Farmer profile: T.V. Rajanarayanan, Venkita Nivas, Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur. Phone: 9446725068.
Come to the farm of Rajanarayanan, which can be considered a textbook. Be a part of his efforts. You can make a profit. Rajanarayanan only cultivates crops like paddy, areca nut, banana, and vegetables, from which we can learn.
The number of farmers who evaluate these farming methods as innovative and adopt them should increase every year. However, in Rajanarayanan’s case, the cultivation methods and production of the aforementioned crops are increasing every year. The income from agriculture is also soaring to new heights.
When he took over the ancestral acre of farmland, T.V. Rajanarayanan of Venkita Nivas, Thiruvilwamala, was only 18 years old. As he realized that the existing paddy, coconut, and traditional farming methods were not enough to carry out the vast responsibilities of the joint family, he started looking for new possibilities.
Location
Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur
Farmland
37 acres
Annual Income
90 lakh
Main Crop
Nendran banana
Other Crops
Paddy, vegetables, areca nut
Long-Term Crops
Coconut, nutmeg, black pepper
That is how he took land on lease and started cultivating plantains after adopting the method, which started giving huge returns. Even today, many farmers in our state are taking advantage of the benefits of precision agriculture.
Rajanarayanan found the plantain to be a profitable crop. The advantage was that even if the price fluctuated, the yield was guaranteed. The hard work paid off in precision farming. Legumes and vegetables were also cultivated as intercrops.
The key lesson from this farm is simple: traditional crops can still become highly profitable when scientific farming, planning excellence and technology are used together.
Rajanarayanan made a profit by moving away from the traditional style of banana cultivation to a scientific method of farming through technology. Before starting plantain cultivation, Rajanarayanan was able to successfully experiment with modern irrigation methods and cost-saving techniques in his own farming.
The technical knowledge of his own brothers came to his aid when needed. He significantly reduces production costs with scientific farming methods and planning excellence. Rajanarayanan was also able to increase production and, as a continuation of that, expand the area of large and small-scale banana cultivation.
Cost control: While most banana farmers in the state quote an expense of up to 250 rupees per plantain, for Rajanarayanan, it is only 80 rupees.
Method: He reduced the production cost to one-third through mechanization, tractors, intercropping with vegetables, and using vines instead of temporary pits.
The main crop of Rajanarayanan is the Nendran banana. Rajanarayanan, who cultivates 9,000 to 12,000 plantains a year, cultivates them in a single interval, and also cultivates them in different places.
Rajanarayanan is one of the farmers who effectively utilizes the potential of lease farming. Currently, he is cultivating on more than 20 acres of land taken on lease in and around Thiruvilwamala. Crops like banana, paddy, vegetables, and nutmeg are mainly cultivated on the leased land.
Rajanarayanan says that cultivating bananas on leased land is profitable. Rajanarayanan’s method is to cultivate long-term crops like coconut, areca nut, and nutmeg on his own land and to earn a high income in a new period by cultivating annual-short-term crops like vegetables on the leased land, ensuring a steady income.
He also uses a part of the income from lease farming to buy more farmlands and expand the area of long-term crops. Harvesting and selling them easily makes marketing easier and helps overcome market fluctuations.
With an introduction to the industry through a farming model that reduces water consumption, Rajanarayanan says that if water is given in the right amount at the right time, instead of uncontrolled water application, production costs will be reduced, and water and fertilizers will be secure.
This farmer reminds us that the advantage of mulching the base of the crops with all the agricultural waste from the farm and making the soil rich in organic matter also helps.
Precision benefit: right amount of water, right time, reduced costs, secure water and fertilizer use.
Nutmeg and black pepper are also sources of income. There is organic paddy cultivation on five acres. Rajanarayanan is not a farmer who waits for cooperative societies to sell the produced paddy.
He has been able to sell the harvested paddy under his own brand at a rate of 80 rupees per kilo.
He gets more than double what he would have by selling at the government rate.
On his own 16 acres, Rajanarayanan cultivates long-term crops including coconut, areca nut, black pepper, and nutmeg. Areca nut is cultivated on six acres. The income from areca nut alone is more than 14 lakh rupees.
There are also 300 high-yielding coconut trees on this farm.
The average annual production is 90 coconuts per tree.
Rajanarayanan with his family stands as an example of how mixed farming can create steady income while annual and short-term crops support cash flow.
The use of modern machinery helps to reduce effort and labor costs through mechanization.
Machines for farm work: All possibilities, including tractors, are being used in agriculture. Farm work can be made more efficient, effort can be reduced, the number of laborers can be reduced, and thereby wages can be reduced.
When taking land on lease for cultivation, using machines reduces the investment. Mechanization is being utilized for farm work.
Seeing the precision and excellence of Rajanarayanan in agriculture, a prominent Ayurveda group in Kerala has entrusted him with the maintenance of their more than 40-acre farm. As remuneration, they will provide a handsome amount every month.
This farmer is able to build a new pack house in the future, aiming for extensive value addition of agricultural products.
Rajanarayanan says that during this time, he had to face huge financial liabilities for various family needs. It was only agriculture that helped him face all that and lead his family to financial security.
How does precision agriculture reduce banana cultivation costs?
Precision agriculture reduces banana cultivation costs by using scientific planning, modern irrigation, mechanization and timely input use. In Rajanarayanan’s case, the production cost dropped to 80 rupees per plantain, while many farmers quote up to 250 rupees. Tractors, intercropping and better field practices helped reduce expenses.
Why is Nendran banana profitable for lease farming?
Rajanarayanan found Nendran banana profitable because even when price fluctuates, yield is generally assured. On leased land, he focuses on annual and short-term crops like banana and vegetables for steady income, while long-term crops such as coconut, areca nut and nutmeg remain on his own land.
What crops are grown on Rajanarayanan’s 37-acre farm?
The main crops are banana, paddy, vegetables, areca nut, coconut, nutmeg and black pepper. On his own 16 acres, he cultivates long-term crops including coconut, areca nut, black pepper and nutmeg. More than 20 acres are leased for crops such as banana, paddy, vegetables and nutmeg.
How does water management help in precision farming?
Rajanarayanan says water should be given in the right amount at the right time instead of applying it without control. This approach reduces production costs and protects water and fertilizer. Mulching crop bases with farm waste also improves organic matter in the soil and supports healthier crop growth.
How did branded paddy improve farm income?
Instead of waiting for cooperative societies, Rajanarayanan sells harvested organic paddy under his own brand. He has been able to sell it at 80 rupees per kilo, which is more than double what he would receive at the government rate. This direct branding improved returns from five acres of paddy.
What role does mechanization play in lease farming?
Mechanization helps make farm work more efficient, reduces effort, lowers the number of laborers needed and cuts wage expenses. When land is taken on lease, using machines such as tractors can reduce investment and make cultivation easier to manage across different plots and crop schedules.
