No other sector has witnessed an evolution as prolonged as the agriculture sector did. Ever since the evolution of human civilization hunting and agriculture have been two scientific domains experiencing perpetual enhancements. The same was initially done via natural selection and cross-breeding. This is the same technique using which the to be discussed crop- MADHUBAN GAJAR also known as MADUVAN GAJAR will be discussed as we go through this enchanting post. But with the development of Genome sciences, agriculture sector is being progressed by modifying the Genome sequence of the plant species.
Question is why do we need to modify the already existing varieties or species. The answer is quite obvious, it is done to obtain desirable traits in the plant or animal species. The intent is to increase the harvest, induce some deficient or non-existing nutrient content, get desired shape and size, texture, colour and/ or get rid of some unwanted characteristics. Since ancient times, farmers have been involved in improving the crop variety. One way to do the same is by natural cross-breeding i.e. by pollinating a given crop with another crop to develop a species that has characteristics of both. The other natural way is “Natural selection” done artificially to detect a more superior variety from a given crowd of plants/ crop and produce it in abundance. With advance in bio-technology, the same can be done by altering the genetic sequence of the genome of a crop. Rice, wheat, maize, tomato and many such staple crops & vegetables have been subjected to natural enhancements. At the same time more draught resilient, high yielding and nutritious crops are being produced artificially in laboratories by altering their Genomes.
BIOFORTIFICATION-The topic of discussion “Madhuban Gajar”, is a biofortified carrot that has been developed by the method of natural selection. By the term “BIOFORTIFIED” we mean that the crop has been fortified i.e. deliberately supplemented with some nutrient elements biologically in a natural manner. This means the nutrient content is increased by selecting the naturally occurring crop with higher and desired nutrient contents and increasing their production. Fortification has also been done artificially and externally in some of the food products that we consume in our daily life. Tata salt fortified with iron and iodine. Aashiwaad aata fortified with some minerals and vitamins.
HISTORY OF MADHUBAN GAJAR- The evolution dates back to pre-independence era of 1943, when farmer scientist-Shri Vallabhhai Vasrambhai Marvaniya, in the Junagard district of Gujarat discovered the potential of a carrot crop. This carrot type was primarily used to feed the cattle to increase milk production and its nutrition quality. An idea dawned upon him and he started to cultivate this locally occurring variety selectively for domestic purpose. He realized the crop productivity in terms of size and yield was higher in comparison to the existing variety in the market. Gradually he started cultivating it a larger scale by 1950s and selling the same in the market. By 1970’s he started distributing seeds to farmers in the nearby areas. And by the end of the 1980’s he was selling seeds on a larger scale.
PRODUCTIVITY & QUALITY- When the news of the success and popularity of the crops started spreading across the agricultural fraternity, Department of Science and Technology (DST), India decided to conduct validity tests for the same. National Innovation Foundation (NIF) under DST conducted several validation trials between 2016-17, at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI) in Jaipur. It was observed that under ideal conditions the crop yield is about 74.2t/ha which under average conditions tantamount to 40-50t/ha. From a nutritional point of view, it has a higher β-carotene content (277.75 mg/kg) and iron content (276.7 mg/kg) and a biomass of 275 gm per plant. This nutritional content was found to be higher amongst all of the tested varieties. It is now being used increasingly for- juices, salads, pickles and chips. The production and marketing of seeds of the variety are taken care of by his son Shri Arvindbhai and the average sale is about 100 quintals per annum.
RECOGNITION- Shri Vallabhai Vasrambhai Marvaniyawas conferred with a National Award by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi during Festival of Innovation (FOIN) – 2017. He was conferred with Padma Shri in the year 2019 for his extraordinary work.
The entire evolution took more than 70 years and today Shri Vallabhai is about 95 years of age. We indeed need some more farmer scientists like him who can discover and preserve the indigenous crop varieties in India.
It’s great that local talents are getting recognition. Thanks for sharing.
Yes Ayush, this will inspire many of us to emulate his example and reap golden harvests in times to come