Tomato-dream comes true! Arka Rakshak tomato cultivation process demystified

Arka Rakshak, developed after a five-year research by a team of the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bangalore; continues to make waves in the horticultural sector. Labeled 'highly profitable' for farmers, the hybrid tomato variety has recorded impressive yields of up to 19 kilos of tomatoes per plant. Here's all you need to know about Arka Rakshak tomato cultivation process.

Season of sowing: May–June, November–December

Nursery bed preparation: Apply FYM 10Kg, Neem cake 1Kg, VAP 50gm, enriched superphosphate 100g and Furadon 10g per sqm, before sowing

Seed Rate: 30gm/acre

No. of Plant: 4000/acre

Seed treatment: Treat seeds with Trichodemraviride 4g or Pseudomonas Fluorescens 10g or Carbendazim 2g/kg of seed 24 hours before sowing. Right before sowing seed, treat with Azospirillum (40g/400g of seeds). Sow in lines, 10cm apart, in raised nursery beds and cover with sand.

Field Preparation: Plough the land 3-4 times to fine tilth with final plough with rotavator.

Land Preparation: FYM: 10 tonnes/ac; N:P:K: 70:60:70 Kg/ac;

Nutrients: (Fertigation)N:P:K: 60:45:60 kg/acre

Spacing: 5×2 ft

Arka Vegetable Special Nutrient:5g/L Water; No. of Sprays: 3; Interval: 45 days

Arka Rakshak Yield per Acre: F1 Hybrid tomato variety Arka Rakshak yield is very high if cultivated as per IIHR advised practices, for 150 days yield period:

• Yield Per Acre – 45-50 tonne

• Yield Per Hectare – 110 tonne

Special Features

Arka Rakshak is not just popular due to its high-yielding quality, but also owing to its resistance to three diseases of tomato - leaf curl virus, bacterial wilt and early blight. The resistance to triple diseases reduces the cost of cultivation by 10 to 15 per cent in terms of savings towards the cost of fungicides and pesticides. The fruits are also ideal for long-distance transportation as they are firm and have a shelf life of 15 to 20 days as against 10 to 12 days of other hybrids, and six to eight days by ordinary varieties.

• Three Disease Resistant – Leaf Curl Virus, Bacterial Wilt, Early Blight

• 19Kg/Plant High Yield

• Average 80-120 g/fruit

• Has deep red colour

• Suitable for Processing

• 15-20 days Long Storage Life (shelf life)

• 110 Tonne/h

• Suitable for Open Cultivation or Polyhouse cultivation

Source: Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR)