THEME OF INNOVATION
Cultivation of Exotic and Foreign Vegetables in India

Focus AREA
Fruits & Vegetables

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Mr. Murlidhar Gunjal and Mrs Vanita Gunjal
Experience	25 years
Region of operation	Maharashtra
Turnover	Net Profit - Rs. 3.6 lakh per year
Volume	54 tons per year /td>
No. of employees	13
Contact details	At Post Kandli, Taluka Junner, District Pune, Maharashtra
Phone	09860226085
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
They provide free consultation to the farmers about this method. Regions of operation also include Bangalore, Lucknow and Banaras. In total they cultivate about 25 different types of vegetables and spices with a sale of around 30–120 kg per year. They have tied up with a hotel chain to supply these vegetables on contractual basis.

INNOVATION DETAILS
While searching market for traditional vegetables, they got an idea of cultivating Chinese vegetables.

They searched some literature on Chinese vegetables and found demand of this vegetable in Five Star Hotels in Mumbai.

Based on the demand, started cultivation of different exotic vegetables such as parsley, red cabbage, broccoli, leek, cherry tomato, etc. and achieved sustainable income from farming.

They developed markets for these vegetables, and sold produce very effectively. Exotic vegetables market is growing at the rate of 15 to 20% per annum and is increasing day by day since India is importing more than 85% exotic vegetables. This innovative farmer couple is growing 25 vegetable varieties in 2.2 hectares with an expenditure of Rs. 6,250 per day per hectare and obtained earnings Rs. 8,750 per day per hectare. Skilled labour is required for cultivation of these vegetables.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Demand-driven exotic vegetables production is suitable for the farmers as they have assured market through contract with consumers. In tying up with hotels for sustained supply, they have demonstrated a very good example of a farmer building forward linkages himself and eliminating the need for having too many intermediaries in the supply chain. Presently, a group of 100 farmers is cultivating these exotic vegetables from different villages in the vicinity.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
Dr. N. G Ranga Award from ICAR for diversified farming

ISSUES
Skilled labourers are required for the cultivation of exotic vegetables, which are difficult to get.

They are facing issues regarding finance as they are not able get loans. Also, availability of seeds sometimes becomes an issue.

THEME OF INNOVATION
A New Variety of Mango – Neelphonso

Focus AREA
Fruits & Vegetables

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Aspee College of Horticulture, Navsari Agriculture University
Experience	Not applicable
Region of operation	Gujarat
Turnover	Not applicable
Volume	Not applicable
No. of employees	Not applicable
Contact details	Aspee College of Horticulture, Navsari Agriculture University, Navsari, Gujarat
Phone	02637 282028
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
The product is marketed by Navsari Agriculture University (NAU).

INNOVATION DETAILS
This variety has been developed by carefully crossing two popular varieties of mango – Neelum and Alphonso.

This variety exhibits moderately vigorous growth and thus more trees per hectare (200% more than Alphonso) can be planted than compared to Alphonso (which has highly vigorous growth).

The average yield is about 50 to 60 kg/tree. (Just for comparison, the average yield of Kesar is 100 kg/tree and that of Alphonso is 90 kg/tree).

The average weight of the fruit is about 200 g. The fruit pulp is fibreless, and the taste is similar to Alphonso. Fruit ripens in the month of June-July.

It has high shelf life and good sugar content of about 14.58%. This variety also ripens late and thus has a natural window after the traditional season of Alphonso gets over.

Thus it has a natural good demand. Also the yield per hectare is greater than Alphonso even though yield per tree is less (because more trees can be grown per hectare).

This variety is also free of the spongy tissue problem which is faced in Alphonso.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Alphonso is an irregular bearer. Therefore yield differs from plant to plant, place to place and year to year.

There are too many variables and thus involves some risk. This variety developed (Neelphonso) is a regular bearer and is not affected by spongy tissue problems. Thus it is a much safer investment from a farmer point of view.

It is being suggested that in the coming years this variety would have very good demand in the local and export markets.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
Awards
None

ISSUES
None

THEME OF INNOVATION
Custard Apple Farming in Sugarcane Cultivation Belt

Focus AREA
Fruits & Vegetables

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Pandurag Sitaram Kale
Experience	11 years
Region of operation	Maharashtra
Turnover	Rs. 1.25 lakh
Volume	5 acre of land
No. of employees	4 employee during season for 3 months
Contact details	At Post Khadaki, Taluka Daund, District Pune
Phone	09860093267
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
Market rate varies from Rs. 20 to 30 per kg.

INNOVATION DETAILS
Hyderabad selection variety is used. Government has also given subsidy for cultivation of this fruit. The distance between the trees is kept at 15 ft. The entire farm is under drip irrigation.

Organic fertilizers have been used and have shown good results in terms of the size of fruit. 900 custard apple plants have been planted in 5 acre of land.

The trees now have age of 11 years. Each tree gives approximately 50 kg of fruits. Earlier, the dominance of sugarcane farming in the region was getting affected due to extensive requirement of water.

People of the region started to look for alternatives and Mr. Kale came up with the vision to start The cultivation of custard apple crop in this traditionally sugarcane dominated belt has resulted in lesser requirement of water for farming.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Fixed income for 4 months in year. Water requirement is reduced to 50 to 60 percent as compared to conventional sugarcane crop.

Labour requirement increases during harvesting and farm preparation hence increase in employment.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
None

ISSUES
Electricity is irregular and costly. Labour shortage during harvesting.

THEME OF INNOVATION
High Onion Production

Focus AREA
Fruits & Vegetables

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Dinesh Bhai Miyani
Experience	1 year
Region of operation	Gujarat
Turnover	Rs. 2,40,000 per year
Volume	12 tons per acre
No. of employees	2
Contact details	At Valukar, Taluka Ghogha, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Phone	09904174995
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
The innovator provides free consultation to the farmers. The innovator has formed a group of high quality onion producing farmers to meet the city demand of onion. He is also selling seeds at a price of about Rs. 1,200 per kg.

INNOVATION DETAILS
In the area of Bhavnagar where farmers are involved in cotton cultivation, Mr. Dinesh Bhai has concentrated mainly on onion crop by using hybrid seeds and proper fertilizer dose.

He has taken up crop rotation to meet the city demands which lead to crop diversification. He does crop rotation of onion with maize crop. Changing crops annually reduces the chance of particular soil deficiencies developing as the balance of nutrients removed from the soil tends to even out over time.

A variety of crops (and manure) on the same piece of land over a number of years typically is associated with greater soil organic matter, soil structure and aggregation compared to simple rotations or mono-cropping.

Enhancement of such properties reduces soil erosion potential due to increased water infiltration and water holding capacity.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
He has inspired 6 new farmers to take up onion cultivation. Has led to increase in production by 2000 kg per acres compared to the traditional crops of the region; and has increased soil quality through diversification.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
None

ISSUES
The farmer has financial constraints as he requires up to Rs. 1 lakh for pre-ploughing. He is also trying to develop forward linkages himself as the local market doesn’t offer good prices for the product.