Goa can adapt to multi-storied cropping system

by ROQUE DIAS
Posted on 2008-10-06
PONDA- With cultivable land fast declining and making way for construction projects, Goa can adapt to multi-storied cropping system as practised in Kerala, which experiments on the principal of step farming, more commonly known as terracing.
Pitching for this kind of farming system, the assistant agriculture officer at the zonal agriculture office, Ponda, Mr Nagesh Komarpant said that Goa could go for multi-storied cropping system, as practised in Kerala, and stated that there was no much difference between Goa and Kerala in terms of weather and seasonal rainfall.
Mr Komarpant, who recently attended a national-level training course on ‘crop management technologies for coconut, arecanut and cocoa cultivation’ at Kasargod, Kerala, informed that multi-storied cropping system as a farming method could support cultivation of a few spice crops like nutmeg or cinnamon in a 6x6 mt area, banana in a 1.5x1.5 mt area, pineapple in 90x60 cm area, and tuber crops such as cassava and tapioca in trenches, at various levels or steps, with coconut or arecanut as the main crop.
“The crops cultivated under the multi-storied cropping system can be supplied water through sprinklers or drip irrigation,” he added.
Mr Komarpant maintained that in a minimum area of just 64 sq mt each of this crop could be grown and furthermore, the said area of cultivation can be expanded according to the availability of space.
“This type of farming will also support farmers/cultivators financially, especially if the single crop of coconut fails to fetch expected price due to mite which infests coconut trees,” he observed.
Mr Komarpant observed that out of the 50 per cent of the total available land, 25,000 hectors are cultivated for coconut in the state. But nearly 70 per cent of the coconut orchards are infested with mites.
Mites are originally from Kerala, Mr Komarpant informed adding the infestation of coconut trees started in South Goa and it slowly spread to other parts of Goa and Konkan. However, the mite menace is now on the decrease with prompt controlling measures, he said.
The assistant agriculture officer informed that by undertaking cultural practices such as proper dose of fertilisers, and regular cleaning of coconut orchards/gardens by collecting fallen dried nuts, dried leaves, etc, and burning them, would help in keeping the coconut trees healthy.
The zonal agriculture officer, Ponda, Mr Shriram Dhaimodkar informed that the ideal planting position for arecanut or coconut trees is their cultivation along south-west side at 35 degree angle in a triangular series.
“If done so, the first line of the grown trees will act as a shield to the other trees from sunlight, especially from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., when sunlight is scorching hot which can damage the arecanut trees,” Mr Dhaimodkar said.
He also said that most of the farmers in Goa plant their coconut trees in congested manner without maintaining the required distance between the trees and as a result, the nuts shrink and remain unproductive.
“At least 25 per cent of sunlight is required on the ground for growth of trees,” Mr Dhaimodkar observed pointing out that absence of photosynthesis means no growth.