Latest news with #CentralInstituteforSubtropicalHorticulture
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Prayagraj's iconic Allahabadi Surkha guava may soon be available year-round
Once a seasonal winter delicacy, the famed Allahabadi Surkha guava—also known as the Apple Guava—may soon become a year-round delight, thanks to a groundbreaking farming initiative underway in Prayagraj. Allahabadi Surkha guavas on sale (File) Traditionally harvested only during the winter months, the limited availability of Surkha guavas has led to declining interest among farmers and shrinking incomes. To reverse this trend, a pilot project has been launched at the Horticultural Experiment and Training Centre in Khusrubagh, Sangam City. The project introduces an advanced European horticultural technique known as Espalier, according to officials from the Uttar Pradesh horticulture department. Widely used in Europe, the Espalier method trains fruit trees to grow flat against trellises or walls, maximising sunlight exposure, simplifying harvesting, and extending the fruiting period. 'For the first time, 27 Surkha guava trees are being cultivated using the Espalier system,' said Vijay Kishore Singh, training in-charge at the Khusrubagh centre. The aim, he added, is to significantly extend the harvesting window and enhance farmer income. If successful, the model could be expanded across the region—potentially revolutionising guava cultivation in India. Krishna Chaudhary, deputy director of horticulture, Prayagraj, said the project is being implemented by the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Rahman Kheda, Lucknow, with a ₹24 lakh investment by the Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research. 'The biggest advantage of this technique is uniform sunlight exposure to every part of the guava tree,' Chaudhary explained. 'This results in guavas of consistent color and size. Moreover, tasks like fruit harvesting and bagging become much easier.' Chaudhary also emphasized the importance of healthy leaf growth in guava production. 'A fully developed guava fruit requires about 30 to 35 healthy leaves. The Espalier system encourages robust leaf development, which is expected to significantly increase fruit yield,' he said. Currently, guava is cultivated across 2,770 hectares in the Prayagraj division, producing approximately 44,000 tonnes annually. Of this, Surkha guava is grown on 335 hectares in Prayagraj and 2,200 hectares in Kaushambi. Each year, Prayagraj yields around 400 tonnes of Surkha guavas, while Kaushambi contributes roughly 35,000 tonnes. The Allahabadi Surkha variety is prized for its deep pink pulp, apple-red skin, and minimal seeds. In high demand across India, it has recently made its way to international markets including Oman, Dubai, and England.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Mango wine can now be produced year-round
Lucknow: In a breakthrough, ICAR-CISH scientists have innovated a method to craft mango wine from pulp, extending the fruit's flavour beyond its seasonal availability. Mango wine may now be available throughout the year, even when the mango season is over. The technology developed by ICAR-CISH (Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture) involves preparing mango wine using the pulp of mangoes when fresh fruits are not available. Previously, mango wines were prepared using only the fresh juice from the fruits, making them expensive. However, CISH's technology may be revolutionary in the sense that mango pulp extracted from the fruits during their season can be stored using food-grade preservatives and used to make wines even when fresh fruits are not available in the market. "The best part is that the aroma, flavour and taste of the fruit will not be lost while preparing the wine under standardised conditions," said a Senior Scientist at the institute. CISH has experimented with varieties of mangoes grown in Malihabad such as Dussehri, Amrapali, Mallika, Chausa and Langda in making the wine. The mango pulp is fermented using sugar and yeast, which in the process releases alcohol. Mango pulp has 10% to 12% alcohol content. Because it is not distilled, it does not lose nutritional properties. It also contains Lupeol, highly potent anti-cancerous bio-active compound.
Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Delicious weekend for Delhiites as 34th Mango Festival kicks off
Written by Anushka Srivastava 'Bachpan ki yaadein, garmi ki chhuttiyan, naani ka ghar, bade se pateele mein saare aam dubo ke rakh dena, aur phir ikatthe baith ke khana, kabhi choosne wala, kabhi kaatne wala aur phir mango shake bana ke peena. (Childhood memories of summer holidays at grandma's home — putting all the mangoes in a big pot of water, then sitting together to eat them. Sometimes the kind you slurp, sometimes the kind you slice, and finally, blending them into a mango shake to enjoy).' Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta evoked the nostalgia associated with the king of fruits as she inaugurated the 34th Mango Festival 2025 at Thyagaraj Stadium, Friday. The festival is an effort to celebrate the different varieties of mangoes grown in various states and salutes the farmers. 'This year, many government departments and universities such as ICR Delhi, IAR Delhi, Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Directorate of Horticulture UP, Bihar Agricultural University, Hisar Agricultural University are also participating, making this festival grander than ever before,' said Niharika Rai, MD & CEO, Delhi Tourism. Chief Secretary Dharmendra, inviting all Delhiites to visit this festival, said, 'Swaad, Sanskriti, Parampara aur Parivar ke saath samay bitaane ka achha avsar hai yah Aam Mahotsav. (The Mango Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate flavour, culture, tradition, and spend quality time with family.') Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, Kapil Mishra, Minister of Art, Culture and Language, said most farmers in the festival have benefited and taken loans under one of the government schemes. Md. Haroon, a mango grower from Lucknow, has been coming to this festival to sell his mangoes every year. 'Achhi bikri hoti hai isliye har saal aate hai yaha (I come here every year because sales are good.') The three-day festival from June 27-29 is open from 11 am to 9 pm for visitors. It includes an exhibition showcasing 400 varieties of mangoes, including Malda, Sindoori, Kesar, Amrapali, Mallika and many more. In addition, visitors can explore a range of stalls selling diverse varieties of the fruit and various mango-based products. Engaging competitions will be held, including slogan writing and quizzes for children, as well as a challenge to eat as many mangoes, with separate categories for men and women. There is a selfie point where people can click photos. Cultural programmes will be held throughout the event. A special attraction is a real mango orchard inside the stadium. This gives children who have grown up in the city a chance to experience what a mango orchard looks like, said officials. A free shuttle service is available for all visitors from the Dilli Haat-INA Metro station. (Anushka Srivastava is an intern with The Indian Express)
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
CISH, Israel institute to collab for superior mango cultivation
Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) in Lucknow is set to collaborate with Israel for advanced research in mango improvement, its officials said. The announcement came during an interactive session on mango improvement hosted at CISH's Rehmankhera campus on June 17, where leading agri-scientists from India and abroad gathered to explore the future of mango breeding. CISH is a unit of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR). The event witnessed a high-powered exchange between Indian researchers and senior scientists Yuval Cohen and Amir Sherman from Israel's prestigious Volcani Institute. The initiative is spearheaded by T. Damodaran, the CISH director. Researchers from ICAR-CISH (Lucknow), ICAR-IARI (New Delhi), ICAR-IIHR (Bangalore), and Jain Irrigation Systems (Jalgaon) participated in discussions centred on growing superior mango varieties that can withstand climate extremes, deliver higher yields, resist pests and diseases, and meet global quality standards. 'India and Israel both have rich mango-growing traditions, but together we can take the fruit's cultivation to the next level,' Damodaran said. The focus is on leveraging genomics tools and marker-assisted selection to accelerate the breeding process, a significant shift from traditional, time-consuming methods. Israel's experience in high-tech horticulture, especially its rootstock 13-1 known for salinity tolerance, could prove critical in boosting mango production on challenging Indian soils. For the unversed, the 13-1 rootstock is a variety of mango rootstock that is widely used in commercial orchards, particularly in areas with calcareous soils and saline irrigation water. It is known for its tolerance to these soil and water conditions, as well as its suitability for high-density planting systems. The 13-1 rootstock was developed in Israel and is commonly used in commercial mango orchards there. Officials noted that the Indo-Israeli partnership will facilitate the exchange of genetic resources, innovative techniques, and technological know-how, aiming to position India at the forefront of global mango innovation.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Carbide-free fruit of the season on your doorstep with MangoBaba app
1 2 Lucknow: The MangoBaba app developed by a group of farmers in Malihabad is offering fresh and carbide-free Malihabadi Mangoes right at one's doorstep at an affordable rate. Former director of CISH Shailendra Rajan, the brainchild behind the app, said: "The mangoes delivered through the app are sourced directly from farmers who use techniques certified by the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH). These techniques include bagging, scientific harvesting, pest control, pruning and a specially designed harvester that prevents bruising while plucking the fruit, minimising the chance of spoilage. These practices help produce naturally safe, high-quality mangoes." He said though the app was launched in 2020 during the pandemic it didn't get much traction. "The app has evolved over the years with a better user interface, real-time tracking, and payment options, including COD (cash on delivery) and online payment. The app features on Google Play Store. Though the app has no direct govt intervention or formal price regulation, transparency and fairness in pricing are maintained," Rajan said. He said with India Post as the logistics partner, deliveries can be made to far-off places as well. Rajan said mangoes offered on this platform are sold at almost the same price as those in the market. However, the value addition lies in packaging; each order is provided in a box with a protective foam net, a feature rarely seen on other platforms. "Mangoes are first properly graded and then priced accordingly. This ensures better quality control and more value to the customer. Every mango is traceable" he said.
