Insect damage and blemishes are the biggest threat to a bean crop, often pulling down its market price. A farmer named Dilip has tackled the problem with a simple bamboo-and-rope trick, and it's now paying off handsomely in his earnings.
How the bamboo-rope trick supports the vines
Dilip explains that rope is first tied around bamboo poles in several layers across the field. As the plants grow upward, their vines easily catch onto this rope, giving them sturdy support. Throughout the process, careful attention is paid to ensuring that the vine of one plant does not tangle with another. This keeps individual beans separated from each other, which cuts down both the chances of blemishes and the risk of insect infestation.
The right mix of manure and fertiliser
To nourish the crop, Dilip applies a good quantity of cow dung and turtle manure to the field. Alongside this, he also mixes in DAP and a small amount of urea so the plants keep getting the nutrients they need.
Checks every 10 days, spraying the moment pests appear
Dilip inspects the plants closely every 10 days. If insects are spotted on any plant during this check, pesticide is sprayed immediately, which stops the infestation from spreading across the entire field.
Dilip spends the whole day in the field
According to Dilip, growing beans demands a lot of hard work. He stays in the field through the day, tending to the vines so that no problem goes unnoticed.
Raised beds to stop waterlogging during the rains
During the monsoon, the crop doesn't need separate irrigation, but full care is taken to ensure water doesn't collect around the roots. For this, the beds in the field are built raised above the ground, so that excess water drains away easily and the roots don't risk rotting.
Bumper earnings from just 10 decimal of land
Dilip currently grows beans on 10 decimal of land. Thanks to this jugaad technique applied on this small plot, his crop stays protected from insects and blemishes, and that is directly showing up in his earnings.
