Sweet corn : A boon for the Manipur farmers
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Saiba Siddiqui, Dr S Dayananda Singh, Dr M Sumarjit Singh
Contd from previous issue
If harvesting is delayed, sweet corn can eaten as roasted and fried snacks like the common filed corn. Delayed harvesting and keeping for longer period after harvesting retards sweetness.
10. Post-Harvest Handling Processing of sweet corn
The post-harvest quality of sweet corn deteriorates rapidly. Due to thinner pericarp tissues, enhanced-sugar varieties are prone to bruising and thus require careful handling. Among preservation techniques, optimized blanching, freezing, and thermal processing alongside advanced harvesting and storage practices ensures superior nutritional, sensory, and economic outcomes in sweet corn production, aligning with growing demands for sustainability and quality.
Sweet Corn Cultivation in Manipur condition: an Economic Analysis
A comprehensive business plan for sweet corn cultivation in Manipur under ideal conditions begins with the acquisition of one hectare of arable land that possesses suitable soil and access to water. The farming operation relies on labour inputs corresponding to 80 man-days, and requires investment in essential equipment such as a tractor, farm machinery, and efficient irrigation systems. To ensure robust crop growth, high-quality sweet corn seeds, along with fertilizers and pest management chemicals, must be procured.
The cost structure involves Rs 28,000 per hectare for seeds (assuming 8 kg/ha at Rs 3,500 per kg). Sweet corn required 5 bags of urea, 7 bags of SSP and 2 bags of MOP per ha. i.e; 120:60:60 N:P:K kg/ha, that meansaround Rs 15,000 for fertilizers including both farmyard manure and chemical varieties, Rs 14,000 for plant protection and irrigation, Rs 35,000 for labour covering land preparation, sowing, weeding, and harvesting, and miscellaneous expenses estimated at Rs 8,000 per Pari.
This brings the total production cost for one Pari (roughly equivalent to one hectare) to approximately Rs 1.00 lakh. With an optimal plant spacing of 60 x 25cm, the field can accommodate around 66,666 sweet corn plants. Assuming each plant yields one cob and considering some plants remain barren or some seeds might not germinate,an expected marketable yield is about 50,000 cobs per Pari. At the current market rate of Rs 15-20 per cob, the gross revenue reaches Rs 7,50, 000-Rs 10,00,000 per Pari (here, let’s assume gross return is Rs 8,50,000). After subtracting cost of cultivation (Rs 1 lakh), the net revenue for the farmer is about Rs 7,50,000, translating to a benefit-cost ratio (B:C ratio) of 7.5, which reflects strong profitability in this scenario. Since the duration of sweet corn is comparatively less than other cereal crops technically it can be grown trice a year. Which means a farmer can earn three times of the profit from sweet corn in a year with scientific management practices.
One important advantage of planting sweet corn is even after harvesting it does not lose its economic value. About 30 tons of stalk can be obtained in one pari per in one harvesting season which can either be sold for fodder purpose in order to feed the cattle or to make silage or it can used as a good source of organic manure as well as a mulching material in conservation agriculture. Some reports suggest that the leaf of corn is used traditionally to feed the fishes such as grass carp.
The primary target markets include food service providers, retailers, and end consumers, and marketing channels range from farmers’ markets, roadside stalls, to wholesale markets.
Conclusion
Sweet corn has rapidly gained consumer acceptance across India due to its premium market price, escalating demand, and versatile utilization path- ways. Cultivation has expanded, ensuring steady supply to food processing industries, super- markets, and street-food markets. Developing region-specific sweet corn hybrids adapted to Indian agro-climatic condi- tions remains a crucial target for meeting short- and medium-term crop improvement strategies.
Moreover, The integration of precision agricul- tural technologies used for real-time monitoring of soil properties, crop health, and water requirements has been shown to enhance profitability by increasing yield per hectare while lowering variable input expenses.
The writers are with College of Agriculture, Iroisemba, Central Agricultural University
Contd from previous issue
If harvesting is delayed, sweet corn can eaten as roasted and fried snacks like the common filed corn. Delayed harvesting and keeping for longer period after harvesting retards sweetness.
10. Post-Harvest Handling Processing of sweet corn
The post-harvest quality of sweet corn deteriorates rapidly. Due to thinner pericarp tissues, enhanced-sugar varieties are prone to bruising and thus require careful handling. Among preservation techniques, optimized blanching, freezing, and thermal processing alongside advanced harvesting and storage practices ensures superior nutritional, sensory, and economic outcomes in sweet corn production, aligning with growing demands for sustainability and quality.
Sweet Corn Cultivation in Manipur condition: an Economic Analysis
A comprehensive business plan for sweet corn cultivation in Manipur under ideal conditions begins with the acquisition of one hectare of arable land that possesses suitable soil and access to water. The farming operation relies on labour inputs corresponding to 80 man-days, and requires investment in essential equipment such as a tractor, farm machinery, and efficient irrigation systems. To ensure robust crop growth, high-quality sweet corn seeds, along with fertilizers and pest management chemicals, must be procured.
The cost structure involves Rs 28,000 per hectare for seeds (assuming 8 kg/ha at Rs 3,500 per kg). Sweet corn required 5 bags of urea, 7 bags of SSP and 2 bags of MOP per ha. i.e; 120:60:60 N:P:K kg/ha, that meansaround Rs 15,000 for fertilizers including both farmyard manure and chemical varieties, Rs 14,000 for plant protection and irrigation, Rs 35,000 for labour covering land preparation, sowing, weeding, and harvesting, and miscellaneous expenses estimated at Rs 8,000 per Pari.
This brings the total production cost for one Pari (roughly equivalent to one hectare) to approximately Rs 1.00 lakh. With an optimal plant spacing of 60 x 25cm, the field can accommodate around 66,666 sweet corn plants. Assuming each plant yields one cob and considering some plants remain barren or some seeds might not germinate,an expected marketable yield is about 50,000 cobs per Pari. At the current market rate of Rs 15-20 per cob, the gross revenue reaches Rs 7,50, 000-Rs 10,00,000 per Pari (here, let’s assume gross return is Rs 8,50,000). After subtracting cost of cultivation (Rs 1 lakh), the net revenue for the farmer is about Rs 7,50,000, translating to a benefit-cost ratio (B:C ratio) of 7.5, which reflects strong profitability in this scenario. Since the duration of sweet corn is comparatively less than other cereal crops technically it can be grown trice a year. Which means a farmer can earn three times of the profit from sweet corn in a year with scientific management practices.
One important advantage of planting sweet corn is even after harvesting it does not lose its economic value. About 30 tons of stalk can be obtained in one pari per in one harvesting season which can either be sold for fodder purpose in order to feed the cattle or to make silage or it can used as a good source of organic manure as well as a mulching material in conservation agriculture. Some reports suggest that the leaf of corn is used traditionally to feed the fishes such as grass carp.
The primary target markets include food service providers, retailers, and end consumers, and marketing channels range from farmers’ markets, roadside stalls, to wholesale markets.
Conclusion
Sweet corn has rapidly gained consumer acceptance across India due to its premium market price, escalating demand, and versatile utilization path- ways. Cultivation has expanded, ensuring steady supply to food processing industries, super- markets, and street-food markets. Developing region-specific sweet corn hybrids adapted to Indian agro-climatic condi- tions remains a crucial target for meeting short- and medium-term crop improvement strategies.
Moreover, The integration of precision agricul- tural technologies used for real-time monitoring of soil properties, crop health, and water requirements has been shown to enhance profitability by increasing yield per hectare while lowering variable input expenses.
The writers are with College of Agriculture, Iroisemba, Central Agricultural University