The Hindu : Karnataka News : A boon for a drought-hit region

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

A boon for a drought-hit region

Suresh Bhat

`In a few seasons, earnings from the nursery surpassed that of the vineyard'

INSPIRING WORK: Vittalgouda Biradar, a progressive farmer, showing the `dog-ridge' variety rootstock of American origin at his vineyard in Tidagundi village in Bijapur taluk.

BIJAPUR: In early 1980s, the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research wanted to introduce `dog-ridge' variety rootstock of American origin in the domestic grape field. Farmers were hesitant to experiment it because they had doubts whether the rootstock brought from a far away land would be successful in the local weather and soil conditions. Another reason for their lackadaisical response was that they were not much familiar with grape cultivation based on grafting method. However, Vittalgouda Biradar, a marginal farmer from Gotyal village in Indi taluk, dared to adopt the new variety in his family's one-acre vineyard. It was a turning point for grape cultivation in the State. As only few samples were made available, a nursery was developed at Gotyal to multiply them. Indigenous "Sharad" and "Thomson" seedless variety vines grafted on the `dog-ridge' rootstocks showed a robust growth and the yield was also high. The success encouraged other farmers to go in for "dog-ridge" rootstocks. The Biradars' fortunes brightened as farmers from the State and elsewhere turned to them for supply of rootstocks. For the next few seasons, Mr. Biradar says, earnings from the rootstocks nursery surpassed the income of the vineyard. It enabled them to purchase a 20-acre barren plot at Tidagundi in 1989 and expanded it further. The family group now owns a 150-acre plot, and of this, an 85-acre area has been developed into a vineyard. As much as 95 per cent area of the garden is developed on "dog-ridge" variety rootstocks.

According to K.H. Mumbaraddy, a plant physiologist, "dog-ridge" variety consumes less water and has thus proved to be a boon for domestic grape cultivation, especially in the dry region. Besides, it is resistant to many botanical diseases such as phylloxera, nematode and cotton-root-rot. It is a good iron-chlorosis resistant as well, and has reason-able salt tolerance. The Director of IIHR, Hesarghatta, Bangalore, S.D. Shikamani, told The Hindu over phone that his institution had selected the "dog-ridge" variety rootstock as it suited conditions here. It proved to be drought tolerant as its roots go deep into the earth. It has been performing well in all type of weather and soil conditions, and farmers are advised to cultivate it. The National Horticulture Board, the Depart-ment of Horticulture and the Karnataka Agriculture Produce Processing and Export Corporation have recognised the vineyard of Biradars as a model one. They ask those who want to raise vineyard to visit the Biradars' farm not just because of its good grafting and high yield but also because of the Israel model of water management adopted there. Although vineyards of other farmers in the region withered long ago that of the Biradars remained lush green. The Biradars were also the first horticulturists from the State to export grapes to Europe in 2002.

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