Social and Market Impact Assessment of Varieties and Technologies of FCRI, Mettupalayam for Future Research Thrust
Future Strategies
Progress in the tree breeding and selection over the period resulted in development and commercialization of tree varieties of economic importance. Further, to provide the growers a wide range of choices, many varieties were developed and commercialized. Commercial cultivation of the new varieties has been enhanced through supply of seedlings by tripartite agreement with industry and farmers. Through the years the tree breeding programme in FC&RI has aimed to satisfy both the needs of farmers who grow trees in diverse agro-climatic conditions and the industries. Breeding work will continue to focus on the identification of superior varieties that will address the requirement of the wood -based industries in the country.
Cultivation of commercial tree species is considered as a successful alternative option to diversify farm production and generate supplementary income. Casuarina has multiple uses as pulpwood, fuel wood and timber and for medicinal purpose. India is the largest Casuarina growing country in the world with an estimated 8, 00,000 ha of plantations. Farmers in coastal and inland region in Tamil Nadu are cultivating this tree species. Casuarina is predominantly cultivated in all districts of Tamil Nadu and nearly 50% of farm forestry plantation covered in Villupuram district followed by Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram. It also reported that Casuarina cultivation successfully practiced in Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Nagapatinam districts and reported area during 2009-2010 was 62,373 hectares and tended to increase over time. Recognizing the economic importance of the tree and to helps the farmers to find out the solution for effective method for increasing the productivity and improve the well being of Casuarina growers and farmers, the institute has developed first casurina variety (MTP CA1) during 2008 with three years duration and yield potential of more than 100 tonnes per ha and pulp yield of more than 40 per cent. By adopting the clonal technology, MTP 2 (hybrid clone) was developed and released during 2011 with high yield potential than MTP1 (More than 150 tonnes/ha). After thorough understanding and analyzing the present condition of cultivation area and factors influencing the establishment of Casuarina in different agro-climatic conditions, technical knowhow are being disseminated to the farmers. Apart from development, the institute has initiated a mechanism to reach the technology to the users through tie-up programme. The institute has tie up programme with industries namely Sheshasayee Paper Board, Erode and Tamil Nadu Newsprints and Papers Ltd to encourage contract farming through technological support.
Melia dubia, which is locally known as “Malaivembu, is a fast growing tree crop and produces greater bio-mass in relatively shorter period. It can be harvested early i.e. within four years for plywood production or paper industry. Long term harvest beyond 7 to 15 years ensures good quality timber. A famer can earn profit of about Rs. 90 000 by growing 1 acre of land area with about 1 000 seedlings planted. Intercrops, like groundnut, green gram or black gram can be raised within the inter-space in the first year of planting. Banana can also be grown as an intercrop, if Melia dubia is planted for timber purpose with wider spacing of 5 to 6 m between rows of the planted trees. FC&RI with its continues research efforts developed MTP 1 during 2012 with veneer recovery of more than 58 %. By adopting clonal technology, MTP 2 was developed and released for commercial cultivation in the year 2018 with yield potential of 100 t/ha and pulp yield of more than 50 %. This variety is suitable for both pulp and ply wood production
It is a well established fact that eucalyptus is an important tree species for agro forestry and farm forestry and is contributing as a raw material for pulp, plywood and fuel wood, besides giving good economic returns to farmers and tree growers. By adopting clonal technology, MTP 1 was developed and commercialized during 2013 with pulp yield of more than 48 % and it is suitable for dry land agro –forestry. Multiplication of clonal plants has been undertaken to supply to famers to raise eucalyptus agro/farm forestry plantation.
Biofuel research formed major activity of the research agenda of this institute. Accordingly the institute has developed 27 hybrid derivates with varying degree of variability in terms of seed and oil yield and associated morphological characters. From these hybrid derivates two distinct hybrids viz., FCRI HC 21 and FCRI HC 32 have been certified as new developed varieties by NBPGR and assigned the new variety number of INGR 09037 and INGR 09036 respectively.