SUMMARY

Four genotypes of Hevea brasiliensis namely GT-1, PR-107, PRIM-600 and non graft clones were studied for latex yield during the year 1988 to 1993. The non graft clone showed the most promising yield performance (95 ml/tree/tapping) followed by GT-1 (62 ml/tree/trapping).

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Effect of packing material on survival of Alphonso mango grafts with pruned leaves and roots.

Mango is one of the most common fruit crop in India. The total mango fruit, production in India is 92.23 Lakh tones while area under which is 11.36 lakh. India contributes 54% of the world production. The varieties of mango fall in to two broad categories I) Monocembryonic and II) Polyembryonic. Almost all the commercial varieties in the world belong to the former category and do not come true to type from seed. Therefore it is necessary to multiply through asexual means. Mango is a highly cross pollinated crop, there is enormous variation in the seedling raised even from the fruit and a single tree, and for obtaining uniformity in plant performance, the vegetative propagation method like grafting, layering, cutting were introduce in the mango. The stone and soft wood grafting methods were standardize in all over India.

The millions of mango grafts were prepared in the various nurseries and transported to long distance. The transport of graft for long distance is not economical due to heavy weight and higher charges transport. During transport in rainy season soil from bags of grafts becomes loose and formation of mud take place. The grafts from nursery to field handled for about 3-4 times which disturb the growth of roots. Due to which more mortality of grafts take place in the field. If the grafts are transported without soil with pruned leaves and roots by covering with different conditioner, they can be transported easily with very less weight and at low price. To observe the survival of that grafts. The experiment was carried out at the Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was carried out at the Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle. One year old Alphonso mango graft and treatment of pruning to leaves (100%) and roots (50%) was done to each of the graft. Then pruned graft were packed with the different packing material viz; moist spongum moss, moist gunny bag, moist sawdust wrapping with newspaper with sprinkling water and covered with polyethylene sheet and one set of pruned graft was kept on such without using any kind of conditioner for comparison. Hundred treated and packed grafts were kept at RFRS, Vengurle and 48 grafts were transported to the Agriculture Research Station Palghar Dist. Thane (750 k.m.). These grafts were planted in the soil after 4,7 and 10 days from the treatment. The survival percentage has been observed after 60 days of planting in the field.

Results

The survival percentage of grafts after 60 days from treatment at two different places were given in the table, without transportation method i.e. at Vengurla Research Station it was observed that the maximum survival (85.75%) was found, when the graft treated with the moist spogunm moss and planted after 7 day’s of treatment, while lower percentage of survival (14.28%) was observed, when grafts treated with moist saw dust and planted after 4 days of treatment at Vengurla. While transportation method i.e. at Palghar, Dist. Thane where the grafts were transported through trucks and planted after 4,7 and 10 days after the treatment.

The maximum survival was observed when graft treated with saw dust and planted after 10 days (100%) followed by other treatment sawdust 4 days (75%) sphagnum moss (7 day’s) Gunny bags (4 and 7 day’s). The average survival percentage of grafts at above two locations is given in the table. It is revealed from the data that maximum graft survival was observed in pruned grafts treated with spognum moss and planted after 7 day’s (81.81%) followed by when treated with gunny bags and planted after 4 day’s (72.72%).

The other treatment did not increase the survival percentage of grafts over control (63.63%). Thus, the mango grafts can be transported with pruned leaves and roots treated with spognum moss planted after 7 days in field showed 80 per cent survival. This trial was conducted for one year with very small plant unit. Therefore these results given indication for transporting small plant, unit for long distance.

Effect of packaging and transport on survival of mango graft.

Economic Evaluation of Rubber Plantation in the Konkan Region

The rubber plantation industry has achieved remarkable progress after independence. The area under rubber and the production have increased. The rubber Research Institute of India came into existence in 1955. It marked the beginning of new systematic research in the field of natural rubber. Rubber cultivation gradually spread to non traditional area such as NE region, Orissa, Goa, Konkan region of Maharashtra etc. The progress so far reveals that commercial planting can be successfully undertaken in certain part of these states on extensive scale. Natural rubber has been found in the latex of 895 species of trees. However, Hevea Brasiliensis is the most important source of natural rubber. Rubber is a perennial crop and yield is obtained only after the six years in case of poly bagged plants and after seven years in the case of bud stumps. The soil of Konkan is lateritic and reddish in colouration and is rich in organic matter. The annual rainfall varies from 3000 mm to 4000 mm and confined to the period from June to November. The average temperature range from 210C to 330C with a relative humidity of 75% to 90%. From the agro-climatic conditions, it has been observed that the region is congenial for successful cultivation of rubber. Budded stumps of clones GTI, PR 107, RRIM600 are the three important Rubber planting material being tested in the campus of KKV. Dapoli.

Methodology

Since it is a perennial crop with long pre-bearing period, the flows of costs and returns of this crop are spread over a number of years with varying magnitude. The expenditure during prebearing stage constitutes the investment cost on the crop. Investment in this to a certain extent under uncertain economic situation. Before making such an investment growers and financial institutions should have clear understanding about the capital and cost involved and returns likely to be received ascertain the viability of the investment. For that all future cost and benefits are discounted to obtain their present value. Following criteria are used to decide the profitability of an investment.

1) NPV = n Bt n Ct

Where Bt= Return in period ‘t’
Ct= Cost in period ‘t’
I = discount rate
t = project lite

2) B.C. ratio n Bt

3) IRR =

The IRR is the discount rate at which NPV is zero. It is estimated through trial and error method. In case of lower discount rate, NPV is positive while in case of is higher discount rate, NPV is negative, these rates are obtained from trial and error method.

Results

There are two stages in the growing of this crop viz immature and mature phase. It requires 5 to 7 or even more years to yield. During this stage. Expenditure is incurred on planting and maintenance of the crop but there is no return. In the immature stage, the magnitude of labour required and quantity of material inputs increase as tree grows older. In the establishment stage, the major items of cost are wages for labour required. Cost of planting material, fertilizers, manures cover crop establishment and other cost. Land is also taken unit consideration as this crop is long duration crop and entirely new production is considered hence a cost of land is values at only Rs. 16000/- per hectare.

A total of Rs. 43,945 expenditure is required for the first eight years for plantation of rubber in the Konkan region. Similar results were reported by Chandrashekhar. T.R. 1991. He reported that the direct cost of land preparation and maintenance up to maturity of a hectare rubber plantation was Rs. 35000=00

It can be seen from table 2 that pay back period (Undiscounted) is 12 years. It follows that 12 years will take for the not undiscounted benefit to repay the investment. In case of rubber, NPV is greater than cost, so the Rubber plantation can be considered favourably, as it is more than zero at stated discount rate. Even at 18% discount rate, it is positive. So there is tremendous scope for considering this crop for plantation in the region. The benefit cost ratio in case of Rubber is greater than one. IRR measure is practically used for all economic and financial analysis of the project by international financial agencies. IRR is the discount rate at which the NPV is equal to zero. IRR is a measure of profitability of the project. The higher rate, the more attractive is the project Rubber can be considered favourably as IRR greater than the opportunity cost of capital.

The pet hectare cost of production is given in table 3. The total cost of production comes to Rs. 25,054.65. while cost of input was Rs. 9,906/-

Cost benefit ratio was 1.20 at cost C, while Benefit cost ratio at input cost it comes to 3.04. At both cases, it is more than one and can be considered favourably as it is profitable one. Per kg cost of producing rubber is Rs. 22.45 having Rs. 4.55 profit for grower at present price of Rs. 27/- per kg of natural rubber.

Summary

Rubber plantation industry provides the principle raw material required for the rubber goods manufacturing industry which provides a variety of products which are required is modern life. South Konkan region of Maharashtra is considered suitable for rubber production. Utilization of such areas for rubber. Planting would be worthwhile in the present context of shortage of natural rubber. Cost of cultivation and maintenance of rubber plantation in this region is rather low on account of cheap labour. Using sophisticated tools of financial analysis, the scheme remains viable and financially feasible.