When rubber farming turned unprofitable resulting from low cost imports, Biju Narayanan of Kannur, Kerala, shifted to cultivating unique fruits like rambutan, mangosteen, and pepper. Using high-density farming and multi-level cropping, he now earns as much as Rs 15 lakh per acre.
Kerala is the most important rubber producer within the nation. Greater than a decade again, its rubber manufacturing began falling as growers discovered it unprofitable owing to rising manufacturing prices and falling costs amid low cost imports from Vietnam and Indonesia.
Bordering Karnataka, Ulikkal village within the Kannur district was a lush panorama that was as soon as predominantly a rubber-growing space. Amongst tens of millions of rubber farmers, Biju Narayanan’s household who cultivated rubber on one-third of the farmland, additionally misplaced their main earnings supply with plummeting profitability. It turned costlier to supply rubber than to promote it.
The typical price of manufacturing was round Rs 160 per kg and the promoting worth was Rs 110 per kg. “The charges in rubber had been dwindling as farmers may fetch solely Rs 100 per kg from rubber. A labourer may earn extra wages day by day. It was not ample for farmers,” he informs.
Biju reconsidered the agricultural practices and made the daring determination to switch seven acres of his household’s rubber timber with a wide range of unique fruits like rambutan, mangosteen, pepper, areca nut, coconut, cashew, and different crops. “I axed many of the rubber timber to attempt new plantations. Individuals referred to as me a madman,” laughs the progressive farmer.
This determination, as soon as criticised and deemed as insanity by many, together with his circle of relatives, has since blossomed right into a profitable agribusiness mannequin. “I knew I have to show my determination right as a result of my household, neighbours, and pals thought it was a loopy determination. I took it as a problem and turned agriculture into agri-business,” he provides.
Right this moment, Biju earns Rs 9 to fifteen lakh per acre from rambutan farming alone. We sat down with him to know how he rewrote the normal farming script.
Maximising yield with multi-crops on the identical land
Biju is a mechanical engineer by occupation. Educated at Dakshina Kannada’s KVG Faculty of Engineering, he initially juggled his research with managing the household farm. At 18, when he was in his first yr of school, he misplaced his father and the duty of the farm fell on him.
“I needed to handle each the farm and my research concurrently. That was the one option to handle our bills. I had no alternative. I’m the eldest son of my household and I needed to take care of my youthful sister and mom,” he says.
After commencement, he ventured into the company world and labored for 10 years earlier than returning to his roots — farming. “It was a little bit tough to do each jobs of managing farm work and company work. Over the time, I had misplaced curiosity within the redundant work of company so I give up the job to concentrate on my farm,” he says.
Turning away from monoculture, he opted for high-density plantations and multi-crops to maximise returns from land. “I apply multi-level cropping with 4 to 5 crops of various heights. As an illustration, I planted coconut timber because the outermost plantation that grows as much as 45 ft in peak. Then, I planted mangosteen that are 25 ft tall, adopted by peppers of 15 ft, bananas of 10 ft, and ginger and tapioca, that are two to 5 ft tall,” he says.
“They get sufficient daylight because the crops are completely different in peak. This implies we will get produce from 4 to 5 crops concurrently,” he provides. This technique ensures environment friendly use of house, and satisfactory daylight for every plant, and ends in a bustling, layered inexperienced farm.
Adopting new farming strategies
Considered one of Biju’s most profitable ventures has been into the world of unique fruit, notably the Rambutan. By adopting high-density planting, the place he locations 100 crops per acre as a substitute of the traditional 50 to 60, he has seen his yields skyrocket.
“In 2010, I planted Rambutan crops. I knew that in 5 years, I’d get 40 kg of rambutan from every plant and as much as 60 kg in seven years. Right this moment, I get 80 kg produce from every plant,” he shares. Final yr, he harvested over 6,000 kg of rambutan per acre. Promoting them for Rs 250 per kg, he earned Rs 15 lakh per acre by means of Rambutan farming.
He additionally highlights the monetary benefits of direct promoting and utilizing social media platforms to bypass middlemen. “If I had sought assist from middlemen, I’d have solely bought Rs 190 to 200 for my produce. I tapped into the facility of social media, and used Fb to get clients,” he provides.
Sustainability is one other cornerstone of Biju’s farming apply. His method blends 80 % natural inputs like cow dung, cow urine, and vermicompost with 20 % inorganic substances, reminiscent of potash, to reinforce the expansion of crops whereas sustaining soil well being.
Curiously, fertiliser is usually utilized utilizing foliar strategies. “On this technique, fertiliser is dissolved in water to be straight sprayed on plant leaves. This on-the-spot diet quickens important nutrient uptake by crops and eliminates frequent nutrient deficiencies,” he says.
Biju gives a beacon of hope and a mannequin for sustainability and profitability. He says he finds profound private fulfilment on this achievement. “Farmers should be taught new methods of farming to make it worthwhile. Since I began incomes extra from my land, my life has modified fully. I by no means remorse quitting my job; I really feel like a King,” he laughs.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; All pictures: Biju Narayanan.
Supply:
‘Low cost imports threaten one million rubber farmers’ livelihood’: By Himadri Ghosh for Enterprise Customary, Revealed on 14 January 2016.
