Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PRODUCTION OF TEMPERATE VEGETABLES - A NEW AVENUE FOR PROGRESSIVE FARMERS

S.N. Ambad, S.M. Jogdand and Giridhar Jadhav

Abstract

Temperate vegetables comprise Cole crops and Chinese vegetables and are referred as English vegetables by common man in Maharashtra. The innovative qualified youths, progressive farmer, professionals end private companies started production of these vegetables and supply to the star hotels and high end customers of mega cities. This has created a highly profitable enterprise which not only brought prosperity to the farmers but also generated employment for others. Individual farming and group marketing of vegetables became very successful. Farmers have the production of vegetables on their own or leased farm and collectively arrange for the marketing. The vegetables grown are broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis). Pakchoy (Brassica rapa var.chinensis), Iceberg, Leek (Allium ampeloprasum var.porrum), Baby corn etc. These are short duration crops, labour intensive and needs utmost care in production, packaging and marketing. Farmers adapt intensive production with low inputs and earn very high profit from sale. The per hectare production cost goes up to Rs. 65000/- while they earn about Rs. 2.0-3.0 lakh net profit in single cycle of the crop. Similar efforts are needed to bring prosperity in farmers and make them proud with confidence. It should not be a monotonous farming but diversified and judicious selection of crops for production.