STEVIA CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION
SOIL
Stevia is a five year plantation crop. The crop is newly introduced in India. It gives regular earning. The first cutting of the green leaves is done after four month of the plantation and later on there will be regular cutting after every 3-4 Months as per climatic condition. The crop is only source of natural sweetener. The stevia is the first choice of the sugar free industry. The sweetener of stevia is widely used in the world. The crop is planted for five years. After the fifth year the marginal return start to decline so it is best to uproot crop and replant it. Stevia cultivation in India is having bright future.
SOIL
Stevia grows well in sandy loam soils with an ample supply of water. stevia prefers acidic to neutral soil with a PH range of 6.5-7.5 for its best growth. Saline soils should be avoided as stevia plant is susceptible to water logged conditions.
CLIMATE
Stevia is a semi-humid, subtropical plant and can grow in the temperature ranges between 04-48o C. An annual average temperature of 31o C with a rainfall of 140 cm per year has been found optimum for its good growth. It shows good seed germination when subjected to light and warm conditions. Hence, a long growing season, minimal frost, high light intensities and warm temperature favors higher leaf production. Stevia is a short day plant, but the concentration of stevioside in the leaves increases when the plants are grown under long day conditions. The day temperatures should not exceed 48 oC and the night temperatures should not fall below 04 o C.
LAND PREPARATION
The land sites are plowed and or cultivated twice to prepare a fairly smooth, firm-planting surface.Stevia cultivation is done on the bed shown very good result.
STEVIA CULTIVATION PROPAGATION
Stevia plants can be propagated from cuttings or seeds or by tissue culture. As the seed germination is very poor and seedlings are very slow to establish, it is generally propagated clonally through cuttings. For vegetative propagation, stem cuttings of 15 cm length taken from leaf axils of the current year’s growth have been given better results. Treatment with Paclobutrazol @ 100ppm has been found to induce the root initiation in short time and IBA@500 ppm is also found to be effective. The best months for propagation are February-March. The cuttings will be ready for transplanting after 25-30 days of rooting
TRANSPLANTS
Transplants from cuttings would be superior; however, cost makes it prohibitive. Stevia must be propagated from seed in plug trays placed in a greenhouse for a period of 7 to 8 weeks.
PLANTING
Depending on different climatic conditions, Stevia is cultivable throughout the year except for times when it is extremely hot or cold. Stevia plug plants are planted into the field on 75 cm bed with row spacing of 45 cm at 45 cm height with a total plant density in the order of 30,000 plants per Acre.
FERTILIZATION
The stevia plant appears to have low nutrient requirements; however a soil test should be conducted. Good organic manure must be applied time to time
WEED CONTROL
Stevia crop also requires hand hoeing and weeding. After every 2 months there must be weeding. regualr weedign must be done in stevia cultivation.
PESTS
Insect pest pressures other than cutworm are minimal. Septoria disease can cause considerable damage to the Stevia crop. Animals seem to like the sweet taste of Stevia, too. Application on neem based product will manage the disease and pests.
HARVESTING
Time of harvesting depends on land variety and growing season. Generally, it can be scheduled when plants are 40-60 centimeters in height. Shorter days induce flowering. Optimum yield (biomass) and stevioside quality and quantity is best just prior to flowering. The plant will tolerate very low temperatures.
DRYING
Drying of the woody stems plus the soft green leaf material is completed immediately after harvesting, utilizing a drying wagon or a kiln. Depending on weather conditions and density of loading, it generally takes 24 to 48 hours to dry Stevia at 40°C to 50°C. An estimated 2500 kg/Acre dry green leaves are obtained from three-four cutting of every year. It is cultivated up to 5 years after a one time plantation.
THRESHING
Immediately following drying, a specially designed thresher/separator is necessary to separate dry Stevia leaves from its stem.
COST OF CULTIVATION OF STEVIA
FOR ONE ACRE LAND
Particulars
|
Activity
|
I -Year
|
II-Year
|
III-Year
|
IV -Year
|
V- Year
| ||
Field Preparation
|
Cultivation and the Bed raising
|
5,000
|
-------
|
--------
|
--------
|
---------
| ||
Nutrient Management
|
Organic Manure
And Bio-pesticides
|
15,000
|
15,000
|
15,000
|
15,000
|
15,000
| ||
Plants
|
30,000 Plants
@ Rs 2 / Plant
|
60,000
|
-------
|
-------
|
-------
|
---------
| ||
Water Management
|
Drip Irrigation
|
15,000
|
--------
|
--------
|
---------
|
---------
| ||
Weed
Management
|
6 operation per year (Manually at every 2 month)
|
12,000
|
12,000
|
12,000
|
12,000
|
12,000
| ||
Logistics
Charges
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
3,000
| |||
Planting Charges
|
To place the plants in the field
|
2,000
|
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|
--------
|
--------
|
-----------
| ||
Harvesting
|
Cutting the leaves
|
1500
|
2,000
|
2,000
|
2,000
|
2,000
| ||
Post Harvest
Managemnet
|
Leaves Drying
|
750
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
1,000
| ||
Maintenance
|
Normal Take care of farm & other miscellaneous expanses
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
10,000
| ||
Consultancy
|
5,000
|
5,000
|
5,000
|
5,000
|
5,000
| |||
TOTAL EXPENCES
|
1,29,250
|
48,000
|
48,000
|
48,000
|
48,000
| |||
INOME FROM THE PRODUCTION
| ||||||||
Particulars
|
I -Year
|
II-Year
|
III-Year
|
IV -Year
|
V- Year
| |||
Production
|
Dry Leaves in Kg.
|
1800
|
2200
|
2200
|
2200
|
2200
| ||
Amount
|
@ Rs 100/Kg
|
1,80,000
|
2,20,000
|
2,20,000
|
2,20,000
|
2,20,000
| ||
RETURN – INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
Total investment for five year plantation on one acre = 3, 21,250 /=
Total return from the five year plantation on one acre = 10, 60,000 /=
FOR FIVE ACRE LAND
1. Total cost of cultivation for the 5 Acre land = 16, 06,250 /=
2. Total return from 5 Acre land in 5 year cycle = 53, 00,000 /=
HUMAN RESOURCES EXPENCES
Cost of Supervisor @ Rs 4000/month for one year = 48,000 /=
............................................................................................................................................
Cost of Supervisor for five years = 2, 40,000 /=
............................................................................................................................................
NET RETURN
Net Return from the per year per Acre plantation
PARTICULARS
|
AMOUNT
|
Total return from 5 Acre stevia plantation in 5 year cycle
|
53, 00,000 /=
|
Total cost of cultivation for the 5 Acre in 5 year cycle
|
(-)16,06,250 /=
|
Human resources expenses
|
(-) 2,40,000 /=
|
Net return from plantation from 5 Acre land in 5 year cycle
|
34,53,750 /=
|
NET RETURN PER YEAR PER ACRE
|
1,38,150 /=
|
· The cost of cultivation is calculated as per ideal condition. It may vary location to location
· The drip irrigation charges will depend on the subsidy provided by state govt. That vary from state to state
· The production is taken at lower side in normal condition. It can be increase up to the 2500 Kg -3000 Kg by the efficient management.
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