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In India, the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii is generally mass produced on the eggs of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton, however, in the present study, the cost of production of T. chilonis was studied on Samia cynthia ricini, eri silkworm, and was compared with rice moth. Rearing of T. chilonis on eri silkworm eggs showed higher benefit cost-ratio of 1.89 with a net profit of Rs. 4620, whereas T. chilonis when reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica recorded a benefit cost ratio of 1.28, with a net profit of Rs. 2379. The results revealed that in one hectare area, one trichocard made from eri silkworm eggs release that containing 3500 eggs. Each parasitized egg yields 9-10 adults, thus total adults account to about 35000-40000 adults ha -1 , while in case of trichocard made from rice moth eggs, the number of cards to be released in one hectare area are 2-3, since one trichocard made from rice moth eggs consit of 16000-17000 eggs. Hence, eri silkworm can be used as an alternate host to rice moth for rearing of T. chilonis as it is a resource efficient and cost reducing technology. Further, this production technology would be suitable for promoting localized production of eri silkworm at village level especially for tribal farmers, and unemployed youth.

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The study was conducted in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu to assess the adoption behavior of paddy farmers on Soil Health Card (SHC) based recommendations. A total of 120 paddy farmers who were the beneficiaries of SHC scheme were contacted to collect the data. A pre tested interview schedule was used to collect the data. The results revealed that overall adoption on SHC recommendations found to be medium (45.50%). With regard to straight fertilizers application before the introduction of SHC 40.80 percent of the respondents had applied excess NPK fertilizers. After the introduction, the excess range has been reduced up to 5.8 per cent and in the same way the deficient application was also rectified by 4.7 per cent of the farmers. With regard to complex fertilizers 12.8 per cent of the respondents had followed the exact recommendation of complex fertilizers. The adoption behavior of micronutrients showed that 29.50 per cent of respondents followed recommended dose of micronutrients after SHC scheme. About 6.00 per cent respondents had started to follow the correct dose of Bio fertilizers after the introduction of SHC. Overall adoption level of the farmers was up to medium level and hence emphasis is needed to inspire the farmers to adopt soil testing practices and soil fertility management.