Step-by-Step Guide for Papaya Cultivation in India

Table of Contents

• Introduction of Papaya to India & its Uses
• What is the Status of Papaya Cultivation in India?
• What are the Different Varieties of Papaya in India?
• What are the Top Papaya Producing States in India?
• How to Grow Papaya Successfully in India?
  • Soil & Climate
  • Propagation
  • Planting
  • Fertilizer & Manure
  • Irrigation
  • Plant Protection
  • Harvesting

Introduction of Papaya to India & its Uses

Papaya or Carica papaya L. is a key fruit crop found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In the late 16^th century, papaya entered India from the Philippines via Malaysia. This popular fruit has high medicinal and nutritional value. It is best for fresh consumption because of its delicious ripe flesh. It is commonly known as papita and is popular as a common person's fruit. It is rich in vitamin C, carbohydrates and minerals like P, Ca and Fe. Unripe green papaya is a common vegetable in India. Papain obtained from papaya has diverse uses in meat tenderization, cosmetics, tannin and the pharmaceutical industry.

What is the Status of Papaya Cultivation in India?

India is the top producer of papaya in the world. As per the National Horticulture Board, the total production stood at 55.40 lakh tonnes in 2020-21, and the area under production was 146 thousand hectares. The production increased to 57.44 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. Papaya cultivation is widespread in India because it offers high earnings as a commercial fruit crop.

What are the Different Varieties of Papaya in India?

A wide variety of commercial cultivars are grown in India, including Surya, Solo, Pusa Dwarf, Zinta, Pusa Delicious, Washington and Coorg Honey Dew. The gynodioecious (female + bisexual) types like Surya, CO 7 and CO 3 are ideal for table purposes. Dual-purpose varieties like CO 6, CO 5 and CO 2 are suitable for papain production and table purposes.

What are the Top Papaya Producing States in India?

How to Grow Papaya Successfully in India?

Soil & Climate

Papaya is highly sensitive to waterlogging, being a shallow-rooted crop. The most suited soil for papaya cultivation is the well-drained type with rich organic matter. The pH range of the soil should be between 6 and 7.

Papaya grows well up to an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. It is recommended that papaya not be grown on steep slopes. The ideal climatic conditions for papaya include tropical and subtropical climates. It is at a high risk of damage from frost, and night temperatures under 12°C can severely impact its growth. The summer temperature should be in the range of 35°C to 38°C.

Propagation

Seeds are used to propagate papaya commercially. Raising seedlings involves using fresh seeds as they lose viability in approximately 45 days. Good germination is facilitated by rubbing wood ash on seeds as it removes the mucilaginous coating. 3-5 weeks are required for seed germination. Aril should be washed off to shorten the process to 2-3 weeks, which also increases the germination percentage. Damping off is avoided by drying seeds and dusting with fungicide. The germination rate is improved by dipping seeds for fifteen seconds in hot water (70°C) and then soaking them in distilled water for 24 hours. Sowing should be done from mid-January to February. For one hectare, 400 g seeds/250 g hybrid seeds are enough for raising seedlings.

Planting

The ideal season for planting papaya is February-March or July-September. In the Northeast region, where frost is common, planting should be done in February-March. After the seedlings have reached 15- 25 cm in height, three seedlings are transplanted in a pit at a spacing of 10-15 cm. Within 5 to 6 months, flowering happens, and one bisexual or female plant is retained for every pit. The remaining male plants are removed from the pit. For pollination purposes, 1 male plant can be retained for every 10 to 15 female plants.

Fertilizer & Manure

Papaya grows vigorously after fertilization and manuring. Thus, it is essential to apply suitable amounts of fertilizers periodically. Three nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash) are required for high yield. Application of 10 kg of well-decomposed FYM (farmyard manure) is best before planting. Maximum yield is ensured with a fertilizer dosage of 200 g Nitrogen, 200 g Phosphorus and 400 g Potash. The fertilizer doses are required at an interval of 50-60 days. The first dose should be incorporated after four months of planting.

Irrigation

Adequate watering is important for protection against frost and drought. It is to be done biweekly in winter and weekly in summer. Earthing up is required after summer irrigation. Waterlogging should be prevented at all costs. Young plants should be surrounded by 20-30 cm of earth so that they do not come in touch with water.

Plant Protection

The plants must be protected from insects or pests like red spider mites, aphids and root knot nematodes. Infested leaves should be removed to control red spider mites. Also, sulphur should be dusted, or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 1.5ml/ L water should be sprayed to manage these mites. Weed removal is important for controlling aphids. Another way is to spray 250 ml Malathion 50EC in 250 litres of water. Incidences of root knot nematode can be managed by applying Neem cake @ 2 tonnes per hectare. Carbafuran3G @ 4kg per hectare can be applied to eliminate nematodes.

To prevent collar rot and stem rot, infested plants should be removed, and waterlogging should be prevented. Other measures include spraying Copper ox chloride @2g/ L or 1 % Bordeaux mixture. Damping off results in the mortality of seedlings. A good check should be done by sterilizing soil with 2.5% Formaldehyde. Seeds can also be treated with Agrosan, Thiram and Ceresan. Papaya mosaic virus can be controlled by spraying Malathion@ 1 ml/L water.

Harvesting

Within 8 to 10 months of planting, fruits begin to set. The ripening occurs during spring and summer. In hilly areas, it is observed from February to May as ripening requires a warm climate. After ripening, papaya turns yellowish green from green. When latex turns watery, the fruit is ready to be harvested. The average yield is between 30 and 50 kg. Fruits need to be picked carefully to avoid injury.

Papaya cultivation is a highly profitable business for Indian farmers. The demand is high because of its nutritional value and health benefits. Also, it is easy to cultivate and offers high yield. If the steps followed mentioned in this article are followed, high profits can be earned. Effective marketing and branding strategies are effective in attracting a large customer base, making papaya cultivation a lucrative business.