Comparative Assessment of Farmer’s Brinjal Variety in Different Agro-Climatic Conditions

In order to evaluate the performance and suitability of the long brinjal variety ‘Niranjan Bhata’ developed by an innovative farmer of Chhattisgarh in different agro-climatic conditions of the country, the comparative field experiment conducted under Gandhinagar, Gujarat condition was accommodated in a randomized complete block design comprising five replications of four treatments, i.e. Niranjan Bhata, Pusa Shamla as National Check (NC) and two Local Check (LC) during June - March 2016. The plant height of Niranjan Bhata (115.50 cm) was recorded at par with LC-1 (118.33 cm). However, the maximum fruit length (45.80 cm) was recorded in Niranjan Bhata (45.80 cm). The significant highest fruit yield was produced by Niranjan Bhata (31.40 t/ha).

Farmer managed trials (FMTs) were also carried out in five states between 2017-18 and 2020-21 at 68 locations (loc.) during the Kharif season. The test variety ‘Niranjan Bhata’ reported superior performance in Chhattisgarh with the highest plant height (161.17 cm), fruit length (59.67 cm), and marketable fruit yield (9.81 kg/plant). The variety also outperformed with similar characters in Gujarat and Maharashtra states over checks. As per the growers' feedback, the variety was found to be high-yielding. The long fruits containing lesser seeds and soft pulp having good market preference too. Thus the evaluation of variety with the farmers’ participation was found most suitable approach which assured the varietal preference and its suitability for large-scale dissemination.