M. Mallikarjuna - Bio-Inputs for Sustainable Chilli Farming
M. Mallikarjuna, a small-scale farmer from Madire village in Kurgodu Taluk, Ballari, cultivates red chilli (HPH 5531) on 4.5 acres. Like many farmers in the region, he initially relied heavily on chemical fertilizers, plant growth regulators (PGRs), and synthetic fungicides. Frequent spraying significantly increased his cultivation costs while providing limited returns, rendering his farm economics unsustainable.
Intervention
Under the project “Strengthening Sustainability of the Spices Value Chain through FPOs”, the initiative was supported by CII Foundation and CII-FACE as knowledge partner, with Orkla India as the donor, and Farmitopia serving as the technical partner, the following interventions were implemented:
- Training in Bio-Inputs: Farmers were trained to prepare and apply bio-inputs, such as Fish Amino Acid (FAA) and fermented buttermilk, using locally available materials.
- Technical Demonstrations: Sessions covered preparation methods, correct dilution ratios, application stages, and frequency.
- Strategic Application: FAA was applied during the vegetative and pre-flowering stages to boost growth.
- Fermented buttermilk sprays were used regularly to manage anthracnose (fruit rot).
- Sustainable Agronomy: Recommended practices were reinforced to reduce dependency on expensive chemical PGRs and fungicides.
Results
- Adoption: Successful integration of FAA and fermented buttermilk into the farming cycle.
- Crop Vitality: Improved crop growth, branching, flowering, and fruit set.
- Disease Management: Significant reduction in flower drop and effective control of anthracnose.
- Quality & Yield: Enhanced fruit quality and uniformity, with a 20-25% yield increase compared to previous seasons.
- Cost Reduction: Input costs were reduced by 30-40%. For example, expensive chemical sprays (₹1,000/acre) were replaced with bio-inputs (₹800 for three sprays/acre).
- Economic Turnaround: Higher profitability achieved through the combination of lower expenditure and increased productivity.
Benchmark vs. Endline
| Parameter | Before Intervention | After Intervention | Impact |
| Input Use | Heavy reliance on chemical PGRs & fungicides | Bio-inputs (FAA, buttermilk) | Cost reduced 30-40% |
| Crop Health | Moderate growth, flower drop, anthracnose damage | Improved growth, reduced flower drop, disease managed | Better crop quality |
| Yield | Baseline yield | 20-25% higher yield | Productivity improved |
| Profitability | Moderate returns, high costs | Higher returns, reduced costs | Strong financial turnaround |
Conclusion
By adopting bio-inputs and sustainable practices, M. Mallikarjuna reduced his overhead, improved crop health, and achieved significantly higher profitability. This case highlights how farmer training, the use of local resources, and FPO support can drive sustainable cultivation and empower small-scale farmers.