8 hours ago
CPCRI to empower farmers through science-driven plantation farming
Mangaluru: As part of the nationwide Vikasit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan being held from May 29 to June 12, the ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) is leading efforts to empower the farming community to enhance crop productivity, farmer profitability, and environmental sustainability through field-level engagement and science-backed interventions.
Dr K Balachandra Hebbar, director of ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, said that the campaign involves collaboration between CPCRI scientists, nearby ICAR institutes, the state department of agriculture, ATMA, other line departments, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
Outreach teams are covering 80 to 90 villages per district, with each team engaging with two to three panchayats daily to provide farmers with practical solutions on crop management, soil health, and resource use.
It is also highlighted that with the adoption of scientific technologies, it is possible to increase the yield of plantation crops by 10%, which would ultimately position India as the Food Basket of the World.
In coconut alone, with 22 lakh hectares under cultivation, even a 10-nut increase per palm from the current average of 60 could yield 385 crore additional nuts annually, translating to an estimated Rs 3,850 crore boost in farmer revenue.
A major thrust of the initiative is encouraging farmers to replace low-yielding varieties with high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of coconut, arecanut, and cocoa. CPCRI has developed several effective coconut and arecanut-based cropping/farming system models that significantly enhance farm productivity, profitability, and climate resilience.
One notable model is the coconut + black pepper + banana + pineapple system, the adoption of which has shown a net return of Rs 3.5 to Rs 4 lakh per hectare per year, which is two to three times higher than that from a sole coconut crop.
At present, it is adopted in 10% of the area, but there is a huge scope to expand it to other areas. Another successful model is the arecanut + black pepper + cocoa + banana system. It provides a steady income throughout the year, with net returns reaching Rs 4.4 to Rs 10 lakh per hectare annually.
Making trenches between coconut rows and incorporating organic waste like husks and leaves to conserve moisture and improve soil health results in a 20–30% yield increase. This system is more resilient to dry spells and contributes to sustainable production with minimal external inputs, making it especially beneficial for smallholder farmers in dry regions. Microbial consortium and customised nutrient mixtures like Kalpa Poshak and Kalpa Vardhini for young and mature palms, respectively, contribute to balanced plant nutrition, which is essential for sustained yield and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.
