India is undertaking a breeding experiment to develop its first indigenous, climate-resilient strawberry cultivar. The project, a partnership between Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), aims to create a variety that can tolerate Indian heatwaves while matching the size and texture of foreign fruits.
Currently, India's strawberry cultivation, with approximately 85% located in the Mahabaleshwar region, relies on varieties imported from countries including the US and Europe. Developing a new domestic plant could take 10 to 15 years, according to Dr Darshan Shashank Kadam, assistant professor of Horticulture at MPKV.
Farmers in the Mahabaleshwar region face challenges such as crop losses due to sudden heavy rains, making strawberry cultivation a risky venture. Some growers are adopting advanced methods, including hydroponics and vertical farming, to mitigate these risks and increase production density.