Aroma of organically grown capsicum

A lot of farmers pin great hopes on the vegetable. But, Seethekempanahalli Mallikarjun has decided to overlook all the rules that capsicum farmers abide by, and has grown the vegetable on his land.

What’s more, he has followed organic methods of cultivation. The plants are now ready for harvest, two months after they were first planted. The dark green vegetable weighs about 150-200 grams each.


Mallikarjun is confident of getting a good yield in the next three months.  Mallikarjun’s farm is a visual treat. On the one side is a vineyard, while on the other side is a vegetable garden. Mallikarjun used chemical fertilisers on the vineyard and the vegetables for eight years, but a couple of years back, he was inspired by the experiences of successful organic farmers and reports in the media about organic farming. He then decided to follow suit.  

It was also around that time that Prabhakar, chief scientist at the Hesaraghatta Horticulture Research Institute, mooted to Mallikarjun the idea of growing capsicum through organic farming. He also assured him of constant guidance. The time was just right.

The Agriculture Department in association with Bhoomi Sustainable Land Development Institute began to implement the organic farming scheme in Seethekempanahalli. Mallikarjun became the president of the organic farmers’ association formed under this scheme. As a first step, he started growing capsicum by organic methods on his land. Then, 30 guntas of land was ploughed. The land was treated with 15 tonnes of natural manure.

Lines were drawn at a distance of three  feet from each other. Five-feet deep pits were dug on the land. Agricultural workers mixed 500 kg of vermin compost, 250 kg of neem pulp and four kg of tricoderma for three days. They put this mixture into the pits and closed them. After three days, drip irrigation pipes were fixed. It was ensured that there was enough moisture in the soil, thanks to drip irrigation. All these activities were carried out before 20 days of sowing.

After 20 days, farmers supplied nutrients to these plants through manure – 100 kg of neem pulp, 250 kg of vermicompost – and a handful of this mixture was placed between two plants and was covered with the soil to form a bed.  These beds control weeds and the nutrients seep directly to the roots of the plants, says Mallikarjun.

The plants started flowering by a month. But Mallikarjun spotted pest on the leaves. On the advice of the IIHR scientist, he sprayed a chilli mixture, which brought the pest under control.

“If I had followed the chemical method, a lot of effort would have gone into getting a good yield. Also, it would have meant spending Rs 35,000 spent, but in the organic farming method, taking into account all the costs from labour and manure to the plants, it hasn’t crossed Rs 10,000. My objective is to get a good yield at a lower cost,” explains Mallikarjun.

Organic farming is perceived as a costly affair by many. Mallikarjun has disproved that. He points out that he has only spent on purchasing seedlings and neem pulp. The labour he employed was only for activities such as planting and weeding. According to agricultural scientists, you need an investment of at least Rs 35,000 an acre to grow capsicum and about Rs three-four lakh to grow export quality capsicum in a green house. But Mallikarjun has spent only Rs 13,000 to grow capsicum in his three quarter an acre of land.

He has now started to harvest his crop. Till date he has harvested his crop twice. The first yielded 350 kg and the second 500 kg.  A trader from the Yelahanka Raitha Santhe came to his house and procured capsicum, ensuring him a great profit.