The Grape Research Station here has developed a pest-tolerant and high-yielding grape variety meant for table purpose, and is set to distribute seedlings to grape growers this season. It has kept 12,000 seedlings ready for distribution to the grape growers at its research station at Anamalayanpatti village near Royappanpatti in Cumbum valley.
When contacted, research station Professor and Head S. Parthiban said farmers had to buy seedlings that were developed in other places for cultivation in Cumbum valley.
Climatic and soil conditions varied from place to place and it would have some impact during cultivation. Hence, the farmers might face some difficulties in growing plants.
But this variety had been developed at the research station in Cumbum itself. It was tested and successful field trial was conducted in one of the grape production centres in the valley. It was accustomed to soil and climatic conditions prevalent in the valley.
The farmers would not face much difficulty in raising this variety. Even as the research station had developed seven varieties in the station, most of the seedlings available were Red Globe variety. The grape growers needed a heat and pest-tolerant variety as availability of water was very limited in the valley, he added.
