Mixed-Cropping in Coconut Gardens leads to a successful Venture

The small-holdings and family farming are the two predominant modes of agricultural production in the Konkan Region of Maharashtra.

Smt. Priyanka Nagwekar, a resident of Hatis Village in Ratnagiri Tehsil of Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra ventured into family farming 12 Years ago. Earlier, she used to cultivate the subsistence crops like rice, finger millets and vegetables, etc., in the traditional way in her 22 ha farm. The lack of knowledge and skills about the improved agricultural technologies, especially, Coconut and Spices Crops fetched her with limited income.

                                                  

Coming in contact with the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms, Regional Coconut Research Station, Bhatye, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra on the role of Vermi-compost in enhancing the crop productivity and mixed-cropping of spices in Coconut Garden “Lakhibaug” Concept to enhance the farm income gave her the wings she required to fulfill her dreams. Being interested in the mixed-cropping of spices in the Coconut Garden and Vermi-compost production technology, she started cultivating the spices like Black Pepper, Nutmeg and Cinnamon as mixed crops in a Coconut Garden which fetched her additional income.

Smt. Priyanka also initiated Vermi-composting the biomass of Coconut (leaves after removing petiole portion; spathe and bunch waste), Banana (leaves and pseudostem after harvest of bunch), Nutmeg and Cinnamon (pruned biomass fresh) using Eudrilus sp. of earthworm and applied to coconut palms and component crops. The initial step made her confident and mooted her interest to start a mixed-cropping system and Vermi-composting as an income-generating activity.

She attended the five-day Vocational Training Programme on Coconut and Spice Cultivation Technology and Vermi-compost Production at the Regional Coconut Research Station, Bhatye, Ratnagiri along with Programmes on Coconut Tree Climbing, “FOCT” Programme organized at RCRS, Bhatye, Ratnagiri in collaboration with CDB, Kochi, Kerala.

                                                                      

Upon realizing the financial benefits, she decided to start commercial mixed-cropping of spices in her old Coconut Orchard along with a Vermi-compost Production Unit. The public’s preference for organic food, especially, Tender Coconut and Spices including Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Kokum and Banana, etc., made her to expand her small-scale activity into a commercial business venture.

With her husband’s support in her venture, she purchased a four-wheeler for farming purposes that helped them a lot during the COVID-19 Pandemic period for delivering the agricultural products to the markets and also for home delivery purposes.

After establishing herself in mixed-cropping of coconut and spices, Smt. Priyanka mooted the idea of setting-up a Spice Nursery with Black Pepper Cuttings / Seedlings. She attended the training programme in Nursery Management at the RCRS, Bhatye, Ratnagiri. She regarded the production of Vermi-compost and Vermi-culture as the best option for the rural women which can be set-up with minimum input cost and time.

Economic Status of Agribusiness Starting

 

Name of Start-Up	Production Capacity	Selling Rate (Rs.)	Turnover / Year (Rs.)	Production Cost (Rs.)	Net Profit (Rs.)
Coconut & Spices	Nuts 6,000 Cinnamon 6 Kg	@22/- @500/-	1,32,000/- 3,000/-	46,000/- 1,140/-	86,000/- 1,860/-
Vermicompost Unit	12.0 Tonnes	@ 15/- Kg Vermi-culture @ 800 /-	2,25,000/- 8,000/-	68,000/- 3,600/-	1,56,000/- 4,400/-
Nursery Management	Black Pepper 5,000 Bushpepper 1,000 Coconut 1,200	15/- 60/- 70/-	75,000/- 60,000/- 70,000/-	28,000/- 18,000/- 19,000/-	47,000/- 42,000/- 51,000/-
Grand Total			5,73,000/-	1,84,740/-	3,88,260/-

 

Now, through her innovative agriculture practices, Smt. Priyanka could ensure economic stability to her family. Her financial turnover is around Rs. 5.73 Lakhs from Mixed-Cropping, Vermi-compost Unit and Spice Nursery. She is gaining a net profit of Rs. 3.82 Lakhs from Farming alone.

She is also planning to adopt the Virgin Coconut Oil Production to make a better return in the future. With her success, she not only made her family self-reliant, but is also able to provide assured employment for her family members too.

(Source: ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala)