Papay Cultivation (L)

Papaya

Papaya, papaw or papita (Carica papaya L.) originated from tropical America, has become a popular fruit due to its fast growth, high yield, long fruiting period and high nutrient value as well.

In addition it has been use as vegetable, fruit processing, and papain production at immature stage.

It can be a highly profitable crop now.

Features :

• Papaya is a fast growing herb with a short life. Generally the plant has a straight stem of height 2 to 10 m and 10 to 30 cm of diameter.

• The plant is of three types; male, female or hermaphroditic.

• The leaves of the plant are bundled at the apex and 25 to 75 cm in diameter.

• This plant is known to have 3 types of flowers; female flower, male flower and hermaphroditic.

• The fruit of papaya is oval or round in shape, 15 to 50 cm in length and 10 to 20 cm thick.

• The fruit weighs around 1.5 to 9 kg at the maximum.

Papaya cultivation

Soil & Climate

• Papaya is a tropical, plant, very sensitive to frost. Optimum temperature is 25 - 30° C and minimum 16° C.

• The suitable pH value is between 6 and 6.5. The sandy loam soil with adequate organic matter is most important.

• A well-drained upland is selected for cultivation.

Season

• Papaya is planted during spring February to March or September to November are the best months for planting papaya. Avoid planting in rainy season.

Seed requirement

• One gram contains about 50 - 60 seeds, mostly 65 -70 seeds. It needs 30 gm. seeds per acre at one plant per hill average of 80 % seed germination and 80% successful seedlings.

Sowing method

• It may be sown directly, but normally, it is better to be seeded to raise seedlings and transplanted.

Papaya cultivation

Seed germination

• The optimum temperature is 21 - 27° C, and of radical emergence is 19 - 29 °C. it take 1 – 4 weeks from sowing to emerge depending on the temperature.

Transplanting stage

• When the seedling is 10 -15 cm tall, it should be transplanted, but 30-40 cm is also all right if it is grown in a larger container.

Spacing

• A 45-60 cm high bed is required if the soil is not well drained. Normally, the distance between rows is about 6 feet, and 6feet between plants. The total number of plants for each acre is about 1200 to 1250.

Planting method

• Drill the planting hole about 45 cm in diameter and 45 cm in depth. The soil in the hole is mixed with compost for planting. Then transplant the seedlings (seedlings should be fully watered one day before transplanting).

Fertilization

• The plant needs continuous fertilization, as fruiting is continuous upon maturity.

Papaya cultivation

Weed control

• Weeding should be removed at the young stage on regular basis especially around the plants.

Irrigation

• Normally, irrigate every 10 days in winter or every week in summer, but practise varies according to soil, climatic conditions, and irrigation methods.

Harvest

• In general, papaya takes three to four months to flower and another five for harvesting; but it may vary according the climate conditions and management. Fruits are harvested when they are of full size, light green in colour with tinge of yellow at apical end. On ripening, fruits of certain varieties turn yellow while some of them remain green.

Variety Papaya - F1 Red Glory 186 Papaya

• Tree height: 7 – 7.5 Feet from the ground

• Fruit shape : Round and oblong shape

• Average fruit weighs: 1 – 1.5 KG

• Fruit production starts from around 8 months

• Tough fruit skin – Easy for transportation

• Disease tolerant

Papaya - F1 Red Glory 186 Papaya

Variety Papaya - F1 Red Queen - 19

• Tree height: 6 Feet from the ground

• Fruit shape : Round and oval oblong shape

• High yielding dwarf variety

• Average fruit weighs: 1 – 1.5 KG

• Fruit production starts from around 8 months

• Tough fruit skin – Easy for transportation

Papaya - F1 Red Queen - 19

Papaya - Nursery

IIt may be sown directly, but normally, it is better to be seeded to raise seedlings and transplanted.

Papaya seedlings can be raised in 3 methods

• Method - 1 Plastic bag nursery sowing

8 cm wide and 8 cm high or black is used for raising seedlings. Drainage hole is required. Then fill with the mixture of coco-pit, fermented compost, sandy loam virgin soil and sand at the ratio 2:2:1. Sow 1 seeds each bag and cover with well fermented compost, then water fully. Cover the bags (pots) with plastic film or thatch such as straw sheets or used jute bags to keep warm and wet till emergence.

• Method - 2 Seedling Tray nursery sowing

The use of plastic seedling tray is new way of seedling culture to obtain the healthy seedlings which are easily for the transporting and transplanting. The Tray size may be 74 to 82 holes at 4.5 cm each in diameter. Fill the prepare media in the holes, sow 1 seeds in each hole, and cover the layer of media.

Papaya - Nursery

• Method - 3 Seedling Jiffy nursery sowing

The Jiffy (coco disk) fine netting is filled with high-quality substrate and then compressed to form a handy pellet. Just add water, and the little planting wonder grows to up to seven times its size in a few moments.

The use of plastic seedling tray (Pro-tray) size may be 60 to 74 holes at 4.5 cm each in diameter. Put the one coco disk (Jiffy) in the tray holes, sow 1 seeds inch hole, and cover the layer of media.

How to use Nursery

• Put the coco disk in the planting tray.
• Soak the coco disk with lukewarm water, pour off any excess water.
• Sow seeds or stick cuttings and position the tray in a bright place.
• When the seeds are sprouting, turn the cover slightly for air circulation.
• When the seeds have sprouted, take the cover off.
• Avoid frost.
• Gradually expose to the sun.
• Never over water or let them dry out.
• Irrigation when required.

Coco disk Advantage

• Best technology for root development

• Healthy seedling

• Less damage

• Directly Transplanted

• Environment Friendly

• Low weight, easy to transport

• Early growth of seedling

Expenditure - Cost of cultivation 1 acre

Income - Production 1 Acre

One crop cycle

Harvesting

Approaches

Semina Agro

Strategies

Semina Agro

Development of business plan

Market linkages through buy-back provision

Input supply

Technical know-how

GPS enabled MIS services

Field level hand holding support