Performance of Ramie in Jhum fallow system of Nagaland: A new initiative

Abstract

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) the strongest and longest natural fibre having manifolded uses at different land use systems. In view of its wide adoptive nature a field experiment was conducted on ramie (variety-Hazarika) during the year of 2014-2017, to assess its potential performance and productive capacity in jhum fallow system of Wokha district in Nagaland. An intensive training cum demonstration programme was imparted for the selected farmers on scientific package of practices on ramie cultivation and fibre extraction methods before conducting the experiment at farmer’s field. A total of 3.6 lakh number of ramie plantlet were planted in the farmer’s field in a participatory mode to cover an area of 6 ha. The result of the experiment revealed that the ramie fibre crop performed better in jhum fallow system with yield ranged from 16.21 to 18.15 q/ha/year in four cuttings of the year. The average cost of ramie cultivation was Rs. 18,500/- per ha/year. The net annual return for ramie cultivation varied from Rs. Rs. 33,814/- to Rs.46,021/- per ha/year with B: C ratio of 3.16:1 thereby, revealing that promotion of ramie cultivation is quite feasible under the jhum fallow areas of Nagaland. Further, it was noticed that promotion of ramie in jhum fallow had also improved soil fertility status by enhancing soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) and available nitrogen content.