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Cover Story _________________________ 
Multi Tiered Cropping in Yercaud Coffee & Pepper
Dayalan Rajes

Location: The Shevaroy range of hills is unique in many respects and the standard practices and time schedules applicable in other coffee and plantation zones do not apply to this compact range of hills which is located @ Latitude 11 2' North of the equator and longitude 78 12' East of Greenwich. The soil is shallow and rocky. Rainfall is predominantly from the N-E monsoon but often it is the S.W monsoon that has been the life line of the plantations as in 1995 when the N-E failed totally. Rainfall varies from 40" to 70". The lowest rainfall was 30" in 1980 and highest 159" in 1940. Temperature varies between 100 C and 30° C elevation from 3500' to 5410'.

Conditions: This inhospitable zone in terms of rain, shallow soil, rock, unpredictable weather and other factors has made the local planter resilient and resourceful. He has to weigh all these parameters, assess the potential of his particular tract and plant coffee under heavy shade intercropping with orange, pear, mango, and now spices like nutmeg and pepper, the latter of which is promising inspite of the heavy damage caused by wilt. Macadamia nut is a new promising introduction and Vanilla is on trial.

Multi tiered cropping - is but a natural consequence to the conditions prevalent and one sees three patterns emerge in the 3 broad zones and elevations.

  1. Mangalam-Nagalur -Keeraikad3600' to 4100' silver oak with coffee and pepper spices and mango
  2. Eastern face-Velakadai to Yercaud- 4100' to 5000' Silver oak with coffee, and oranges.
  3. Yercaud and Solai area - 4500' to 5000' Silver oak with coffee, pear and Oranges.
Fruit crops: Orange, mango, butter fruit, rose apple and other exotic fruits such as mangosteen and durian have all been tried out by enterprising planters and successfully marketed. Nadu salai. Gudadath and Malgova mango do well at elevations of 3500 to 4000 'MSL.

Orange: Mandarin or Kamala has been grown on a regular basis as an inter crop within coffee at spacings of 21' or 28 `depending on coffee and shade tree spacings.

With the coffee price decline there is an increase in activity for Orange production, lifting of shade, pruning, spraying and FYM application, which has given superb results and helped the planter augment income from fruits.

Tree Cultivation: The common factor in all three elevations is undoubtedly the standard growth of silver oak as shade, which has come to the rescue of planters in times of drought and low coffee prices when mature trees are removed and replanted. Remarkably, the tree population is increasing every year, thereby providing more standards for cultivation of pepper which is topped at 20' and good crops harvested in cycles of 3 years when the rainfall is timely as the setting of crop depends on water for pollination.

Value Addition: In view of the unprecedented increase in price of timber and further scope in this regard, it would be well worth improving the quality of timber grown by intercultivation of jack, Vengai, Selavanji, Red cedar, Mahogany and Rosewood. All these trees grow well and give shade to coffee and serve as live standards for pepper cultivation and eventually will give very good return in the long term, whereas silver oak gives returns in the medium term and by this shift in pattern the monoculture of silver oak can be got over and value added timber growth encouraged, cultivated and profited from.

Pepper: starts yielding in the 3rd year and good crop of 1 to 3 kilos dry can be picked from the 5th year if planted, trained, tied, topped and manured well. The vines have to be tied to the standard and nourished with FYM and standard NPK fertilizer.

Yields of upto 70 kilos green or 20 kilos dry per vine are not uncommon. But this excessive cropping weakens the vine exposing it to drought and wilt ending with death of the vine. Hence, topping at 15' or 20' and regulating crop, spraying and fertilizing with chemical and FYM and picking between 3 and 5 kilos (dry) per vine will be more practical and desirable in the long run. Panniyur is by far the most consistent and dependable yielder.

Spraying with Bordeaux mixture, applying bourdeax paste on the stem and liming the vine and other suggestions to control wilt do not appear to be very promising and do not control the infection. The use of cultured Trichoderma viride suggested by TNAU. Rom Vijay and Stanes is being tried out and time will prove the efficacy of this bio-treatment, which if nothing else will delay the death of the vine permitting additional crops to be harvested.

Coffee: Considering all factors, a judicious mix of selections should be planted to enable us pick crop in spite of the weather and other conditions planting 25% area each with HRC, Selection 9, SanRamon and with Robusta respectively will enable the planter to alternate operations, pick crop from November to January in a staggered manner as the above mix will permit coffee ripening to peak at different times and reduce the effect of variables and ensure profit on a regular and lasting basis, which is the essence of our deliberations.

Cultural operations: The norm of 3 to 5 weedings, 2 bordeaux sprays, 3 bug sprays, 2 swabbings, 12 tracings and burning, 2 manures appear to be sufficient. Borer and bug infestations can become severe if not controlled at the initial stage. Timely operations, therefore, is the watchword and the most important consideration to ensure regular crop with the minimum expenditure.

Diversification: The watch word to overcome low coffee prices and survive is now more valid than ever before, Floriculture, Pisciculture, Medicinal plants culture, Apiculture and Horticulture are all ways and means of augmenting income, not to mention cattle, horse farming and rearing dogs. Of late, bioproducts such as vermiculture and bio-control agents such as Trichoderma and predator insect growth such as apnesia crypto lamus montzourei and other friendly agent for the production of coffee are all viable and most desirable side ventures on a plantation that are possible and merit consideration for successful coffee plantation management.

Floriculture: Growing of Anthuriums and Gerbera, Ornamental plants, nursery plants and dry flowers for sale holds promise.

Pisciculture: Bunds and lakes are found all over Yercaud out of necessity to harvest collect and hold rain waters for use in summer extending to rainless month of over 5 months. There are over 25 private lakes from small ponds to half an acre lakes that can be stocked with fish like grass carp, mirgal, rohu and catla which dominate the surface, middle and bottom layers of water respectively and some feed on the dropping of the other. The smaller ponds can have tilapia which breed on their own.

Medicinal plants: are many including Stevia a nil-calorie sweetener and Passiflora a creeper that yields fruit for squash and the herb can be cut, dried and sold.

Apiculture: Though labour intensive it has potential for those inclined in this field to box culture and sell fine honey which is a craze with health conscious people and will help increase pollination and crop of all produces.

Horticulture: Has enormous scope with people craving for fruits as jack, banana, orange, pear and of late, figs, durian, mangosteen and other fruits that grow in Yercaud being sought after as most fruits here are non-seasonal and command a premium.

The Future: Undoubtedly is to allow house guests to come and stay in the plantation with full board and charge the tourist according to the facilities provided including trekking, swimming; fishing; horse riding; games; bird watching etc. The possibilities arc innumerable and give us hope. So cheer up.
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Dayalan Rajes, Charter president, Planters Assn. Yercaud,. Hemalands Estate

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