Senior horticultural scientist from Himachal Pradesh Chiranjit Parmar will be back in the city on Saturday to talk on ‘apple cultivation experiments in Karnataka, future possibilities’.
Mr. Paramar, a Mandi-based horticultural scientist, who had revealed that apple could be cultivated in Karnataka, had interacted with farmers here in April last.
This time he would talk to farmers at ‘Proline’, Inland Avenue, M. G. Road at 10 a.m. on Saturday, said a release. The meet is open to all.
Shree Padre, Executive Editor of Adike Pathrike, a farm monthly, would also participate in it, the release said.
Krishna Shetty, convener of the programme, told The Hindu that apple cultivation experiments were going on in the State, including at Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada, for the past over two years.
A farmer in Tumkur Gangadharamurthy had planted 13 saplings three years ago. Of them a plant bore fruit in April last after two years of planting. This year the farmer has informed that one plant has yielded nine apples now, he said.
Mr. Shetty said that of 18 saplings planted by him at his farm in Uppinangady in 2011 two survived. He planted 12 more saplings in 2012 which survived. Of 50 saplings planted last year six died. Though some plants flowered it did not yield fruit.
A farmer Khalistus D’Souza from Somwarpet, Kodagu district has informed that a saplings in his farm has two apples now.
Mr. Parmar had revealed that the fruit, though traditionally grown in temperate regions, could also be cultivated in Karnataka where the temperatures do not fall below 10 degrees Celsius.
It struck to Mr. Parmar when he visited a place called Batu in the Jawa island of Indonesia along the equator.
The Indonesians get two crops in a year and their average yield is about 65 tonnes per hectare compared to six tonnes to seven tonnes per hectare in Himachal Pradesh.
Mr. Pramar visualised that “a near revolution in apple cultivation” may be possible in Karnataka.
After his Mangalore visit Mr. Parmar would also visit Somwarpet and Tumkur, Mr. Shetty said.
For details call Mr. Shetty over 9448484198.
