Timing of Amla Plantation

[ravella]

Dear Sir,

I wanted to cultivate amla. My farm is located in Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh. Is September or October idle for platntation of Amla? & which variety is suitable & more productive?


Regards
JP

[kirti s]

Dear Sir
Amla
EMBLICA OFFICINALIS GAERTN. FAMILY - EUPHORBIACEAE

A small to medium sized deciduous tree, 8-18m. in height with crooked trunk and spreading branches. Leaves simple, sub sessile; flower greenish-yellow; fruit nearly spherical pale yellow with 6 vertical furrows.

COMMON NAMES: Amlaki, Indian gooseberry, Anola, Amlika.

DISTRIBUTION :

A moderate-sized deciduous tree found wild or planted throughout the deciduous forests of tropical India and on hill slopes up to 2000m.

PART USED: Fruit.

CULTIVATION:

SOIL AND CLIMATE

Amla can be grown in light as well as heavy soils except purely sandy soil. Calcareous soil with rocky substratum can also be good. However, well drained fertile loamy soil is the best for higher yield. The plant have capacity for adaptation to dry regions and can also grow in moderately alkaline soils.

It is grown extensively under tropical condition. Annual rainfall of 630-800 mm have given good yield. The young plants up to the age of 3 years should be protected from hot wind during May-June and from frost during winter months. The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperature as well as temperature up to 460C.

Nursery Raising and Planting

Amla is generally propagated through seeds, but seed propagated trees bear inferior quality fruits and have a long gestation period. Shield budding is done on one year old seedlings with buds collected from superior strains yielding big size fruits. Older trees of inferior types can be rejuvenated and easily changed into superior type by top working.

The pits of 1m3 are prepared during May-June at a distance of 4.5 m spacing and should be left for 15-20 days exposed to sunlight. Each pit should be filled with surface soil mixed with 15 kg farm yard manure and one kg of super phosphate before planting the grafted seedling.

WEEDING AND HOEING

Weeding & Hoeing is required in nursery.

MANURES, FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES

The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.

IRRIGATION

Amla plants hardly require irrigation during monsoon. Young plants require watering during summer months at 15 days interval till they have fully established. Watering of mature fruit bearing plants is advised during summer months at bi-weekly intervals to increase fruit set and to reduce fruit drop. It responds very well to drip irrigation. After the monsoon rains, during October-December about 25-30 litres of water per day per tree through drips should be given.

HARVESTING/POST HARVESTING OPERATION

Amla seedlings start bearing fruits in 7-8 years after planting, while the budded clones will start bearing fruits from the 5th year onwards. The fruits are light green at first, but when they mature become dull greenish yellow. Best harvesting time of Amla fruits is February when the fruits have maximum ascorbic acid content. In South India, fruits are found throughout the year. The mature fruits are hard and they do not fall for gentle touch and therefore vigorous shaking is required. For getting attractive prices fruits after harvest should be made into different grades depending on the size. Fruits can also be harvested using long bamboo poles attached with hooks.

YIELD

A matured tree of about 10 years will yield 50-70 kg of fruit. The average weight of the fruits is 60-70 g. One kg contains about 1`5-20 number of fruits. A well maintained tree will be yielding up to an age of 70 years. The yield increases year by year up to 50 years.

ECONOMICS

The 8-year old plantation of one hectare will yield 20-25 tons of fruits with a cost of production of Rs.34,000 per-ha. The rate for a kg of fruit Rs.15-30.

Net income- per hectare: Rs.20,000/







Kirti

[shajathali]

Hallo Mr.JP


I am in Trichy Central part of Tamil Nadu. I have started planting of amla seedlings this week. I got the seedlings from the Nursary forms. I will give you my experience in due course. the ideal period for plantation in tamil nadu is June to November. If you have enough water source there is no need of seasons. There are so many varieties of Amla like NA7, NA6, Kanchan, Lakshmi, Anand-2, BSR. each variety is having its own medicinal and local market value. The spacing is very important for each variety. You should go for mixed variety plantation in a acre. meet you again.
Regards
shajath

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

Aonla Cultivation
1. Introduction
Aonla (Emblica officinalis) is very hardy, prolific bearer and highly remunerative even without much after care. Aonla is the richest known natural source of vitamin. Its juice contains 20 times as much vitamin C as orange juice. Aonla is known for its pharmaceutical properties.
It is a wonder herb and one of the precious gifts of nature to man. It is the best of all acid fruits and most useful for health and body rejuvenation and prevents aging. It's mineral and vitamin contents include calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin and to vitamin C. Its calorific value is 58. 100 g of fruit provides 470 to 680 mg of vitamin C. The dehydrated berry provides 2428 to 3470 mg of vitamin C per 100 g.
It is largely cultivated in Uttar Pradesh (Azamgarh, Pratapgarh, Varanasi and Barelli districts), Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. In view of its diverse uses, its cultivation is increasing fast and the crop is becoming popular with the orchardists.


3. Varieties
There has been no standardisation of varieties of aonla and they are mostly known on the basis of size, colour and also names of places. The important varieties are Banarasi, Deshi, Chakaiya, etc. of which Banarasi is the most important variety for commercial purpose. The fruits are fairly large and very good for making preserves. It is an early bearer having good keeping quality. Another important variety is Anand - 2 grown in Gujarat.

4. Climate

It is found growing in different states up to elevation of 1,500 meters from sea level. It is sub-tropical fruit but can be cultivated successfully in tropical climate as well. The plant is not very much influenced either by hot wind or frost. The mature trees can tolerate temperature as high as 460 deg.

5. Soil
The tree could be raised even on marginal lands and is capable of withstanding adverse conditions. Amla can be grown in light as well as heavy soils, however, well drained fertile soils are preferred. The plants adapt to dry regions and can also tolerate moderately alkaline soils.

6. Propagation
Shield budding is commercially followed for propagation. Proper selection of mother plant is very critical for commercial cultivation on large scale. The mother plant should be highly fruitful of known variety and the bud should be taken from the branch with good number of female flowers otherwise the plant will be unfruitful.

7. Planting
Healthy budded plants are planted during rainy season. In dry areas where mortality after transplanting is very high, the seedling root stocks can be raised in situ for budding with superior variety.

8. Spacing and Plant Population
Pits of about 0.75 cum should be dug during May-June at a distance of 7 m x 7 m accommodating 204 plants in one ha.

9. Orchard Establishment and Care
As the branches of aonla often break off carrying heavy crop load the plant should be trained to develop a low headed one. The framework should be developed by encouraging growth of 4-6 well spaced branches with fairly wide angle. The pruning of the bearing plants can be done after the harvest of the crop every year.

10. Irrigation
Aonla plants hardly require any irrigation except during the spells of dry period. The young plants require water in summer at fortnightly intervals till they are firmly established. Watering of mature bearing plants is also necessary for better fruit development and to arrest fruit drop.

11. Plant Protection
There are no major pests and diseases affecting aonla. The major ones are bark eating caterpillar among pests and aonla rust among the diseases. Spraying with neem oil and some herbal preparations is recommended.

12. Harvesting
The budded plants used in commercial cultivation start bearing from the fourth year onwards. Amla can give economic yields for around 25 years.

13. Yield
A full grown aonla plant can yield up to 200 kg fruits per year. The productivity levels could touch a high of20 MT per ha from the seventh year of planting. Average yield can be around 100 kg per tree.

14. Market
Aonla has in recent years gained prominence as a crop of economic importance because of its therapeutic properties. Aonla fruits can be processed into various products such as pickle, chutney, sauce, preserve, syrup, powder and digestive chewing nuts.
Average market price is Rs. 6 per kg.
The fruit is mainly marketed in Mumbai, Amritsar, Kolkata, Delhi, Hydrebad and Patna markets. Pratapgarh near Faizabad in UP contributes to nearly 80 per cent of the total amla production in the country. The fruit from Tamil Nadu finds its way to the Mumbai market, apart from being marketed at Chennai, Bangalore and Kochi. At present there is a mismatch in the demand-supply chain of aonla.

15. Financial Viability
The viability of plantation is worked out based on the economic life of plant. The BCR and NPW are found to be 1.3, 10,652 respectively. The Internal Rate of . Return on 10 year basis is worked out as above 23% s_owing a high degree of financial viability.

16. Repayment Schedule
Repayment schedule is worked out on the basis of 90% of loan amount at 12% interest rate. As the income from 1st 6 years is enough to make repayments, it is suggested to provide the grace period of 6 years for principal amount. Repayment may be allowed from 7th year in graded installments, which will be repaid fully by the end of tenth year.

Kirti

[deepakdhana]

Dear Kirti,

I saw your posts which are really very very very good for aonla.I have planted 300 trees in August 2006 in 2 hectares with 20 X 20 fts distance, I am irrigating them with drip with regular watch on pests and moth. It seems you have all relevant info on aonla.

KIndly tell what amount of irrigation is required for one and half year old plant by drip presently I am giving them 50 litres of water per week but reading your stuff made me felt that I was actually keeping them thirsty. Plkease advise..

Regards,

Deepak Tiwari

Originally Posted by kirti s

Dear Sir
Amla
EMBLICA OFFICINALIS GAERTN. FAMILY - EUPHORBIACEAE

A small to medium sized deciduous tree, 8-18m. in height with crooked trunk and spreading branches. Leaves simple, sub sessile; flower greenish-yellow; fruit nearly spherical pale yellow with 6 vertical furrows.

COMMON NAMES: Amlaki, Indian gooseberry, Anola, Amlika.

DISTRIBUTION :

A moderate-sized deciduous tree found wild or planted throughout the deciduous forests of tropical India and on hill slopes up to 2000m.

PART USED: Fruit.

CULTIVATION:

SOIL AND CLIMATE

Amla can be grown in light as well as heavy soils except purely sandy soil. Calcareous soil with rocky substratum can also be good. However, well drained fertile loamy soil is the best for higher yield. The plant have capacity for adaptation to dry regions and can also grow in moderately alkaline soils.

It is grown extensively under tropical condition. Annual rainfall of 630-800 mm have given good yield. The young plants up to the age of 3 years should be protected from hot wind during May-June and from frost during winter months. The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperature as well as temperature up to 460C.

Nursery Raising and Planting

Amla is generally propagated through seeds, but seed propagated trees bear inferior quality fruits and have a long gestation period. Shield budding is done on one year old seedlings with buds collected from superior strains yielding big size fruits. Older trees of inferior types can be rejuvenated and easily changed into superior type by top working.

The pits of 1m3 are prepared during May-June at a distance of 4.5 m spacing and should be left for 15-20 days exposed to sunlight. Each pit should be filled with surface soil mixed with 15 kg farm yard manure and one kg of super phosphate before planting the grafted seedling.

WEEDING AND HOEING

Weeding & Hoeing is required in nursery.

MANURES, FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES

The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.

IRRIGATION

Amla plants hardly require irrigation during monsoon. Young plants require watering during summer months at 15 days interval till they have fully established. Watering of mature fruit bearing plants is advised during summer months at bi-weekly intervals to increase fruit set and to reduce fruit drop. It responds very well to drip irrigation. After the monsoon rains, during October-December about 25-30 litres of water per day per tree through drips should be given.

HARVESTING/POST HARVESTING OPERATION

Amla seedlings start bearing fruits in 7-8 years after planting, while the budded clones will start bearing fruits from the 5th year onwards. The fruits are light green at first, but when they mature become dull greenish yellow. Best harvesting time of Amla fruits is February when the fruits have maximum ascorbic acid content. In South India, fruits are found throughout the year. The mature fruits are hard and they do not fall for gentle touch and therefore vigorous shaking is required. For getting attractive prices fruits after harvest should be made into different grades depending on the size. Fruits can also be harvested using long bamboo poles attached with hooks.

YIELD

A matured tree of about 10 years will yield 50-70 kg of fruit. The average weight of the fruits is 60-70 g. One kg contains about 1`5-20 number of fruits. A well maintained tree will be yielding up to an age of 70 years. The yield increases year by year up to 50 years.

ECONOMICS

The 8-year old plantation of one hectare will yield 20-25 tons of fruits with a cost of production of Rs.34,000 per-ha. The rate for a kg of fruit Rs.15-30.

Net income- per hectare: Rs.20,000/







Kirti

[siriherbalfarms]

Hi,
This is sambasiva Reddy from Hyderabad. I request all the new entries in amla farming, first find the market. Just enquire at what price amla fruit is selling in the market today. there are several farmers eagerly looking to sell their produce at Rs 3-4/ kg. Dont blindly believe the words of nursery people and so called educated brokers( they simply tell on the stages, but the fact is different) Think twice before taking up amla cultivation.

regards
sincerely
sambasiva Reddy

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

Aonla trees are hardy and stand very well against drought. However, the crop shall be benfitted by giving two /three irrigations at the time of full bloom and set. During summer the fruit is dormant, hence no irrigation is necessary.


Kirti

[sivarathinam]

Thanks Mr.Kirti for the valuable information, (My response for the diffuser irrigation is long due, however I have taken up this recent topic for
discussion)
I would like to share some of my view points in the forum, mainly to utilize the knowledge of experts like Mr.Kirti and other selfless provider to the forum, theoretically the input provides the right information, but when you go and involve in the field, one is faced with different set of problems,

This may also provide some insight to the folks who have just started the Amla planting, (My field of expertise in not in agriculture but I had developed interest in it, a professional engineer working for offshore oil
projects)

By and large Agriculture is a complex subject, it is not that easy to get away with the desired result based on the theoretical reports and findings, it starts with soil, pest, and leads to the wonderful world of marketing, each area is very involved in itself.
Presently I am growing more than 1500 Amla plants in TN, all are 2 to 5 year old plants, I have planted at various periods whenever the seedlings were available (as such timing is not that important factor), the problems are so many, here I take up only the pertinent issues,

First of all, let us take 2 aspect of the Amla plantation;
1) Can we go for organic or inorganic?
(In case if we intend to go organic, do we have the right kind pesticides available for the pest and diseases in the local market, basically worthiness of the product, what kind of assurance one can have regard to that it will work against the pest in a timely manner?)

(Everyone knows about the expenses associated with the organic
certification issue, but not clear path on the way, who will take the
risk?)

Initially I was given the understanding that Amla is pest free plant and no major uncontrollable pests are known for Amla, whereas in actual case it differs, Stem borer made a havoc, then the regular Aswini (rust) made me run, the other worst problem I had was, some worms eating away the roots of the plant, the branches of the tree started drying, eventually the whole tree is dead, it happened for even 4 year old trees, the underground roots of the tree were eaten away by the worms (Scientist have so many names for it), more than 100 to 200 plants I have lost during the rainy season due to the above.
One has to be in race with the pest, to overcome the above in a timely manner, what ever remedies suggested by local experts, did not work that effectively for the pest as expected,

So, the details needed from the experts will be: Comprehensive list of pest
and diseases for Amla, details of the pesticides available (Both
organic/inorganic) to control/prevent

2) To go for organic manure or inorganic fertilizers?
FYM is difficult to source from the villages; again it works out to be too expensive, and there are plenty of natural manure are available from many sources, the authenticity factor dissuade one to go for the organic stuff (Safely one can depend upon the stuff that can be sourced from the sugar
factories)

Depends upon the soil type, inorganic fertilizers are easy to apply, at least to the minimum level in order to reach the break even point to start with.

Therefore, one has to go in the right direction to develop the field depending upon the availability of right information and products, so much and so forth is discussed about the organic agriculture, which will lead general public in to un known miseries, known solutions are still hazy.
(Once a certification agency member confided that we will inspect and provide the certificate for the land whereas finding right manure and organic pest control are lies with land owner, also says there is no known organic pesticides are available in India, he is fully aware of this fact)

Some other notable points:
a) Pit - Weed removal: no power tiller worth a salt (Indian make) can be deployed to plough, to remove the weed around the pit, doesn’t work for the purpose intended, applying coconut dust around the pit to prevent the weed growth, with one seasonal rain the whole stuff gets displaced by flowing water, why not a simple tool either hand operated or a mechanical operated is made available in the market, typically suited for the purpose, where is it available?

b) Marketing: Kirti’s observation like Amla from TN finding its way to New Delhi, it is very heartening to read, where as the actual case is different, local market prices are very fluctuating, now a days it fetches less than Rs16/- (whereas in the same period, the newspaper report says heavy demand for Amla and being sold for Rs 100/kg), so market happenings are also elusive

From the lessons that I have learnt so far, I can express few of my observations, agricultural knowledge is spilled all around, it is not easy to find a single source to get the required relevant input, for example, Is
a simple package information such as “cultivation practice for
Amla/sapota/teak” available? (A soil specialist talks only about soil, and the like, similarly other expert’s talks about their area, can not be blamed). To a commoner like me and other new comers, no single source data is available, To understand the structure and the rungs of Govt agriculture department, one needed to undergo some Govt dept. training to understand their functions, University’s are tightly engaged with their own good activities, library books and other useful information must be made available to the public Thus, the challenges posed by the agriculture tasks are quite daunting, unless the availability of relevant information and other mitigation measures are in hand for those challenges, agriculture activities will be rather frustrating, leave along the hard labour one has to put in to just meet the break even point and the ever uncertainty of market prices looming at large,

Wishing you all “Merry Christmas and Very Happy New Year”

V.Siva Rathinam

[sampadafarms]

Dear JP,

Forget about Amla cultivation. Do some other plantation project. If u cultivate amla, with in no time you will be in a awkward position. No market for the same.

Regards
Raghu Ram
Managing Consultant
Sampada Farms & consultatns

[sabariuma]

Dear All,

I have 40 acres of farm in Kalkadambur,Erode dist,Tamil Nadu. Land dry ,well drained, water available throughout the year, climate Maximum 30 to 32 C Minimum 12 to 16 C , cool night warm day, sandy loamy Soil 6 to 7 Ph, Man power good. I'M looking for a long term yeild crop which has domestic and export demand . looking for good suggesion to establish a crop in my farm which can give long term income . A tree or a plant which can give fruit or seed for long term good return . I am confused with diffiernt crops . Need ur help.

kind regards,
uma