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| AGRICULTURE TRIBUNE | Monday, June 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Post-harvest handling of
grapes Grow maze as baby corn for higher income Ban on pesticide use bears
fruit |
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Post-harvest handling of
grapes GRAPES is an important crop of Punjab. Though the area under grapes is not much because of heavy initial investment on the erection of training system, yet because of heavier yields of 14 MT per acre, the income from this fruit crop is good. Grapes are mainly cultivated in the southern district of Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur, Muktsar and Ferozepore. About 99 per cent of the area under grapes is occupied by a single variety named Perlette. This variety bears medium to large-sized compact bunches. The berries are round to oval shaped and at ripening the TSS content varies between 16 and 18 per cent. Perlette cultivar, under Punjab conditions, ripens in the end of May up to first fortnight of June. Being non-climacteric fruits, these can not be ripened after harvest. The top quality of berries develops on the vine itself. Therefore, the grapes have to be harvested when fully ripe. Quality improvement in grapes: In order to harvest better quality grapes, the flowering thinning is practised to keep the 100 to 120 flowers per bunch in the first week of April. A week later when the berries are nearly the size the lentil (4 mm), the bunches are dipped in 40 ppm GA solution (Dissolve 2 gm of GA in few ml of alcohol and raise the volume to 40 litres with clean, dirt free tap/tubewell water). A week later apply irrigation and a 4 mm wide strip of the bark is removed with the help of special girdler. Later a week after the first dip, another dip of 40 ppm GA solution is given. These treatments help is harvesting superior grapes in addition ripening time by a week or so, thereby increasing the marketing time span of the crop. Maturity indices: On the ripening the berries are covered with a thin waxy layer called bloon. Development of sugar, which is measured in terms of TSS content, is a better measure of ripening. At maturity TSS in grapes vary from 16 to 18 per cent. When the terminal berries of a bunch develop sweetness, the bunch is considered to be matured to harvest. Harvesting: Grape crop matures in the end of May to mid-June. At this time, the weather is very hot and dry, which lead to quick deterioration of quality of grapes if not handled properly. Grapes should be harvested at night or early in the morning so that these can be kept cool for a longer time after harvest by taking advantage of the cold weather of early morning hours or night. The stem of the bunch should be detached from near the branch with the help of secateur be carefully put in plastic crates or bamboo baskets (bamboo baskets due to their uneven surfaces, needs to be lined with newspaper to avoid to the berries). These crates and baskets should be immediately shifted to cool shady place. Packaging: The table grapes throughout the world are packed in the field itself. A temporary shady place is provided if there is no provision of pucca pack house. The shady place helps maintain quality of the crop. During packing, the dead, decayed and injured or cut berries should be discarded. The bunches of medium-sized berries firmly attached and well placed around the stem should be packed. For sending the produce to local or nearby markets, the grapes can be packed in bamboo baskets or CFB boxes that have spaces for ventilation of air. Before packing fruit in these packs, these should be applied with a newspaper cutting pad to prevent the lower layers of berries from damage due to compression. The bunches should be placed in the pack in such a way that the stem end lies on the outer sides of the package which facilities easy removal of bunches during retail marketing. The CFB boxes of 2 to 4 kg are very popular for packing grapes. For sending the grapes to long-distance markets, the CFB boxes needs to be provided with a triangular support in the four corners of the box so that the boxes do not collapse with the weight of the boxes lying over these transport of other handling steps. For long-distance marketing, the grapes need to be pre-cooled to 0-2° C using forced air-cooling system. Transport: The transport of grapes preferably is undertaken during night time to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. The boxes in the trucks should be stacked carefully so that at the bottom layers boxes may not collapse under the weight of the upper layers due to the jerks generated during the transport. To avoid collapse of boxes, the boxes should be palletised before loading. For transport to longer distances, the refrigerated vans should be used. “Grape Guard” is a brown-coloured paper (which is impregnated with potassium sulphite) which releases sulphur dioxide gas when it gains moisture. Sulphur dioxide helps checking the gray mould disease of grapes, which occurs at ambient as well as under cold storage conditions. It also helps keep the stem of the bunch from drying up. Two types of “Grape Guard” strips are available — slow release (active up to 40 days) and quick release (active for six to seven days). The slow release Grape Guard strips are usually used during storage of grapes while the quick release strips are used during transport. For getting the best advantages from “Grape Guard”, the grapes should be wrapped in thin tissue paper or perforated in polythene bags and a strip of Grape Guard placed in it before packing the grapes in box. Storage:
The grapes meant for storage should be packed and pre-cooled soon after harvest. Because in grapes, losing 1 per cent moisture leads to reduction of a day’s post-harvest life. Therefore, the grapes to be cold stored should be pre-cooled to 0-2° C using forced air-cooling and shifted to the cold store immediately after harvest. |
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Grow maze as baby corn for higher income MAIZE (Zea mays L.), the queen of cereals, has the highest production potential among present-day cereals. It is a source of staple food for human, feed for animals and has wide industrial uses. In Himachal Pradesh, maize is cultivated on an area of 310 thousand hectares with the total grain production of 621 thousand tonnes. The state produces about 200 thousand tonnes of surplus maize over and above its requirement which is sold by farmers at throwaway prices to the traders of neighbouring states due to lack of food processing units in the state. For diversification and value addition of maize as well as the growth of the food processing industry, an interesting recent development is growing maize for vegetable purpose as “baby corn”. The term “baby corn” commonly used by the food industry, refers to the young cob of maize harvested within 2-3 days of silk emergence. This is a delicious and nutritive
vegetable fetching a very high price in national and international markets. Thailand and Taiwan are the major producers of baby corn in the world and have emerged as largest exporters. Thai farmers have developed this product into a multi-million dollar business. In India, this industry is still at the juvenile stage and increasing attention is being paid by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to explore its potential. Baby corn has also been included in the scheme for development of infra-structural facilities for integrated projects on its cultivation and processing along with mushroom, hops and gherkins by the Ministry of the Food Processing Industries, Government of India, during the Ninth Five Year Plan. Baby corn may be consumed raw or used as an ingredient in various preparations like chop-suey (Chinese dish), soups, deep fried with meat or rice, sauteed with other vegetables, pickles, corn pakoras, etc. Fresh baby corn ears used as decorative, crisp vegetable in salad. It is popular as canned or stir-fried with vegetables in Chinese-American restaurants. The nutritive value of baby corn is comparable with several high-priced vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, French bean, spinach, lady’s finger, brinjal, tomato, radish, etc. It is rich in phosphorus content (86 mg/100 g edible portion) in comparison to 21 to 57 mg phosphorus content in other commonly used vegetables. It is an attractive low calorie vegetable, high in fibre content and low in cholesterol. Besides nutritive advantage, it is also free from residual effect of pesticides (because it is harvested within a week emergence and the young cob is wrapped up tightly with husk and well protected from enemies giving very little time to the disease and insect-pests to attack), whereas other vegetables cannot be grown without the protected umbrella of pesticides. The lack of knowledge about the use and economic importance of baby corn and non-availability of appropriate production technology are the major constraints for its popularisation among Indian maize growers. The net income from grain maize on an average is around Rs 15,000 per hectare, which is quite low as compared to three times higher net income per hectare from a single crop of baby corn (2-3 crops of baby corn can be taken in a season, depending upon agro-climatic conditions). Keeping in view the production potential of maize in the state and high economic returns from baby corn, there is immense scope of growing maize as baby corn to improve economic status of poor maize growers. In addition, it has potential to generate employment opportunities in the rural areas. Apart from benefits to the farmers, baby corn has a great scope as a foreign-exchange earner for the country. The economic potential of canning baby corn as a small-scale industry needs to be explored. Baby corn can be marketed as fresh husked or de-husked young cobs, canned product, and pickles. Recently, a market of fresh baby corn has developed in Europe, mainly for use as an additional decorative, crisp vegetable salad. Ready customers are high class people and restaurants. Baby corn pickles are already in demand in Europe and American restaurants. Baby corn ears are usually canned at processing factories in a solution of 3 per cent brine plus 2 per cent sugar plus 0.3 per cent citric acid. The optimum size requirement for the marketing industry is 4.5 to 10 cm long and 7 to 17 mm diameter of young de-husked cobs. In addition, young cob should be light yellow in colour with a regular row arrangement. The HPMC in Himachal Pradesh is procuring baby corn from growers at Rs 38 per kg and canning 230 g baby corn whole ears in a tin having 425 g net weight, and marketing it in Indian markets at Rs 55 per tin. The agronomic requirements of baby corn are similar to grain maize. Systematic research work on evaluation of
varieties and standardisation of production techniques of baby corn were initiated by scientists of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Krishi Vishvavidyalaya at the Regional Station, Bajaura (Kulu valley), under an all-India coordinated maize improvement project (now Directorate of Maize Research) and it has recommended the package of practices for baby corn cultivation in the state. A maize variety which flowers early (45 to 50 days to full silk) can give at least two or more crops in a season, depending upon environmental conditions. Short stature is also a desirable trait because planting at high population density of up to 125 thousands plants per hectare is required to obtain a higher yield per unit area and at this density, a short plant type will not suffer from competition and lodging. Hybrid VL 42 and composite Early Composite and VL 78 are suitable varities of maize for baby corn production. Removal of tassel (male flower) just after its emergence results in about 15 per cent higher baby corn yield than no tassel removal. Harvesting of young baby cobs should be done through hand picking within two to three days of silk emergence with care so that upper stem and lower leaves do no break because more cobs will appear on lower inter nodes of the same later on. The picking has to be done every third day and seven to eight pickings are needed in these varieties. An average yield of 15 to 18 quintals of baby corn and 30 to 40 tonnes green fodder per hectare can be obtained from a single crop which gives a net income of Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 per hectare. Whereas maize grown for grain purpose gives a net profit of Rs 15,000 per hectare and only one crop can be grown in a season. A resource-poor farmer, who cannot afford high rates of nitrogen fertilizer, can still make a net profit of up to Rs 30,000 per hectare by applying 50 kg of nitrogen per hectare to a baby corn crop having population density of 75 thousand plants per hectare. |
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Ban on pesticide use bears
fruit THE ban on the use of insecticides has started changing the scenario with regard to the pesticidal contamination as the residues of these insecticides in different food commodities have considerably reduced. A study carried out by the Department of Entomology of Punjab Agricultural University between 1985 and 1990 had revealed that before banning of persistent insecticides like DDT and lindane, there was widespread contamination of food, feed and other components of the environment with residues of persistent pesticides like DDT and BHC. For example, residues of the DDT and the BHC were found to be present in 124 and 112 samples, respectively, out of 140 is heat flour samples analysed. Of course, about 70 samples had residues of these insecticides above the permissible limits. Similarly, all the 215 samples of milk collected from different parts of Punjab were found to be contaminated with residues of the DDT and 174 samples contained the DDT residues above the permissible limit of 0.05 mg kg 01. Out of 123 samples of different brands of butter, 99 contained the DDT above the permissible limit of 1.25 mg kg-1. In addition to the DDT, 10 samples were found to contain residues of lindane above the tolerant limit. The residues of the DDT and the BHC and aldrin were found to be present in different vegetables like potato, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage and bhindi. The residues of these insecticides were found and detected in meat of pig, chicken, sheep, goat and fish. However, their levels were found to be quite low. The residues of the DDT and the BHC were found to be significantly high in mother’s milk, thereby putting the health of a neonate in grave risk. According to Dr Darshan Singh, Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, being fat soluble and temperature resistant, these insecticides tend to stay for a longer period in the environment. These insecticides have been used widely in agriculture and public health in India for about 40 years. It is generally believed that the contamination of milk and milk products, cereals, vegetables, meat and egg has occurred either from their direct use on field crops or their use in the malaria eradication programme. Dr Darshan Singh says that the Government of India imposed a ban on these insecticides for use in agriculture and restricted their use in public health in 1994. After the ban, out of 66 samples of milk analysed recently, only two samples showed presence of the DDT residues, while only one sample exceeded the tolerance limit. Similarly, analysis of 174 samples of vegetables and fruits collected from different locations in Punjab revealed the presence of negligible residues of the DDT and the BHC and only 8 per cent samples were found to contain residues of commonly used organophosphates insecticides like quinalphos, monocrtophos, triazophos, etc above their legal limit. The analysis of water, soil, animal feed and fodder samples have also revealed considerable reduction of the residue usage for crop production. It has also been observed that these residues result most often when the farmers do not keep the university’s recommendations in mind while applying pesticides. Dr Darshan Singh emphasises that excessive residues in crops can be avoided by using pesticides as per the recommendations of PAU. He has stressed that pesticides be used only when absolutely necessary. Whenever possible, prefer non-chemical methods of pest control. Apply only recommended pesticides at recommended dosages. Use low persistent pesticides. Do not apply persistent pesticides like lindane, endosulfan, etc on vegetables, fruit, fodder crops or directly on animals for control of ticks, etc.` Pluck ripe fruits and vegetables before application of pesticides. After pesticide use, harvest the crop only after the recommended waiting period. The university has worked out these waiting periods for some commonly used pesticides on different fruits and vegetables. Never mix any insecticide with stored grains to control pests. Through washing along with rubbing can also help in reducing pesticide residues on the produce. Peeling of vegetables and fruits can also result in lowering the level of residues significantly. In the case of cabbage, removal of outer one or two leaves significantly cuts the risk of residues.
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Farm operations for June SUGARCANE: — Irrigate the crop at 7 to 10 days’ interval and apply the second dose of 65 kg of urea per acre along the cane rows. — Apply the second dose of 65 kg of urea/acre to plant crop. The fertiliser may be drilled along the rows. — Check attack of top borer by applying 12 kg of Furadan 3 G/Thimet 10 G at the base of shoots of sugarcane during the last week of June. Earth up slightly and give light irrigation to the crop immediately. — Black bug sometimes becomes serious, particularly on ratoon crop during this month. Check this pest by spraying 350 ml of Thiodan 35 EC/Dursban 20 EC or 225 ml of Sumithion/Folithion/ Accothion 50 EC in 400 litres of water per acre. Direct the spray into the leaf whirl. — Due to prolong dry weather conditions, mites also cause severe damage to this crop. Spray 400 ml of Malathion 50 EC in 100 litres of water per acre. Remove “baru” weed growing around the sugarcane field. — Check Thrips by spraying 400 ml/acre of Malathion 50 EC or Thiodam 35 EC @ 350 ml/acre in 100 litres of water. COTTON: — In situations where itsit emerges after the first irrigation or with the rain shower, Stomp 30 EC @ 1 litre/acre dissolved in 200-250 litres of water can also be applied as post-emergence after the first irrigation to cotton. If the weeds emerge before the application of the herbicide, a light hoeing/inter-culture may be done as the Stomp does not control the emerged weeds. — Apply 30 to 35 kg of urea along the American cotton rows after final thinning. — Apply the first irrigation to the May-sown crop after about four weeks of sowing and give hoeing to keep the weeds under check. — Direct spray of Glycel/Roundup (Glyphosate) at 1 litre/acre or Gramoxone (Paraquat) at 0.5 litre/acre at 6 to 8 weeks after sowing in between the cotton rows is very good for effective control of weeds. Avoid application of the herbicide on the top foliage of the cotton plants. Application of either herbicide at 6 to 8 weeks after sowing when crop is 40 to 45 cm high can replace hand weeding/hoeing etc. — Control sucking pests such as jassid, whiteflies, thrips, etc. by spraying 250 ml of Rogor 30 EC or 300 ml of Metasystox 25 EC/Anthio 25 EC or 75 ml Dimecron 85 SL in 100 litres of water per acre. — Uproot and destroy leaf curl infected plant. Protect the crop against white fly vector at the 4 to 5 leaf stage by using recommended insecticides. Remove kanghi buti (sida sp.) and peeli buti (abutilon sp.) from the field. GROUNDNUT: — Under irrigated conditions, sow groundnut after applying presowing irrigation. Use of bolder seeds ensures high yields. — Treat the seed with 5 g Thiram or 3 g Indofil M-45/kg of seed before sowing, to control coller rot disease. — Use 44 kg seed for M-13, 40 kg for M-335, 38 kg for M-522, SG-84 and 25 kg for M-37. — Apply 50 kg of superphosphate and 13 kg of urea per acre with and 13 kg of urea per acre with last ploughing. Also 50 kg of gypsum/acre may be applied. — Treat the seed with 12.5 ml of Dursban 20 EC per kg kernel and apply 4 kg Thimet 10 G or 13 kg of Furadan 3 G per acre into the field before sowing for preventing the attack of whitegrub in groundnut. KHARIF PULSES: — Sowing of AL-201 and AL-15 varieties of arhar should be completed during the first fortnight of June, whereas mash and moong sowing, particularly on light textured soils should be started from last week of June. — Weed in moong can be controlled with Stomp 30 EC @ 1.0 litre/acre applied within the days of sowing of the crop or Basalin 45 EC @ 600 ml/acre applied before the sowing of the crop. Herbicide should be sprayed by dissolving in 200 litres of water. — Arhar, mash and moong seed should be treated with Captan @ 3 g per kg of seed before sowing — Apply one quintal of superphosphate and 11 kg of urea at the time of sowing of these crops. — In summer moong, thrips cause shedding of flowers, deformation of buds resulting in a lower yield. Spray the crop at the flower initiation stage with 100 ml of Rogor 30 EC (dimethoate or Malathion 50 EC or 35 ml of Dimecron 85 SL (phosphamidon) or 120 ml Metasystox 25 EC (oxydematon methyl) in 80-120 litres of water per acre. SOYABEAN: Grow variety SL-295/PK-416 of soyabean resistant to yellow mosaic virus, using a seed rate of 25-30 kg per acre. — To supplement the nitrogen supply to the crop, seed of soyabean should be treated with specific bacterial culture at the time of sowing. If soyabean is beinb sown for the first time in the field, use the bacterial culture. — Treat soyabean seed with Captan or Thiram @ 3 g/kg of seed against soil borne disease. — Sow the crop in good water with a pre-sowing irrigation during the first fortnight of June. The crop should be sown in lines 45 cm apart. — In this crop, weed can be controlled with the use of Stomp 30 EC @ 600 ml/acre as preemergence application i.e. within one or two days of sowing. Dissolve the recommended quantity of herbicide in 200 litres of water per acre and spray it uniformly. — To get a higher yield apply four tonnes of FYM/acre to the field. At the time of sowing, apply 25 kg of urea per acre and 2 quintals of single superphosphate. If some other source of phosphate fertiliser is to be used then apply 50 kg of gypsum as well. Soybean needs 150 kg superphosphate when follows wheat which had received recommended dose of phosphorus. FODDER PRODUCTION: — Berseem crop for seed production may be harvested and threshed to save it from being damaged by rain. — Kharif fodders sowing at regular intervals may be continued for continuous supply of sufficient green fodder. Irrigate the fodder crops regularly. — Harvest the green fodder at optimum stage of harvesting to provide maximum nutrients to animals for cheap milk production and save concentrate. — Progressive Farming, PAU |
