Boosting Farmer Income: ICARDA’s Spineless Cactus Takes Root in India’s Arid Lands
Exclusive Interview with Dr. Neha Tiwari, National Research Associate and Plant Protection and Genetic Innovation expert at ICARDA India. Dr. Neha is based at ICARDA’s Food Legume Research Platform in Amlaha. The interview was originally published in Global Agriculture Magazine’s November 2024 issue.
16 December 2024, New Delhi: In an exclusive interview with Global Agriculture Magazine, Dr. Neha Tiwari, a seasoned expert in plant protection and genetic innovation at ICARDA India, sheds light on the incredible potential of spineless cactus—commonly known as prickly pear or Opuntia species—in transforming India’s arid and semi-arid agriculture. Popularly known as the “Queen of Cacti,” this resilient plant not only thrives in some of the harshest climatic conditions but also brings a multitude of uses spanning food, fodder, biofuel, and bioproducts.
With ICARDA introducing over 67 varieties of spineless cactus in India and pioneering research in collaboration with Indian institutions, farmers now have a promising new crop that can enhance their livelihoods and improve sustainability. Dr. Tiwari discusses everything from optimal growing conditions, potential yield benefits, to the burgeoning value chain for spineless cactus products that could revolutionize India’s agricultural landscape.
Q1. What are the suitable agronomic conditions to grow spineless cactus?
Spineless cactus, also known as prickly pear cactus (Opuntia species), are native to arid and semi-arid regions and thrive in a variety of agronomic conditions. However, certain factors are ideal for their growth, such as a warm, sunny climate with low humidity, well-drained sandy or gravelly soil to protect roots, and protection from frost.
While spineless cactus exhibits resilience to poor soil quality, including low fertility and moderately alkaline conditions, it still requires some moisture, particularly during its growth phase. Sufficient sunlight is vital due to spineless cactus’s need for at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production. The plant prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, typically ranging from 6.0 to 7.5. Additionally, adequate plant spacing is essential to facilitate healthy growth and airflow.
Spineless cactus demonstrates remarkable adaptive traits under harsh agro-climatic conditions in the dryland areas of India, often thriving where no other crops can grow. In fact, ICARDA has introduced sixty-seven cactus varieties in India. Mother nurseries cultivating these varieties operate at institutions such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and ICARDA’s Food Legume Research Platform in Amlaha, and in December 2023, ICARDA and the Indian government signed a Motion of Understanding to promote the cultivation and economic usage of spineless cactus. As part of this initiative, the first workshop on cactus cultivation and its uses was organized in Jharkhand, with more than 100 attendees, including ICAR Scientists, officials from different agencies, the private sector, and farmers.
Q2. Is there a developed value chain for spineless cactus in India?
The value chain for cactus crop in India, primarily sustained by small-scale farmers for local consumption as feed and fodder, is less developed compared to other countries. To improve commercialization and marketing efforts, ICARDA works with the Ministry of Rural Development’s Department of Land Resources, exploring diverse cactus applications that are attractive to farmers such as fuel, fodder, fertilizer, fashion, food, and carbon credits. For example, ICARDA’s initiatives include successful biogas production from cacti with 61% methane content, as well as developing a cheap and plentiful biofertilizer.
Additionally, in partnership with private sector collaborators, ICARDA recently initiated a program to create bio-leather from cacti. Preliminary trials at the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Kerala, yielded promising results, with 3 kg of cactus producing 3.38 sq. feet of bio leather, sufficient for crafting 2 pairs of chappals, 3 small-sized bags, or 2 pairs of shoes. A number of diverse cactus accessions (plant genetic matter) are undergoing testing to further develop leather products, offering new market prospects for farmers. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to advance the large-scale production, processing, and marketing of cactus products through central government initiatives geared toward empowering the private sector while benefiting farmers. Given the proven potential of spineless cactus, ICARDA collaborates with government entities to advocate for cactus cultivation and value addition in India, particularly in regions where the crop could enhance food security and livelihoods in arid and semi-arid zones.
Q3. How can a farmer cultivate spineless cactus?
Launching a spineless cactus farming enterprise involves several steps:
- Site selection: Identify a suitable site with well-drained soil and adequate sunlight. Ensure good access to water for irrigation, especially during dry periods. Install fencing to prevent animal grazing.
- Land preparation: Clear the land of weeds and debris to create a clean planting area. Till the soil for aeration, and ensure adequate drainage to avoid waterlogging, which can lead to diseases.
- Cactus cladodes (the flat stem system used for planting and fruit shooting): Acquire healthy, disease-free and mature spineless cactus cladodes or cuttings from reputable nurseries such as ICARDA, the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), the Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), and the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF).
- Planting: Plant the cladodes with adequate spacing in rows. Depending on the variety and growth habit, spacing recommendations may vary. Fix 1/3rd of the cladode in the soil at 2m × 1m spacing after drying them for 10 to 15 days. Apply carbendazim (2gms/L) for disease protection.
- Irrigation: Avoid watering for the first 10 days after planting. Subsequently, apply 1-2 liters of water per plant at 15-day intervals. Once established, spineless cactus requires less frequent watering.
- Fertilization: Conduct a soil test to determine nutrient levels and apply fertilizers accordingly. Add 2kg of well-decomposed farmyard manure per plant at planting. Fertilize after each harvest for optimal biomass.
- Pest and Disease Management: Regularly monitor plants for pests like scale insects, mealybugs, and fungal infections.
- Harvesting and Biomass Utilization: Harvest mature cladodes after a year, leaving the basal two. Expect a yield of 8-10 kg per plant in the first year. Harvest spineless cactus fruits when ripe, typically in late spring or early summer. Utilize freshly harvested cladodes as fodder for goats, sheep, cattle, and buffalo as a 25% replacement for other green fodder.
Q4. How can a farmer procure planting material for spineless cactus?
In India, farmers have several options to obtain planting material for spineless cacti:
- Government Agricultural Research Institutes and other agencies: Research institutes like ICARDA, IGFRI, CAZRI, the Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH) and BAIF maintain cactus nurseries and offer spineless cactus cladodes or cuttings for propagation. Farmers can visit these research institutes to check the availability of planting materials.
- Propagation from existing farmers’ fields: Farmers can propagate new cactus by harvesting and planting healthy cladodes or cuttings from other farmer’s fields.
- Healthy planting materials: Farmers should prioritize acquiring healthy and disease-free planting materials from reputable sources.
Q5. Is there a study on the cost-benefit of cactus plantation?
Evidence-based published research carried out at ICARDA and other ICAR Institutes such as IGFRI, CAZRI, and CIAH has showcased the successful cultivation of cactus pear in arid regions, resulting in improved nutrition and increased income from various nopal cactus pear products. Moreover, continuous low-cost production throughout the year can be achieved in greenhouse settings. As per CIAH findings, the plant reaches full maturity within 3-4 years. Consequently, a farmer can expect to earn an income ranging from Rs 500 to 600 per square meter of greenhouse area, with an estimated benefit-cost ratio of 3:1. Publications can be found at www.icarda.org
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