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Economics of Banana Plantation under Organic and in- organic Farming Systems by Dr Gangadhar Banerjee, General Manager, NABARD, Head Office, Mumbai Abstract Organic farming/ agriculture is a unique production management system, which promotes and enhances agro-eco system of health including bio diversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It has been systematically followed on a large scale in the developed countries including the United Kingdom and Canada. Different people in different countries have perceived organic farming/agriculture differently. In our country, the major problem of low productivity of soils is attributed to low organic matter content of the soil particularly in areas where fertilizer is being used in increasing quantity year after year without adequate supplement of organic matter. The organic farming today is not traditional agriculture. The principles governing organic farming are more scientific than even the principles followed in modern agriculture. These being the case how are we going to reach the target of around 240 million tons in 2010 that is the minimum quantity needed for growing population of the country? The present paper makes an attempt to study the yield, inputs used, cost of production, income accrued, gross and net income of banana crops under both organic and inorganic farming systems. Background The green revolution technologies favored cereals crops only in limited regions such as Punjab and Haryana in India. In fact there has been an apprehension that green revolution technologies has brought many ill effects of farm sector like; desertification, water logging and salinity. All these compounded for seeking for an alternative sustainable farming system —organic to modern farming system. The organic farming or ecological agriculture calls for a minimum utilization for locally available farm based inputs like crop residues and organic manure. This ecological agriculture is not new in India. What our farmers had been practising for centuries was ecological agriculture. They do not destroy or exploit the natural resources and the cost of environment. Such agriculture /farming of the past could have fed only one third of our present population. Modern production technology has proved its unsustainability. The green revolution cannot go with the environmentally sound and sustainable system of farming. One may have to explore several alternatives for sustaining E:\WORK\TODAY\NABARD\2010\January_2010\19\Uploads\W223\paperoneconomicsoforganicfarming.doc

2 production without sacrificing environment and ecology. One of the alternatives is organic farming. Organic farming in today’s terminology is known as a method of farming system which primarily aims at cultivation of land and rising of crops in such a manner so as to keep the soil alive in good health by using organic wastes (crop, animal and farm waste, aquatic wastes and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (bio-fertilizers)) to release essential nutrients to crops for increase in production and eco-friendly pollution freee environment. According to USDA Study Team, organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs such chemical fertilizers, pesticides, harmones, feed additives etc and to maximum extent rely upon crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, off farm organic wastes, mineral grads rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection. Another definition suggested by FAO is that “Organic farming/Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-eco system of health including bio diversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. This is to be accomplished by using on farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusions of all systematic off-farm inputs. It has been systematically followed on a large scale in the developed countries including the United Kingdom and Canada. Now organically produced fruits and vegetables are available in the stalls in these countries. Unfortunately, in India there is potential for adopting organic farming it is not taking place on a large scale due to various factors. There are consumers who are eager to pay premium for organically produced commodities even in India. Perception of organic farming Different people in different countries have perceived organic farming/agriculture differently. In the advanced countries, it may be meant for preventing contamination by poisonous chemicals. In our country, the major problem of low productivity of soils is attributed to low organic matter content of the soil particularly in areas where fertilizer is being used in increasing quantity year after year without adequate supplement of organic matter. The country has all the favourable climatic conditions to grow crop round the year where water is available. Yet the total production of two to three harvests a year may not be equal to one good harvest. The organic farming today is not traditional agriculture. The principles governing organic farming are more scientific than even the principles followed in modern agriculture. This shows signs of reversing trend in production in several places, in spite of increased inputs. There was a quantum jump of 100 million tons from around 60 million tons

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3 in two decades (during 1960s and 1970s). But the last decade could not witness even 10 million tons jump in production, in spite of successive good monsoons. These being the case how are we going to reach the target of around 240 million tons in 2010 that is the minimum quantity needed for growing population of the country? A good compost of all micronutrient is the key for Increasing productivity and sustainability Increasing fertilizer use may not give the expected yield particularly in areas where it is being used. Experts point out that the fertilizer use efficiency is only 30-35 per cent and the remaining 65-70 per cent of nutrient reached the underground water resources in the form of nutrient, which along with phosphates pollutes water bodies. We have reached a stage where we cannot stop use of fertilizer and pesticides and at the same time there is no sign for further increase in productivity and production. Unless we reverse this trend, the sustainability of production will be at stake. Therefore, restoring to organic farming is unavoidable not only to prevent contamination of food by chemicals but also to make sick soil healthy and productive. It has been proved all over India under ICAR multi location trials, that the use of organic manure is essential not only for better utilization of applied fertilizer but also to make soil productive and agriculturally sustainable. Good compost with all the micronutrients is the key to increasing productivity and sustainability. Well decomposed organic matter and farmyard manure, applied under the sight soil moisture condition, would not only improve soil texture and structure but also provide the crop necessary resistance against pest and diseases. Bio-fertilizers are found in the soil. It is the perfect home of hundreds and thousands of different types of organism including beneficial microorganism such as bacteria, fungi and so many others. They play a very important role in mobilization and salublization of different nutrients from organic/non-organic non-available forms to available forms, which are released to the plants. To sustain the soil fertility status maintenance of appropriate status of micro flora is very essential. Available potential of organic materials and plant nutrients The importance of agricultural wastes in general and agro-industrial products in particular has been recognized during the recent years. Various literatures of Indian social organic resources and their possible utilization has been compiled and these are presented below.

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4 Organic Resources and Potential India has vast potential of manorial resources and major resources are listed below: Livestock and human wastes—These include (i) cattle-shed wastes such as cattle and buffalo dung, and urine, (ii) other livestock and human excreta and (iii) byproducts of slaughter-houses and animal carcasses ( blood and meat wastes, bones, horns and hooves, leather and hair wastes). Crop residues, tree wastes and aquatic weeds-- Crop residues mainly take into account wastes of cereals, pulses and oilseeds (wheat, paddy, bajra, jowar, gram, moong, urad, cowpea, arhar, masoor, groundnut, linseed, etc.) including stalks of corn, cotton, tobacco, sugar-cane trash, leaves of cotton, jute, tapioca, arecanut, tree leaves, water hyacinth, forest litter, etc. Tree wastes and aquatic weeds cover green manure, sunnhemp (crotalaria juncea), dhaincha (Sesbania aculeate), cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), senji (Melilotus parviflora), cowpea, (Vigna catjang), horse-gram (bilichos biflorus), pillipeasara (Phaselus trilobus), berseem (trifolium alexandrinum), etc Urban and rural wastes—These cover rural and urban solid wastes as well as urban liquid wastes – sewage and silage. Agro-industries byproducts—These generally consist of (i) oil-cakes, (ii) paddy husk and bran (iii) bagasse and press mud, (iv) sawdust, (v) fruit and vegetable wastes, (vi) cotton, wool and silk wastes and (vii) tea and tobacco wastes. Marine wastes—They incorporate fishmeal and seaweeds. Tank silts are also one of the potentials of organic resources Advantage of bio-fertilizers There are various advantages of bio-fertilizers. It increases crop yield by 15-30%, replaces chemical by 25%, hasten seed germination, flowering and maturity of crops, enhances availability of nutrients especially nitrogen and phosphors and controls soil born diseases. Further, bio-fertilizers improve plan growth by releasing vitamins auxins and hormones, improves physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Further, bio fertilizer helps to proliferate beneficial microbes to survive in soil, provides residual effects for subsequent crops and helps in recycling and decomposition of organic matters. It is required in small quantities, pollution free, and eco-friendly.

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5 Economics of banana cultivation under organic and inorganic farming This paper makes an attempt to work out economics of banana cultivation for small farmers having land size ranging from 1 to 2 hectares. These farmers are mainly dependent on harvesting this crop and their produce is sold at the farm gate. Data relating to cost of cultivation, sale price of produce, etc. have been collected from a sample of 25 farmers in Nowgachia village of Bihar through a designed questionnaire some times in 2003-04. These farmers applied cow dung and compost as manure for harvesting such crops. The emphasis has been made to ensure how farmyard manure/compost/cow dung i.e. organic farming helps in producing banana crop compared to application of a fertilizer (NPK etc.) i.e. in organic farming. However, in some case use of fertilizer is required essentially in the event of attract of pests and plant diseases. These can be avoided if diseases free planting materials are procured. (i) Cultivation and cultural practices Banana being a tropical crop can be grown in all types of well drained soil ranging from red loam to deep black and more than fifty varieties are grown in different parts of the country. However, ten varieties are popular and among the ten varieties, most common are Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Poovan, Rasabale, Nendran and Maduranga. Suckers are planted by digging pits of 0.5 m cube (1.5 ft) at the recommended spacing on varieties and pits are filled with equal quantities of topsoil and farm yard manure/compost. After cover service, there is a need to look into the fact that no side suckers are allowed to grow till the main plant flowers. Soils are loosen by digging 2-3 time and short duration vegetable and leguminous crops are raised for inter crops during first 3-4 months. Like most other fruits and vegetables, banana is subjected to disease. Plant protection measures are required to be adopted for better yield. For this, the farmers must select planting material free from insects and incorporate 10-gram carbofuran granules or 5-gram phorate granules per pit to the soil at the time of planting. In the case of pseudostem rats remove the severely affected sheaths and smear with Bordeaux paste. For cercospora leaf spot disease, spray 30-gram copper oxychloride on l0 g. carbendazim or 10 g. thiophimale in 10 liters of water. Farmers must remove and destroy plants affected by bunchy top and mosaic immediately after they are noticed. (ii) Harvesting and yield The main crop will be ready for harvest in 12-14 months after planting depending upon the variety. The ratoon crop will be ready for harvest in 6-8 months after the harvest of main

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6 crop. The average yield of banana varied among the varieties. It ranged from 50 tones per hectare to 75 tones per hectare. State-wise, Tamil Nadir, which has large acreage of 59,000 hectares under banana, produces only 1,674 tone owing to poor productivity. Maharashtra is the largest producer with a figure of 2,724 tone though the acreage is 52,210 ha. Andhra Pradesh, which ranks third, has productivity figures comparable to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka ranks fourth with 39,760 ha. and a production of 1,177 tones. Kerala ranks fifth with 23,000 ha. and a production of 33,000 tones. Other States that produced banana included Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Orissa and West Bengal. (iii)

Input Use

Under organic farming number of suckers planted stood at 2500 while under in-organic farming it was 3000 per hectare. However, the number varies depending upon variety of planting materials. Application of manure and fertilizers under both the farming is depicted in the table. Table – 1:Inputs used under Organic and In-organic Cultivation of Banana per hectare Sr. No. 1 2

Inputs Sucker( Number) i) Dwarf Cavendish ii) Robusta iii) Other varieties Manure (ton) before planting Spacing i) Dwarf Cavendish

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ii) Robusta iii) Other varieties

Organic

Inorganic

2500 1860 1840 60

3000 2250 2225 40

1.8 m x 1.8 m (6’ x 6’) 2.2 m x 1.8 m (8’ x 6’) 2mx2m (7’ x 7’)

1.8 m x 1.8 m (6’ x 6’) 2.2 m x 1.8 m (8’ x 6’) 2mx2m (7’ x 7’)

Fertilizers per pit

4

5

N

Nil

P2O5

Nil

K2O

Nil

Quantum Required (Kg) i) Dwarf Cavendish N P2O5 K2O ii) Robusta N

180 gm ammonia sulphate 80 gm Super Phosphate 175 gm muriate of Patash

275 * 200 * 435 *

540 325 675

205 *

405

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7 P2O5 K2O iii) Other varieties N P2O5 K2O Note - Chemical fertilizers are hardly used in organic used. Source—Field investigation

148 * 325 *

245 507

202 * 400 147 * 160 322 * 500 manure. Instead green manures are

* Indicates organic manure in quintals. (iv)

Costs and Returns

The details of sucker required, manure applied, fertilizer used under varied spacing, total costs incurred and income accrued are presented in the table below: Table 2:Cost of cultivation and Income accrued (Average of three years) per hectare Sr. No.

Main Crop Organic Inorganic

Particulars

A. EXPENDITURE 1 Ploughing, Pitting, FYM 2 Cost of Plants 3 Irrigation cost per year 4 Manuring 5 Plant Protection 6 Harvesting/Transportation Total cost B. Yield Kg. Price @ Rs. 7/- per Kg. for C. Organic Banana Price @ Rs. 5/- per Kg. of D. Inorganic Banana Total Proceeds (in Rs.) E Gross Profit (in Rs.)

Note

Ratoon Crop Organic Inorganic

13000 3750 3000 10000 3000 7000 39750 60000

15000 6000 6000 14300 5000 10000 56300 70000

0 0 3000 4500 3000 3200 13700 25000

0 0 5000 7000 5000 5000 22000 30000

420000

0

175000

0

0

350000

0

150000

420000 390250

350000 293700

175000 161300

150000 128000

- Figures under inorganic farming has been adapted from Plant

Horticulture Tech, Vol I, July August, 1999), FYM = Farm Yard Manure It transpired from the above table that cost of cultivation under organic farming (OF) stood at Rs 39,750/- per hectare compared to inorganic farming of banana (main crop) of Rs. 56,300/per ha, while these were Rs 13,700/- and Rs 22,000/- per hectare in the case of ratoon crops. Although in the initial stage yield of banana was higher (70 ton per hectare) in Inorganic farming (IOF) as against Organic farming (OF) ( 60 ton per hectare), but sustainability of production could not be made because of varieties of reasons as stated earlier. One of the finest points that emerged from the discussion is that people, who are health conscious, are

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8 willing to pay more premiums for the products organically produced. This is reflected in realization of higher sale price per kg. In the long run the cultivators are more benefited. Gross Profit per hectare was higher at Rs 3,90,250/- under Organic Farming compared to Rs 2,93,700/- under in Organic farming so far new crop is concerned. As regards ration crops, gross profit is Rs. 1,61,300/- under Organic farming as against Rs. 3,28,000/- under Inorganic farming. Conclusion There are several doubts in the minds of not only farmers but the scientists too, regarding supply of minimum required nutrients to crops through organic sources alone. If it is possible, how are we going to mobilize that much of organic matter It is not advised to switch over overnight from fertilizer-use to organic manure everywhere. At the moment, fertilizers cover only 30 per cent of our total cultivable areas, where irrigation facilities are available. The remaining 70 per cent of the arable land, which are mainly rain fed do not use fertilizers. It is said that our ingenuity and efforts are required to increase productivity and production. The 70 percent cultivable rain fed area supply only 40 per cent of our total food production. During the last two decades several experiments have resulted in the development of low inputs and simple technologies to double the production under dry land farming. In most of our rain fed agriculture, the growing season is confined to four to five months depending on the monsoon. All our efforts should be to pool all available technologies and nutrient resources to get the maximum results. Selection of suitable seeds, timely sowing, integrated nutrient and plant protection measures and maintenance of minimum plant population per unit area would largely contribute to a substantial increase in yield. A mission-mode approach to increase production in rain fed agriculture should be our priority for the next decade. We may call it the "Decade of Revolution of rain fed Agriculture". We could achieve twin objectives through this revolution.

By improving the productivity and

sustainability of dry farming, we would be improving the economic condition of 70 per cent of the farming community who have been deprived of modern technology. Integrated nutrient management and integrated pest management continue to be good concepts yet to be practiced. These two complements each other. Good compost with all the micronutrients is the key to increase the productivity and ensure sustainability.

Well

decomposed organic matter and farmyard manure, applied under the right soil moisture condition would not only improve soil texture and structure but also provide the crop necessary resistance against pest and disease.

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References 1. A.C.Gaur, Neelakanteen and K.S.Dargan, ICAR, New Delhi Organic manures, 1995(Reprinted) 2. Dr. G.D.Banerjee, Horticulture Strives Well in Food and Nutritional Security, Financing Agriculture, Agricultural Financial Corporation, Mumbai, April-June 2000, Vol - XXXII, NO-1 3. Dr. G.D.Banerjee, Agricultural Extension--- Assessment of various Models, Financing Agriculture, Agricultural Financial Corporation, Mumbai OctoberDecember 2000, Vol- XXXII, NO-2 Issue / 4. Dr. G.D.Banerjee, Bio technology for Indian farmers, Financing Agriculture, Agricultural Financial Corporation, Mumbai, July -September 2001,Vol.- 33, NO- 3 / 5. Dr. G.D.Banerjee, Water Resources Management –A long Term Planning and Judicious Use of Water and Food Security, Financing Agriculture, Agricultural Financial Corporation, Mumbai October-December 2001, Vol.- 33, NO-4

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