low budget crops low input cost pulses millets less fertiliser cheap to grow crop planning
2 Answers
On a tight budget you should pick low input crops that need less seed money, less fertiliser and fewer sprays, and lean on what your soil and rain provide naturally. Pulses like pigeon pea, chickpea, green gram and horse gram fix their own nitrogen, so they need little fertiliser and are cheap to grow. Millets like pearl millet, sorghum and finger millet are hardy, need few inputs and tolerate poor soil. Oilseeds like sesame and a basic groundnut crop are also relatively low cost. These avoid the heavy fertiliser, water and chemical bills of crops like paddy, sugarcane or intensive vegetables. To stretch your budget further, use farmyard manure and compost instead of buying all fertiliser, treat seed yourself, and start small. The return per acre may be modest, but the risk to your limited cash is also low, which matters most when budget is tight. As you build up savings you can move part of the land to higher value crops. Confirm the right low cost crops and any seed or input subsidy for your area with your local KVK.
Pulses saved me when I had no money for fertiliser. They grow on little and the dal also feeds my family. Low cost and low risk for a poor season.