Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin   

Grow hybrid variety of vegetables, farmers told

— Photo: N. Rajesh.

BOON:S. Raja Mohamed, Assistant Director of Horticulture, inspecting hybrid vegetable

Tuticorin: Farmers are being sensitised to adopt strategies for growing hybrid variety of vegetables. With good agricultural practices like incorporation of organic manures at initial stages, progressive farmers could maximize profits.

Need-based pest and disease management, nutritional management, timely harvesting, tapping of market intelligence and marketing of their vegetable produces at an appropriate time could enhance agricultural productivity, S. Raja Mohamed, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Vilathikulam block, said.

After assessing the yield potential of hybrid bhendi variety “US 7109” (ladies finger) at the field of a farmer M. Madasamy at Ayan Pommaiyapuram in Vilathikulam block, he suggested the farmers to cultivate hybrid vegetables to achieve high yield to attain benefits.

Since the farmers were guaranteed with higher yields and attractive returns, they had been tempted to opt for hybrid vegetable cultivation. Thirty kilograms of hybrid bhendi seeds had been distributed to 17 farmers in the block during February this year at 50 per cent subsidy under the Integrated Horticulture Development scheme, he added.

The marginal farmers, who owned one or two acres, had also followed suit. A marginal farmer at Ayan Pommaiyapuram used to grow only conventional local vegetable varieties, especially bhendi. But he also switched over to cultivating the hybrid variety.

Bhendi is low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol, high in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, thus, an ideal diet for human consumption.

This hybrid variety could be cultivated throughout the year on well drained heavy soil. Black and red soils are conducive to this crop growth under sunlight.

“I adopt better management practices as advised by the officials of Horticulture Department. I manure my land by ‘penning' with sheep purposely to enrich the soil prior to sowing bhendi seeds. This hybrid variety starts yielding from the 40th day onwards. Harvest to the tune of 40 kg in morning and the same in evening are being made. So far 900 kg has been harvested from 30 cents in about 10 times every other day. It is sold at Rs.10 to Rs 12 per kilo on an average. Hence I expect a yield of 1,000 kilograms of bhendi fruit additionally in another 20 to 25 days with a net profit of Rs.12, 000 to Rs.14, 000 from my land” Mr. Madasamy said.

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