Wednesday, September 5, 2012

papaya cultivation in gujarat




INTRODUCTION  
Papaya (Carica papaya) is a tropical fruit having commercial importance because of its high nutritive and medicinal value. Papaya cultivation 
had its origin in South Mexico and Costa Rica. Total annual world production is estimated at 6 million tonnes of fruits. India leads the world in papaya production with an annual output of 
about 3 million tonnes. Other leading producers are Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, Peru, Thailand and Philippines.


Planting MaterialPapaya is commercially propagated by seed and tissue culture plants. The seed rate is 250-300 g./ha.
The seedlings can be raised in nursery beds 3m. long, 1m. wide and 10 cm. high as well as in pots or
polythene bags. The seeds after being treated with 0.1% Monosan (phenyl mercuric acetate), ceresan
etc. are sown 1 cm. deep in rows 10 cm. apart and covered with fine compost or leaf mould. Light irrigation
is provided during the morning hours. The nursery beds are covered with polythene sheets or dry paddy
straw to protect the seedlings. About 15-20 cm. tall seedlings are chosen for planting in about two months

Planting seasonPapaya is planted during spring (February-March), monsoon (June-July) and autumn (October-November).
SpacingA spacing of 1.8 x 1.8 m. is normally followed.  However higher density cultivation with spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m./ha enhances the returns to the farmer and is recommended.

High Density Planting :A closer spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m. for cv. Pusha Nanha is adopted for high density planting,
accommodating 6,400 plants/ha.

Planting MethodThe seedlings are planted in pits of 60x60x60 cm. size. In the summer months the pits are dug about a fortnight before planting. The pits are filled with top soil along with 20 kg. of farmyard manure., 
1 kg. neem cake and 1 kg.bone meal. Tall and vigorous varieties are planted at greater spacing 
while medium and dwarf ones at closer spacing.

NutritionPapaya plant needs heavy doses of manures and fertilizers. Apart from the basal dose of manures
@ 10 kg./plant) applied in the pits, 200-250 g. each of N, P2O5 and K2O are recommended for getting
high yield. Application of 200 g. N is optimum for fruit yield but papain yield increases with increase
in Nupto 300 g.

MicronutrientsMicro-nutrients viz. ZnSO4 (0.5%) and H2 BO3 (0.1%) are sprayed in order to increase growth and yield characters.

IrrigationThe irrigation schedule is fixed on the basis of soil type and weather conditions of the region. Protective irrigation is provided in the first year of planting. During the second year, irrigation is provided at fortnightly interval in winter and at an interval of 10 days in summer. Basin system of irrigation is mostly followed. In areas having low rainfall, sprinkler or drip system can be adopted.

Intercultural OperationsDeep hoeing is recommended during the first year to check weed growth. Weeding should be done on
regular basis especially around the plants. Application of Fluchloralin or Alachlorin or Butachlorine
(2.0 g./ha.) as pre-emergence herbicide two months after transplanting can effectively control the weeds for a period of four months. Earthing up is done before or after the onset of monsoon to avoid water-logging and also to help the plants to stand erect.

 Inter-cropping
Intercropping leguminous crops after non-leguminous ones, shallow rooted crops after deep rooted ones are beneficial. No intercrops are taken after the onset of flowering stage.

Removal of male plantsAbout 10% of the male plants are kept in the orchards for good pollination where dioecious varieties are cultivated. As soon as the plants flower, the extra male plants are uprooted.

Plant Protection MeasuresInsect PestsThe insect pests mostly observed are fruit flies (Bactrocera cucurbitae), ak grasshopper 
(Poekilocerus pictus), aphids (Aphis gossypii), red spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus),stem borer (Dasyses rugosellus) and grey weevil (Myllocerus viridans). In all cases the infected parts need to be destroyed along with application of prophylactic sprays of Dimethoate (0.3%) or methyl demeton (0.05%).

DiseasesThe main diseases reported are powdery mildew (Oidium caricae), anthracnose (Colletotrichumgloeosporioides), damping off and stem rot. Application of wettable sulphur (1 g./l.) carbendazim/ thiophanate methyl (1 g./l.) and Kavach/Mancozeb (2 g./l.) has been found to be effective in controlling the diseases

Harvesting  and YieldFruits are harvested when they are of full size, light green in colour with tinge of yellow at apical end. On ripening, fruits of certain varieties turn yellow while some of them remain green. When the latex ceases to be milky and become watery, the fruits are suitable for harvesting.
The economic life of papaya plant is only 3 to 4 years.  The yield varies widely according to variety, soil, climate and management of the orchard. The yield of 75-100 tonnes /ha. is obtained in a season from a papaya orchard depending on spacing and cultural practices.


POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT


GradingFruits are graded on the basis of their weight, size and colour.

StorageFruits are highly perishable in nature. They can be stored for a period of 1-3 weeks at a temperature of
10-130 C and 85-90% relative humidity.

PackingBamboo baskets with banana leaves as lining material are used for carrying the produce from
farm tolocal market.

Transportation
Road transport by trucks/lorries is the most convenient mode of transport due to easy approach
from orchards to themarket.

 MarketingThe farmers usually dispose off their produce to the wholesalers and middlemen at the farm 
gate.