Tomato is the major vegetable crop in the District and cultivated 25,000 acres in Kharif in Dry and ID conditions and 12,500 acres in Rabi under ID conditions. Even though the rate of tomato is highly fluctuating, the farmers prefer tomato as a main vegetable crop in the District. The cultivation of Hybrid Tomato is also gaining momentum. Availability of quality seedlings is major problem.

The BTT Officer In-charge has conducted an Exposure Visit to Karnataka State and the FIGs have interacted with the Hybrid Tomato growers and also visited the Indo-American Hybrid Seeds, Bangalore. Sri Mohan Reddy is a progressive farmer and also FAC member of Chowdepalle Block has undergone training in vegetable seed Nursery rising in IIHR Bangalore through the Department of Horticulture.

Reason for adoption  

To over come the problem of supply of healthy, genuine Hybrid tomato, Chillies, Brinjal seedlings, the farmers has decided to raise nursery in shade nets, which is an innovative things, first time in Chittoor District.

He has taken up Nursery in 10 cents of land with an investment of Rs.1.00 lakhs. The Nursery is fully covered with nets, plastic paper, raised nursery beds, covered with mulching paper. The Germination trays are filled with coconut fiber mulched fertile organic manure. The Hybrid seed is shown in the trays and will be regularly watered and sprayed with pesticides as and when required. Due to the close of Nursery with shade nets and paper, the incidence of virus can be minimized, which can cause major damage to the vegetable crops.

The farmer initially has raised 3 lakh seedlings of Hybrid Tomato Avinash-2, V.S.618, Aditya, Trishul, Ruchi and Chilies varieties like Namdhari, Mahyco etc. He has incurred an amount of Rs.1.00 lakh towards the establishment of nursery, purchase of trays, cost of manures, pesticides and Labour cost. 

Marketing

After rising of Nursery, he started selling the seedlings to the farmers from 30^th day onwards and got a profit of Rs.50,000/- within two months.

Achievement

Even though, the farmer is a degree holder, he has opted the cultivation and taken up Nursery rising of Vegetables in shade nets, which is an innovative thing and first time in the district. ATMA, Chittoor has agreed to provide working capital through the service bank. This activity has attracted number of farmers and they are visiting this type of rising of nursery in shade nets and purchasing the healthy Hybrid Seedlings.