Canola gobhi sarson cultivation: A wonder crop for good remuneration and health
Gurwinder Singh Sandhu is a progressive farmer from district Tarn Taran and was cultivating rice-wheat crop along with pear at his farm. In Rice-Wheat cropping system crop yields were stagnated and income was low. Then, he approached to KVK, Tarn Taran to visit his field and suggest him to diversify his cropping system, as he was not getting remunerative profits from continuous rice-wheat cropping system. On motivation offered by KVK, he started cultivation of Gobhi Sarson variety GSC-7 instead of wheat. KVK scientists provided him improved variety of the crop, bio fertilizer and technical information about integrated nutrient management; weed control, insect and pest management. The crop was sown with seed drill by keeping plant to plant distance of 45 cm. All agronomic practices were followed as per recommendation of PAU. By adopting cultivation of gobhi sarson, he got Rs. 8,265/- extra income along with higher benefit cost ratio as compared to cultivation of wheat (Table 1) besides other benefits such as change in soil fertility, healthy oil for human consumption and good source of feed for the livestock.
Table 1. Performance of canola gobhi sarson over wheat
Crop Yield
(q/ha) Gross cost (Rs/ha) Gross income (Rs/ha) Net income
(Rs/ha) B:C ratio
Canola ghobi sarson 23.8 32,828 95,200 62,372 2.90
Wheat 47.5 33,293 87,400 54,107 2.60
Benefit over wheat — — 7,800 8,265 —
Before harvesting of crop, KVK, Tarn Taran organized canola day on 7/3/2019 in the field of Gurvinder Singh to create awareness among the farmers regarding importance of canola oil for human health which was attended by about 100 farmers. After getting awareness about the importance of canola oil, farmers purchased the sarson for their household consumption @ Rs 4,000/quintal from Gurwinder Singh. Further, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana also honored Gurvinder Singh with Chief Minister Award during Kisan Mela on 15 March 2019.
Intercropping of pear fruit and vegetable for earning extra income
Gurwinder Singh Sandhu is also cultivating pear crop on 18 acre of land in his village whereas other 12 acre of land he cultivates rice-wheat and rice-gobhi sarson copping system. As his orchard production was low, he approached to KVK, Tarn Taran regarding scientific ways to improve the productivity of orchard along with suggestion for intercropping the best suitable crop during rabi season in the orchard. Team of scientists from KVK, Tarn Taran visited his orchard and suggested him suitable measure to improve the health of the orchard for best production of fruits. Besides, to maintain soil fertility of orchard, intercropping with garden pea was suggested as an extra crop in pear orchard. Intercropping gives higher income per unit area than sole cropping. It acts as an insurance against failure of crop in abnormal year/ off-season. Intercrops maintain soil fertility as the nutrient uptake is made from both layers and reduce soil runoff. He earned Rs. 15,000-20,000 /hectare extra income from pea and also applied reduced amount of urea (45 kg Urea/hectare) to the pear crop. No any side effect on pear yield and quality has been observed till now. He is using rain gun to irrigate the pea crop and thereby, saving water.
With the significant improvement in the condition of orchard as per guidance from the KVK, he was motivated to apply for Chief Minister Award in fruit category to PAU, Ludhiana. He was honored with Chief Minister Award in fruit category by Dr. B.S. Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU, Ludhiana on March 15, 2019 at Kisan Mela
