Vegetables are a vital component of nutritious diets, offering essential vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy living. However, in India, vegetable productivity has been hindered by widespread micronutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies not only lower crop yields and affect the quality of produce but also contribute to rising malnutrition and health challenges across the population. Recognizing the severity of this issue, the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, developed two innovative micronutrient formulations aimed at improving crop productivity and quality: Kashi Sookshma Shakti for cucurbit crops and Kashi Sookshma Shakti Plus for legume vegetables.
Kashi Sookshma Shakti is a powder formulation that blends essential micronutrients to boost the health of cucurbit crops like bitter gourd, pointed gourd, and bottle gourd. On the other hand, Kashi Sookshma Shakti Plus is a liquid formulation designed for legume vegetables, containing vital micronutrients, plant growth promoters, and vermiwash. Both formulations underwent rigorous evaluation at ICAR-IIVR and were then tested on farmers' fields to determine their practical efficacy.
A standout success story emerged from Shri Nagesh Kumar Singh, a progressive farmer from Kailhat, Mirzapur. In 2024, Shri Singh applied Kashi Sookshma Shakti to his cucurbit crops—bitter gourd, pointed gourd, and bottle gourd—cultivating 10, 5, and 15 biswa (125.42 square meters) of land, respectively. The results were striking. The application of the formulation extended the harvest period by 15-20 days, increased the frequency of harvests by 3-4 additional pickings, and led to a 25-30% higher yield compared to previous seasons. The visual appearance of the produce also showed remarkable improvement. The net returns from the three crops were ₹29,000 from bitter gourd, ₹17,500 from pointed gourd, and ₹45,000 from bottle gourd.
In addition, when Kashi Sookshma Shakti Plus was applied to legume crops such as cowpea and soybean, remarkable results were also achieved. Covering 3 biswa for cowpea and 1 biswa for soybean, the formulation boosted productivity by 20-25%, adding 3-4 extra harvests. The cowpea crop generated ₹10,000 in returns, while the soybean was mainly used for family consumption.
Shri Singh was extremely satisfied with the outcomes of using these formulations. He praised their significant impact on crop yield and quality and expressed his enthusiasm about continuing his collaboration with ICAR-IIVR to access more technological innovations. His success story exemplifies how tailored micronutrient formulations, such as Kashi Sookshma Shakti and Kashi Sookshma Shakti Plus, can address crucial agricultural challenges, enhance productivity, and improve nutritional quality while empowering farmers to achieve greater success in their farming endeavors.
(Compiled by: Hare Krishna, Rajeev Kumar, R.B. Yadava, Swati Sharma, Anant Bahadur, T.K. Behera, and Nagendra Rai)
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi)
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