Mitul Kothari, an agripreneur based out of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, is known for his path-breaking innovations in agriculture, especially in horticulture, making a headway towards next generation farming. He has over two-and-half decades of practical experience in farming. His passion for innovation-led agriculture has encourages him to visit several countries like #Israel, #Thailand, #SouthKorea, #Spain, #Taiwan, #Ukraine, and #Belarus to understand the modern agricultural technologies there and adopt those back home to reap the benefits. Mitul has been nominated as a Member of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India. In an exclusive interview with T.I.W, Mitul unfolds how technology can empower farmers to boost yield and increase their income.
#1. What are the advantages of grafting in horticulture?
Grafting can provide more resistance to diseases and adverse conditions than naturally sown vegetables. Moreover, #grafting can enhance the yield of plants, improve quality of fruits and vegetables, and increase size of produce while making plants larger or smaller.
#2. Which plants do you graft for enhanced results?
Primarily, in vegetables segment I am applying grafting to #brinjal, #capsicum, and #tomato, and in fruits segment currently I am using for #papaya and #dragonfruits. Post grafting, brinjal farming yield doubled to 40-50 tonnes per acre; tomato production increased by 40%; and capsicum achieved 25% spur. Grafting of wild brinjal is introduced first time in Raipur, making the farmers beneficiary of this technology. Through grafting farmers are getting maximum yield and improving quality and durability of produce.
#3. Please explain to our readers about inarching technology in papaya.
Grafting and #inarching of promising papaya hybrid method can be an alternative to seed propagation to overcome constraints like problems due to the inherent heterozygosity, dioecious nature, and susceptibility to many viral diseases. The process involves the joining of scion and rootstock where the rootstock develops into the root system while the scion develops the upper fruiting part of the grafted tree. Rootstocks can be seedlings, rooted cuttings or layered plants. Rootstocks may influence various characteristics of grafted plants including the size and growth habits of the tree, yield, size and time of fruit maturity.
#4. How are farmers benefitted from apple ber farming?
Twelve years ago, I visited Thailand to understand the methods of apple ber farming and brought in new variety of sapling of apple ber. I started this farming in Raipur. Today, more than 5,000 acres of orchids are using this variety of apple ber. In single season, a plant provides 40-50 kg of ber. This variety gets fair price in the market which is enhancing the livelihood of local farmers. Given the yield and market price, more farmers are interested in cultivating apple ber in the state.
