After six years of research, the Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) in India has released new open-field cherry tomato cultivars in an effort to improve sustainable agriculture. More farmers can now employ these new varieties, which were previously only suitable for poly-house settings, because they are suitable for the open-field conditions of the eastern Indo-Gangetic region
Known as “from lab to land,” the project was led by scientists Shirin Akhtar and Tirthartha Chattopadhyay under the direction of vice-chancellor D R Singh and director of research A K Singh. These cherry tomatoes are positioned as a high-value crop with increasing demand in urban and overseas markets because of their lengthy shelf life and suitability for raw consumption.
BAU is concentrating on bringing these types to the home and foreign markets. The vice-chancellor pointed out that the previous kinds’ reach was limited by their high input costs and dependence on greenhouse conditions. Through the development of genetically diverse types that meet market expectations, the new research seeks to overcome these obstacles.
Efforts are being made to encourage farmer adoption in order to expand the growing of cherry tomatoes. In addition to research on post-harvest yield and nutritional assessment, multi-location experiments are planned in a variety of agroclimatic zones. For branding and marketing, BAU plans to work with agri-startups, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and private seed firms.
According to the study director, this development impacts rural communities and represents the intersection of science and sustainability. Krishi Vigyan Kendra scientists Rajesh Kumar, Tirthartha Chattopadhyay, and Shirin Akhtar emphasized that these new cultivars enable productive agricultural diversification and efficient land management.
