Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future
Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future
Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future
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The profitability of seedling orchards vs clonal orchards established on<br />
farmers' land was looked at by <strong>the</strong> Genetics and Plant Breeding Department<br />
of <strong>the</strong> University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India (Kulkarni et al.,<br />
1993). As shown in Table 10.2, <strong>the</strong> clonal establishment was highly<br />
profitable because of high net returns and low establishment costs compared<br />
with seedling orchards.<br />
Table 10.2 Profitability of seed vs clonal orchards/ ha<br />
Nature of<br />
Total cost Total returns Net return<br />
orchard<br />
(Rs)<br />
(Rs)<br />
(Rs)<br />
Seedling orchard 5600 44 200 38 600<br />
Clonal orchard 5000 51 950 46 000<br />
Source: Kulkarni et al. (1993)<br />
The orchards established using clones are of uni<strong>for</strong>m size, <strong>the</strong> fruits are of<br />
high quality and <strong>the</strong> trees yield well. These trees also come into bearing<br />
earlier than seedling orchards, but <strong>the</strong>ir life span may be shorter. Hence, use<br />
of selected cultivars to establish small or medium scale orchards is<br />
economically viable.<br />
Based on in<strong>for</strong>mation from <strong>the</strong> Periyakulam Research Station, each tamarind<br />
tree will give an average yield of 100 kg of fresh tamarind pulp per year at<br />
maturity. From <strong>the</strong> fourth year, yields increase until <strong>the</strong> tenth year when it<br />
stabilises. Financial and energy inputs are highest in <strong>the</strong> first year (Rao and<br />
Singh, 1996).<br />
In Cumbum, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, individual farmers are reported<br />
to plant large areas of local tamarind trees with yields up to 70 kg tamarind<br />
pulp per tree in <strong>the</strong> fourth year. This indicates that tamarind can be grown<br />
commercially even by small-scale farmers. It is also necessary to encourage<br />
farmers to grow selected cultivars, as high yields and more economic<br />
benefits could be assured. If plantations are to be established on marginal<br />
lands unsuitable <strong>for</strong> production of o<strong>the</strong>r crops, reduced yields have to be<br />
factored into cost-benefit analyses.<br />
10.3 Production figures<br />
<strong>Tamarind</strong> production is expanding and although <strong>the</strong> production should be<br />
substantial statistical records are not given <strong>for</strong> tamarind. Instead, it is<br />
included with 'o<strong>the</strong>r' species of exotic fruits or spices and as its production is<br />
not monitored by any agency, no data on area, production and yield of<br />
tamarind is available. Even <strong>the</strong> trade is so unorganised that traders are also<br />
not able to provide any in<strong>for</strong>mation.<br />
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