India wants to join the strawberry superpowers
Summary
India’s main strawberry farms are in Mahabaleshwar, where 85% of its strawberries grow in cool highlands with good soil. Currently, India imports young strawberry plants from the US and Europe, but local scientists are working to create new types of strawberries that can handle India’s climate.Key Facts
- Most Indian strawberries come from Mahabaleshwar, a mountain region over 1,000 meters high.
- Strawberry farming there is difficult because heavy rains can destroy crops.
- Farmers buy young plants from overseas because India lacks its own developed strawberry varieties.
- Imported plants come from countries like the US, Italy, Spain, and go through government checks before farming.
- Strawberry plants in India are grown using modern methods like coco-peat (from coconut husks) and special drip irrigation.
- Indian researchers use gamma irradiation to create new strawberry varieties suited to local heat and conditions.
- Developing new strawberry plants could take 10 to 15 years.
- In the meantime, scientists are helping farmers with improved growing techniques for the Mahabaleshwar area.
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