Tomato Hybrid Arka Abedh –A game changer for the farmer’s Income
Background information about farmer field: The farmers of Pavagada taluk have been growing Pomegranate crop since many years. From 2016 onwards, Pomegranate crop susceptible to many pest & diseases and loss is more than 60 per cent. Farmers are not in a position to get at least cost of cultivation.
At this stage, KVK, Hirehalli popularised the Tomato as an alternative crop to Pomegranate and introduce two hybrids i.e Arka Rakshak (F1 hybrid with triple disease resistance to ToLCV, Bacterial Wilt and Early blight. Fruits square round, large weighs 90-100g, deep red colored and firm. Suitable for fresh market and processing) and Arka Abedh (Multiple disease resistance to Tomato Leaf Curl Disease, Bacterial wilt, Early blight and Late blight. Plants are semi-determinate with dark green foliage. Fruits are firm, oblate round & medium large weighs 90-100g, Bred for fresh market & yields 70-75 t/ha in 140-150 days.) released from Indian Institute of Horticultural Research(IIHR), Bengaluru and demonstrated during the year 2016-17.
Interventions: Initially, Farmers are very reluctant to replace the crop by suspecting the low income compared to Pomegranate crop. KVK made lot of efforts to convince the farmers and able to demonstrated Arka Rakshak in 5 farmers field in an area of 2 ha 2016-17 in cluster village (Karikyathanahalli) of Pavagada taluk. Front line demonstration along with local check with Pvt. Hybrids was laid out by following full package of practices.
Output and Outcome: After seeing the performance of the crop particularly yield and disease resistance compared to pvt. Hybrids, farmers come ward to growing in more area during the year 2019-20.
At this stage we introduced one more new hybrid Arka abedh. The demonstration plot showed the better plant vigour, number of branches per plant and number of fruits/plant compared control plot. There was significant reduction in ToLCV, Early blight and Late blight as shown in the below table.
| Technology Practices | Per cent Disease Incidence | Plant ht. in cms | Avg. No. of Branches per plant | No. of days to Flowering | Fruit color | ||
| ELB (%) | LLB
(%) |
TLCV
(%) |
|||||
| Demonstration | 2.89 | 5.66 | 3.66 | 128.6 | 8.80 | 40 DAP | Light red |
| Check | 16.89 | 19.79 | 18.68 | 134.8 | 7.40 | 36DAP | Dark red with yellow band |
There was a considerable yield of 27.98 % increase over the check and significant difference in B;C ration in demo(2.91) compared to check(2.26). One of Our FLD Farmer Channnmallapa, Pallvalli village, Pavagada taluk was grown in 5 acres of Tomato Arka abedh hybrid and got an yield of 125 tonnes during Kharif 2020-21. He was very much impressed about the crop stand and resistance to Late blight. He always stressed that this hybrid withstand against late blight when all other pvt. hybrids very much susceptible during the same season. Cost of cultivation is Rs.3.13 lakhs. He got very good rate of Rs.12/Kg and got an net income of Rs.8.25 Lakhs.
| Particulars | Yield
(ton/ha) |
% increase in yield | Gross Cost (Rs./ha) | Gross returns
(Rs./ha) |
Net return
(Rs./ha) |
B:C
ratio |
| Demonstration | 61.24 | 27.98 | 210794 | 612440 | 401646 | 2.91 |
| Check | 47.85 | 211928 | 478540 | 266612 | 2.26 |
Impact : So, seeing the success of the Tomato crop, more than 80 per cent of the Pomegranate farmers diverted to Tomato crop. The area under Tomato crop during the year 2015-16 was 550 ha and increased to 2452 ha during the 2019-20.
Farmer feedback : Farmer was very much impressed about the success of Tomato crop compared to Pomegranate crop. Drastic reduction in pesticide usage as well as failure of crop. The hybrids are also impressive because of their yield and Disease tolerance
