Integrated farming, also known as mixed farming, is a system in which agriculture can be integrated with livestock. The main purpose of integrated farming is that the farming components support one another, hence, reducing external inputs. Animal husbandry is maintained along with crops at the same place to generate employment around the year and also get additional income. For instance, the crop can provide as animal feed/fodder for the livestock, and the livestock as fertilizer (manure) for the crop. Some livestock can also act as weed-control by foraging on the weeds.

The integrated farming system works by minimalizing external inputs so that each component sustains one another. Essentially, the crop residues serve as feed to the livestock, and in turn, the wastes from the livestock serve as fertilizer to the crops. Moreover, their wastes, together with crop residues, are digested in a biodigester to produce fuel for household cooking and electricity. This system also reduces dependency on fossil fuels because it generates its own fuel from wastes. Integrated farming consists of simultaneous cultivation of sugarcane, food crops (like corn or rice), timber trees and tree fodder (trees or shrubs used for animal feed), together with the raising of animals like sheep, pigs, hens, ducks, fish, etc.

At SANF, we actively promote and practice integrated farming and agroforestry. Along with this, we are also involved in intercropping and plantation of the Malabar Neem Wood, also known as Melia Dubia. We help the farmers in practicing farming systems like integrated farming and agroforestry. We also help them in getting associated with the buyers directly, so that both the farmer and the buyer are satisfied with each other’s demands and requests.

WOOD UTILIZATION OF MELIA DUBIA

Cultivating Melia Dubia trees has many benefits as the trees are multipurpose trees and can be cultivated as per the farmer’s requirement. The trees can be used for making:

• Agricultural tools

• 4 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in few places of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

• Boats

• 10 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in few places of Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala and Sri Lanka only.

• Cigar Boxes

• 4 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in Chennai.

• Ceiling Planks

• 4- or 6-years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in few places of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

• Light-Weight Building Materials

• 5 to 6 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in Goa, Pune, Mumbai, Karnataka.

• Light-Weight Furniture

• 8 to 10 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in a few places of Tamil Nadu, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka only.

• Matchsticks

• 3 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in South Tamil Nadu only.

• Packing Cases

• 4 to 5 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu only.

• Pencils

• 3 to 4 years old trees can be used.
• Present markets in a few places of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka only.

The MARKETING TARGETS of Melia Dubia farming can be divided in 3 sections:

1. Farmers who would like to harvest up to 3 years

The wood properties of Melia Dubia wood up to 3 years is suitable for paper industry or for firewood industry.

2. Farmers who would like to harvest up to 4 years

The wood is suitable for pencil industry, packaging industry or matchbox industry.

3. Farmers who would like to harvest up to 8 years or above

The trees that grow up to 8 years are rich in plywood properties. This makes the farmers keen on harvesting them for 8 or more years. If the farmers is keen t gain higher profits, they must harvest the trees for at least 10 years or 14 years and above,

The farmers can decide their marketing targets based on the information provided via online sources or few departments and official announcements like the Punjab Forestry Department, Indian Plywood Research Institute Department, Wood Science & Technology, Tamil Nadu Forestry Department, Karnataka Forestry Department and many more. These departments and institutes state the multipurpose nature of Melia Dubia and also tell which industries can the wood be used in and as.

The farmers, especially the ones with small lands (like 5 acres or below or 1 acre and 2 acres), must make sure that their nearby market is available to take the wood as per your requirements. For instance, if a farmer harvests the Melia Dubia trees for 3 years, he must first make sure that the nearby market is available to buy such wood. The farmer must have a good knowledge of the market, whether they are having proper legal licence to receive the amount of production he is willing to supply.

MEASUREMENT TARGETS

All over the world, trees have a variety of sizes, shapes and growth habits. Their commercial purposes state their specific measurements required as per their demands in respective industries. Basic parameters for selling Melia Dubia are height, girth and crown spread/canopy. The canopy can be ignored because it does not have much commercial value, but height and girth matter a lot, specially regarding the growth years of these trees.

• For wood harvested up to 3 years

These woods do not require any specific set standard of tree measurements girth-wise or height-wise. They can be sold if they are 6 inches and above.

• For wood harvested up to 4 years

The measurement should be 12 inches.

• For wood harvested up to 8 years and above

These trees are mainly used in the plywood industry. To sell these woods for plywood, there are basic parameters set:

• Height- 20 to 25 ft
• Girth- 3 ft or 36 inches and above around the trunk