Baby Corn

Today many farmers in different parts of the country are taking up contract farming of baby corn
on behalf of food processing companies. The companies supply the farmers with high quality
inputs - including hybrid seeds - besides cultivation knowhow. The harvested crop is then bought
from the farmers at a predetermined price. This crop is processed and then mainly exported to
the overseas market. With a market for their produce assured and an estimated net income of Rs
26,000 per acre including leftover after harvesting as cattle feed. Farmers are finding baby corn
an attractive crop to cultivate.

Baby corn cultivation is a recent development. It was Thailand in the early 1970s that first
seriously started cultivating this crop for exports. Later other countries like Guatemala, Zambia,
Zimbabwe and South Africa started cultivation. Today Thailand and China are the world leaders
in baby corn production. The growth of baby corn exports from Thailand has been amazing.
From 67 tonnes worth U.S.$38,059 in 1974 their exports had risen to 3676 tonnes worth of U.S.$
33 million in 1992.

In India its cultivation is only now picking up in a serious way in Gujarat, Meghalaya, Western
UP, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Now leading private sector
companies in India like Champion Agro World are cultivating Baby corn on a large scale.
Company has 273 acre land under Baby Corn cultivation. The cultivation technique has also
now been more or less standardized.

At the moment opportunities for baby corn appear to exist mostly

in export market. Few companies -like Namdari Seeds - are selling
fresh baby corn at retail food outlets like Food World in
Bangalore. But many insiders say that a market for baby corn has
still not developed within India. Urban customers in India are still
not willing to pay the price that makes it viable for these
processing companies to invest in expensive processing and
preservation technology. Therefore it is the export markets that are
currently attractive .So farmers intending to take up baby corn
cultivation must try and get in touch with companies which are
exporting baby corn and see whether they can take up contract
farming on behalf of the companies. This way the problem of
marketing baby corn is taken care off since the company will "buy
back" their produce at a fixed price. Then further processing it in
their canning & IQF plant. The company set up state of the art
processing units to export canned fruits and vegetables inclusive of
Baby Corn to Western Europe and North American countries. For
this purpose they are going in for contract farming in and around
Gujarat especially in Saurashtra region. The company would be
supplying all necessary inputs for these growers, including Baby
Corn seeds. The investments per farmer would be around Rs 4000
per acre. The expected yield will be anywhere between 3-4 tonne per acre depends on the care
taken by the farmer. The end produce will be purchased by champion fresh for anywhere
between Rs 4-5 per kg. The baby corn will be cleaned and individual quick frozen. This will give
the product a shelf life of up to 2 years.

WORLD MARKET OVERVIEW

The consumption of baby corn in Asia is highest in the world. Now, baby corn production and
markets are expanding worldwide, especially in Asia, Africa and South America.
Countries well known as exporters of baby corn include Thailand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China,
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Indonesia, South Africa, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras.
Major baby corn markets are U.K., the U.S., Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan and Australia.
However, statistical information on baby corn production is limited because many producing
countries either neglect to make a report of baby corn production or barely include it in sweet
corn production.

The following is a summary of the world market situation of baby corn in each region:

North America: One of the largest baby corn markets is the U.S. so we will focus on the U.S
market. Many countries in North America usually import fresh baby corn. However, fresh baby
corn is rarely available in retail businesses such as supermarkets. It is usually used in high-end
restaurants, which prefer unhusked baby corn.
As for canned baby corn, the U.S. mostly imports it from Thailand, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
Factories in the U.S. prefer to buy baby corn in can, and make it into brined baby corn in glass
jars. Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) baby corn has the smallest market share in the U.S. market
in comparison to other processed baby corn products because of its high price

Europe: European countries import fresh baby corn more than the U.S. Fresh Baby corn is in
most demand here. Baby corn products are imported both in loose and pre-packed forms, though
the later is more prevalent.
U.K. is the largest fresh baby corn market in the Europe. In the country, fresh baby corn is
normally distributed through retailers such as supermarkets. This contrasts with the U.S. market,
where fresh baby corn is used primarily in restaurants.
Among European countries, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya are known as
big exporting countries. The Netherlands is also considered an exporter for this region. But, it is
not actually a producer because it imports baby corn from Asia and Africa, and re-exports baby
corn to northern Europe as well as the Middle East.

Middle East: The import volume of baby corn in Middle East countries is mainly accounted for
by the Netherlands. However, baby corn from the Netherlands, in fact, comes from Asia and
Africa. The country just imports baby corn from other producers, and re-exports it to many
countries in this region. Buyers in the Middle East generally import baby corn in the pre-packed
form like European importers.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of canned baby corn.

Asia: World baby corn supplies mostly come from Asian countries. Therefore, they are regarded
as producers rather than importers. However, there are some Asian countries that import a lot of
baby corn. These are, for instance, Japan, Malaysia, which usually import canned baby corn.
 Cultivation method
Baby corn production generally requires the cultivation practices recommended for normal corn
production, except that the crop cycle or duration is only about 60 days as compared to the 110-
120 days duration of the grain crop. Here is a quick look at some of the main requirements.

Soil: Well drained, Sandy loam to Silty loam soils is best suited for baby corn cultivation. It can
also be grown in well drained black soils.
Season: June-July, October-November and January-February sowings are recom-mended.
Although Baby corn can be cultivated throughout the year.
Seeds per acre: 15 - 16 Kg per acre (Hybrid / Composite / Good varieties)
Land Preparation: The land must be deep ploughed once and the soil must be worked up with a
harrow and then a cultivator to bring it to a fine filth and to minimize weed problem. Apply the
well decomposed FYM and mix it well with soil by running a cultivator. Land must then be laid
out into ridges 40-45 cm apart.
Sowing: Seeds must be sown as 15-17.5 cm distance on one side of the ridge. Plant 2 seeds per
hill and then there would be approximately 90,000 - 100,000 established plants per acre.
Fertilizer application: 4 MT of FYM (Farm Yard Manure) per acre should be applied 30 days
before sowing. A basal dose of 20 Kg per acre of Nitrogen, 30 Kg per acre of Phosphorous and
30 Kg per acre of Potash should be applied. Subsequently, 20 Kg per acre of Nitrogen should be
applied between 25 and 30 days and another 20 Kg per acre of Nitrogen should be applied 45
days of sowing. The above fertilizer recommendation would vary depending on rainfall and local
agro-climatic conditions.
 Weed control: Spraying Simazine Atrazine at the rate of 2.5 kg (for sandy loam) to 3 kg (for
black soil) dissolved in 750 litres of water on the soil on the day of sowing or the next day after
irrigation.
Plant Protection: Baby Corn is a 60 days crop and thus chances
of being infested by pests and diseases is less but any attack by
pest and disease would reduce the plant's ability to grow and hence
reduce yield. Thus preventive measures are always recommended.

Detasseling: Detasseling is an essential operation in the

cultivation of baby corn. It is done by removing the tassel of the
plant as soon as it emerges from the flag leaf and before it starts
shedding pollen grains. If this is not done, Baby Corn can get pollinated and the quality gets
affected.
Harvesting: For better quality baby cobs harvesting is done when the cobs are 8-10 cm long, 1-
1.5 cm in diameter and weigh 7-8 g. Harvesting can begin when the first silk has emerged about
0.5-1 cm. Subsequently, second and third harvest can be done. If silk grows older and longer the
quality of the cob deteriorates. First picking of the cobs can be done 45-50 days after planting
depending on the variety, followed by further 3-4 pickings on alternate days. The fresh cobs with
husks must be sent to the market immediately to avoid weight loss.

Supply chain for baby corn:

Harvesting Processing Packaging

Sowing Grading Placing in punnets
Germination Sorting Weighing
Fully Growing Plant Baby corn Punnet Wrapping
Silk Apearance Processing-Peeling Pre-cooling
Con Formation Baby Corn Storage Filling in boxes
Harvesting at cold Room Ready to Dispatch
Sampling

Arrival at Packing
House

Company Farm:

Total Area under Cultivation: 140 acre (Now 230 Acres)

Yearly Production: 300-350 tonne

Daily Production: 3-3.5 tonne

Total Crop/year: 3-4

Crop Harvesting: 45-50 days in summer, 60-75 days in winter

Total Blocks: 10

Crop Production/block: 33 tonne

Yield & Recovery: 13% (1.5 kg – 1.8 kg)

Manpower used: 35-40 (Vary with Crop)

Costing/Crop:

Land Size: 12 Acre

Seed: 115 kg

DAP: 8 kg

Fertilizer: 48 Bags

Urea: 18 Bags (2 times 12+6)

Pesticide: 72 ltr. & 28 kg

Labor Cost: Rs. 32850

Energy Cost: 120 ltr. Diesel (43 hrs)

Total Production: 33 tonne

 Economics of baby corn
Given below is an estimate of the cost and returns farmers can expect from baby corn cultivation.
These figures are bound to vary depending on the variety grown, place of cultivation and the care
taken.

Economics of baby corn cultivation : per acre for the farmer.

Item Requirement Unit Cost per unit Total cost in Rs.
Seeds 16 Kgs 125 2000
FYM Fertiliser 4 Mt Tons - 800
Nitrogen 60 kgs - 650
Phosphorus 30 kgs - 720
Potash 30 kgs - 350
Irrigation 5 Nos 75 375
Land Preparation Tractor hiring - - - 400
Labour Sowing 2 man days 50 100
Fertiliser 3 man days 50 150
Harvesting (6 pickings) 6 man days 50 300
Transportation & Miscellaneous - - - 200
Total 6045

Returns Yield of cobs with husk (average yield) -- 4000 kgs

Procurement price from the farmer -- Rs.4 per kilo
Total income from cobs 16,000
Income from green fodder 10,000
Total income 26,000
Net income for the farmer Rs.19,955 or approx Rs 20,000/acre

Submitted by: Pankaj Goyal