Integrated farming system

Integrated farming system model of Coconut + Fodder trees + Pasture crops – Goat system were started during 2015-16. The inter and intra row spacing of coconut were utilized by fodder grass viz.Cumbu Napier hybrid and fodder legume viz. Desmanthus and fodder trees viz.Sesbania grandiflora,  Leucaena leucocephala and Glyricidia were planted in all the border bunds of coconut farming. The goat manure used to partly supplement  the nutrient requirement of coconut and  fodder grasses. The bred Tellicherry goats at 6 Female : 1 male ratio are maintained for 1 acre area of coconut with Fodder trees and Pasture crops. The green fodder from pasture and fodder trees provides balanced nutrition for goat growth, health and lamb production.Total of 8880 number of nuts and 4200kgs of fodder produced from 0.40 ha coconut garden area. Lamb production was 12 numbers and weight gain from the goats was 200kgs per year, whereas 3620 kgs of goat manure produced from the goat unit per year and it was applied in coconut checkbasins. The farm gross income was about Rs.1,56,560/ac with coconut based intercropping system with pasture crops (Cumbu Napier grass + Desmanthus + Fodder trees (Sesbania grandiflora + Leucaena leucocephala + Glyricidia) + goat system as compared to Rs. 102000/ac in the monocrop of coconut.