Gorkha Seed Company, which introduced Shrijana -- the first ever Nepali hybrid tomato variety, -- is making final preparations to introduce the tomatoes in the market.[break]
“The varieties we have developed are bacteria-resistant and withstand hot climate,” senior scientist at the company Dr Kedar Budhathoki told Republica on Saturday. “We will soon name those varieties.”
Budhathoki claimed that the new varieties can yield a record production of 30 kg per plant. The research is currently being undertaken at plots in Nakkhu of Lalitpur.
“Farmers can produce at least 10 kg per plant even under worst conditions with each tomatoes weighing up to 80 grams. These varieties can be produced even in areas where the temperature is as high as 40 degree Celsius,” said Budhathoki.
Bishnu Marahatta, the proprietor of the company, said the new varieties will be brought into the market within a year for commercial purpose.
“We are planning to export seeds of these varieties to India and Bangladesh where the climate is hot and the possibility of bacteria attack is high,” Marahatta said. Seeds of hybrid tomato are selling for Rs 80,000 to Rs 90,000 per kg in the domestic market.
The company exported 60 kg of Shrijana variety of tomato seeds to Bangladesh and Sikkim last year.
The company has been also conducting research on new varieties of green-bow radish, Jyapu cauliflower and cucumber.
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