Project report for custard apple cultivation

Cultivation Overview & Feasibility of Custard Apple Cultivation

• Botanical Details and Varieties (e.g., Balanagar, Arka Sahan): Custard apple, called Annona squamosa, comes from the Annonaceae family. You can grow Balanagar, which makes 100-150 kg of sweet, medium fruits per tree, or Arka Sahan, which gives 80-120 kg of big, tasty fruits. Both fight bugs well.
• Climatic and Soil Requirements: You can plant custard apples in warm, tropical places with 20-35°C and 50-80 cm of rain. They grow best in sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5 that drains water fast. Wet or salty dirt hurts them.
• Growth Cycle and Yield Timeline: You can sow seeds or graft plants in June or July. Trees start fruit in 3-4 years, making 100 fruits per tree by year 5, each 250-1000 gm. You can pick them from September to December.

• Land and Resource Requirements (Per Acre Basis): You can fit 400-500 trees on one acre, spacing them 5x5 meters apart. You need 15-20 kg of manure for each planting hole, drip irrigation pipes, and sticks to hold young trees up. One acre takes 2-3 workers all year.
• Cost of Cultivation (Plantation, Irrigation, Labor, Etc.): You can spend ₹2,18,000 the first year—₹20,000 for plants, ₹50,000 for drip irrigation, ₹3,200 to prep land, ₹3,000 for workers, and ₹1,027-₹1,342 for fertilizers. Years 2-3 cost ₹1,23,000-₹1,53,000, including picking costs.
• Government Subsidies or Schemes: You can get money from the National Horticulture Mission—up to 50% off plants and irrigation in some places. Ask local offices for more info.
• SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats): Strengths: Grows in dry spots, sells well. Weaknesses: Waits years for fruit, spoils fast. Opportunities: Sell to the USA, make ice cream pulp. Threats: Low prices, and fruits break in big rain.

Business Potential & Profitability of Custard Apple Cultivation

• Rising Demand for Exotic and Nutritional Fruits: People want healthy fruits, and custard apples pack vitamins and antioxidants. India’s fruit market grows 8% yearly, reaching ₹50,000 crore in 2024, with custard apples selling fast in cities.
• Role of Custard Apple in Processed Food Industry (Pulp, Ice Creams, Desserts): Food companies use custard apple pulp for ice creams and sweets, boosting demand by 10% since 2022. One tonne of pulp sells for ₹20,000, making it a hot pick.
• Domestic vs. Export Market Opportunities: India eats 3 lakh tonnes yearly at ₹60-₹100 per kg, while exports to Dubai and Europe hit ₹50 crore in 2024. You can sell locally or ship abroad for more cash.

• Low Maintenance and High Return Ratio: Custard apple trees need little water and care, growing in dry areas. You can spend ₹50,000 per acre and earn ₹2 lakh, a strong return.
• Shelf Life and Transportation Advantages: Fruits last 5-7 days without cooling, so you can ship them far without spoilage, unlike bananas, saving ₹5,000 per tonne on cold storage.
• Scope for Agri-Processing and Value-Added Products: You can turn fruits into pulp or juice, selling at ₹200 per kg, doubling profits over raw fruit sales.
• Seasonal Crop Advantage: Harvested in August-November, custard apples face fewer rivals then, so you can charge ₹10-₹20 more per kg.

• Cost-Benefit Analysis (ROI per Acre): You can invest ₹50,000-₹60,000 per acre (land prep, seeds, labor) and harvest 3-4 tonnes, earning ₹1.8-₹2.4 lakh at ₹60/kg, giving 300% ROI.
• Break-Even Period: You can recover costs in 2-3 years as trees bear fruit by year three, with profits growing yearly after that.
• Revenue from Fresh Fruits and Processed Products: Fresh fruits bring ₹1.5 lakh per acre, while pulp or juice adds ₹50,000 more, pushing total income to ₹2-₹2.5 lakh yearly.

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