strawberries

India seeks to cut reliance on imported strawberry varieties with indigenous breeding

India's strawberry industry, concentrated in Mahabaleshwar, depends entirely on imported varieties from the US and Europe. Farmers face high costs and climate risks. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are using gamma irradiation to fast-track development of India's first indigenous strawberry cultivar, aiming for climate resilience within 10-15 years.