26 April 2025, New Delhi: In a significant step towards promoting sustainable horticulture, Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) has successfully developed new cherry tomato varieties that can be grown in open fields. After six years of dedicated research, these varieties are now well-suited to the climatic conditions of the eastern Indo-Gangetic plains, offering farmers a cost-effective alternative to poly-house cultivation.
The “lab to land” initiative was led by researchers Shirin Akhtar and Tirthartha Chattopadhyay, under the guidance of Director of Research A.K. Singh and Vice-Chancellor D.R. Singh. These cherry tomatoes are prized for their extended shelf life and are ideal for fresh consumption, making them an attractive option for urban markets and export opportunities.
The university is working to popularize these varieties both within India and abroad. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted that earlier cherry tomato cultivation required greenhouse setups and high investments, limiting farmer participation. The newly developed varieties aim to remove these barriers with improved genetics and market adaptability.
Plans are underway to expand cultivation through farmer outreach programs, multi-location trials across different agro-climatic regions, and nutritional and post-harvest studies. BAU also aims to partner with private seed firms, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and agri-startups to support branding and marketing efforts.
The Director of Research emphasized that this advancement blends scientific innovation with sustainable farming practices, providing new opportunities for rural communities. Scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, including Shirin Akhtar, Tirthartha Chattopadhyay, and Rajesh Kumar, noted that these cherry tomato varieties will support better land use efficiency and encourage crop diversification.
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