62 Papaya
and the inter-spaces may be utilised by growing profitable intercrops. Generally,
the inter-crops grown are turmeric, ginger, lentils, turnip, tobacco and so on. The
overall production significantly increases due to intercrops, and it was observed to
be maximum in papaya in association with turnip and suran (elephant foot yam),
followed by turmeric and suran. Economic analysis of the systems in terms of ben-
efit: cost ratio revealed that ‘papaya + turmeric’ gives a higher income, followed by
‘papaya + ginger’ and ‘papaya + turnip’ (Table 4.1). The interspaces of the papaya
orchard could be utilised for growing various intercrops to generate substantial addi-
tional income without adverse effect on the soil fertility and productivity of the main
crop (Saran et al. 2013).
Among the intercrops, turmeric, turnip and suran were found to be the most
profitable root crops under partial shade of papaya orchards. The papaya–suran
intercropping system needs more space, and it may be grown only in autumn
transplanted crop of papaya. Under autumn planting of papaya crop, turnip is the
best option for NEPZ (North Eastern Plains Zone of India) farmers during the
initial period of 3–5 months (Figure 4.5a). Lentil is also a good option in papaya
orchard during rabi season (Figure 4.5b). Suran is a long duration crop (Figure
4.5c). Under irrigated conditions, papaya orchardists may grow suran in summer
(March) which attains maturity by November.
Papaya-based cropping systems (sequential and intercropping) are found to be
the most remunerative as they give high net returns in case of papaya + tobacco
intercropping in North Bihar (Ram and Pandey 1990). Net return to the tune of Rs.
1, 67,000 per hectare in 1 year 8 months in case of papaya + tobacco intercropping
was also reported (Table 4.2).
TABLE 4.1
Income from Papaya Based Intercropping Systems
Intercropping System Yield (q/ha)
Total Income
(Rs./ha)Production
Cost (Rs./ha)Net Return
(Rs./ha)Papaya sole crop 917.00 275,100 100,000 175,100
Papaya seed production 0.40 1,600,000 128,000 1,472,000
Papaya + Turnip + Suran 900 + 25 + 195 392,500 172,000 220,000
Papaya + Lentil + Suran 900 + 8 + 195 383,500 170,000 213,500
Papaya + Turmeric 900 + 310 401,750 186,000 215,750
- Rate of turnip = Rs. 10/kg.
- Rate of papaya fruit = Rs. 3/kg.
- Rate of lentil = Rs. 20/kg.
- Rate of turmeric = Rs. 4.25/kg.
- Yield of fruit/plant = 33 kg.
- Number of papaya plants/ha = 2778.
- Rate of papaya seed = Rs. 40,000/kg.