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G.K. Nair

The total cost of the intercropping came to Rs 46,745 while the total return was Rs 89,080 per year. The net income, thus, was Rs 42,335 per year.

KOCHI, July 29

BANANA and pineapple have been found as the most profitable intercropping options in coconut cultivation.

According to scientists at the regional station of the Central Plantation Crop Research Institute (CPCRI) at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, various intercrops such as banana, elephant foot yam, dioscorea and pineapple were planted in the demonstration plot and the yield was taken for analysis.

In total, 115 coconut palms, 500 banana of different varieties, 100 numbers each of elephant foot yam and dioscorea and 3,000 pineapple suckers were accommodated. The acreage yield of coconut was 53 nuts per palm per year; banana 10 kg, elephant foot yam 6 kg; dioscorea 3 kg and pineapple 2 kg per plant.

The cost of the produces were coconut Rs 4 per nut, banana at Rs 7 per kg and elephant foot yam at Rs 5 per kg while dioscorea at Rs 9 per kg and pineapple at Rs 4 a kg at the time of harvest, they said.

Besides additional income and profit, intercropping helped to maintain eco-friendly surroundings. As the farmers considered several other factors also in taking a decision to select and cultivate crops for intercropping, they preferred various combinations of crops in the homesteads, the scientists said.

The total cost of the intercropping came to Rs 46,745 while the total return was Rs 89,080 per year. The net income, thus, was Rs 42,335 per year from the plot. This included all management cost and labour charges. The cost benefit ratio came to 1:1.91. ``If the farmer or the farm family can invest his labour and adopt judicious organic recycling, the returns can be further increased,'' they said.

The beneficial aspects of high density multi-cropping system included improvement in soil fertility status, increased microbial activities, higher interception of sunlight, better micro-climate, reduced weed growth, etc. Even in Assam, small and medium holding farmers of the State had taken up this system as they found it sustainable. It could be practised in homestead garden also with little modifications of crop combinations for higher returns, the scientists said.

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