ITC arm to supply subabul clones to ryots of coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema

The Plantations, Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division (PSPD) of ITC Limited will supply farmers of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema high-yielding subabul hybrid-clones by the next crop season, through the commercial application of cloning technology.

The company has already supplied the farmers eucalyptus clones (named ITC Bhadrachalam clones) and non-clone subabul plants for cultivation this year. While the traditional varieties give a yield of five tonnes per acre, the cloned plants of the two rain-fed crops would give a harvest of 15-20 tonnes per acre.

The West Godavari farmers have reaped 48 tonnes per acre, the highest harvest recorded so far. ITC's in-house agriculture scientists have developed the cloning technology for both the plants and the company is searching for franchisees to set up a pilot project for producing subabul clones in Krishna district.

ITC, through these projects, aims at uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the small and marginal farmers. The plantations also ensure removal of carbon from plants and trees, thus protecting the environment.

However, the farmers are under no obligation to sell their harvest to ITC. If they sell the harvest voluntarily, the ITC will buy it. As the prices offered for the two plantations do not fluctuate extremely, the farmers are assured of definite and lucrative income over two decades.

Speaking to Business Standard, the PSPD deputy manager S K Banerjee said: "About 2,000 farmers of Khammam, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, East and West Godavari and Rayalaseema districts have joined the ITC venture and taken up the cultivation of eucalyptus clones and subabul in 17,500 acres this fiscal (2004-05). The acreage would go up to 25,000 acres next year (2005-06) with the entry of subabul clones. When compared with last year, there has been an increase of 15 per cent this year in the number of farmers, who have opted for the two plantations. The company has made Khammam district its core area due to logistic advantage of having the Bhadrachalam Paper Mills in that district."

"While the farmers have to invest Rs 16,000 per acre on eucalyptus over the first four years when the first harvest arrives, the net return for them would be around Rs 60,000. There is no need for replantation. The same trees would give four more harvests with four years gap between them. With subabul, the farmers would have to invest only about Rs 6,000 per acre over a three-year period. The plantation, on an average, would give an annual income of Rs 8,000-10,000 up to 20 years," Banerjee said.

"The eucalyptus and subabul plants are supplied to farmers at the rate of Rs 8 and two paise each respectively. But in many areas of Khammam district, farmers get eucalyptus plants at the price of Rs 4 each. The clones are developed specifically to suit the farmers' particular soil nature and composition.

First, the farmers are identified and soil tests conducted. The clones of eucalyptus and subabul plants suitable to their soils are developed and supplied. Later, the ITC plantation experts would interact with the farmers and counsel them till they reap their first harvest. ITC is also supplying casuarinas, bamboo and teak plants. Farmers have raised these plantations in about 300 acres.