A new disease-resistant tomato variety, Arka Abhed, is bringing significant changes to tomato cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district, offering farmers higher yields, lower cultivation costs and better market returns.
The variety was introduced by the Lower Subansiri Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), which began on-farm trials in 2023 to assess its performance under the district’s humid and high-rainfall conditions. Developed by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Arka Abhed showed promising results during the trials, prompting the KVK to expand its cultivation through frontline demonstrations during the 2024-25 farming season.
According to KVK officials, the variety has emerged as a reliable option for farmers because of its resistance to four major tomato diseases—tomato leaf curl virus, bacterial wilt, early blight and late blight—which frequently affect crops in the region.
The improved disease resistance has significantly reduced farmers’ dependence on chemical pesticides, lowering production costs and helping them produce safer and healthier vegetables. Farmers have also reported savings in labour and crop protection expenses.
Apart from disease resistance, Arka Abhed offers a high yield potential of around 70 to 75 tonnes per hectare. The tomatoes are firm, weigh between 90 and 100 grams and have a longer shelf life, making them suitable for transportation to distant markets without suffering major post-harvest losses.
KVK officials said the success of the variety demonstrates the importance of introducing climate-resilient crops to regions facing challenging weather conditions. They added that the organisation would continue providing technical support and training to farmers to encourage wider adoption of the variety across the district.
The initiative is expected to strengthen sustainable farming practices while improving the livelihoods of farming families in Lower Subansiri.
