Hello experts!
Newbie here, so please be kind! A bit of context follows and I end this email with my questions for you!
About Me
- No past experience in agriculture
- Love growing plants - balcony, backyard etc
- Expect this to be a side hobby and not full-time
About the land
- Close to Chennai
- About ½ acre
- Currently has ~17 coconut trees
- 5 of them yielding, and the rest are not
- Most of the land is barren, and some of the neighbors rear pets in the land
- Used to grow seasonal crops - veggies & spinach
Aspiration
- Start an initiative in the property, that can self-sustain and provide rural employment
Experiences so far
- Allowing neighbours to raise seasonal crops does not create critical mass for any cash flow
- The local’s marketing skills are not so good, and not a long term option
Plans for the Farm
- Plant perennials - Coconut, Mahogany, Sandal, Teak, Rose wood
- Automate the irrigation - have a borewell, install water tanks and drip irrigation
- Arrange for weekly & periodic maintenance by a local farmer
- Allow locals to use the inter-tree gaps for seasonal plants
Labor Involvement
- Plan to have 1 paid laborer for 4 hours everyday
- Plan to visit + stay there at least 2 weekends a month for the first 6 months
- Once the trees have started growing, spend 1 weekend a month subsequently
My Questions
- What are the various pre-steps that I need to take?
- Testing for soil condition - Who, where?
- Should we grow some complementary crops - and if yes, for how long?
- Where do I get the saplings?
- What is the recommended distance and order between these trees?
- What are the other plants that can be between these trees?
- Are there other options to consider?
- Someone in Chennai who provides consultative services in these areas?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Take care