Cherry tomatoes.
Cherry tomato cultivation is becoming a major source of income for farmers in Uttar Pradesh. Farmers in Hardoi district of the state are turning to cherry tomatoes. For this, the district horticulture department is helping the farmers. Tomatoes of the cherry variety are selling at the price of apples. If it is cultivated scientifically, the profit increases more.
Mahendra, who specializes in research on vegetable farming, said farmers need to change their practices with time. He said that cherry tomato cultivation is the most profitable business in vegetable farming. This tomato is as big as a cherry. Tomato cultivation is done by making scaffolds through drip irrigation system.
Cherry tomatoes are like this
Mahendra said that cherry tomato vines grow up to 20 feet tall. There are about 120 tomatoes in one batch. Its vines start bearing fruit in 40 days and with proper care, bumper production of crops continues for 10 months. He said that there is a huge demand for it in countries like Dubai, China, America and Japan. It costs Rs 400 per kg in big vegetable markets.
How and when to cultivate cherry tomatoes?
OP Maurya, a farmer associated with the agriculture department and horticulture department, said that cherry tomatoes are cultivated in sandy-loamy soil during July and early August. A field pH value of 7 is ideal. Tomato trees are protected from weeds in raised beds. He said that in 40 to 60 days, tomato clusters start to appear on the vine. Tomatoes are watered as required by drip irrigation system. This crop provides good profits to the farmers with periodic pest control and proper fertilization and watering.
Needs sunlight
He said that tomato cultivation is best in mild and warm climates, so the tree needs more sunlight. Its cultivation in villages adjacent to Sandila and Lucknow is proving to be a profitable business for the farmers. It fetches good price in Lucknow market. Most traders are buying cherry tomatoes and selling them abroad.
Cherry tomatoes come in many colors
District horticulture officer Subhash Chandra said that cherry tomatoes are smaller than other tomatoes and are 90% water rich. Vitamin C is found in abundance in it. There are different varieties of this tomato in black, red, yellow, green, orange and purple colors. Its excellent production is being taken in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Punjab, Orissa etc. He said that the cherry tomato variety called Sun Sugar is the best.
