Patna: Bihar may soon grow its own avocado industry. In a horticultural breakthrough that could reshape the crop map of eastern India, scientists at Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, have successfully cultivated and harvested avocado (Persea americana) in Bihar’s alluvial plains, challenging the belief that the high-value exotic fruit can flourish only in India’s sub-montane and hill regions.The breakthrough, achieved under the ICAR–All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Fruits, has opened the possibility of commercial avocado cultivation across the Gangetic plains.RPCAU vice-chancellor P S Pandey called the achievement a “paradigm shift” in Bihar’s agricultural narrative. The success, he said, shows high-value commercial fruits traditionally associated with hills can also thrive in the plains, offering farmers a potentially lucrative alternative to conventional crops.The experiment, launched in Sept 2023, tested whether avocado could attain reproductive maturity amid the sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity typical of north Bihar. Scientists addressed one of the crop’s biggest challenges—its complex flowering behaviour, known as dichogamy — by planting compatible Type-A and Type-B cultivars together.Arka Supreme (Type A) was interplanted with Arka Ravi (Type B) to ensure effective cross-pollination. Researchers also developed a specialised management package suited to the plains. As avocado roots are highly vulnerable to waterlogging, plants were raised on mounds and beds instead of conventional flat pits. Drip micro-irrigation and basin mulching helped conserve moisture and check premature fruit drop.The results exceeded expectations. At about two-and-a-half years, Arka Supreme produced fruits weighing 750-950 grams each, with biochemical and sensory tests confirming quality comparable to imported avocado.According to fruit scientist Ashish Panda, farm-gate prices average around Rs 400 per kg, while premium retail prices in urban markets can reach Rs 1,500 per kg. He said the trial, conducted on the vice-chancellor’s special instructions, produced results “more than expected”.The success could reduce India’s dependence on imported avocado while opening a promising high-value horticultural opportunity for Bihar’s farmers.
