Strawberry Cultivation: a Lucrative Farming Prospect for Youth - a Case Study

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Strawberry Cultivation: A Lucrative Farming Prospect for Youth - A Case Study

Monika Kundu*1, Surya Tushir 2, Sandeep Mann 3 and Anil K. Dixit 4 1Scientist, Electronics and Instrumentation, Agricultural Physics Division, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi 2Scientist, Agricultural Microbiology, FGOP Division, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana 3Principal Scientist, Agricultural Structure & Environment Management, AS&EC Division, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, India 4Principal Scientist, Agricultural Economics, NDRI, Karnal, India *Email of corresponding author: [email protected]

Strawberry is one of the best natural sources of antioxidant, vitamin C, proteins and minerals like P, K, Ca, and Fe. Owing to wide climatic and soil adaptation and high returns, it has tremendous potential in India. Its cultivation can be extended to other suitable areas having assured irrigation and transport facilities. In the present study, various agroclimatic features of Saharwa village of Hisar district in Haryana State were studied and various techniques were applied to assess the system and explore the opportunities for future.

Introduction Strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ) is an important fruit crop of India and its commercial production is possible in temperate and sub-tropical areas of the country. In India, it is cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Nilgiri hills, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The cultivated strawberry is actually an herbaceous perennial plant. Strawberry is one of the best natural sources of antioxidant, vitamin C, proteins and minerals like P, K, Ca, and Fe. Owing to wide climatic and soil adaptation and high returns, it has tremendous potential in India. Its cultivation can be extended to other suitable areas having assured irrigation and transport facilities. In the present study, various agroclimatic features of Saharwa village of Hisar district in Haryana State were studied and various techniques were applied to assess the system and explore the opportunities for future. The village Saharwa is located at a distance of 28 km from Hisar district. It is situated at Latitude: 28°55'13'' N, Longitude: 75°44'33'' E and Altitude 204 m. Over the time it has emerged as a strawberry hub in North India and become the second largest producer of strawberry in India after Mahableshwaram (Pune). The village topography can be classified in to Plain and Sand dunes area. The village could be distinguished into two zones, viz. , cropped and residential area. While the residential area is situated in middle of village which are plain and agricultural fields are placed in plains as well in sand dunes. Major crops grown in this village in kharif season are Guar, Bajra and Bt-cotton and in rabi season are wheat, mustard and Bengal gram. Along with climatological and geographical data given in Table 1, the relative humidity varies from 5-100% throughout the year. The story of this exotic fruit crop in village Saharwa started with the plantation of strawberry in one acre sandy soil in 1995 (Diwan et al ., 2010). Earlier, the farmers of the village were growing other traditional crops like wheat, mustard, bajra, etc. After the bumper

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result of crop in one acre of land, some more farmers started cultivation of strawberry as a crop and again the result was same and they got huge profit.

Nutritional Value of Strawberry Strawberry is low in calories (32 cal/100 g) and fats but rich source of health promoting phyto- nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Fresh berries are an excellent source of vitamin-C. The fruit is rich in B-complex group of vitamins. Strawberries contain vitamin A, vitamin E and health promoting flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin, and beta-carotene in small amounts. Furthermore, they contain good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, fluorine, copper, iron and iodine (USDA data). Table 1: Agroclimatic data of Saharwa village Geographical details District Hisar Total area 2262 ha Cultivable area 2030 ha Net cultivable area 1779 ha Soil characteristics Soil PH Neutral to slightly alkaline Soil type Sandy loam, sand dunes/loamy Main irrigation source B.N.C Canal(Siwani Nahar Pariyojana) Climatological parameters Mean annual rainfall 450 mm Min annual temp 4-6°c Max annual temp 40-44 °c

Status of the Village (study period) In the village Saharwa, the area under strawberry cultivation was increased from 30 acres (2005-06) to 98 acres (2010-11) and the magnitude of increase was 226.6 per cent which indicated the popularity of this crop among farmers. The farmers of Saharwa village were cultivating the strawberry crop in about 150 acres of land. On average bases, a farmer was getting Rs.1.25 lac to 1.50 lac net returns per acre from the cultivation of strawberry crop. In the month of the April, when the strawberry crop is over, farmers were sowing other vegetables on the same beds with the help of drip & sprinkler irrigation methods which augmented their income. The growers of strawberry not only fetching the remunerative income from this enterprise, but also providing employment opportunities to about 150 persons on regular basis and about 60 persons on part time basis. To meet out the huge demand of packaging material for strawberry fruits, a progressive farmer of this village started the manufacturing of packing kits and for this purpose he has established a small scale industry in the village and providing the regular employment to 7-8 unemployed rural youths of this village. Various varieties of strawberry were being grown in Saharwa village (Table 2). To collect data about the various agroclimatic features of this village we used various Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques, like PGIS (Participatory Geographic Information System) to collect data points of milestones and then drawing a map of the village. During transact walk in village various pathways and waypoints were noted and later the boundary map along with all such points were drawn using GPS Receiver and GIS. This can be used for ground truthing of village data and various resources. This is an integration of PRA with GIS technology. This clearly depicts the resources and boundary of Saharwa village (Fig. 1).

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Table 2.Various varieties of strawberry being grown in Saharwa village Strawberry Technology adoption Reasons Varieties behavior Sweet Actively Adopted Early Maturing variety, plants are small and compact Charlie making picking relatively easy, deliciously sweet, high yield and shape Chandler Adopted Early maturing variety, fruit sweet and sour in taste, brilliant red color, glossy, more shelf life and high -yielding

Ofra Recently Introduced Early maturing variety, fruit is juicy and sweet in taste Winter Recently Introduced Late maturing variety, resistance to crown rot, produce Dawn large fruit on a relatively small plant Camarosa Recently Introduced Very flat conic, productive, good appearance, very firm, good taste

Fig.1. PGIS (Participatory Geographic Information System) Map of Saharwa village

Major Factors Affecting Strawberry Cultivation Electrical conductivity of water : EC is a measurement of how much electric current can pass through a water sample. Fresh water has a low EC because it does not contain many salts; the more salt the water contains the higher the EC. EC is a quick way to measure the total salts in the soil, bo th 'good' salts for the irrigator like nitrate and potassium and 'bad' salts like sodium and chloride. Irrigation water should have an EC of less than 0.8 dS/m (500 mg/L). Water with an EC of between 0.8 and 2.3 dS/m (500 -1500 ppm) is considered marginal f or irrigation. The water will not taste salty, but salt levels will build up quickly in the soil and need to be managed carefully. Water with an EC greater than 2.3 dS/m (1500 mg/L) is generally not suitable for irrigation. In Saharwa village , the water used for irrigation in strawberry fields has EC <500 mg/L, which is good quality irrigation water. Soil water has a higher EC than irrigation water because of dissolved nutrients. In addition the salts in the irrigation water tend to accumulate in the soil. Salt concentrates in the soil water if there is no downwards leaching, because plants transpire fresh water and leave the sodium and chloride behind in the root zone. Crops that are sensitive to salt, may experience reduced yield when the EC o f the soil water increases above 1 to 1.5 dS/m. Crops more tolerant to salt, can tolerate EC levels between 3 and 6 dS/m without much harm. Crops tolerant to salt, can withstand EC levels over 7 dS/m.

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Soil type: Sandy loam to loamy soil with pH 5.7-6.5 is ideal for cultivation. In Saharwa village, sandy loam soil represents the predominant soil type constituting 70-80 percent of the total geographical area with the rest constituted by black, alluvial and sandy soils. There are sand dunes in canal command area. The strawberry can be grown on any type of soil—poor sand to heavy clay—provided proper moisture, organic matter and drainage is present. Strawberry ripens somewhat earlier on sandy soil than on clay soil. The ideal condition for strawberry cultivation is sandy loam to loamy soil with pH 5.7-6.5 and a proper water drainage system. Strawberry is not much sensitive to soil reaction. However, it prefers a slight acidic soil. At higher pH, there is less root growth. There is definite cultivar adaptation to soils. Some grow better on heavier soils and others on light soils. Water should not stagnate in the field. Since most of its roots are found in the top 15 cm soil, this layer should be porous and rich in humus. Temperature: Daylight period of 12 hr or less and moderate temperatures are important for flower-bud formation. Each cultivar may have a different day length and temperature requirement. Some cultivars are adapted to septentrional culture (short days in autumn and hard winter) or to meridional conditions (long days in autumn and moderate winter). Irrigation schedule : Strawberry being a shallow-rooted plant requires more frequent but less amount of water in each irrigation. Excessive irrigation results in growth of leaves and stolons at the expense of fruits & flowers and also increases the incidence of Botrytis rot. Irrigation is applied in furrows between the rows. Trickle and sprinkler irrigation systems are becoming popular nowadays. Irrigation is a must and in humid regions, even short droughts reduce the yield, damaging the shallow root system. Since strawberry is a shallow-rooted plant, the plants require more frequent but less amount of water in each irrigation. Irrigation of newly-planted buds results in increased runner production and early rooting (Fig. 2). Strawberry plants produce optimum growth when the soil moisture tension is maintained at less than 1.0 atmosphere. Excessive irrigation is, however, detrimental which encourages growth of leaves and stolens at the expense of fruits and flowers. Irrigation should be applied in furrows between the rows. Care should be taken that water should not wet the leaves and fruits as it may increase the incidence of fungal infection. To obtain better fruit size and quality, it should be irrigated judiciously during harvesting. In Saharwa village, the strawberry fields are irrigated by micro and drip irrigation and the water is supplied by lift irrigation system on B.N.C. Canal.

Fig. 2. Strawberry fields in Saharwa village

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Following practices to improve irrigation performance of growing strawberries should be adopted: 1. Ensuring that irrigation system has the capacity to meet the seasonal and peak water requirements. 2. Planting into moist soil and maintain moisture via trickle. Substantial water is required to re - wet a dry soil once plastic mulch has been installed. 3. A monitoring program should be used to schedule both the timing of irrigations and the volume of water to be applied. Tensiometers can be one option for sche duling. Experience suggests that a 15 cm and 30 cm should be used together. Commence irrigation when the 15 cm tensiometer reaches ~15 kPa for light soils and ~18 kPa for heavy soils. 4. Adequate soil moisture should be maintained during plant establishment to ensure a uniform plant stand and the movement of irrigation water in the soil profile should be monitored to ensure deep drainage is minimized. There should be use of soil moisture sensor to decide for irrigation schedules. 5. Efficient crop water use and high yield potential can only be achieved if other agronomic factors such as nutrition, disease and pest management are also optimised. Harvesting: Strawberries are generally harvested when half to three fourths of skin develops colour. Depending on the w eather conditions, picking is usually done on every second or third day usually in the morning hours. For distant transportation green or white and still hard berries are harvested. Delaying in picking usually increases the proportion of overripe and rotte n berries. The picking duration differs from cultivar -to-cultivar. Ripening is faster is hot weather. Berries should be picked along with a small steam portion attached. Picking should be done in the morning. It facilitates better shelf -life. Strawberries are harvested in small trays or basket. They should be kept in a shady place to avoid damage due to excessive heat in the open field. Strawberries can be stored in cold storage up to 10 days. Afterwards they lose their fresh bright colour, showing some shr iveling and deterioration in flavour. Post Harvest Management (PHM) : Strawberries are highly perishable and require careful handling and strict adherence to appropriate postharvest management practices, in order to maintain optimal fruit quality after harvest. For maximum market life, strawberries require rapid removal of field heat coupled with l ow temperature storage (0 to 1º C) and maintenance of the cold chain during transport and distribution. With optimal postharvest care and the appropriate cultivar, strawberries have a 7 to 10 day market life. In Fig. 3. Various dimensions of post harvest management of strawberry crop order to realize this potential market life, careful attention must be given to all the details of product handling, pac kaging, and postharvest temperature and relative humidity management (Fig.3) . Appropriate postharvest temperature management is the single most important factor influencing strawberry market life and fruit quality ( Picha , 2006). In Saharwa village, f ruits are graded on the basis of their weight, size and colour. After pre-cooling, they are shipped in refrigerated vans. Packing is done according to

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the grades for long distance markets. Fruits of good quality are packed in perforated cardboard cartons with paper cuttings as cushioning material. Fruits of lower grades are packed in baskets. Road transport by trucks/lorries is the most convenient mode of transport due to easy approach from orchards to the market. Majority of the growers sell their produce either through trade agents at village level or commission agents at the market. Fruit for the wholesale market normally must be picked ﬁrmer and cooled rapidly to reduce perishability during transportation and ensure a good shelf life. Discussions with produce buyers or brokers prior to planting are highly recommended since this market is well supplied with a steady volume of produce from some strawberry producing area and the wholesale market may be difficult to enter with locally grown fruit.

Plant Protection Measures Insect Pests White grubs, cutworms and hairy caterpillars attack the crop. Areas where strawberries are to be planted should be free from white grubs and cutworms. Application of endosulfan (0.05%) or malathion (0.05%) on appearance of caterpillars has been found to be effective in most cases.

Diseases Main diseases reported are leaf spot and grey mould. Application of carbendazim / thiophanate methyl has been found to be effective in most cases.

Disorders Albinism (lack of fruit colour during ripening) is a physiological disorder in strawberry. It is probably caused by certain climatic conditions and extremes in nutrition. Fruits remain irregularly pink or even totally white and sometimes swollen. They have acid taste and become less firm. Albino fruits are often damaged during harvesting and are susceptible to Botrytis infection and decay during storage.

Concluding Suggestions Strawberry has advantages of easy propagation, early maturity and high yield with 5-9% sugar. To boost its production there is a need to develop infra-structure facilities for transport of produce to primary markets as the fruit is highly perishable. Processing facilities in the major producing states have to be made for value addition. The villagers of Saharwa are purchasing runners which are grown in cooler area like Himachal Pradesh which is putting on them large transportation cost. Sometime, the infected or diseased runners are also provided to farmers. As farmers are not able to distinguish much among various varieties, the suppliers are mixing the runners of 2-3 varieties and charging for the best varieties. So, there should be facilities like green house controlled environment for growing and keeping the runners before plantation. The farmers should use cold chain supply system to increase shelf life.

References Diwan S, Surender S, Chander S and Raj S (2010). Agroclimatic features of Hisar region, Dept. of Agril Meteorology, CCSHAU, Hisar ,Technical Bulletin,18. Success story of a Strawberry Village: hau.ernet.in/extension/sadalpur/ss_sad.pdf Awasthi RP and Joolka NK (2010). Growing Strawberries. Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan , HP. Shailendra S and Sushil G (2007). Ground Water Information Booklet, Hisar, Haryana. Picha D (2006). Guide to Post Harvest Care of Strawberries in Moldova. USAID Agribusiness Development Project.

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