House Hold Nutritional Security Model (36ftX36ft models)

This model is unique as it promotes nutritional security and round the year income to the family, in the smallest land extent possible.

 This model is developed based on the following principles:

1.       Different plants require different Photo candle light 

2.       Monocot – Dicot crop combination to maintain equilibrium for soil fertility

3.       Companion crops 

4.       Multi storied structure to harvest maximum sun light

5.       Crop diversity to manage pests

 The crops are arranged in six tiers based on the canopy and photo candle requirements.  As the crops diversity ranges from tuber crops to fruit crops, from vegetables to pulses, all the nutritional requirements for a family are met.

First tier: Root or tuber crops such as carrot, beetroot, zinger etc comes under this category. These plants require minimal sunlight.

 Second tier: Creepers, which cover the soil such as bottle gourd, cucumber etc. Creepers will act as live mulch.

Third tier: Leafy vegetables such as surrel leaves, spinach, coriander, amaranthus etc.

 Fourth tier: Vegetables such as Brinjal, Tomato, chillies etc

Fifth tier: Perennial Castor and Perennial Red gram etc

 Sixth tier: papaya, drumstick , clustered apple, guava etc

    

Plants and crop arrangement in 36X36 model:

Sufficient space should be given between fruit plants, Redgram, Castor, drumstick etc. In between fruit plants, tuber crops, vegetables etc should be grown in blocks. Care should be taken that all the plants get enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Crop arrangement should also be in such a way that monocots and dicots are placed adjacent to each other. Mono cot and dicot crops should be rotated in the blocks. Companion crops such as Maize and Cucmber, Citrus and osmium, Tomato and Carrot should be grown close to each other. Entire field should be covered either with creepers or with mulch. Creepers can be allowed to grow on the fruit plants.

1.       Four corners : Fruit plants such as papya, drum stick, guav etc

       2. For every 4.5 ft there should be a irrigation channel across the model

3       For every 90 cms P.Red gram and P.Castor alternatively can be grown starting from Mango or Cashew etc

4       On Red gram – creepers such as Bitter gourd can be allowed to grow

5.       On Castor  - Creepers like beans can be grown

6.       Between two fruit plants  or Red gram/Castor –  vegetables such as Tomato, Chillies, Onion etc can be grown

7.       Along the irrigation channels Creepers such as cucumber, bitter gourd etc can be grown

8.       Along the border green leaf manure crops such as Gliricidea, Subabul, Casiasemia etc can be grown

 Economics:

The incomes from this model range from Rs.4000-Rs.12000.

 The variation is due to the cropping pattern.

 The models where leafy vegetables were grown extensively are on the higher side incomes earned.

 The highest income so far from 36*36 models is Rs.19000.

Cost involved in developing this model is for seeds, layout preparation and preparation of dung based inoculants and botanical extracts for pest management.

Total cost per year ranges between Rs. 700- 12,000/-.