For farmers in Jaipur, Rajasthan, beetroot is emerging as a promising option for crop diversification and additional income. The improved beetroot variety ‘Crimson Globe’, introduced through collaborative efforts of the Centre for Agricultural Technology Assessment and Transfer (CATAT), ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, and ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Chomu (Jaipur-I), has demonstrated encouraging results under farmers’ field conditions, combining favourable yield performance with desirable root quality.
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a nutritious, short-duration, cool-season vegetable valued for its colour, taste and versatility. Recognising its potential to diversify vegetable production and improve farm returns, demonstrations of improved varieties, particularly Crimson Globe and Detroit Dark, were conducted under the ICAR–IARI Institutional Partnership Programme in Udaipuria, Morija, Narsinghpura and Khannipura villages. The initiative aimed to assess varietal performance under local conditions and encourage farmers to adopt suitable vegetable production technologies.
During the Rabi season of 2024–25, farmers in Narsinghpura, Balekhan and Udaipuria reported promising results from beetroot cultivation, with yields reaching 240 quintals per hectare. One farmer earned approximately ₹20,000 from beetroot cultivated on 500 square metres, demonstrating the potential of this short-duration crop to generate additional income even from a small area. Farmers appreciated Crimson Globe for its yield, taste, quality, shape and size, encouraging interest in the variety among neighbouring farming communities.
The positive response continued during the Rabi season of 2025–26 in Morija village, where farmers cultivating Crimson Globe reported approximately 15% higher yield than the local variety. Its attractive root appearance, shape and size further contributed to its acceptance among farmers and generated interest in its wider adoption.
The experience demonstrates how participatory assessment and field-level demonstrations can help farmers evaluate improved varieties under their own agro-climatic conditions. With encouraging yield performance, favourable farmer feedback and reported income benefits, Crimson Globe offers potential for strengthening vegetable diversification and farm-level livelihoods in suitable areas of Rajasthan. Continued demonstrations, farmer interactions and dissemination through KVKs can further support informed adoption of the variety and extend its benefits to more farming communities.
(Source: Centre for Agricultural Technology Assessment and Transfer (CATAT), ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jaipur-I.)
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