Fenugreek also has its unique place among the crops of the pulses family. Generally, Fenugreek is used to make pickles and as a vegetable. It has a bitter taste, but it has a delicious aroma and has many medicinal properties. Fenugreek is considered a cash crop. However, farmers can earn good profits by fenugreek farming with the help of the Mahindra YUVO 415 DI tractor. Let us know how to cultivate it and what precautions should be taken for good profits with less investment.
Health Benefits Of Consuming Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a plant belonging to the leguminous family, smaller than 1 foot. Its leaves are used for making greens, and its grains are used as spices. It is very helpful in terms of health. Fenugreek seeds contain minerals like sodium, zinc, phosphorus, folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins C and B.
Apart from this, it has abundant nutrients like fibre, protein, starch, sugar and phosphoric acid. It is utilised in diabetes by making powder and consuming it. Its use is also very beneficial in stomach-related diseases. Its consumption provides relief from joint pain. Fenugreek is helpful in high blood pressure (high BP), diabetes and dyspepsia. Green Fenugreek helps in reducing blood sugar. Thus, it is consumed as a treatment for many diseases. Be it green Fenugreek or fenugreek seeds. Consuming it in both methods helps keep the body healthy.
Fenugreek Farming Leading States
In India, it was successfully cultivated in all of northern India, including Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi. Rajasthan and Gujarat are the major Fenugreek-producing states in the country. More than 80 per cent of Fenugreek is produced in Rajasthan. Fenugreek is mainly grown in the Rabi season, but it is cultivated during the rainy season in South India.
Facts To Know About Fenugreek Farming
- A cool climate is ideal for the cultivation of Fenugreek. Its ability to withstand frost is higher in comparison to other crops.
- Areas with average rainfall are suitable for fenugreek farming and cannot be cultivated in areas with high rainfall.
- Clayey soil with good drainage is ideal for fenugreek farming, and the land pH value should be between 6-7.
- It can sown in plains from September to March, and in hilly areas, it can be planted from July to August.
- Sowing should be done in 8-10 days if you cultivate it for vegetables. So that fresh vegetables are available at all times. If you want to grow it for its seeds, it can sown until the end of November.
- Its sowing is mainly done by sprinkling method.
- It is necessary to have moisture in the field during sowing.
- Along with the fenugreek crop, earning can be achieved by growing radish.
- Kharif crops like paddy, maize, green moong, and green fodder crops can grown along with Fenugreek.
Varieties Of Fenugreek
Kasoori Methi
This variety was developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Delhi. Its leaves are small and sickle-shaped. The speciality of this variety is that it blooms late and is yellow, which also has a special smell. This variety takes about 5 months from sowing to seed formation. Its average yield is 65 quintals per hectare.
Lam Selection
In the southern states, this variety is grown to take seeds. This plant is of average height but bushy. More branches come out in this.
Pusa Early Bunching
ICAR has also developed this early maturing variety of Fenugreek. Its flowers come in clusters. Harvesting can done 2-3 times in this. Its pods are 6-8 cm long. The seed of this variety is ready in 4 months.
Um112
It is one of the few fenugreek varieties that grow upright. Its plants are taller than average. This variety is good in terms of both vegetables and seeds.
Kashmir Variety
The Kashmiri variety of Fenugreek, though similar in characteristics to the Pusa Early Bunching variety, is a late maturing variety of 15 days, which is more cold tolerant. Its flowers are white in colour, and the pods are 6-8 cm long. It is a good variety for hilly areas.
Fenugreek Farming Essential Explained
We describe the complete process of fenugreek farming, harvesting, and yield. Let’s have a look at the entire process of fenugreek farming.
Fenugreek Farming Sowing Method
- Prepare the field well and make the soil friable by ploughing the area with the help of Mahindra tractor 475 for efficiency.
- At the time of tillage, apply 150 quintals of cow dung per hectare. If there are termites in the field, then before planting the plant, quinalphos (1.5 per cent) or methyl parathion (2 per cent powder) should mixed at the rate of 25 kg per hectare.
- It requires 12 kg of seed for sowing in one acre. Soak the seeds of Fenugreek in water for 8 to 12 hours before sowing. Moreover, to protect the seeds from pests and diseases, treat the seeds with Thiram and Carbendazim. After chemical treatment, treat the seeds with Azospirillum and Trichoderma. However, most of the Fenugreek is sown by sprinkling method. When sowing in fenugreek farming, keep the row-to-row distance of 22.5 cm and plant the seed on the bed at 3-4 cm depth.
Manures & Fertilizers In Fenugreek Farming
When sowing, apply 5 kg Nitrogen (12 kg Urea) and 8 kg Potassium (50 kg Super Phosphate) in fenugreek farming. A spray of NPK after 20 days of sowing also helps in good and rapid growth. Do a second spray after 10 days for a healthy yield in fenugreek farming.
Weed Control In Fenugreek Farming
The first weeding is done after 25-30 days of sowing, and the second weeding after 30 days of the first sowing. To control weeds chemically, the application of Fluchloralin is recommended. Also, spray Pendimethalin at 1.3Ltr/acre with 200Ltr of water within 1-2 days of sowing. When the plant reaches 4 inches high, tie it up to prevent it from disintegrating.
Irrigation Requirements For Fenugreek Farming
Irrigate before sowing for early germination of seeds. For a proper yield from Fenugreek farming, apply 3 to 4 irrigations at regular intervals after sowing. Water shortage should not be allowed during pod and seed development as it causes a heavy loss in yield.
Fenugreek Farming Harvesting Process
Harvest this crop as a vegetable after 20-25 days of sowing. To obtain seeds, harvest them after 90-100 days of sowing. For grains, harvest it when the lower leaves turn yellow and drop, and the pods turn yellow. After harvesting, tie the bale of the crop and keep it in sunlight for 6-7 days. Later, sort it when dry, then clean it and grade it accordingly.
How Much Profit With Fenugreek Farming?
If the seed is taken after 1 harvest, then the average yield is about 6-8 quintals per hectare, and if 4-5 cuttings are done, then the same output is reduced to about 1 quintal per hectare. The yield of bhaji or green leaves is approximately 70-80 quintals per hectare. Fenugreek leaves are also sold after drying, which fetches up to Rs 100 per kg. If Fenugreek is cultivated properly, about Rs. 50,000 can be earned from 1 hectare.
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