Papaya is a sweet and high-value fruit crop that is available all year. If harvested early, it is utilized as a vegetable, whereas ripe fruit is commonly used. A properly maintained papaya crop yields a high yield and a high profit to growers.
Shri Ganpatro Bahanrao of Maharashtra's Sholapur district achieved a yield of 138t/ha with a net profit of Rs 503500/ha (selling price Rs 5./kg). Shri Ranjan Das of West Bengal obtained a yield of 150 tonnes per acre with a net profit of Rs 420,000 per acre. He primarily gathered premature fruits and sold them as vegetables (at a cost of Rs 3.5/kg).
Success stories in cereal production are well documented. Fruit and vegetable output has recently increased throughout the world.
Fruit crop area and production have expanded in the previous 20 years, but productivity growth has been slow, owing primarily to inefficient utilization of plant nutrients. A well-balanced usage of plant nutrients yields a high yield and profit.
Papaya, like banana, is accessible all year and is relatively simple to grow. It is the only crop that produces more income per unit of land area than bananas and has a great nutritional and therapeutic value.
Fertilizer Management in Papaya
Fertilizer management followed by the Maharashtra farmer is mentioned below.
1) A month after planting, 5 kilograms of 19-19-19 and 25 kg of urea/ha were applied via fertigation.
2) The same dose was given again after 15 days.
3) After two months of planting ring was made around the plant and fertilizer at the rate of 250 Kg DAP, 500 Kg neem cake, and 188 Kg urea /ha were applied.
4) After 3 months ( 250 kg DAP +500Kg neem cake + 750 Kg MOP + 25 kg micronutrient mixture) were added
5) From 4th to 6th-month drip fertigation was practiced as indicated below.
a) At the beginning of the 4th month 12-61-0 30Kg /ha.
b) After 15 days 30Kgha 0-0-50 mixed fertilizer.
c) 15 days after that , 30 kg /ha -30-0-45.
d) 6th month, 30 kg/ha 0-0-50, 15 days after 30 kg/ha 12-61-0.
e) At 7th month again 250 DAP + 188 kg MOP + 25 kg micronutrients + 37.5 S/ha were applied.
Medicinal Value of Papaya
1)Papaya is a ripening fruit and vegetable that is simple to digest.
2)Papain, which is made from the dried latex of its uncooked fruits, is utilized in the rendering of meat.
3)Latex is used in the production of chewing gum, cosmetics, degumming silk, and providing shrink resistance to wool.
4) It is also utilized in the pharmaceutical industry, textiles, clothing, cleaning paper and adhesive manufacture, sewage disposal, and other industries.
-Dr. B C Biswas
Krishi Jagran, Delhi
(Also read about the best quality of papaya)
