Conservation of traditional crop varieties

Over the years, traditional crop varieties fully replaced by High Yielding Varieties(HYVs), Hybrids and genetically modified crops. In India, the first maize hybrid was released in 1961 for general cultivation, followed by hybrid varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, and non-hybrid, high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat. Since, traditional varieties are highly recommended because they have a relatively high nutritional value compared to the introduced varieties, their consumption gives diversity to daily food intake, adding  flavor, special aroma and taste to the diet. These are fully lacking in HYVs. Mainly traditional vegetable varieties are rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, dietary fiber and proteins.
    According to rice scientists Richharia and Govindasamy states that in India more than 2 lakhs rice varieties had been identified with the evidence of Vedic and present day literature. But gradually all the local varieties are disappeared. The main reason is steady replacement with the high-yielding varieties (HYVs). And also ‘modern’ varieties continue to be aggressively promoted at the expense and exclusion of traditional varieties. For example, the success of HYVs in farms has often prompted state agricultural scientists and extension staff to promote these crops by exaggerating that their yields, claiming them to be higher than
those of indigenous varieties. But this was not true for many varieties.  Many local varieties yields more than HYVs.(Eg., Kurangu samba, Kitchili samba, etc.). Several native varieties are good resistant to pests and diseases. And those can be cultivated in any adverse conditions like drought, water logging etc.

Gmelina Arborea ( Kumil, White teak, Gamar)

Gmelina Arborea is one of the fast growing tree and has good timber value. It can grow in all type of soils (fertile or poor, water logging to be avoided). It can grow moderate to large height up to 30 m with girth of 1.2 to 4. It will give good returns in 8-10 years.

Other names are: sagwan teak, kashmir  teak, ummithekku, Shewan, Gamar tree, Gamhar tree

Method of planting (Cultivation / Plantation):
If irrigation facility is not available, start of the rainy season is good time for planting. Seedling is available from the nurseries (rs 10 -15 per sapling).
Pit size needed for planting is 2 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet.
Spacing needed between each sapling is 10-12 feet. Good spacing is needed for better growth of girth and height. Support pole is needed while planting (first 6 months) since sapling may easily break by wind or animals. If irrigation possible, you can irrigate in 2-3 weeks interval. Side branches growing is more in it, so proper pruning is needed in regular intervals. Inter crops such as black gram, groundnut, pepper etc can cultivated up to 3-4 years. No of trees can be planted per acre is 400-600 trees. It can be harvested in 8-10 years.

It can yield 500*8000 = rs 40,00000/acre  in 8-10 years.


Uses:
Gmelina arborea can be used as substitute to teak wood (Tectona grandis). Gmelina arborea is used in paneling, carriages, furniture, carpentry, boxes and also for plywood industries. Timber can be used for doors and window panels. It can be used in paper and match industries. The roots and fruits are used in Ayurveda medicine.
Some of the pictures are here:

Gmelina Arborea( Kumil , Sagwan) Pictures | Innovative farming solutions

Sizzling Castor ( Ricinus communis, Aamanakku, Disa)

Castor crop (Ricinus communis) is one of the high demand cash crops nowadays. And also cost of cultivation and maintenance is much lesser than other cash crops. Castor is suitable for all soil types but do best in fertile, well-drained soil (no water-log). In India, Gujarat(80% of the produce) and Andra Pradesh are major producers.
 Names used:
 Assam - Era-gach
 Bangla - Erando, Veranda
 Gujarat - Divel
 Hindi - Arandi
 Kannada - Haralenne
 Malayalam - Chittamankku or Avanakkanna
 Marathi - Errand
 Oriya - Jada
 Tamil - Aamanakku (ஆமணக்கு),
 Telugu - Aavadam, Aamudalu

Melia Dubia (Malai vembu)

One of the major problem in today's agriculture is reducing income year by year. The land values are increased and  income from agriculture is reduced due to increased cost for labors, increase in cost of cultivation and increase in transportation cost. Because of that farmers are selling land and looking for other business. So we need to think of good income from agriculture by reducing labors and increasing yield. In today's picture, the middle men are earning the good income from agriculture products, and the farmer who produces getting less from what he produced. Since the many short term crops need more labors, transportation and inventory cost, the final gain for the farmers are very less. To make good revenues as per acre, we need to cultivate medium to long term crops keeping the cost to minimal and also good revenue in future.

Melia Dubia is one of the fast growing tree and give good returns. It can be used in match or biomass or plywood industries. After 3 years, 30-40 tons of biomass/acre can be harvested upto 10 years. The price of wood per ton is rs 2000-4000. so one can get minimum revenue of 2000*30 = rs 60000/acre every year.
30% of the trees we leave without cutting for 8 years means it can be used in plywood industries which will fetch rs 6000-10000 per tree( 6000*300 = rs 18,00000).