Karnataka   

‘Veneer grafting’ saves farmers

In anticipation: Farmer S. R. Lakshmikant Reddy checking a grafted plant, in his mango farm in Hiriyur taluk of Chitradurga district.

Chitradurga: Farmers who had planted the Hybrid-13 (Arka Puneet) variety of mango have welcomed the introduction of a new farming technique called “veneer grafting.”

Around 10 years ago, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, developed the H-13 variety, the quality of which was claimed to be better than that of the Alphonso variety.

A large number of farmers planted the H-13 variety, but many of them were disappointed. The major drawback of the variety was low yield. According to scientists, the variety was developed to overcome spongy tissue, a problem faced with the cultivation of Alphonso.

However, according to agricultural expert Sitaram Reddy, “The variety (H-13) drastically failed to produce yield. Farmers who had invested huge amounts of money on their plantations were not in a position to reap a single profitable crop for nearly a decade.” said .He said several farmers uprooted the trees and suffered huge losses.

According to Kadiregouda, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, the poor yield from the H-13 variety had resulted in a loss of nearly Rs. 1 crore every year.

Desperate for an alternative, farmers such as Mr. Reddy have come up with the “veneer grafting technique.”

In this technique, fully grown trees are cut to two or three feet in size. When the stump develops sprouts, they are grafted with scions of another variety. “We have selected the Alphonso variety for purposes of grafting, since it gives better yield,” said Mr. Reddy. S.R. Lakshmikant Reddy, a farmer who had invested over Rs. 1 lakh to plant the H-13 variety on 10 acres of land, was distressed owing to the continuous failure of the mango crop. But now, he is satisfied with the new technique. The technique has already been adopted in Bhimasamudra, Chitradurga and Hiriyur. “We are expecting the first crop by next year,” Mr. Reddy said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

IT raids on mining czars in Bellary
Mangalore Railway Station is 100, but there are no plans of any celebration
Dattamala Abhiyan passes off peacefully
Tie-up
‘Whatever has happened is for the good of BJP’
Kamat yet to study ICAO report
Action sought
‘Veneer grafting’ saves farmers
Owners of roadside stalls stage protest
Scientific advancement must, says expert
Six new species of fauna discovered
Laudable initiative
Health camp
Highways remain death traps Law & order

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu