CPCRI’s Vittal station produces 1 lakh areca seedlings

The regional station of the Central Plantation Crops Exploration Institute (CPCRI) at Vittal in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka has developed close to 1 lakh seedlings of distinct varieties of arecanut this year, according to a scientist.

Talking at an on the internet schooling programme on ‘Good cultivation methods in arecanut’, organised by the CPCRI’s regional station on Friday, Nagaraja NR, a scientist from the station, reported that there is fantastic need for the distinct varieties of arecanut seedlings.

To fulfill the prerequisite of farmers, the regional station has developed close to 1 lakh seedlings throughout the year.

Referring to the distinct varieties, he reported ‘Shata Mangala’ selection was launched in 2016. This specific selection is acceptable for locations using up pink and white arecanut cultivation. Close to 35,000 seedlings of this selection were developed this year. About four hundred-500 farmers procured this selection from the regional station for cultivation in their farms, he reported.

The station has also launched two hybrid-dwarf varieties of arecanut. Although the generate is significantly less in these varieties when as opposed to other forms of arecanut, these dwarf varieties help deal with the issues associated to labour troubles, he reported.

To a question by a participant on the drought-resistant varieties, he reported arecanut plant involves a reasonable volume of drinking water for cultivation. Nonetheless, the institute is exploring to acquire this sort of a selection, he reported.

Stressing the require for arecanut-primarily based multi-cropping method, he reported black pepper, cocoa and banana can be taken up as intercrops in arecanut plantations in coastal Karnataka and Kerala. Farmers in plain locations of Karnataka can consider the cultivation of black pepper and cocoa or banana and lemon as intercrops in their plantations.

Growers in the northern component of West Bengal can consider either banana or lemon as an intercrop together with arecanut and black pepper in their plantations.

Farmers in Waynad district of Kerala and Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka can consider cardamom as an intercrop with arecanut, he reported.

Ravi Bhat, Head (Crop Production), CPCRI, Kasaragod and CT Jose, Head of Vittal Exploration Station of CPCRI, spoke on celebration.