How kulthi farming can become a good source of income?
Do you know about Kulthi?
Horse gram or kulathi is also an important crop in India’s pulse crops. Kulthi farming goes mainly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. This can become a good way of generating employment opportunities and increasing the income of the farmers. Since horse gram can be cultivated even in dry areas, it does not require much water. Apart from consuming the seeds of horse gram in the form of pulses, it is also fed to animals as green fodder. Kulthi is also called horse gram. Horse gram can also be cultivated as a mixed crop. It can be grown along with Jowar, Bajra, Maize and Arhar. Horse gram is also beneficial for health and is effective in the prevention of many diseases.
Climate and soil
Mild hot and dry climate is suitable for the cultivation of horse gram. The growth of its plants is good in 20-30 degree centigrade temperature. It can be cultivated in all types of soil, but sandy loam soil is considered most suitable for it and the pH value of the soil should be normal.
Time of sowing
Horse gram can be sown from late July to August. If sowing for fodder, then seeds can be sown from June to August. In West Bengal it is sown in October-November. It can be grown in both Rabi and Kharif seasons. Keep row to row distance of 40-45 cm while sowing in Kharif season and 25-30 cm of row to row distance while sowing of rabi crop, while keep 5 cm distance between plants. Before sowing, treat the seeds with Carbendazim @ 2 gm/kg.
Need for fertilizers and irrigation
In horseradish cultivation, apply 20 kg nitrogen and 30 kg phosphorus per hectare at the time of sowing. Apply fertilizer before planting seeds. Make sure to irrigate the crop before flowering and before the formation of grains in the pods. Also do weeding after 20-25 days of sowing.
When to harvest?
When the pods of the crop turn yellow from above, then it should be harvested. This is because by this stage the pods in the lower and middle parts are fully cooked. If not harvested at this time, the lower pods crack and the kernel is wasted, reducing production. After harvesting, the grain should be dried in the sun for 3-4 days and then stored. Mix 2 kg dry neem leaves per quintal to protect from pests.
How much is the profit?
Farmers can earn profit by cultivating kulthi with scientific method. The cost per hectare comes to around Rs 17,200 and the production can be up to 6-10 quintals per hectare. Farmers can sell the crop in the market for Rs.50 per kg. In this way, you can get a net profit of up to Rs.22,800 per hectare. Tribal farmers of Jharkhand are showing interest in its cultivation, due to which their economic condition is improving.
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