4. Report
on SAPOTA by National Horticultural Board, Govt. of India
We
hereunder reproduce the official report submitted by National horticultural
Board, Government of India on Sapota. Here it is very clearly stated that
Sapota is grown largest in Karnatka among all the states in India because of
maximum potential infrastructure available in this state. More over the cost
analysis is will explained hereunder whereby one can notice this product being
very profitable one.
National Horticulture Board (NHB) was set up by the Government
of India in 1984 as an autonomous society under the Societies Registration Act
1860 with a mandate to promote integrated development in horticulture, to help
in
coordinating
, stimulating and sustaining the production and processing of fruits and
vegetables and to establish a sound infrastructure
in the field of production, processing and
marketing
1.
INTRODUCTION
Sapota (Achras zapota) commonly known as chiku
is mainly cultivated in India for its fruit value, while in
South-East Mexico,
Guatemala and other countries it is commercially grown for the production of
chickle which is
a gum like substance obtained from latex and is mainly used
for preparation of chewing gum.
2. OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the study is to present a bankable model for commercial cultivation of the crop through adoption of hi-tech practices. 3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Origin The fruit is a native of Mexico and other tropical countries of South America.
3.2 Area &
Production
The area under sapota
cultivation has increased from 27 thousand ha. in 1991-92 to 52 thousand ha. in
2001-02
and production from 3.96 lakh tonnes to 5.94 lakh tones.
Sapota
is mostly grown in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
(Vide Table-1)
Table 1 : State-wise Area,
Production & Productivity of
Sapota during 2001-02
|
State |
Area (‘000 Ha.) |
Production (‘000 MT) |
|
Karnataka |
19.8 |
211.2 |
|
Maharashtra |
18.0 |
180.5 |
|
Tamil Nadu |
2.8 |
72.1 |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
7.2 |
71.0 |
|
West Bengal |
3.3 |
39.7 |
|
Haryana |
0.6 |
16.5 |
|
Daman & Diu |
0.2 |
1.4 |
|
Pondicherry |
0.1 |
1.0 |
|
TOTAL |
52.0 |
593.4 |
Source : Database of National Horticulture Board,
Ministry of Agriculture ,
Govt. of India.
3.3 Economic Importance
The fruit is a good source
of digestible sugar (15-20%) and an appreciable source of protein, fat, fibre
and minerals
(Ca, P and Fe.) Sapota pulp
is used for making sweets and halwas. It is also an ingredient of fruit salads
and milk
shakes. The milky latex
secreted by unripe sapota fruits , known as chuckle forms the base for making
chicklet
and chewing gum.
4. MARKET ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY
4.1 Demand and Supply patterns
The fruit is mostly consumed
indigenously. Export constituted only a very minor fraction of
production, 0.2% in
2001-02. Low volume export of sapota is
due to non-ideal post harvest practices,
transport procedures, lack
of proper storage facilities, outdated handling practices.
4.2
Export trends
The
trend in export of sapota from India during the period 1999-2000 to 2002-03 is
given in Graph-3.
Table-2 : Country-wise export
of sapota from India during
2001-02. Country Quantity (Tonnes) Value (Rs. in lakhs) U.A.E. 567.86 105.22 Saudi
Arabia 247.92 40.53 Nepal 37.16 1.24 Malaysia 35.00 7.07 U.K. 61.09 9.40 France 48.00 18.97 Spain 48.00 10.26 Bahrain 34.32 6.87 Others 70.16 14.91 Total 1149.51 214.47 Source : APEDA, New Delhi
4.3 Analysis
and Future Strategy
Organized marketing is an
important pre-requisite for successful commercial cultivation. Sapota is
disposed through
two major marketing agencies viz. co-operative and private
traders.
Sapota fruit is highly
perishable and is also sensitive to cold storage. Therefore, bulk of the
produce is used for
table purpose and is handled at ambient climatic conditions
causing considerable post harvest losses.
Due to mishandling of
produce about 25-40% is being wasted.
Commercial processing is negligible due to the
sensitivity of the fruit to heat (changing the flavour &
colour of the pulp), high labour requirement in peeling, removal
of seeds etc. Nowadays dry segments and flakes of the fruit are
being processed but to a limited extent. Processed
food items viz. jam, jelly, squashes and fruit drinks are produced
from sapota after blending it with other fruits.
It is essential to produce value added products based on sapota,
so that farmers get an assured price for their produce
all the time.
Creation of essential
infra-structure for preservation, cold storage, refrigerated transportation,
rapid transit,
grading, processing,
packaging and quality control are important aspects which need attention to
give a fillip to
high quality commercial production.
5.
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
5.1
Agro-climatic requirements
Sapota, being a tropical
crop can be grown from sea level upto 1200 m. above m.s.l. It needs warm (10-380
C) and
humid climate (70% relative humidity) for growth and can be
cultivated throughout the year. Coastal climate is best
suited for its cultivation.
Alluvial, sandy loam, red
laterite and medium black soils with good drainage are ideal for cultivation of
sapota. At
higher elevations in places like Punjab and Haryana, it gives only
one crop from summer flowering in April and May.
5.2 Growing and Potential Belts
The state-wise growing
belts are mentioned below :
|
State |
Growing belts |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Prakasam, Guntur, West
Godavari, Nellore, East Godavari |
|
Gujarat |
Valsad, Navsari, Surat,
Junagadh, Bhavnagar |
|
Karnataka |
Kolar, Bangalore,
Chikkamagalu, Belagaum, Raichur |
|
Orissa |
Baleswar, Cuttack,
Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Ganjam |
|
West Bengal |
South 24-Parganas,
Kalmpong I & II, blocks of Darjeeling district. |
5.3
Varieties Cultivated
Important
varieties cultivated in different states of India are listed below :
|
State |
|
Varieties grown |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
- |
Cricket
ball, Kalipatti, Calcutta round, Kirthibharathi, Dwarapudi, Pala, PKM-1,
Jonnavalasa I & II, Bangalore, Vavi Valsa |
|
Bihar |
- |
Baramasi |
|
Gujarat |
- |
Kalipatti, Pilipatti,
Cricket Ball, PKM-1 |
|
Karnataka |
- |
Cricket ball, Kalipatti,
Calcutta round, DHS-1, DHS-2 |
|
Maharashtra |
- |
Kalipatti,
Dhola Diwani, Cricket ball, Murabba |
|
Orissa |
- |
Cricket ball, Kalipatti |
|
Tamil Nadu |
- |
Pala, Cricket ball,
Guthi, Co 1, Co 2, PKM-1 |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
- |
Baramasi |
|
West Bengal |
- |
Cricket ball, Calcutta
round, Baramasi, Baharu, Gandhevi Barada |
5.4
Land Preparation
The land is ploughed two to
three times and then leveled. Undulating land is divided into terraces and
leveling is done. Tall and thick growing trees viz. mango, jamun, tamarind,
silver oak and casuarinas are established on the wind-ward side or on all sides
of the orchard. The plants for windbreak may be planted at a distance of 1.5 to
1.8 m. in the row.
5.5
Planting
5.5.1 Planting
Material
Sapota
is commercially propagated by vegetative methods such as air layering or gootee
layering, grafting and budding.
5.5.2 Planting season
Planting can be
done in any season provided irrigation facilities are available. Grafts are
usually planted in the beginning of the rainy season. In areas which experience
heavy rainfall the crop can be planted as late as September.
5.5.3 Spacing
On an average,
130 plants are planted at a spacing of 8.5m. High density planting with a
spacing of 5x5 m. upto the
age of 13 years has been adopted
successfully.
In light soils,
pits of 60x60x60 cm. size, whereas in heavy and gravely soils pits of 1x1x1 m.
size are made in April-May and exposed to sun for a period of fifteen days. The
pits are later on filled with well-rotten compost or farmyard manure, 3 kg.
superphosphate and 1.5 kg. muriate of potash. The pits are then left to monsoon
rains for settling and planting is done at appropriate time.
Grafts, budded
plants or layers are planted one in each pit and care is taken so that the bud
joint or graft is at least 15 cm. above the ground level. After planting,
stakes are provided to avoid wind damage. Young plants are protected from the
sun by making dry grass thatch on top and three sides excepting the south-east
for sunlight.
5.5.4 Planting Method
Square system of planting
is recommended. Contour planting is recommended in case of sloping land.
5.6
Training
No definite training system
has been developed for the plant. Plants raised through inarching require
training
for appropriate shape and
framework development. Most of the trees are trained in central leader system.
5.7
Nutrition
5.7.1
About 50 kg. of farmyard manure , 1 kg. N (1.5 kg. in case of rainfed
varieties), 0.5 kg. P2O5 and 0.5 kg.
5.7.2
K2O /tree/year are applied and the dose is regulated on the
basis of age of the tree and status of nutrients in
5.7.3
soil especially of P and K. Under rainfed conditions, fertilizers are
applied before the onset of monsoon.
5.7.4
Under irrigated conditions, it should be applied in two splits, one half
at the beginning of monsoon and
5.7.5
the remaining half in the post-monsoon period (September-October).
5.7.2 Micronutrients
In case of Zn and Fe
deficiency, organic manures, ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (0.5%) are
applied.
5.8
Irrigation
Irrigation is provided at
an interval of 30 days in winter and 15 days in summer.
5.8.1 Drip Irrigation
This system has been found
to be beneficial in saving 40% water with 70-75 % higher income. This system is
laid out
with 2 drippers spaced 50
cm. from tree at an initial stage during the first two years and then 4
drippers about 1 m.
away from the tree till it
attains five years of age.
5.9
Intercultural Operations
The problem of weeds is
common in young orchards. Application of 2 kg. bromacil and 2 kg. diuron/ha. as
pre-emergence spray is
effective in controlling weeds for a period of 10-12 months.
5.10
Inter-cropping
Inter-cropping with banana,
papaya, pineapple and cocoa; french bean, peas, tomato, brinjal, cabbage,
cauliflower, cucurbits is
recommended depending upon the climate and irrigation facilities available.
5.11 Growth regulators
Fruit drop is a very serious problem in sapota. Spraying with GA3 @ 50-100 ppm. at the time of flowering is quite effective for getting better fruit set and also preventing fruit drop. 5.12 Pruning
Pruning is done to expose the trees to sunlight and to remove the dead and diseased branches. It is mainly done to regulate the vegetative growth in order to improve the productivity and quality of fruits. 5.13. Plant Protection Measures
5.13.1 Insect Pests Leaf webber, hairy caterpillars and bud worm are the common pests. Spraying with phosalone 35 EC (2 ml./l.), chloropyriphos 20 EC or endosulfan 35 EC have been found to be effective in controlling the pests. 5.13.2 Diseases
The main diseases reported
are leaf spot (Phleopheospora indica),
base rot (Ceratocystis paradoxa), heart
rot (Phytophthora parasitica) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides).
Application of Dithane M-45,
copper oxychloride (3 g./l.) etc. have been found to be effective.
5.14
5.14 Harvesting and Yield
Sapota starts bearing from
third year of planting but economic yields can be obtained from 5th
year onwards. The
two main seasons of flowering are October- November and
February-March and the two corresponding
harvesting seasons are
January-Februrary and May-June. Sapota takes four months from flowering to
maturity of fruits.
The fruits are hand picked
or harvested with special harvester which has a round ring with a net bag fixed
onto a
long bamboo.
The crop bearing commences
from fifth year. As such inter cropping
like vegetables may be taken up in the first
four years of the project make it viable. In high density plantation, the production
increases from 4.0 tonnes/acre
in the fifth year to 6.0
tonnes/acre in the 7th year. Thereafter, the yield stabilizes at 8.0
tonnes/acre from 8th to 15th year.
6.
POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT
6.1
Grading
Grading is mainly based on
size and shape of the fruits. The fruits are graded into three categories
depending on
their size viz. large, medium and small.
6.2
Storage
The fruits are highly
perishable and can be stored under ordinary condition for a period of 7-8 days
after harvesting.
At a storage temperature of
200 C, the storage life can be increased for a period of 21-25 days
by removing ethylene
and adding 5-10% CO2
to storage atmosphere. The fruits are dipped in GA (300 ppm.) and Bavistin
(1000 ppm.)
solution at a pre-packing
stage in order to extend the storage life of the fruits.
Sapota being a climateric
fruit has to be ripened artificially.
Unripe fruits can be ripened by applying ethephon
(1000 ppm.) at 20-25 0 C and can be stored for five
weeks. Ripened ones can be stored at 2-30 C and 90-95% RH
for a period of six weeks.
6.3
Packing
Fruits are packed in
cardboard boxes of 10 kg. capacity with rice straw as padding material and
ethylene absorbents. Bamboo baskets with banana leaves as lining material and
covered with net are used for carrying the produce from
farm to local market. In some cases, the produce after harvesting
is packed in wooden containers and transported
to the urban areas for sale. Wooden boxes prevent damage of
ripened fruits and fetch better price in urban areas.
6.4
Transportation
Road
transport by trucks/lorries is the most popular mode of transport due to easy
approach from orchards to the market.
6.5
Marketing
Several intermediaries like
wholesalers and commission agents are involved in marketing of the fruit. The farmer
realizes around 35% of the wholesale .price in the secondary
market.
7.
TECHNOLOGY SOURCES
The major sources for technology are the following :
1.
Anand Agricultural
University, Anand, Tel : (02692)-2262435.
2.
Junagadh
Agricultural University, Motibag, Junagadh, Tel : (0285)-22670289.
3.
Urban
Horticulture Centre,Tamil Nadu Agricuture University, Chennai, Tel : (044)-26443551.
4.
State
Horticulture Research & Development Station, Company Bagan, Distt.- Nadia,
West Bengal.
- Progressive growers in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Gujarat, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu
- and West Bengal.
8.
ECONOMICS OF A ONE ACRE MODEL
8.1
High density cultivation of crop by using high quality planting material
(grafted plants) and drip irrigation leads
8.2
to multiple benefits viz.
·
Synchronized growth, flowering and harvesting;
·
Reduction in
variation of off-type and non-fruit plants;
·
Improved fruit
quality;
_________________________________________________________________________________
Costs & Returns:
8.3
A one acre plantation of the crop is a highly viable proposition. The cost components of such a model along
8.4
with the basis for costing are exhibited in Annexures I & II. A summary is given in the figure
below.
Project Cost: (Unit – One Acre)
(Amount in Rs.)
|
Sl. No. |
Component |
Proposed Expenditure |
|
|
1. |
Cultivation Expenses |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Cost of planting material
|
4000 |
|
|
(ii) |
Manures & fertilizers
|
11000 |
|
|
(iii) |
Insecticides &
pesticides |
3250 |
|
|
(iv) |
Cost of Labour |
4550 |
|
|
(v) |
Others, if any,
(Irrigation/Power Charges) |
3600 |
|
|
|
Total |
26,400 |
|
2. |
Irrigation |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Tube-well/submersible
pump |
50000 |
|
|
(ii) |
Cost of Pipeline |
- |
|
|
(iii) |
Others, if any |
- |
|
|
|
Total |
50,000 |
|
3. |
Drip/Irrigation System |
20,000 |
|
|
4. |
Infrastructure |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Pump House & Store |
30000 |
|
|
(ii) |
Labour Shed |
5000 |
|
|
(iii) |
Others (Agri. Implements) |
10000 |
|
|
|
Total |
45,000 |
|
5. |
Land Development |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Land leveling &
layout |
4000 |
|
|
(ii) |
Fencing |
29600 |
|
|
|
Total |
33,600 |
|
|
Grand Total |
1,75,000 |
|
8.3
The major
components of the model are:
·
Land
Development: (Rs.4.0 thousand): This is the labour cost of shaping and
dressing the land site.
·
Fencing
(Rs.29.6 thousand): It is necessary to guard the orchard by
barbed wire fencing to safeguard
the valuable produce from animals and prevent poaching.
·
Irrigation
Infra-structure (Rs.50 thousand): For
effective working with drip irrigation system, it is
necessary to install a bore
well with diesel/electric pumpset and motor.
This is part cost of the tube-well
·
Drip
Irrigation & Fertigation System (Rs.20 thousand): This is average cost of one acre drip system
for banana inclusive of the cost of fertigation equipment. The actual cost will vary depending on
location,
plant population and plot geometry.
·
Equipment/Implements
(Rs.10 thousand): For investment on
improved manually operated
essential implements a
provision of another Rs.10 thousand is included.
·
Building and
Storage (Rs.35 thousand): A one acre
orchard would require a labour shed, a store
and pump house.
·
Cost of
Cultivation (Rs.26.40 thousand): In the first year, land preparation and
planting operations
will involve 40 days of manual labour, the cost of which will come
to Rs.2.80 thousand. The cost of
planting material would be Rs.4.0 thousand i.e. 160 plants @ Rs.25
per plant.
8.5
Labour cost has been put at an average of Rs. 70 per man-day. The actual cost will vary from location to
8.6
location depending upon minimum wage levels or prevailing wage levels
for skilled and unskilled labour.
8.5
Recurring Production Cost: Recurring production costs during the gestation period
are exhibited
in Annexure III and during post operative period in Annexure
III A. The main components are
planting material,
land preparation, inputs application (FYM, chemical fertilizers,
plant protection chemicals etc.) and labour cost
on application of inputs, inter-cultural and other farm
operations.
8.7
Besides, provision is also included for power charges, labour for
harvesting and packing/transportation
8.8
charges for the produce to the nearest secondary market.
8.7
Returns from the Project: The yield from the plantation is obtained from fifth year
onwards. The
8.8
production increases from 4.0
tonnes/acre in the fifth year to 8.0 tonnes/acre in the 8th year and
8.9
stabilizes thereafter. The produce has been valued at Rs.10.0 per
kg. It might be added that during the
initial
8.10
four years return from inter
crops will be around Rs.30,000/- pa.
Project Financing:
8.8.
Balance Sheet: The projected balance sheet of the model is given at Annexure
IV. There would be
8.9.
three sources of financing the project as below:
Source Rs.Thousand
Farmer’s share 87.50
Capital subsidy 35.00
Term loan 52.50
Total 175.00
8.10.
Profit & Loss
Account: The post operative cash
flow statement may be seen in Annexure V while
8.11.
Annexure VI projects the post
operative profit and loss account of the model. Gross profit goes up from
8.12.
Rs.8.4 thousand to Rs.39.5
thousand in year 5.
8.10.
Repayment of Term Loan: The term loan will be repaid in
eleven equated monthly installments of
Rs.4.77 thousand each with
a moratorium of 72 months. The rate of
interest would have to be negotiated with
the financing bank. It has been put at 12% in the model (vide Annexure
VII). Repayment schedule is
given at
Annexure VII A. Depreciation calculations are presented in Annexure VIII.
Project Viability:
8.11.
IRR/BCR: The viability of the project is assessed in Annexure VIII over a
period of 10 years. The IRR works
8.12.
out to 16.57 and the BCR to 1.3.
8.13.
The Debt Service coverage
ratio
calculations are presented in Annexure IX. The average DSCR works
8.14.
out to 2.41.
8.13.
Payback Period: On the basis of costs and returns of the model, the pay back
period is estimated at 12.06
8.14.
years (vide Annexure X).
8.15.
Break-even Point: The break even point will be reached in the 3rd year. At this point fixed cost would work out
8.16.
to 86% of gross sales - vide Annexure
XI.
_________________________________________________________________________________________