Part I OF I Tamil Nadu.pmd - National Innovation Foundation
Part I OF I Tamil Nadu.pmd - National Innovation Foundation
Part I OF I Tamil Nadu.pmd - National Innovation Foundation
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23<br />
PART I : INNOVATIONS FROM TAMIL NADU<br />
New acid lime variety<br />
V Antony Samy<br />
Tirunelveli<br />
Antony Samy used his considerable experience in acid lime cultivation and developed<br />
a new variety of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia) by grafting rootstock of wild citrus with an<br />
ordinary Edward citrus variety. The grafted plants are drought tolerant, short in stature<br />
and resistant to quick wilt. These plants grow fast and need less water. Moreover, 90%<br />
of its fruits are of the first grade quality as compared to 60% in the popular variety. The<br />
plants start bearing fruits from the third year onwards as opposed to the fifth year in local<br />
varieties and the yield is higher at 30,500 kg per hectare compared to 20,500 kg per<br />
hectare for the local variety. The fruits are bigger in size, juicier and tastier and thus are<br />
more suitable for pickle and other processing industries. This variety fetches a good<br />
price in local markets. Sixty-two year old Samy is the moving spirit behind the Small<br />
Farmers Agricultural Engineering Service Centre, which has been active in Puliangudi<br />
(Kerala) since 1975.<br />
He received a <strong>National</strong> award in NIF’s Third <strong>National</strong> Competition for Grassroots<br />
<strong>Innovation</strong>s and Traditional Knowledge Practices in 2005.<br />
TAMIL NADU INNOVATES 34
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