IIHR Partners with Kilvelur Agri College to Develop Nagapattinam-Specific Mango Variety

Rapid Summary

• Research Initiative: ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, and TNAU’s Agricultural College at Kilvelur collaborated to identify saline-tolerant mango varieties for Nagapattinam district.
• Objective: Address the rising sea-level and saline water intrusion impacting agricultural productivity in the Cauvery delta region.
• Scope of Study: Screening over 15 mango varieties for tolerance to coastal salinity and sodicity. Trials are conducted in three locations, including Kilvelur campus with saline groundwater conditions.
• Mango Production Impact: Nagapattinam grows mango on 2,385 hectares with annual production reaching 16,600 tonnes; Vedaranyam block yields higher market-value fruits due to off-season flowering during October-November.
• Technological Advances: IIHR developed over 14 mango technologies aimed at boosting yield,including techniques like high-density planting (increasing trees per hectare from 100 to over 1,000) and ‘Mango Special’ for enhanced yield management.
• Farmer Training Initiatives: The institutions provide hands-on training on pest management,nutrient optimization techniques,flowering induction methods,and mechanized harvesting tools as part of a program focused on livelihood security in the region.
• Strategic Vision: Transforming Nagapattinam into a science-driven hub for climate-resilient mango production while improving rural incomes.

Indian opinion Analysis

Nagapattinam’s initiative exemplifies how region-specific agricultural research can tackle environmental challenges such as salinity stress caused by rising sea levels.By integrating advanced horticultural technologies with farmer training programs like mechanized harvesting methods and pest control strategies, this collaboration between ICAR-IIHR and TNAU lays the groundwork for sustainable crop production tailored to local conditions.

The emphasis on developing resilient rootstocks has both immediate economic benefits-better prices during off-season fruiting-and longer-term ecological value in safeguarding productivity amid changing coastal environments. However, barriers such as labor availability and limited awareness among farmers underline the need for more widespread outreach efforts. With scalability across coastal regions facing similar issues across India’s delta zones possible down the road if accomplished outcomes are achieved-it positions Nagapattinam firmly as an exemplar of science-backed farming adaptation.

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