Amla Farming Income (Indian Gooseberry/Usiri)

Introduction: Are you windering about Amla farming income in 1 acre cultivation? Well, here is the detailed information of amla cultivation proejct report.  Amla is commonly called as Indian gooseberry. Amla farming has a long life and low maintenance and hence it is profitable. Amla can grow well in a dry area. Its scientific name is Embelicaofficinalis.  It is the most important crop in India and has high medicinal value. The fruit is the richest source of Vitamin C and is used as a good liver tonic. Amla has antibiotic, anti-dysenteric properties and also has a unique property that boosts the immune system. It has a good demand in various industries for producing health care products like hair oils, dye, shampoo, face creams, tooth powder, etc. Amla pickle has high demand in the market but only in few places. Amla can be grown in the home but cannot be grown in pots permanently. They can be grown in pots until 10 inches of height but has to be replanted to outdoors. The substance phyllemblin obtained from the fruit pulp has a mild depressant action on the central nervous system. 

A Guide for Amla farming income in 1 acre – A Project Report

Climate conditions

Amla is a tropical plant and can grow well at a rainfall of 630 -800 mm. But, the young plants up to the age of 3 years should be protected from hot winds during summer and from frost during the winter season. But the matured plants can tolerate both freezings as well as high temperatures up to 45°C.

Soil Requirements

Amla trees can grow well in dry regions and also in moderate alkaline soils. Light and medium soils except sandy soil are ideal for Amla cultivation. The yield will be more if the soil contains sand, compost, and loam in equal proportions. Production of Amla will be high if the soil is deep and fertile. Amla can be cultivated successfully at a pH range of 6.0-8.0.

Varieties of Amla

Amla has a large number of varieties that include Banarasi, NA-4, NA-5, NA-6, NA-7, NA-10, Francis, BSR-1 and Chakaiya.

Planting materials and inputs

Amla is propagated by budding or softwood grafting. Budding is done on 1-year-old seedlings and the buds are collected from the best high yielding varieties and big sized fruits. The planting procedure of Amla is as followed by the below steps:

1. Prepare the pits by digging 4-5m distance and a volume of 1m3 has to be done during May- June. Leave the pits for 15-20 days making them to get exposed to sunlight.
2. The buds have to be planted from January to February.
3. Each pit has to be filled with surface soil FYM mixed with phosphorous for a total of 1 acre of land 15 Kg of FYM and 0.5Kg of phosphorous is required during this bedded seedling stage.
4. Mixing of Neem cake or 500gm of a bone meal with soil gives better yield.
5. Hedge-row planting is also been in use keeping line to line distance of 8 m, whereas the plant to plant distance should be 4-5 m.
6. The NPK ratio should be maintained as 2:1:2 (100gm N, 50gm P, and 100gm K) should be given to 1-year-old plant and the dosage is increased yearly during January to

February and the next half dose is applied in August.

Fertilizers and Nutrition Requirement

Amla gives better yield if the soil contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, zinc, copper, manganese and Boron. Nitrogen increases vegetative growth whereas phosphorous increases the sex ratio, fruit retention, and quality. It also increases vitamin c content in the fruit. Potassium increases fruit retention and quality. Hence the young plants should be given with 15-20 Kgs of FYM and for the matured trees 30-40 Kgs per year during September to October. Irrigation has to be done after the application of fertilizers and manures. 

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Irrigation

Irrigation is provided at an interval of 15-20 days in summer whereas in winter and rainy season no water supply is needed. First irrigation is done after manure and fertilizer application. Irrigation should not be provided during the flowering stage. After the plant gets matured drip irrigation system has to be followed, which yields 30 Kg per tree and in the 3rd year itself.

But in rain-fed areas, it is better not to follow the drip irrigation.

Pruning method

Only 5-6 well-shaped branches have to be left on each tree and the diseased, dead, cris-crossed branches have to be removed. This pruning is done at the end of December.

Mulching

During summer the crops are mulched with paddy straw or wheat straw at the base of the tree up to 15-20 cms from the trunk.

Pests and Diseases

The major observed are Bark eating caterpillar which can be controlled by injecting Endosulfon 0.05% in holes and plugging with mud. Spreading of rust can be controlled by spraying of Indofil M – 45 0.3% twice first in early September and second 15 days after the first application.

Harvesting of Amla

Amla starts fruiting after 3-4 years of planting in dry areas whereas in rain-fed areas it starts after 4-5 years. During February, the fruits will turn greenish-yellow and are ready to harvest. The matured fruits are hard and they do not fall at gentle touch and hence vigorous shaking of trees is required to harvest. Harvesting can also be done by using hooks attached to long bamboo poles.

The yield of Indian Gooseberry

A matured tree of 10 years old will yield 50-70 Kg of fruit. A well maintained can yield up to the age of 70 years. Hence, the amla plantation is very profitable for the farmers.

How to Market 

As it has great medicinal value, Amla has the highest demand in the Indian market as well as in the International too. Fruits are transported to local markets or to any herbal companies as per the demand.

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Costs involved in Amla farming per 1 acre

Land preparation = Rs. 4,000

Planting materials = Rs. 3,200

Manures and Fertilizers= Rs. 2,000

Plant protection= Rs. 1,500

Irrigation = Rs. 15,000

Labour Charges = Rs. 8,000

Miscellaneous cost = Rs. 3,000

Agricultural Equipment = Rs. 5,000

Marketing cost = Rs. 2,000

10% of total cost = Rs. 4,370

Total cost = Rs. 48,070

Amla farming Income returns

The income starts after 3 years in dry areas whereas in rain-fed areas it starts after 4-5 years. On average, we will consider the income from 4th year. The initial years can be managed by developing intercrops such as vegetables, flowers, medicinal and a few aromatic plants, which will fetch a return of around Rs. 24, 000 annually. The yield of Amla ranges from 4-5 tons in the first year of commercial production and increases to 8 tons in the year of five and gets stabilized thereafter.

Farm price per 1 Kg = Rs. 80 according to the Gudimalkapur market, Hyderabad as on 8th September 2019.

Note: The price of Amla changes from market to market, place to place and region to region.

Income for 4 tons (an average yield per 1 acre) in the first year of commercial production = 4,000 x 80 = Rs. 3,20,000.

Profit and Returns from Amla farming

Profit = Income- Total cost incurred = Rs. 3,20,000- Rs. 48,070 = Rs. 2,71,930 . Hence the profit is Rs. 2,71,930 for the first year of commercial production, whereas the cost of the years from one to four after plantation can be minimized by intercropping of medicinal and few aromatic plants, vegetables and flowering plants.

Conclusion

Amla has a unique property to survive and yield more in dry conditions. It can sustain and has a long period of life up to 70 years with low investment and minimum care. Its high medicinal value makes its production the top priority as a profitable business. Hope you enjoyed the Amla farming income report.

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