its important that you understand this method of farming is slow, Cost effective but not labour intensive. Multi Layered farming can be adopted to earn better with minimal maintenance. Labour is required at the farm, and most likely full time. Depending on the acreage of your farm. the labour required will vary. Your First job would be to get your soil testing done. You will have a clear idea of what will grow in your land. There are a few crops which you can straight away discard, like coconut, which is water intensive and also not suitable for chennai area. But you have a range of options from Mango, Guava, Pomegranate, chikoo and a lot more which can be planted. Papaya is also a wonderful crop and very profitable
Start by planting tree varieties first. Well spaced trees will take 3-4 years before they make any profit. the space in between can be used for a range of mid sized crops. Papaya, Pomegranate and bananas are good options to consider. And then you can pick vegetables in the remaining area followed by root crops like elephant yam. By the end of the first year, you would be able to collect on the yam. Cash crops like vegetables will provide running cost in a few months. Bananas and Papays will give you revenue after a year and by the 3rd year you will a have enough revenue from the orchards.
A cow is mandatory but dont look at it as a means of income. Think of it as a factory which produces manure for your farm. If you can maintain chickens and goats, it would do a good job in controlling weed but you will have to be careful that the plants are not chewed by the goat.
The options are unlimited. Work will never end. Farming may seem like a part time job... but trust me... it never is
