The Hindu Business Line : `Horticulture research should be consumer-driven'

Coimbatore May 16 Breeding a sapota variety that has less sugar content or developing a thorn-free lime or mango that is also seedless will definitely be a consumer-delight. .

These are among some of the tasks suggested for scientists involved in horticultural crop research at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University at a recent annual research meet of the University's Horticulture Department.

It had sought to give weight to consumer-driven research, especially for some of the economically important horticultural crops.

Organic Practices

Setting the tone for `consumer-oriented' research in horticulture, the TNAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr C. Ramasamy, in his interaction with researchers at the meet said that evolving viral disease management in papaya, tomato varieties tolerant to conditions caused by diseases and lack of water, developing hybrid brinjals, production of seedless varieties of grapes and bananas through standardised organic practices that are acceptable for export markets should be accorded due focus in research.

While undertaking these tasks, the farm scientists should continuously be in touch with the exporters and the trade to understand their needs in market place.

Any farming suggestions relating to farm inputs from scientists should match the availability on ground, especially their availability closer to the farmers.

Non-availability of farmyard manure is widely known and felt.

The farm scientists realising this ground reality should seek out alternatives to FYM such as sugarcane pressmud application in sugarcane areas or use of pseudomonas.

Standardised Protocols

The university has also identified a Bacillus sp capable of thriving in soil even without any organic matter that can be an alternative organic manure to crops.

The Vice-Chancellor also suggested that high-density planting studies in cashew can be an area of priority in increasing the yield.

Dr D. Veeraragavathatham, Dean, Horticulture, TNAU, said the university proposed to release two new banana hybrids, tolerant to nematode attack.

The university has standardised protocols to eliminate the virus in cassava and already 50,000 tissue culture derived virus-free cuttings were distributed to the entrepreneurs for multiplication.

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