Intro
Scientists urged to develop new fruit varieties and spread technology for farmers’ income growth
BENGALURU
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday called on agricultural scientists to prioritise extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and to fast-track trials of new crop varieties, saying both steps are vital to increasing farmers’ incomes and reducing post-harvest losses.
During his visit to the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) in Bengaluru, Chouhan reviewed newly developed horticultural varieties and interacted with heads of several city-based institutes functioning under the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). He said horticulture must play a larger role in doubling farm incomes, particularly by reducing wastage and improving market access.
“Along with grains, farmers should integrate fruits and vegetables with allied activities such as dairy, fisheries and beekeeping. Integrated farming models must be strengthened to ensure stable and diversified income,” the minister said.
Scientists informed him that a newly developed crop variety typically takes around six years to reach farmers due to mandatory multi-location field trials. Chouhan urged researchers and regulatory agencies to work together to compress this timeline to about three years without compromising scientific rigour or safety.
“Our aim is to reduce dependence on imports of fruits and vegetables. We are already becoming self-reliant in certain crops like dragon fruit,” he said, adding that researchers should also assess market demand before recommending crops to farmers. Varieties with better commercial potential and longer shelf life should be prioritised, he noted.
The minister proposed organising a national-level brainstorming meet on horticulture in Bengaluru, bringing together scientists, extension workers and farmers from across the country. The proposed meet would focus on practical challenges such as disease management, post-harvest handling, extension services and market linkages.
During interactions with farmers and agri-entrepreneurs, Manikanta, a tuberose grower from Doddaballapur taluk, requested wider availability of the IIHR-developed Arka Prajwal variety, which yields flowers throughout the year and helps stabilise incomes. Varun Kashyap, founder of a startup working on precision beehives, sought government support to create a structured value chain for beekeeping on the lines of the dairy sector, saying it would benefit small and marginal farmers.
IIHR officials briefed Chouhan on ongoing work in developing climate-resilient crop varieties, post-harvest technologies and disease control strategies. The minister assured continued central support for research initiatives that directly benefit farmers and consumers by improving quality, cutting losses and enhancing overall farm profitability.
