ISLAMABAD: Cherry tomatoes are becoming more popular as an alternative crop, particularly among small farms that rely on family work and organic management, WealthPK reported.
Cherry tomatoes are Solanaceae fruits that are tiny, round, and cherry-sized. They’re popular in Brazil because of their versatility and ease of use in salads, appetizers, snacks, sauces, and soups, among other things. Cherry tomato seeds were first brought from Canada, while the plantlets were first produced in greenhouses with somewhat regulated climatic conditions in Pakistan in 2010.
Plant tissue culture and cutting procedures were used to generate disease-free and healthy plants at a large scale after the initial cultivation of seeds. After that, the newly propagated plants were allowed to mature and fruit.
Dr Nadar K, Senior Scientific Officer at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), told WealthPK that for high-value horticultural crops like cherry tomatoes, protected growing structures such as greenhouses or high tunnels are the ideal option.
Dr Nadar said tomato is an annual plant grown in the warm season and has an average optimum growing temperature of 25°C to 29°C. In Pakistan, its two harvests are typically grown in the spring and autumn seasons.
“Tomatoes have grown in importance as a fruit vegetable in the country, with a total annual production of around 529,600 tonnes and an average yield of 9.2 tonnes per hectare. As tomatoes generate more income than many other crops, they can quickly recoup their original investment and provide recurring income to meet administration costs,” he said.
Dr Nadar said cherry tomatoes come in a variety of colors, including orange, yellow, and white. “Growing cherry tomato plants on the lawn would be ideal, but they can also be grown in pots or tomato development bags,” he said.
According to Dr Nadar, Cherry tomatoes may be cultivated in any type of environment. However, it would be preferable if the plantation was completed after the last frost. “This is for the purpose of commercial cultivation. If someone wants to cultivate cherry tomatoes in pots, they’ll need to start by putting seeds in tiny packing containers with potting soil,” he said.
Dr Nadar said pest control for cherry tomatoes is necessary to ensure that the crops are pest-free. This can be accomplished by planting basil and marigold closer together with cherry tomatoes. Other pest control measures will be implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the local nursery administration.
“If you take adequate care of your cherry tomato plants, you may expect a good output from the middle of summer through the end of the fall season,” said Dr Nadar.
He said the significant price fluctuation during different times of the year and its cyclical tremors are the main factors impeding tomato production profitability.
According to Dr Nadar, major production issues mentioned by farmers include high seed costs, poor seed quality, a lack of research for disease and harsh climate-resistant hybrid seed varieties, a high incidence of severe pest attacks due to low-quality pesticides, a lack of proper training regarding production technologies resulting in high production costs, and labor shortages, particularly during harvesting time.
INP
