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Prospects of Cactus Introduction for Improving Livelihood in Low Rainfall Regions of India

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Title Prospects of Cactus Introduction for Improving Livelihood in Low Rainfall Regions of India
 
Creator Roy, Murari Mohan
 
Contributor Kumar, Suresh
Meghwal, P.R.
Kumar, A.
 
Subject fruit
rainfed
coastal
 
Description Adoption and expansion of Opuntia ficus-indica in many countries due to its
multiple uses as fruit, vegetable, fodder and medicinal compounds has prompted
similar attempts in India, too. Since 1970 various research institutions in India have
introduced it to study its adaptability, biomass and fruit yield with varying success.
Though its potential was proven, its cultivation outside research farms has not
picked up. In a renewed effort, its introduction and adaptability trials were initiated
in the year 2010 with a larger number of cultivars from Italy and Tunisia through
ICARDA. Results of these attempts in past three years as also those in the earlier
years have been detailed in this paper. Introducing cactus pear in different
bioclimates in India to see most suitable area and cultivar has revealed the coastal
district of Bhuj in Gujarat state as the most appropriate for its growth, though
results detailed in this paper show its encouraging growth in other parts of country,
too. Preliminary utilisation studies of its cladodes as fodder for goat, sheep and cattle
have given positive results while processing of its fruits yielded purple coloured
squash. In view of its successful growth and utilisation potential, O. ficus-indica is
emerging a future crop for rainfed regions of India.
 
Date 2015-12-07
2016-02-15T13:39:46Z
2016-02-15T13:39:46Z
 
Type Conference Paper
 
Identifier https://mel.cgiar.org/reporting/download/hash/THRCRX22
Murari Mohan Roy, Suresh Kumar, P. R. Meghwal, A. Kumar. (7/12/2015). Prospects of Cactus Introduction for Improving Livelihood in Low Rainfall Regions of India. Palermo, Italy.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/4466
Open access
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-4.0
 
Format PDF
 
Publisher International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)
 
Source VIIIth International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal;