N Bose Mandanna, a progressive and large coffee-grower at Suntikoppa in Coorg, is trying his hand at cultivating tomatoes, okra and French beans. In the rice fallow in his backyard, which normally idled for at least six months after harvest, Mandanna has, for three years now, been growing vegetables in a one-acre plot.
No doubt, the vegetable cultivation earned him extra money (admittedly way less than his income from coffee and pepper), but it also earned him goodwill in the neighbourhood and among the labourers, as the produce is cheaper than market rates. Mandanna is among a handful of coffee planters assisted by scientists at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) at Chettalli, Coorg, to diversify farm operations.
“Planters in Coorg have never looked beyond coffee and pepper. But now they are slowly showing interest in growing vegetables,” said V Shankar, scientist at CHES. The Chettalli station has screened about 12 different vegetables for local cultivation. It is also developing a package of effective cultivation practices.
In hilly Coorg, also known as the Scotland of India, coffee plantations are typically raised on slopes, while rice is grown in the valleys. “We have identified about 35,000 acres of rice fallows for vegetable cultivation,” said PC Tripathi, Head, CHES, Chettalli. The idea is to make use of these fallows, which otherwise idle half the year, he adds.
Coorg normally depends on the vegetable-growing districts of Mysore, Hassan and even Bengaluru for its requirements. Planters in Coorg have traditionally grown vegetables in their kitchen gardens for domestic use, but never on a commercial scale. This could soon become a reality, Shankar said.
Exotic, high-value varieties such as lettuce, broccoli, celery and Chinese cabbage too could be cultivated here. “We have taken up trials over the past two years to demonstrate the commercial viability for traditional vegetables, and over the last one year for exotic varieties,” Tripathi said.
The booming hospitality sector in Coorg, with thousands of homestays and resorts, currently depends on growers in Nilgiris for exotic vegetables. The scientist feels there would be enough takers for the local produce.
Moreover, agri experts recommend that coffee-planters should diversify into vegetable cultivation to broad-base their income, as coffee output and prices have fluctuated greatly in recent years.
“Unlike coffee and pepper, which provide returns once a year, vegetables make money almost every day or week during the season. However, rising wages and unpredictable prices are major concerns,” says Mandanna.
Prabhakar, a KVK official, said farmers had traditionally grown vegetables in some areas of Coorg such as Kodlipet and Shanivarsanthe, and efforts were on to bring in new areas. He also said that in recent years vegetables such as colocasia, sweet potato and elephant foot yam were becoming popular in the region. Mandanna is exploring ways to grow newer vegetables such as broccoli and lettuce under polyhouses.
CHES has, under the National Horticulture Mission, submitted a project to popularise vegetable cultivation in about 3-4 taluks.
Sadashiv HS of Hebbale village, near Kushalnagara, has adopted the hybrid varieties of tomatoes, brinjals and chillies developed by Indian Institute of Horticulture Research and the practices propagated by the Krishi Vignana Kendra, Gonikoppal.
He grows paddy in 4.5 acres and finds vegetable cultivation profitable to an extent, although marketing has proved a challenge. “I sell the produce at local shandies. Sometimes, traders pick up the produce from the farm gate itself,” he adds.