SUMMARY :Developmental programme are carried out to support small holder farming communities for their livelihood. The research study was conducted in Panchmahal district of Gujarat to understand the nature of agricultural system, socio-economic status, cropping and livestock rearing pattern for implementing suitable interventions. It was found that agriculture productivity was less intensive and majority of farmers had inclination towards rearing of buffaloes. Majority of the respondents did not have higher level of education and had an average 4.35 acres of land for cultivation. The system of feeding is mostly stall fed and did not found any significant impact over milk yield of animals in comparison with grazing system. The milk co-operative societies played greater role for monetary incentive among most of the respondents. It is suggested that the nature of feeding system, changing preference to rearing of livestock, agricultural cultivation and dependence of dairy societies by smallholders need to be given adequate consideration in promoting location specific technologies. How to cite this article :

Questions are raised in effective utilization of farmer’s wisdom by communities in their farming. Planners support to livelihood emphasize mostly of inputs from outside and not setting up sustainable goals. Formal institutions and planners of program are finding constraints and sceptical in wider dissemination of indigenous knowledge research system (IKRS). This is in spite of evidence that considerable number of farmer’s in livestock sector depends on IKRS. In this context, it is pertinent to showcase dissemination potential of these knowledge system(s) in larger geographical areas. The review illustrates different challenges encountered while control of livestock ailments like ectoparasite infestation through IKRS. Several times, it was opinioned to provide or share IKRS to thwart ailments in a specific region. This is interesting as it was narrated how formal system is unable to recognize farmer’s problem and challenges in integrating these sustainable practices. It has to be noted that disseminating activities seldom takes into account the experimental potential of farmers. This review paper articulates various evidences generated in enhancing diffusion thereby dissemination of IKRS. The nature of support extended by IKRS in entrepreneurial activity of smallholder farming units did not get adequate recognition. There needs to be minimum standard protocol in deriving benefit from such low-cost alternative technologies. This will enrich incremental innovation activities as per location specific need and provide scope for wider dissemination.

Dairy Co-operative Societies (DCS) in India are an important entity in linking smallholder livestock producers with external market. This helps smallholder producer(s) in occupational diversification and gainful income. These economically important institutions also serve social purposes. Co-operative member farmers get an opportunity to interact among themselves as well members outside their society. In semiarid regions, the nature of dependence on these institutions among communities for their livelihood becomes particularly more important. The present study appreciates behaviour of farmers to supply milk to dairy society in Panchmahal district, a semiarid region of Gujarat state, India. The relationship pattern of socioeconomic variables viz., age, education, land size and total milk production were assessed towards linkage of farmers with this particular village institution. The nature of such linkage by society with local institutions often determines technological refinement, intervention and adoption. The study did not find any significant relationship for variables like age, education and total milk production in respect to farmers approaching milk cooperative societies. However, land holding size among respondents appeared to be a significant factor towards supply of milk to societies/society. This clearly demonstrates importance of identifying and understanding variables that can influence livestock interventions through dairy societies. The developmental intermediations must take this into account for welfare of farmers in semiarid region.

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Aims: To evaluate the performance of farmers’ onion varieties against purple blotch disease at different locations and to correlate Percent Disease Index with yield attributing and other important traits. Study Design: Randomized Block Design, Field demonstration. Place and Duration of Study: National Innovation Foundation- India Gandhinagar Gujarat, Repoli and Palghar research stations of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli Maharashtra during October 2017 to April 2019. Methodology: Two farmers’ onion varieties Sona-40 and Sandip were characterized and tested for their response against purple blotch disease under field condition in comparison with location-specific check varieties. Percent Disease Index of purple blotch was observed, compared and correlated with important traits viz. the plant height, leaves per plant, bulb diameter, maturity period, bulb weight, bulb yield and keeping quality. In Maharashtra areas, the study was conducted under Repoli and Palghar conditions during winter (Rabi) 2017, whereas at Gandhinagar Gujarat, it was undertaken in winter (Rabi) 2017 and 2018. Results: The farmers’ onion cultivars Sandip and Sona-40 were found to be tolerant to the purple blotch disease at all the locations. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, the average Percent Disease Index (PDI) in Sona-40 (12.1%, 12.2%) and Sandip (10.75%, 14.64%) was found significantly lower as compared to the checks respectively. The present studies also confirmed that onion bulb’s yield, weight and keeping quality were significantly correlated with the purple blotch disease. Conclusion: This study exhibited that the farmers’ onion varieties may perform better against disease infestation such as purple blotch disease. It also confirmed that the response of the onion varieties against purple blotch may vary in different locations. It is shown that the bulb weight, yield and shelf life of bulbs are significantly affected by purple blotch disease.