Sandalwood Cultivation Guide

Sandalwood is one of the materials being used from centuries and this tree is ever green and  reaches up to 13 to 16 meter height with girth of 100 cm to 200 cm and is variable in habit, usually upright to sprawling. It has cultural importance and commercial/medicinal uses as well. In India, it is also being called as “Chandan” and “Srigandha”. Due to restrictions of growing sandalwood in many states in India, the demand for sandalwood is very high. However, some states in India have lifted the ban on growing sandalwood. Contact your forest/agriculture/horticulture departments for legality of growing the sandalwood in your region. Sandalwood has special place in Indian tradition where it is being used from cradle to cremation. Read more here.

Isabgol Growing Guide

Isabgol is also known as ispaghula or psyllium. Psyllium seed husks are portions of the seeds of the plant Isabgol (Plantago ovata). Isabgol is a short-stemmed medicinal annual herb that grows up to a height of 35 to 40 cm. Isabgol (Plantago ovate forsk) is mainly grown for its seeds. India is top producer of these seeds and Isabgol husk. Isabgol is commercially important Rabi season medicinal crop grown in India. Apart from its husk (The seed coat is known as “husk”) medicinal properties, it is also being used in food industry especially in ice creams, biscuits and candies. This crop is commercially cultivated mainly in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Isabgol can be used in the form of Psyllium Husk, Seed, Ripe Seeds, and Powder. Isabgol is distributed in India, West Asia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Persia, Mexico, and Mediterranean Regions. For more info click here.

Lettuce Growing Information Guide

Lettuce is one of the salad crops grown commercially across the world. Lettuce was grown for centuries and was originated in Asia continent. The demand for salad crops are increasing day by day due to their diet value and medicinal values. In India, it is yet to gain significance in terms of commercial crop cultivation. Lettuce is a leafy vegetable which can be consumed raw. Among all the lettuce varieties, Romaine lettuce variety is famous for its nutrition values. Lettuce is mainly used in food items like wraps, sandwiches apart from using as leafy vegetable. China is top producer of lettuce in the world. Lettuce plant leaves are mainly in the green and red colour spectrums. Lettuce produces smooth, radical, spirally arranged leaves. There are other improved varieties whose colours are available in yellow, gold or blue leaves. When it comes to shape, they have a wide range of shapes and texture from dense head to iceberg type. Lettuce plants can be spread about 15 to 30 cm. Lettuce can be grown in greenhouse, polyhouse and even hydroponically.  Read more about lettuce growing here.

Cocoa Bean Growing Information

Cocoa is also called as "cacao" (derives from the Spanish word cacao) and this is mainly grown for its bean from which cocoa solids and cocoa butter are extracted. Cocoa beans are mainly used in the production of chocolate, cocoa powder and cocoa butter whereas cocoa butter is also used in the cosmetic industry. Cocoa is an important commercial bean crop from humid tropics. In India, this crop is grown as mixed crop in suitable regions. Kerala state of south India tops the production of cocoa beans in Indian continent. Ivory Coast is top producer of cocoa beans in the world. Usually, cocoa is grown as mixed crop in areca-nut, coconut and oil palm gardens. The cocoa bean plant is a native to Amazon basin and tropical regions of South America and Central America. Commercial cultivation of cocoa beans is very much successful due to its   demand in local and international markets. One can expect decent profits in cocoa bean farming with proper orchard management practices. The botanical name or scientific name of cocoa tree is “Theobroma cacao. L.”. Cocoa tree belongs to the genus of” Theobroma”. In India, cocoa plantation is usually seen in the state of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Cocoa beans are cultivated in smaller extents in some states only when compared to other countries Read more about the crop here.

Hydroponics Green Fodder Cultivation

Hydroponics Green Fodder Guide:

Green fodder is one of the important inputs and plays major role in feed of milch animals. Green fodder provides required nutrients/mineral for milk production and health of the dairy animals or livestock. Control of feed cost in dairy animals impacts the profits and result in successful dairy farming. Generally, in most of Indian states, the feed cost is about 70 to 75% of total milk cost where in green fodder contributes 30 to 35% of total input feed. In India, rapid urbanisation and mining areas has caused shrinkage of grazing areas and availability of lands that produces green fodder. This situation caused the dairy owners to look for alternative and sustainable method of quality green fodder production. Due to high labour costs, non-availability of irrigated lands and high land prices made the dairy business to face many challenges to meet the growing milk demand in the country. It is very clear that with increasing costs and depleting natural resources, sustainable technology like 'Hydroponics' would be the key driver of the dairy industry future. Using hydroponic technology to produce the quality green fodder would be a revolutionary step in country’s green fodder production. Having limited irrigation facility is also forces to implement the hydroponic technology in production of green fodder. Greenhouse / Polyhouse would be the right choice for implementing the hydroponic technology. Many states in India are providing subsidies on building polyhouse and greenhouses. One can avail these subsidies on greenhouse or polyhouse to implement the hydroponic technology in production of quality green fodder. Hydroponically grown fodder can be fed to sheep, goat, cattle and other livestock animals. Read more here.

Castor Seed Cultivation Information

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is grown for its seeds. The oil extracted from Castor seed is being used widely for various purposes. It is used as a lubricant in high-speed engines and aero planes, in the manufacture of soaps, transparent paper, printing-inks, varnishes, linoleum and plasticizers. Castor seeds are also being used for medicinal and lighting purposes. The Castor may be used to make manure and plant stalks as fuel or as thatching material or for preparing paper-pulp. Castor leaves are being fed to silkworms. Castor belongs to the family of “Euphorbiaceae and genus of "Ricinus L.". Castor is indigenous to the Eastern Africa, southeastern Mediterranean Basin and India, but is grown throughout tropical regions and sub-tropical regions of the world. Castor seeds contain between 45 % and 60 % of oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. Commercial growing of Castor seeds is very much successful due to its demand in local and international markets. In India, this crop is grown where annual rainfall is expected below the national average and the soil is not that fertile. Read more here.

Tulip Flower Growing Guide

Tulips are very famous ornamental bulbous flowers grown due to their attractiveness. There are many improved varieties (cultivars) developed in this bulb growing industry. Tulip cultivation is limited in India. However, Himachal Pradesh and hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir are perfect for Tulip cultivation. Most tulips thrive in colder winters because of the long chilling requirement for bulbs. Tulips can be grown in pots, containers, prepared beds, borders, basins of other orchards like apples, cherry, etc...Tulips can be grown in greenhouse, polyhouse and shade net as well. Tulip plant belongs to the family of "Liliaceae" and genus of "Tulipa L.".

Actually, Tulips are spring-blooming perennials that grow from bulbs. Depending on the species (variety), tulip plants can be between 10 cm and 70 cm high. When it comes to flower, it is usually shaped like a cup or egg with 6 petals. The tulip flower petals are available from single colour to multi-colours with different patterns depending on the variety or species. The Tulip flowers come in many colours like orange, pink, cherry, magenta, salmon, crimson, purple, apricot, lilac, mauve, blue, yellow, apricot, violet, terracotta, red, scarlet, chocolate, brown along with many shades. Tulip is the most popular garden flower due to its appearance and  is used in decoration of various parties. Read more here.