Though tomato cultivation has increased in the Himalayan States including Uttarakhand, this commercially important vegetable crop offers more scope for improving the condition of farmers if the productivity is enhanced.
According to Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhakrani professor and head SS Singh, tomato is cultivated in 0.809 million hectare with the total production of 19.697 million tonnes with average productivity of 24.34 MT/ha in the country. In Uttarakhand, it occupies an area of 8626.81 hectare with the total production of 94005.13 metric tonnes while average productivity is 10.89 MT/ha. Farmers raise nursery of tomato in the month of January and February with planting done during March-April.
The tomato is mainly grown between March and October and its production starts from May onward which is the off season because during this period it is hardly grown in plains due to high temperature. Because of the off season, farmers get premium price for tomato as compared to other vegetables grown in the Himalayan States.
In the mountains of Uttarakhand, tomato cultivation has become lifeline of the farmers due to remunerative return but the average productivity is low because of the many factors.
These factors include poor awareness about the management of pests and diseases, nutrient management and adoption of high yielding hybrids and varieties recommended for the region. The incidence of pests and diseases is increasing year after year especially in the last five-six years.
Singh said that a diagnostic survey was conducted in various tomato growing areas in Chakrata region of Dehradun district under Tribal Sub Plan project of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from 2015 to 2018. During survey discussion was held with tribal farmers in Chakrata to find out their practical difficulties in obtaining maximum yield from their crops.
It emerged from the survey that poor availability of high yielding hybrids and varieties was one of the major constraints in production of tomato crops. Besides, most of the farmers were not aware about quality and effective chemical pesticides in the area which resulted in high incidence of pests and diseases.
It was found that majority of the tomato farmers lack knowledge about the high yielding varieties, hybrids and incidence of pests and diseases. Training was imparted to mobilise the farmers towards technological advancement in tomato production.
It was clear from the field demonstration that proper adoption of various integrated pest and disease management strategies can double the production and income of the tribal farmers as reflected in the large scale demonstrations carried out on farmers’ field on participatory mode from 2015 to 2018.