Chhattisgarh farmer grows brinjal and tomatoes from same plant

Mahasamund (Chhattisgarh), May 29 : A 63-year-old farmer inhhattisgarh has successfully grown tomatoes and brinjal in the same pot and even grafted them with such perfection that the end results are surprising.

Bhagirathi Prasad Bisai has been conducting such innovative experiments in horticulture for the past decade.

After several experiments, Bisai acquired success in growing two different vegetables from the stem of same plant, employing the grafting technique.

Grafting is a popular plant propagation method widely used in horticulture, where the tissues of one plant are fused with those of another.

Bisai was overwhelmed to see the desired result with his experiment that initially seemed impossible.

"Although it was difficult, but I have achieved success after practicing for a long time. It has become possible now. As lemon and mango can be grown in the same tree, likewise we grafted the trees of brinjal and tomato faster cutting the stem and joining them," said Bisai.

Agricultural experts are of the view that it is possible to produce vegetables belonging to the same family from a single plant.

"This is a very good experiment. Both tomato and brinjal belong to the same family called 'solanaceae', so it is possible that if their stems are joined, they can be grafted to produce two different types of vegetables in the same plant," said Vinod Sharma, Deputy Director, Agriculture Department, Mahasamund.

In his pursuit to broadbase his experiment, Bisai has grafted cauliflower and cabbage in the same manner.

Now, Bisai is toying with the idea of implementing the technique for cultivating crops in farmlands as, he feels, the technique would prove beneficial for the farmers in the long run.

ANI