Analysis of alternative selection for vertical clearance design under Tabalong Bridge of PT Adaro Indonesia

PT Adaro Indonesia is trying to adjust a vertical clearance under Tabalong Bridge 1 (unloaded) and Tabalong Bridge 2 (loaded) because the existing conditions still apply a minimum vertical clearance of 4 m. I t should be in accordance with latest Regulation of the Minister of Public Works No. 19/PRT/M/2011 that for vertical clearance above national road at least 5.1 m. This specification has not been met by the national road under the Tabalong 1 & 2 Bridges bec ause both bridges were built in the 90s. Therefore we need an engineering technique to overcome this. There are 2 alternative designs, namely lowering the elevation of the national road and increasing the elevation of the bridge's upper structure to mitiga te oversized vehicles so as not to hit the lower structure of the Tabalong bridge. In determining the selection of the best alternative designs in this research is based on two (2) things, non financial criteria with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and financial criteria with Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)/Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) method. This study uses a survey method by distributing questionnaires and interviews as a means of collecting primary data. In addition, previous research and consultant DED documents were used as a means of collecting secondary data. The AHP method is used to process primary data to produce a decision from a non financial aspect. While the LCC/BCR method is used to process secondary data to produce a decision from the financi al aspect . The results of the AHP analysis obtained that the synthesis value of the decision the option of lowering national roads was 85% and the bridge lifting option was 15% and the consistency ratio (CR) was 0.05 < 0.1. The consistency ratio below 0.1 shows that the questionnaire data from the respondents are consistent. The results of the analysis of Life Cycle Cost (LCC) obtained the option of lowering national roads where the LCC value is Rp. 44,877,651,669.27 more economical than the bridge lifting option. Then the results of the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) analysis obtained the option of lowering national roads with a BCR value of 2.33 > 1 and NPV = Rp. 43,442,264,804.34 > 1 means that the option lowering national roads is feasible. While the bridge li fting option is obtained by analyzing the value of BCR = 0.98 < 1 and NPV = option is not feasible to implement.

Integrated Crop Management Practices of Wheat through Frontline Demonstrationin Bundelkhand Region

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Datia, Madhya Pradesh conducted 365 demonstrations on wheatvarieties GW-366 and RVW-4106 during 2017-18 to 2020-21 at farmers’ field in Datiadistrict to find out the worth of the improved technology. The parameters like technologicalimpact, economical impact and extension gap were analyzed and the feasibility ofdemonstrated technologies at grass root levels was assessed. The results of four years ofstudies revealed that the yield under demonstration plots was 4684 kg/ha as compared to3875 kg/ha in traditional farmer practices plots. This additional yield of 809 kg/ha and theincrease in average wheat productivity by 21.43 per cent may contribute to the presentwheat requirement on national basis. The average technology gap, extension gap andtechnology index were found to be 376.50 kg/ha, 807.75 kg/ha and 7.40 per cent respectively.An additional investment of Rs. 1470 per ha coupled with scientific monitoring ofdemonstrations and non-monetary factors resulted in an additional net return of Rs. 13531per ha. Fluctuation in the sale price of wheat during different years influenced the economicreturns per unit area. On four years overall average basis incremental benefit cost ratiowas found as 3.41. The results indicate the positive effects of FLDs over the existingpractices.

​Impact of Cluster Front Line Demonstrations on Productivity and Economics of Lentil (Lens culinaris L.), Chickpea (Cicer aeritinum L.) and Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Old Alluvial Zone of Malda, West Bengal, India

Background: There are significant gaps in yields of pulses among potential, demonstration and farmers’ plots in West Bengal. This is mostly due to adoption of traditional local varieties and poor cultivation practices. Methods: The yield, technology and extension gaps were studied on improved varieties of lentil, chickpea and field pea during rabi seasons of 2017/18-2020/21 in 80 hectare area of Malda, West Bengal with 205 farmers. Result: The highest and lowest magnitude of technology index (TI) was observed in field pea var. IPFD-10-12 (44.5%) during 2018/19 and in lentil var. KL-320 (30.1%) during 2020/21. Among lentil varieties, the highest benefit cost ratio was obtained from KL-320 (2.87) whereas in case of chickpea, it was obtained from NBEG-49 (2.90). For field pea var. IPFD-10-12 the benefit cost ratio was 2.70. Maximum and minimum extension yield gaps were observed in field pea var. IPFD-10-12 (451 kg ha-1) during 2018/19 and in lentil var. IPL-406 (145 kg ha-1) during 2018/19. Overall assessment reflects lentil var. KL-320, chickpea variety NBEG-49 and field pea variety IPFD-10-12 have good potentiality and most suitable for this region. So, it is hypothesized that improved farm technology has enormous potential to scale up pulse productivity through cluster front line demonstration (CFLD).

Appraisal of Cluster Front Line Demonstration on Rapeseed and Mustard in Biharand Jharkhand

Performance of ten varieties of rapeseed and mustard were assessed through cluster frontline demonstration (CFLD) under different agro-climatic condition of Bihar and Jharkhandcontinuously for four years (2017-18 to 2020-21) by the KVKs of Bihar and Jharkhand.Among the agro-climatic zones of Bihar, highest yield was recorded in the demonstratedplot from zone III (B) i.e. South-West alluvial plain in case of variety RH 0749 (15.29 q/ha) and in Jharkhand state from zone I (Central and North astern plateau) with varietyNRCHB 101 (13.31 q/ha). Lowest technology index was observed for variety RajendraSufalam in all the zone (-4.96, 5.53, 7.18 and 22.92 % in zone I, III (B), III (A) & II) ofBihar and NRCHB 101 (23.15% in zone I) in Jharkhand. The range of extension gapwas1.38 to 4.37 and 1.13 to 4.86 q/ha under the agro-climatic zone of Bihar and Jharkhand,respectively. Pooled data shows that in Bihar, maximum net return (Rs. 46986 /ha) wasobtained in variety Rajendra Sufalam in agro-climatic zone III A of Bihar with benefit costratio 3.85:1 whereas under agro-climatic condition of Jharkhand maximum net return (Rs.39598 /ha) was recoded from variety NRCHB 101 with benefit cost ratio 2.80:1

Performance of High Yielding Promising Sugarcane Variety for Western Zone of Tamilnadu

Sugarcane is an important commercial crop cultivated in over 23,000 ha in Erode district of TamilNadu state. Attempts were made by researchers and extension workers to improve the productivity of sugarcane by adopting high yielding varieties and improved production technologies. The on-farm trials were conducted during Kharif 2017 and 2018 in five farmers’ field to assess the performance of high yielding promising sugarcane varieties suitable for Western Zone of TamilNadu. The varieties selected for trial were Co 86032 and Co 0212. The study revealed that Co 0212 recorded more number of productive tillers per plant (10.4), intermodal length (14.51 cm), stem girth (11.22) and individual cane weight (1.511 kg) which was superiorly higher than the existing variety Co 86032. Similarly Co 0212 recorded the yield of 127.5 ton / ha during 2017 which was 17.24 per cent higher yield than the existing variety and 138.86 ton / ha recorded and 30.68 per cent yield advantage was noticed in the ratoon crop. The highest benefit cost ratio of 2.44 was recorded in Co 0212 in ratoon crop and 2.05 in first crop where as 1.73 and 1.86 BCR observed in Co 86032 in first and ratoon crop respectively. Considering the above facts, Co 0212 would be identified as a better alternate variety suitable for the Western Zone of TamilNadu

Economics of Small Tea Farming System (STFS): An in-depth Study of North Bengal,India

The study was conducted to find out the pattern of labour engagement (both family andhired labour), price realization of different type of small tea growers and economic analysisof the small tea growing system. Small tea growers of Jalpaiguri and Uttar Dinajpur districtof West Bengal were selected purposively. The present study mainly considered primarydata for analysis and a small amount of secondary data was also collected from records ofConfederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Association (CISTA) and Self-Help Group(SHG) registers. It has been found that there is a variation in price of green leaves in bothdistricts and higher rates are observed in the month of March. SHGs with own processingunits were found to fetch higher prices compared to other units because of their collectivebargaining power, absence of middlemen and owing co-operative processing units. Numberof such SHGs, with processing units were found in Jalpaiguri district whereas, UttarDinajpur district recorded no SHG with own processing units. The economic analysis alsopresented a clear picture about fixed and operational cost, gross return with or withoutdividend and benefit cost ratio.