FIELD TRIP REPORT

2010
ASIM AGRICULTURE FARM
SUBMITTED:
TO;
Sir SALEEM EIJAZ
BY; Rao Umair Ali (BS 3rd year)
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT

UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all I would like thanks to the only Sustainer, the only Creature and th
e only God the ALLAH Subhana Hou Wa ta aala. I owe a great many thanks to those peop
le who helped and supported me during the writing of this Report. My deepest tha
nks to my honorable and highly respectable teacher, Sir Saleem Eijaz, this repor
t is utterly cause by his effort to bring into light my potential to making it.
I express my thanks to the honorable Chairman, Prof. Dr. Saleem Shahzad for exte
nding his support. My deep sense of gratitude to Hadi Bux Laghari (Technical Man
ager), Asim Agriculture Farm for his support and guidance. I would also thank my
Institution and my faculty members without whom this report would have been a d
istant reality. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to all my family member, and w
ell wishers.

Preface
This report encompasses to describe the overview of one of the Agriculture Farm
Field Trip. In preparation of this Report I have tried my best to provide all po
ssible information about the Asim Agriculture Farm. In brief and in comprehensiv
e form. I have also tried my best to use simple and easy words and language. I e
xpect that this report will be such comprehensive that this will extend knowledg
e of all students concerning Agriculture and interested to go on Field Trip.

Sr. no
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
Contents
Definition of Agriculture Farm Introduction to AAF Farm utilities Products; mang
o, banana, wheat, etc. Mango. Banana. Chili. Projects Uses of I.T on farm Aims a
nd Objectives Achievement Conclusion
Page no.
5 5 5-7 8 - 10 8 9 10 10 - 11 11 11 11 12

Definition of Agriculture Farm:

The term agriculture represents the science, art of science, and the business of
cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming. So we can de
fine the agriculture farm like that, the any tract of land where agricultural pract
ices have been occurring, under the management of a tenant or the owner.
Introduction to Asim Agriculture Farm:
Asim Agricultural Farm is located 50 Km eastward from Hyderabad near Tando Soomr
oTaluka, Tando Allah yar, province of Sindh, Pakistan. In this farm the rest hou
se is just front of main entrance. Rest house is especially reserved for the agr
iculture scientists, agriculture students, farmers and visiting guests. Land div
ision of this farm is on three basis; family land, lease land and family member
land (belonging land). The area covers by these lands are the family Land is on
430 acres, lease land is 103 acres and 170 acres land belongs to one of the fami
ly member which is under supervision. The labor colony is also developing which
comprises of 6 blocks and in each block 50 residential quarters, lavatories, dai
ry farm, public park & street lights.
FARM UTILITIES:
The farm utilities and practices performing are absolutely meeting the highly ef
ficient way and procedures. The techniques and the technologies which are perfor
ming on this farm are as follow:
BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISM TECHNOLOGY:
In this they are performing two practices;
1. Organic Composts. 2. Fermentor Pits.

IPM AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL:

IPM and Biological Control (Mango, banana, Chilies, Onion etc).
INTERCROPPING TECHNIQUES:
Asim Agriculture Farm has been doing some successful intercropping techniques si
nce many years, which includes sugarcane with onion, chilies with banana.
SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT:
Organic Manures, Green manures, Waste Recycling and Composting are being in prac
tice since many years for sustainable growth of land.
WATER CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY:
Water Conservation Technology, Laser leveling, Lined watercourses, addition of m
ore and more organic matter, rain gun, Quemisoy1 (water absorbing soil additive)
, mulching etc. are in place to conserve water.
SOIL
Soil
efit
both

ANALYSIS:
Analysis is crucial in order to maintain the fertility of soil and cost ben
ratio. This practice helps growers to be accurate in nutrient applications
Major and Micro-nutrients. This should be done in every year.

BBTV MANAGEMENT:
In December 1988, BBTV disease was reported from Thatta District at Gorabari and
MirpurSakro. It received public attention in month of April 1989 when disease d
amaged more than 70% of the banana crop in that area. Now this disease has sprea
d throughout Sindh with height intensity. A single vector transmits BBTV the ban
ana black aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa. A complete control of the aphid (vecto
r) and proper removal of diseased mats is the most important factors for disease
management. The first step in disease management is effective disease aphid con
trol. We have been able to find for the first time in Pakistan the harboring hos
t plants of the black aphid that are all monocot grasses in which it passes some
generations out of 30 generations from the months of September to end of the Ap
ril. For controlling the aphid instead of using herbicides to kill the grasses,
we introduced here the composting and use of organic mulches with banana leaves
and chopped banana pseudostems. Mulching has many benefits such as, it suppress
weed growth, retain moisture in the soil by reducing surface evaporation, insula
te soils from extremes of temperatures and improve soil structure by adding orga
nic matter. (organic mulches only), increase nutrient content of the soil and en
courage the growth of beneficial fungi, such as Mycorrhizae, earthworms etc. we
are using less hazardous eco-fields to locate bunchy top infected plants, sprayi
ng them with kerosene oil followed by cutting and burning have been advocated as
in Australia (Dale, 1987) and at Asim Agriculture Farm Tando Allah yar Sindh. C
onsequently, we still have the same banana crop

since 1994, whereas other banana fields of Sindh province are being razed each y
ear.
COMPOSTING AND MULCHING IN MANGOES:
It almost brings the tillage practices at zero within mango orchard and under th
e canopy. By initiating this technique what one can say? The forest ecology righ
t back in mango orchards.
RESEARCH WORK ON THE MANGO ORCHARDS:
In Pakistan Mango orchards suffers from several diseases at all stages of its li
fe cycle. All the parts of the plant, namely, trunk, branch, twig, leaf, petiole
, flower and fruit are attacked by a number of pathogens including fungi, bacter
ia, algae etc. They cause several kinds of rot, die back, anthracnose, scab, nec
rosis, blotch, spots, mildew, etc. Some of these diseases like die back, quick d
ecline, mango melody, anthracnose, and powdery mildew are of great economic impo
rtance as they cause heavy losses in mango production. Mango orchards are dying
in Sindh due to above-mentioned diseases/disorders. We are also doing some resea
rch work on the mango orchards regarding the identification and proper managemen
t of the diseases such as, sanitation, pruning, chemical control etc. Mango grow
ers of Sindh are receiving field trips through R&D at Asim Agriculture Farm abou
t diseases and its management, prevention is better than cure. The ultimate solu
tion against all deadly plant pathogens and this is what we are propagating to m
ango growers.
MANGO EXPORT:
In the year 2005, we sold 70% of our mango fruit to the exporters and 30% to the
local market. In this year, we are preparing to export our mango through refer
container. The basic infrastructure is being made to export our fruit and vegeta
bles that include metallic road, packaging house, skilled labor etc. We are hopi
ng for the positive outcome in near future.
TRAINING'S, FIELD DAYS AND WORKSHOP FACILITIES:
We have been organizing and arranging training's, field days and workshop facili
ties for the mango and banana growers of Sindh and planning the same for the stu
dents of Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, by doing this the students woul
d get used with the existing farming systems of Sindh and the problems and in th
e end they would be able to receive their internship certificates. In order to a
chieve this goal Asim Agriculture Farm is planning to provide some facilities fo
r the growers and students. For example Hostels etc.

PRODUCTS:
They are producing five major different crops. I am also defining the some of th
ese crops which we visited in the farm. 1. Mango. 2. Banana. 3. Wheat. 4. Onion.
5. Chili.
6. Sugarcane.
Mango:
They produce best quality mangoes and also export it. Mango Orchards were locate
d on a large piece of land. The orchards were 25 years old and need a lot of car
e when the environmental conditions are unfavorable.
They are using only healthy seeds, seedlings and plants are used for planting an
d budding or grafting. Inter cropping, mix cropping, cover cropping and or multi
ple cropping in or in the surrounding of mango orchards is avoided so that the s
imilar possible pathogens of the sown crop and mango (both) may not be multiplie
d and spread in orchards. Irrigation and fertilization of mango: Irrigation is d
one as per requirement, but not subject to the availability. Avoid high doses of
nitrogen fertilizers, and apply proper and balanced fertilizers, on the basis o
f soil type, age and need of the tree. Proper sanitation of orchards and pruning
of trees (eradication of disease causing organisms through removing and burning
of diseased plants or plant parts) is done which helps to reduce the infection
and growth, development and further spread of the disease causing

fungus or so. Easily available broad spectrum fungicides were used, in combinati
on with insecticides at proper dose.
Banana:
They are culturing the tissue cultured banana. They also have two different vari
eties of bananas. Out of the two varieties one was Pakistani and the other one w
as an Indian variety. Pakistan variety had large lush green leaves which were he
althy due to the proper care and management of the farm. Indian variety was tall
er as compared to Pakistani variety, its yield was quiet good and it takes 2
3 mon
ths to get fully prepared. It was the first time that Indian variety of banana w
as being cultivated on their farm.
Pests and diseases on banana field and their control: Aphids and bunchy top of b
ananas are the pest and disease that occur on their farm, and it is detected by
the black lines formed on the botton parts of the big green leaves, they control
these pests by using trichoderma cards and by destroying immediately any Musace
ae plant which is infected with Bunchy top and Banana aphid infesting such a Mus
aceae plant. They also burn the residues of the banana and form ash, which is ri
ch in potassium and helps to fulfill the potassium requirement of the banana pla
nt and helps it to grow better. Outcome from banana crop: The one acre cultivate
d land of banana is generating 5 lacs per season.

Chili:
Field operator Rehmat said the chilies, which could reach more than 16cm long an
d turn from dark green to red when mature. He further said that we are using the
top variety hybrid seeds he didn t tell us name of varieties, and they are earning
very well from chili crop.
PROJECTS:
They are working with many government and private projects.
On-Farm Experiments On Sap Burn Management:
Sap-burn management is an important aspect of fruit quality improvement and many
efforts had been made to manage this problem. Mr. Hadi Bux Laghari has done mar
vellous work in this context. He has performed experiments with different concen
tration of chemicals with different varieties.
Mango Quality Improvement Workshop:
The first practical activity of the project, "Harvesting, Desapping, Grading and
Packing of Mango for Quality Improvement" was held at Asim Agriculture Farms, T
ando Soomro on May 31, 2007. A range of participants from different channels of
the mango supply chains participated in the workshop. The message of the worksho
p was delivered to the participants through their practical participation in all
the activities. All the postharvest activities of mango including harvesting, d
esapping, drying, grading and packing were demonstrated to workshop participants
. The workshop was highly appraised by the participants and the need for such wo
rkshops on frequent basis was noted.

ASLP Mango Supply Chain Management Project:

Asim Agriculture Farm (AAF) provides the 'Mango Pack House' facility (to Iftikha
r Ahmed and Co). On 1st of June, 2007 the project team visited AAF to observe th
e pack house operations and help prepare the first trial consignment of the proj
ect to Singapore.
Information Technology on Farm:
Database and Backup Servers are provided to maintain the Database System of Asim
Agriculture Farm. Both Machines are heavy duty performance in order to provide
information (Farm Reports) from head office to chamber of Managing Director. Mul
timedia is also provided to present an Agriculture Information. Whenever the del
egates, progressive growers, farm staff etc are visiting Asim Agriculture Farm.
Aim and Objectives:
They are working along International level and doing the best agriculture practi
ces to promote their products globally. They are focusing the living standards o
f the people which are associated with them and trying to facilitate with all ba
sic needs and improving their sanitary standards.
Achievement:
Sindh first mango orchard Asim Farm gets Global GAP certification.
The Asim Agriculture Farm has become the first mango orchard of Sindh which acqu
ired the GlobalGAP (Formerly Europe Gap), and third at national level after Tare
en Farm and JDW Farm of Punjab with the technical help of the Pakistan Horticult
ure Development and Export Board (PHDEB). Acquisition of GlobalGAP certification
is the correct initiative on the part of exporters to address above-referred ch
allenges. The Asim Agriculture Farm believes that there is substantial potential
for export of Pak mangoes to the European market and, therefore, wants to acqui
re GlobalGAP certification on its 50 hectors land allocated for mango production
.

Conclusion:
In the end, I would conclude that, by the visit of Asim Agriculture Farm I got m
uch practical experience and built knowledge of concepts and principles of the f
arming systems as managed ecosystems. I critically analyses the information pres
ented on the key agricultural resource management issues like pesticide usage, G
M crops, water management on Asim Agriculture Farm which were meeting the Intern
ational level of farming and presented a triple bottom line
(environmental, economic a
nd social) analysis of the management practices.