MAIN TEXT : ISAIAH 58: 6-12, LUKE 4: 19-19
FILL YOUR S.P.E.E.R.S. POTS
S : FILL YOUR SPIRITUAL POT( Church plantation)
P : FILL YOUR PHYSICAL POT ( Hospital & Nursing Home)
E : FILL YOUR ECONOMICAL POT ( trade & Commerce)
E : FILL YOUR EDUCATIONAL POT ( School )
R : FILL YOUR RATIONAL POT ( Inter book Library)
S : FILL YOUR SOCIAL POT ( Development)
Departments
http://www.ukeximwheels.blogspot.com/
http://dradaomakisea.blogspot.
http://www.dradaomakisea.blogspot.com/
http://mongoloidgospel.
.
http://dradaomakisea.blogspot.
http://www.dradaomakisea.blogspot.com/
http://www.lunkhopao.blogspot.com/
http://www.ukexim.blogspot.com/
http://www.manmasi.blogspot.com/
http://www.ukeximlexicon.blogspot.com/
www.ukeximricepuller.blogspot.http://www.ukexim.blogspot.com/
http://www.manmasi.blogspot.com/
http://www.ukeximlexicon.blogspot.com/
http://mongoloidgospel.
.
SADAR HILLS PROJECT UNDER HOPE
SADAR HILL PROJECT UNDER HELPING OPPRESSED PEOPLE'S ENVIRONMENT (HOPE)
DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE –BASED ACTIVITIES IN SADAR HILLS AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL, SENAPATI DISTRICT, MANIPUR
Submitted to
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited
Basundhara Enclave,
Submitted by:
Lunkhopao Haokip
Director
Helping Oppressed People’s Environment
PO Box: 100,
PROJECT AT A GLANCE:
Objectives : “To harness the potential of agriculture for improvement of economic status of the farming communities through market-oriented agricultural activities and sustainable use of natural resources of the region”
Projected implementation period : 7 years
Targeted areas : Three constituencies of Sadar Hills District Autonomous Council, viz., Saikul, Saitu and Kangpokpi
Total area targeted : 27345 ha
Requirement of fund : Rs. 39.87 Crores
Number of beneficiary SHGs : 1085 nos.
SHGs targetted :
| | Group I | Group II | Group III | Total |
| Number of SHGs | 217 | 325 | 543 | 1085 |
| Area of cultivation per group | 27 | 21 | 27 | |
| Total area under the groups | 5859 | 6825 | 14661 | 27345 |
| Microfinance from NEDFi per group | 400000 | 375000 | 350000 | |
| Total MF required | 86800000 | 121875000 | 190050000 | 398725000 |
| Per SHG Contribution | 182670 | 156100 | 123707 | |
| Total SHG's contribution | 39639390 | 50732500 | 67172901 | 157544791 |
| Subsidy per SHG | 145667 | 132775 | 123707 | |
| Total subsidy | 31609739 | 43151875 | 67172901 | 141934515 |
| Total fund | | | | 698204306 |
Targeted activities : Cultivation of Jatropha, Areca nut, Vanilla, Bamboo, Cane, Hill Broom, Cinnamon, Black pepper, and Long pepper
Implementing agency : HOPE
Project Components :
- Training Unit
Contents
2.3. Environment and natural resources. 6
5.1. Organizational structure. 12
7. RAW MATERIALS REQUIRED AND AVAILABILITY. 14
10. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME.. 16
Various studies have shown that the countries that grew earliest and fastest experienced rapid progress in agriculture in their first stages of growth. This growth was broadly based and associated with equal distribution of land and other resources.
The importance of agriculture has long been recognized as it is the main backbone of most of the low-income countries. It can play a major role in economic and social development of a country or region. This is illustrated in various researches done on the economies of various countries during the post World War II period. The major objective was to get agriculture moving.[1] Traditional agriculture is characterized by subsistence level farming and similar standards of living for the rural poor with an ever-present threat of famine. It was thought that strategies like improved efficiency within existing resource and technological, investing more, clearing more land, additional irrigation, etc will not work.[2] The high-payoff sources of growth are to be found mainly in “improvements in the quality of agricultural inputs,” virtually all of which must come from outside of agriculture rather than being generated within it. These agricultural inputs include the whole range of factors such as fertilizer, farm machineries, improved crop varieties, training and other means to improve the skills of farm people.
Various researchers and people related to agriculture has suggested that food security and poverty reduction at the farm level can be achieved through increased efficiency of the farming system, diversification into higher income-generating crops, opening new markets and adding value to farm products. Of these, diversification toward high-value commodities like fruits and vegetables have been mooted to play a major role in dissipating rural poverty through raising income level.
Agriculture development can also bring peace to a region by raising income and employment by reducing the social frustrations that give rise to violence.[3] Poverty is a rich recruiting ground for criminals and leaders intent on inflaming religious and ethnic hatred. Also access to productive assets upon which rural livelihood depend (land, water, forests and fisheries) may literally be a matter of life and death for rural households. They stand little chance of achieving food security and higher income without such natural capitals.
These basic concepts are encapsulated in the project that is envisaged to be done in the targeted area of the project. By improving the quality of agricultural inputs, economic growth of the region is sought to be attained.
Commercial agriculture necessitates that a proper marketing and distribution channel be present. This in turn should be supplemented by proper post harvest processing and storage. All these are incorporated in this project.
The project aims at providing important agricultural inputs along with training, marketing facilities in order to attain equitable distribution of natural resources as well as equitable economic development.
The targeted areas are the three constituencies under Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council of Manipur, viz., Kangpokpi, Saikul, and Saitu.
Table 1 Summary of population
| Constituency | Kangpokpi | Saikul | Saitu | Total |
| Number of families | 5432 | 8069 | 8312 | 21813 |
| % targeted | 50.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| Number of households targeted | 2710 | 4030 | 4150 | 10890 |
2. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
The three constituencies are mostly hilly. The soils are fertile and are suitable for cultivation of wide range of plants. Cultivation of various agricultural crops like paddy that requires large quantities of water is not easy. Hence the vast hilly tracks are lying unutilized. Also lack of a proper marketing system is a major disincentive to farmers for entering into commercial cultivation.
The local tribals practice shifting cultivation. In the process, the forest canopies over the hills get destroyed, threatening the biodiversity of the region. This also exposes the soil to erosion, leading to its degradation.
The region is also rich in wildly growing economic plants. Due to high demand of these plants, they are harvested rampantly posing a threat to their population.
The economic status of the people is low. Most people are subsistence farmers.
2.1. Geography
Situated between 93° - 94° East longitude and 24° - 25° N latitude, the Senapati District of Manipur is an economically backward region. The District is under humid subtropical climate. The soil is moderately fertile with clay loam soil with little patches of clay and loam. The temperature ranges from a minimum of 3°C to a maximum of 34°C .The annual rainfall ranges from 671 mm to 1454 mm. There are about 110 watersheds each of geographical size ranging from 2000 to 3000 hectares.
2.2. Economic status
Agriculture is the main activity of the economy of the district and the main occupation of its people. It engages almost 75% of the workers. However, production is constrained by limited availability of cultivable land, tenancy laws and poor irrigation facilities. The size of cultivable area is below 10% of the total geographical area of the state. In the hilly areas, jhum cultivation is practiced.
2.3. Environment and natural resources
The Sadar Hills districts of Manipur are ecologically well-suited for a wide variety of horticulture, vegetable and plantation crops ranging from semi-tropical to temperate and alpine types.
The main crops are rice, maize, potato, cabbage and tomato. The predominant cropping pattern is mono cropping. The cultivation is partly jhum, partly terrace and to some extent there is wetland cultivation. The paddy cultivation yield is 1 MT per hectare and 4 MT per hectare in jhum fields and wetland areas respectively. The yield of maize is nearly 2 MT per hectare with HYV seeds.
East district has vast possibilities for growing a range of fruit and vegetables, tuber crops, tapioca and spices.
The following table shows the agricultural land use pattern of the Manipur state. It is clear from the table that vast track of land is still lying unutilized in the state. Per capita cultivation is merely 0.13 ha. Also percentage of net agricultural area is merely 0.48%. Hence there is a huge scope of improving the agricultural sector in the region.
Table 2 Agricultural land use pattern
| Geographical area of the state | 22,32,700 ha |
| Gross agricultural area | 2,89,826 ha |
| Net agricultural area | 2,34,015 ha |
| Percentage of gross agricultural area | 12.98% |
| Percentage of net agricultural area | 0.48% |
| Percentage of net agriculture area in the hills area to net agricultural area of State | 3.00% |
| Percentage of net agricultural area in the hills to geographical area | 5.55% |
| Percentage of net agricultural area in the valley to net agricultural area of State | 47.00% |
| Percentage of net agricultural area in the valley to geographical area | 4.93% |
| Cropping Intensity | 123.84% |
| Man to agriculture land ratio (ha) | 1:0.13 |
Table 3 Forest cover of Senapati District
| Dense forest canopy cover above 40% | 6230.50 ha |
| Moderately dense forest canopy cover 20% to 40% | 126793.58 ha |
| Land with or without shrub canopy cover below 30% | 166939.12 ha2.4. Land tenure system |
The land is largely owned by the village chiefs. Land entitlement system is not in place. The ownership is collective.
2.5. Social system
The targeted region is mainly inhabited by the Kukis, Nagas and Meiteis. Other minority communities are also inhabiting disperse locations who migrated to the region during the times of war or other reasons.
The Kukis are governed by their customary laws. The traditional Kuki governance begins from the village. Each village is headed by a Chief which is hereditary and he governs each of the clans with permutations of the law, customs and tradition, as appropriate. Each village is independent. There is another level of government governing the clans. The authority is centralized in the hands of the chief.
2.6. Ethnic clashes
Ethnic clash exists among the various tribes.
3. Mode of Operation
A viable alternative to the traditional cultivation practices is the promotion of horticulture based crops as an alternative. This will help in attaining the dual purpose of generation of income of the rural poor and at the same time conservation of forest resources. The project also aims at plantation of marketable crops, increase of production and installation of post-harvest operations to give boost to this sector. Ensuring remunerative prices by providing for marketing of the produce, and protection against exploitation by private traders have will help a lot in attaining the objective.
The mode of operation will be as follows:
- SHGs will be formed in every village, each SHG containing 10 families. These, in turn, will be under the village council. The village council, containing members of the SHGs of a particular village, will manage and execute the program.
- All the lands are under the Village Chief’s ownership. The NGO, HOPE has taken the lands on lease from the Chiefs for fifty years and the SHGs will cultivate the various crops in these lands. Availability of land is not a constraint.
- The feasibility report of various crops have been worked out. SHGs will select the crops that suit them. The criteria for selection of crops would be suitability of the soil, availability of infrastructure, financial viability, etc.
- Three combinations of crops have been designed so that the SHGs can choose one out of them. Farmers, may also add or omit crops from these combinations to suit their individual needs. The combinations are:
- Group I: Jatropha, Vanilla, Areca nut, Bamboo, Black pepper
- Group II: Jatropha, Vanilla, Areca nut, Long pepper, Cane
- Group III: Jatropha, Vanilla, Areca nut, Cinnamon, Hill broom
- Each SHG will have a contiguous plot of around 30 hectares for better management of the farm. In a particular locality, the farms will be developed as close to each other as possible so that common facilities can be developed and used by each of them. Each SHG will choose a particular group of crops depending upon their economic status, availability and suitability of land or any other relevant factors that may arise.
- Apart from labour, the SHGs will provide the additional funds as and when required.
- HOPE, the umbrella NGO will facilitate all activities with the SHGs and village councils. Apart from overall administration of the programme, it will also take up awareness and capacity building programmes through training and on field demonstration. HOPE will arrange for micro-financing the SHGs by raising funds from various agencies and availing various schemes of the government.
- The production by the SHGs will be collected by HOPE through the village council. The overall responsibility of marketing will be in the hands of HOPE.
- HOPE will be availing the loan and act as the MFI. It will avail a loan amounting to approximately Rs. 40 Crores at an interest rate of 12% pa and provide loan to selected SHGs at an interest rate of 15%. The margin of 3% will be charged against administrative cost, technical assistance cost and marketing cost. A portion of it will be saved to form a corpus of fund which may be used to repay to NEDFi in case any SHGs default in repayment due to unavoidable circumstances.
4. THE PROJECT4.1. Objective:
“To harness the potential of agriculture for improvement of economic status of the farming communities through market-oriented agricultural activities and sustainable use of natural resources of the region”
4.2. Selection of crops:
Crops are selected on the basis of the following:
- Suitability of land, soil, agro-climatic conditions
- Availability of resources
- Marketability of crops
Accordingly, the following crops are selected:
- Jatropha
- Vanilla
- Bamboo
- Hill Broom
- Cinnamon
- Black pepper
- Areca nut
- Long pepper
- Cane
4.3. Components
The various components of the project are as follows: One centrally located nurseries (5 ha) for production and storage of quality planting material;
· A training unit for providing necessary training to the labourers and farmers on farming.
· For each location, the following facilities will be developed:
o Irrigation facilities like check dam, storage tank, etc
o Fencing
Through this project, an area of around 27345 hectares are planned to be brought under cultivation of the following crops:
These crops are selected on the basis of suitability in the agro-climatic conditions of the region and marketability of the produce.
5. THE ORGANISATION
HOPE (Helping Oppressed People’s Environment) was started in 1993, along with the Songpi Area Village Authority and a good number of village chiefs, in order to organize the rehabilitation and development of the poor and affected people as well as the refugees who come from different parts of the region who are tortured and rendered homeless due to the activities of the various insurgency groups. HOPE is a non-profit organization based in South Western part of Manipur without any particular denomination of church organizations.
5.1. Organizational structure
The HOPE is divided into various departments as follows:
Handloom Department: This is one of HOPE’s fundamental works, especially aimed at income generation for young ladies and women.
Translation and Publication: HOPE is also engaged in translation and publication of various literatures in Kuki language.
Training Department: HOPE provides various training on agriculture, carpentry, animal husbandry, fishery, electronic repairing, typing, handicraft and handloom, vehicle repairing etc to the people of the region.
Education Department: HOPE gives high priority to education and hence a separate department has been formed for imparting education at various levels to the people of the region.
Agriculture Department: HOPE has an agriculture department to motivate the rural people for taking up agricultural activities as well as providing training.
6. LOCATIONS
The farming locations are situated in three legislative constituencies (Kangpokpi, Saikul, Saitu) under the Sadar Hills Autonomous Council in Senapati district of Manipur,
The District is bounded on the south by Imphal District, on the East by Ukhrul District, on the west by Tamenglong District and on the north by the state of Nagaland.
The District is under humid subtropical climate. The soil is moderately fertile with clay loam soil with little patches of clay and loam. The temperature ranges from a minimum of 3°C to a maximum of 34°C.The annual rainfall ranges from 671 mm to 1454 mm. There are about 110 watersheds each of geographical size ranging from 2000 to 3000 hectares, which are drained finally at about 5 major rivers /streams of different aspects and sources.
7. RAW MATERIALS REQUIRED AND AVAILABILITY
The main raw materials, namely the agro-inputs are locally available. The following raw materials are required:
Bamboo/ Wooden poles: These are required for fencing. These are available locally.
Cowdung: These are available locally.
FYM: Inputs like FYM, compost can be prepared using traditional methods. The raw materials required for this are available locally.
Agro-inputs: Some more agro-inputs will be purchased from the market to meet emergency needs. These are available in the local markets.
Free programmes will be organized by the corporation for training farmers and labourers on various aspects of farming. The cost estimates for construction of the training hall and the costs of audio-visual aids has already been included in the project. The cost of conducting the training programmes is included under the head Management Expenditure.
9. FUND REQUIREMENT
The composition of costs on the proposed unit can be broken down into the following fixed and variable costs:
9.1. Fixed costs
i) Land: Land has been allotted by the respective district councils of the two districts. Hence there is no consequent land cost in the project. The minimal cost that is incurred can is included under the head preliminary and preoperative expenses.
ii) Building, Plant, Machinery: As such there is no building, except the structure made as shadehouse. There are miscellaneous items like pumps, motors, irrigation equipments, farm implements.
iii) Nursery: A nursery will be constructed for temporary storage and hardening of planting material before plantation in the field.
iv) Planting material: This is the major cost component for the various crops. It will be purchased from reliable buyers and stocked in the nursery before plantation. This will help in hardening the plant and adapting to actual climatic conditions.
9.2. Variable costs
These are also termed as production costs which are incurred in order to produce a crop. The major raw material is the various agro-inputs like manures, pesticides, plastic bags, etc. Wages to labour is one of the major variable costs. There will be eight labourers at each of the 36 locations spread across the two districts. On smaller farms the villagers will fulfill the temporary labour requirement. There are no specialized jobs to be carried out on in the farm. Activities like composting, weeding, agro-input application, harvesting can be done by unskilled labour. A lump sum labour cost for each crop has been considered apart from the permanent labour cost.
10. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME
- Income generation: Income will be generated for the local people through employment as labourers, through sale of various agro-inputs and also through agricultural product sale. This will have various other positive side effects as outlined in the Introduction.
- Shifting away from shifting cultivation: Since organized cultivation calls for development of farming land, soil management will be proper and farmer will be able to avoid shifting cultivation.
- Conservation and replenishment of forest resources: As there will be lesser stress on forest resources, the forest resources will be conserved and more such resources will be self-generated.
- Prevention of soil erosion:
11. CROP DETAILS
11.1. Jatropha
Botanical Name: Jatropha Curcas
Family: Euphorbiaceae
In recent times, jatropha has gained prominence as an important biodiesel bearing plant due to its hardiness, easy cultivability and high oil content. It has the potential of transforming the rural economy in the near future.
It is a perennial shrub with smooth grey bark, with a milky or yellowish liquid. It grows to more than 10ft height and under favourable conditions, it grows even taller. Inflorescence is formed in leaf axils and each inflorescence gives around 10 fruits.
Jatropha grows in tropical and subtropical climatic zones and likes warm temperature. It occurs in almost all tropical areas. It is mostly seen as fencing plant throughout the north eastern region.
Jatropha seeds are a potential source of bio-diesel. Seeds contain more than 35% oil which can be refined to produce fuel oil. Interestingly, it is listed as weed in many countries including
It grows well in almost all the soil types. Plants grow well in hot, humid climate and tropical and sub tropical situation.
The global market of biodiesel is being reshaped by international energy policies creating a demand for biodiesel of at least 7.2 million tones by 2010 in
It is low cost, does not require much maintenance and can be easily planted for production of seeds as well as shade tree and in intercropping system. Other crops can be grown as intercrop which will enable generation of more income. It can also be planted as fences and shade tree.
11.2. Vanilla
Botanical Name: Vanilla planifolia Andrews
Family: Orchidaceae
Vanilla is the name given to a genus of orchids that grow in tropical climates and to the flavour extract obtained from the fruit pods or beans of several orchid species. The best and most important commercial extract is obtained from Vanilla planifolia, also known as Vanilla fragrance.
Vanilla is the second-most expensive spice (after saffron) and the spice most subject to competition from imperfect substitutes (low-cost artificial flavourings).
The flavour and odour of the extract comes partially from a white crystal vanillin, which develops during the curing process. Vanilla beans, extracts, tinctures (alcoholic extracts), and retinoid (hydrocarbon solvent extracts) are the foremost food flavours for ice cream, puddings, cakes, chocolates, baked goods, syrups, candies, liqueurs, tobacco, and soft drinks. Vanilla tincture is also used in perfumes.
The widespread use of vanilla in so many products is such that it seems to be as common and abundant as salt. In a sense, vanilla, used in appropriate measure, works in the same way as salt. It enhances the flavours with which it is mixed, without overpowering them.
Vanilla needs warm and moist conditions with well distributed rainfall of 150 to 300cm with a temperature range of 25 to 32° C and comes up well from sea level to around 1500 m above mean sea level. Vanilla plants require protection from hot sun and strong winds and need a support for climbing. It flourishes well when 50% shade is provided and as such it can be cultivated as an intercrop with other trees. The ideal growing condition for vanilla is moderate rainfall evenly distributed throughout ten months of the year, with dry periods during the flowering and harvesting period. Production of beans in a particular year is directly related to the conditions of growing of vines during the previous year. Soils for vanilla should be loose and friable with a high organic matter content and loamy texture. It prefers land with gentle slope and the soil must be well drained.
The ideal planting density of vanilla is 1600 plants per hectare. Under proper care and management it will produce about 60 kg processed beans in the 3rd year and 150 kg in the 4th year. The yield will increase further and stabilize at 300 kg by the 5th year. This yield is likely to be available for 15 years and there after it will decline gradually to uneconomic levels. Replanting is normally carried out at this time.
11.3. Bamboo
Botanical Name: Melocanna bambusoides
Bambusa tulda
Dendrocalamus strictus
Bamboo is a tree like woody plant with size ranging from miniature to giant culms over 60 m height. It is the worlds strongest and fastest growing woody plant.
Bamboo thrives at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 35°C and rainfall ranging from 1200 to 4000 mm per annum. It does well in almost all types of soil. It can be grown even in swampy soils and wet stream bed. However, just like other commercial crops, it prefer a well drained soil.
The annual yield of a bamboo clump depends on the number of new culms produced each year. This in turn is related to the production of young leaves. Culms become mature after two to three years. To maximise shoot output some shoots must be left each year to develop into leafy young culms. A bamboo clump on an average produces 10 culms in a year under good growing conditions. Harvesting can be done from the fifth year onwards. The culms which are one or two years old are generally left for regeneration.
Bamboo is an important source of fuel, fodder, food, fibre, medicine, etc. It provides valuable raw material to various industries such as paper mill, rural handicrafts, construction materials and a host of value added products. Despite declining area in many pockets bamboo industry continues to employ thousands of people.
Bamboo development is viewed as a program for eco- restoration, economic development, employment generation and livelihood security. This multipurpose species has enormous potential which has only been partly harnessed. The important usages are food items (edible shoots), building material, tiny and cottage industries, handicrafts, medicinal products, paper industry and new generation products such as wood substitutes, truck bodies, railway carriages, bamboo boards, etc.
Despite its versatile utilities, bamboo in
11.4. Hill Broom
Botanical Name: Thysanolaena maxima, Phragmites vulgaris
Family: Graminae
It is distributed widely upto an altitude of 1000 MT MSL and grows in tussocks. It is one of the commonest Minor Forest Produce growing wild virtually everywhere in North East India. The plant grows well in hill slopes, damp, steep banks along ravines and on sandy banks of the rivers.
Thysanolaena maxima grows as high as 2.5 meters and can thrive at low to medium elevations but can grow faster in higher elevation. Normally, it grows in open areas particularly in logged-over areas, mountain slopes and ravines. On the other hand, Phragmites vulgaris is widely distributed in low and medium elevations. This variety grows in swamps along muddy streams or in places where there is stagnant or running water.
The large leaves, up to 7cm wide, are used to wrap food for steaming and the flower heads are tied together and used as brooms. When the panicles (branching inflorescence in which small flowers are borne along an elongated axis) reach a length of about 70 cm and more, they can already be harvested. A one and one-half year old broom starts producing panicles in good sites. The panicles usually develop from October to March every year.
Botanical Name: Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Family: Lauracae
Cinnamon is a tropical evergreen tree growing up to 7m (56 ft) in its wild state. The bark is smooth and yellowish. Both the bark and leaves are aromatic. It prefers a hot, wet tropical climate at a low altitude. Cultivated plantations grow trees as small bushes, no taller than 3 m (10 ft), as the stems are continually cut back to produce new stems for bark. The outer bark, cork and the pithy inner lining are scraped off and the remaining bark is left to dry completely, when it curls and rolls into quills. Several are rolled together to produce a compact final product, which is then cut into uniform lengths and graded according to thickness, aroma and appearance.
11.6. Black Pepper
Botanical Name: Piper nigrum
Family: Piperaceae
The berries of black pepper is an important spice. It is grown as secondary crops by letting the vines to climb various trees like areca nut.
Wet subtropical climate is the most suitable for it. It requires a moderate well-distributed rainfall with high temperature for better performance. It can be grown in a wide range of soils.
11.7. Areca nut
Botanical Name: Areca catechu
Family: Palmae
Areca nut, commonly known as betel nut or tamul, is the source of common masticatory. Apart from being an essential requisites for several religious and social ceremonies in
Areca nut is a graceful, erect, and unbranched palm. The height of the palm depends upon the the cultivar and environmental conditions.
It is extensively cultivated in the tropical region. It grows within a temperature of 14° to 18°C and temperature below 10°C and above 40°C adversely affects the crop. It requires ample supply of soil moisture and plentiful rainfall throughout the year (1500-5000mm). It is sensitive to draught and in areas with low rainfall, it requires irrigation.
It can be grown in a variety of soils such as laterites, red loams and alluvial. The depth of soil may not be less than 1m. The soil should be well-drained without high water table. It can come up in soil acidic to neutral pH.
Areca nuts should be planted at 3m by 3m spacing with north south alignment. The ideal planting time is May- June in well-drained soils and during August-September in clayey soil subject to waterlogging.
Arecanut starts flowering from 5-6 years after planting. December-March is the main flowering season and harvesting period from June to July to get tender nuts and November-March for ripe nuts. The average yield of a tree is around 6kgs initially and reaches upto 25 kgs under proper care once it reaches maturity.
11.8. Long Pepper
Botanical Name: Piper longum Linn.
Family: Piperaceae
Long pepper grows as wild plants in the forests of the region.
Long pepper can be cultivated successfully in organic matter rich fertile, well drained forest soils. Laterite soils with high organic matter content and moisture holding capacity are also suitable for cultivation. Optimum elevation for its cultivation is between 100 to 1000 m. It needs partial shade for its ideal growth. Partial shade 20-25 percent shade intensity is found to be the optimum.
The yield of dry spike can be up to 1000 kg/ha in the third year. After third year, the vines become less productive and should be replanted.
11.9. Cane
Botanical name: Calamus spp.
Family: Palmae
Cane is the stem of the climbing palm of the genus Calamus and other related genera. It is commonly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of North East India. They grow wild in many parts of the region.
There are various species of cane and they are used for various purposes. The canes can be used in various arts and craft industries such as furniture, wickerwork, baskets, containers, sticks, umbrella handles, etc. Some canes can be used for making household items such as mats, screens, furniture and chair seats.
