum, pear, peach, cherry, guava and citrus
and vegetables such as cucurbits, fodder such as clover and brassica groups of field crops.

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 CONCLUSION

Rural Agriculture Work Experience (RAWE) required in partial fulfillment of the degree course
of B.Sc. Agriculture offers opportunity for skill development and practical training to carry out
various activities related to field condition. I being a student of B.Sc. (Agri.) VIII semester, got
an opportunity to carry out this project by selecting four particular topics i.e.

1. Attachment with Agriculture research institute.

2. Socio-economic survey.
3. Mushroom Cultivation.
4. Apiculture.

During the course of my Project, I got lots of information and knowledge about the need of
agriculture in Rural development, Mushroom cultivation, Apiculture, etc. This project mainly
concerns with the interests, dedication and involvement of the learner in various agricultural
works practically. Therefore as a part of it, I performed each and every experience from the core
of my heart and experienced many things about the as a whole in different fields.

70
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Evidence from common property forest management in Nepal. Ecological economics 48: 245-
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Adhikari .B, 2005. Proverty, property rights and collective action, understanding the distributive
aspects of common property resource management. Environment and development economics
10, 7-31.

David V. Alford, ATextBook of Agriculture Entomology.

Dr. Gopal Singh and Dr. Bijendra Singh, Advance mushroom cultivation.

Dr. Mathur and Dr. Upadhyay, A text book of Entomology.

George A carter B.sc‚ A.R.I.C. published beekeeping (2005) biotech book Delhi-110035

K.V. Jayashree, C.S. Tharadevi and N. Arumugam, Apiculture.

Mr. Manjit Singh,Director of mushroom Research Centre, Chambaghat, Solan (H.P),

technologies for mushroom production.

Sharma Jyotsana, GairolaSumeet, Gaur, R. D., Painuli, R. M. (2012) Forest utilization patterns
and socio-economic status of the Van Gujjar tribe in sub-Himalayan tracts of Uttarakhand,
India. Forestry Studies in China 14, 36-46. Online publication date: 1-Mar-2012.

Sharma, C. M. and Gairola, S. 2007. Prospects of carbon management in Uttarakhand: An

overview. SamajVigyanShodhPatrika, Special Issue (Uttarakhand-1) 23–34.

S.R. Sharma, Satish Kumar and V.P. Sharma,Disease and competitor moulds of Mushroms and
their Management, National Research Centre for Mushroom, (Indian Council of Agricultural
Research), Chambaghat, Solan.

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R.C.Mishra project co-ordinator (2003) published perspective in Indian Apiculture‚ All India co-
ordinated project on honeybee research and training CCS‚ Haryana Agriculture University
Hissar (Haryana)

Tewari, J. C., Tripathi, D., Pratap, N., and Singh, S. P., 2003. A study of the structure, energy
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