Key facts
- India is seeking to develop its own strawberry varieties to reduce dependence on imports from the US and Europe.
- Research institutions are using controlled gamma irradiation to induce genetic mutations for climate-resilient cultivars.
- Advanced farming techniques like hydroponics and vertical farming are being adopted to improve yields and enable year-round cultivation.
- AI-powered weather monitoring systems are being implemented to help farmers protect crops from rain damage.
- Direct-to-consumer sales via social media are emerging as a strategy for farmers to increase profitability.
India is aiming to become a significant player in the global strawberry market by developing its own high-quality, climate-resilient varieties. Currently, the country's strawberry industry, concentrated in the Mahabaleshwar region, relies heavily on imported plant varieties from the US and Europe. Farmers face considerable risks due to unpredictable weather patterns, which can decimate crops, and the annual expense of purchasing young plants.
To address these challenges, agricultural research institutions like Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), are undertaking breeding experiments. They are using controlled gamma irradiation to induce genetic mutations, with the goal of fast-tracking the development of indigenous strawberry cultivars that can withstand Indian heatwaves while maintaining the size and firmness of foreign varieties. This process is expected to take a decade or more.
In parallel, larger agricultural enterprises are investing in advanced cultivation technologies. Ketan Yashwant Sodha, CEO of Berry Fresh Agrotech, has transitioned from open-field farming to hydroponics and semi-open polyhouses. This allows for year-round cultivation by tightly controlling water, nutrients, light, and temperature, and has led to improved fruit concentration and flavor. Sodha's company is also conducting trials with rare Japanese and Dutch varieties.
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are implementing technological solutions to support smallholder farmers. These include AI-powered weather monitoring towers that predict rainfall, enabling farmers to optimize crop spraying schedules and prevent chemical wash-off. Additionally, FPOs are exploring vertical farming techniques, stacking multiple layers of strawberry plants in towers to significantly increase production density on the same land footprint.
Some farmers are also leveraging social media to create direct sales channels with tourists, bypassing intermediaries and increasing their profit margins. Despite these advancements, the high cost and risk associated with adopting new technologies like hydroponics remain a barrier for many small-scale farmers, as demonstrated by one farmer's experience of losing an entire hydroponic setup to a cyclone.