TROPICAL
& SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS
Kokam
Kokam( Garcinia indica
chaisy) is an evergreen tree, native of India mostly found in Western Ghats along the
seacoast in Konkan region of Maharashtra state.
Importance:
The fleshy ripe purplish red fruit possesses sweetish to acidic pulp. Apart from
traditional use for preparing "Amsul" or "Kokam Sol" and "Amrit
Kokam" squash, it is gaining importance for its taste. The Kokam seeds contain 23-26
per cent fat which remains solid at room temperature. Hence, it is being used as a
substitute for Coca butter. It is also being used in cosmetics. Due to this, demand for
kokam both in internal market as well as in export market is increasing. It is, imperative
to extend the area under Kokam plantation on a large scale using cultivable waste land in
Western Ghats.
Climate:
Kokam is a Tropical fruit ,grows and fruits well in high rainfall areas of the sea coast
of about 1000 to 2000 mm having warm and humid climate.
Soil:
Lateritic, alluvial or medium deep well drained soils are suitable. It is mostly grown in
hill slopes mixed with other fruit trees like jamun, mango, cashew etc. in Kokan region of
Maharashtra.
Varieties:
There are no standard varieties. Kokam is a slow growing plant and exhibits a large
variation in sex forms and bearing capacity. The Kokan Krishi Vidyapeeth has spotted a
high yielding (35 kg seed/ tree) under natural conditions. Such selected trees could be
clonally propagated by soft wood grafting.
Planting
season: Pits of 60X 60 X 60 cm be dug during summer at 6 X 6 m distance and filled with
well decomposed farm yard manure and top soil at a ratio of 1:3 and 1 kg superphosphate be
added at the bottom of the pit. The planting of sapling be done at the onset of monsoon in
June. At the time of planting 100g carbaryl dust (10 per cent) be mixed in each pit to
avoid termite attack.
Interculturing:
Field be kept weed free by regular weeding and hoeing. Short duration, low growing , inter
crops like cowpea, vegetable can be grown during first four five years .
Care of
young orchards: Young plants be given support of bamboo sticks. Shoots arising from the
main stem just before the bud /graft joint be removed regularly. Wherever possible young
saplings be irrigated during dry period and summer months for initial 2/3 years.
Special
horticultural practices: Since it is grown as a rainfed crop no special treatment is
required. However , if the orchard is established by planting seedlings about 50 per cent
plants will be male which will not bear any fruits . This could be identified 7-8 years
after planting when they start flowering. This could be converted by grafting with
selected scion stick taken from female (fruit bearing) plants. However, it is necessary to
maintain 10 per cent male plants in an orchard for pollination.
Irrigation:
Kokam is grown as rainfed fruit crop and irrigation is not given except during summer or
dry spells in the initial 2/3 years.
Nutrition:
One year plant be given 2 kg FYM + 50g nitrogen + 25g P2o5 + 25 g K2O
during August- September. The quantity be increased by 2 kg FYM + 50 g nitrogen + 25g each
of P2o5 and K2o every year. From 10 years onwards each
tree be supplied with 20 kg FYM + 500g N and 250g each of P2O5and K2o
during August September.
Plant
protection: No serious pests/ diseases are reported on Kokam and hence it is normally does
not require any plant protection measures.
Harvesting
and yielding: seedling trees starts fruiting after 7-8 years while grafted/ budded plants
bear fruits after 4-5 years. Flowering starts in October November and continues upto
Feb-March. Fruits are ready for harvest during April-May. Red ripe fruits be harvested
with the help of ‘Atul’ harvestor specially developed for this purpose by Konkan
Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Most of the existing plantations are by seed. Hence the yield
varies from place to place depending upon orchard management practices. On an average
individual trees yield 30-50 kg ripe fruits per year.
Post
harvest handling and marketing: Kokam fruits are juicy and highly perishable and hence
need careful handling and after harvesting . Fruits are collected in bamboo baskets lined
with rice straw and stored under shade. Harvested fruits are sorted removing under signed
,damaged fruits and graded as per the size and colour into two grades. Mostly fruits are
processed into ‘Amsul’ or ‘Amri Kokam’ squash because of poor
transportability and highly perishable nature. |
