Okra is one of the most important vegetables grown and consumed all over India. It is rich in many nutrients and particularly, high in Vitamins - C & K. Okra also contains rich anti-oxidants that reduce the risk of serious diseases, prevent inflammation & contribute to overall health.
Polyphenols in okra are beneficial to heart and brain health. The vegetable also contains a protein known as Lectin that is Anti-Cancerous.
The Okra Variety - Kashi Chaman that was developed at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in 2019 is one of the best varieties of okra. It can be cultivated in summer as well as rainy seasons. This okra variety is tolerant to Yellow Vain Mosaic Virus (YVMV) & Okra Enation Leaf Curl Virus (OELCV), diseases which are very dangerous for the okra crops. Moreover, the two diseases are said to be a major problem in the Okra cultivation.
The yield potential of Kashi Chaman okra variety is 21.66 percent more in its sector.
Due to its yield potential, it is very popular in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha and has already covered around 10000 ha area at farmer’s field and one of them is Upendra Singh Patel from Bangalipur village, Araziline block, Varanasi.
The farmer had sowed the seeds of Okra Variety - Kashi Chaman on 10th July, 2021 in 10 Biswa (0.3 Acre) land and followed the scientific package of practices for its production. Patel also used the recommended fertilizers and chemicals as suggested by the Scientists of ICAR-IIVR.
The first flush of Okra fruit was harvested 46 days after sowing, i.e. on 25th August, 2021. Soon after that, he had taken regular harvest of 35 - 40 kgs okra in 3 - 4 days interval.
He had taken 19 harvests till the last week of October with a total yield of 668 Kgs in 90 days duration from 0.3 acre of land. He obtained a net profit of Rs. 21,376/- after deducting the cost of cultivation & transportation cost to the market.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Uttar Pradesh)
