Monthly advisory of onion and garlic crop for the month of June 2025
Bhima Purple - Revolutionizing Garlic Cultivation
About Bhima Purple
Bhima Purple is a high yielding garlic variety developed by the ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar that has transformed garlic farming in Maharashtra and adjoining states. This variety was recommended at national level in the 2nd Annual Group Meeting of AINPORG held at Ooty (TNAU, Coimbatore) during 29-30 April, 2011 for cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Key Features
- Matures in 135-140 days after planting
- Light purple bulbs with excellent storability
- Field tolerant to thrips and foliar diseases
- Uniform bulb shape and color
- High yield potential (40 q/acre)
Pioneering Farmer Success
Mr. Vishnu Ramchandra Jare from Bahirwadi, Ahmednagar purchased 1 kg mother bulbs from DOGR in 2007 and conducted comparative trials. After confirming Bhima Purple as the best yielder, he began commercial cultivation, achieving a record 40 q/acre yield with uniform bulb quality.
Mrs. Lata Arjun Konthivire from Jeur, Ahmednagar partnered in scaling up production. In 2014-15, they cultivated Bhima Purple across 40 acres, selling bulbs as seed to farmers across four states at ₹80-100/kg, earning ₹2.0 lakh/acre net profit.
National Impact
Bhima Purple now covers over 600 acres across multiple states, with most farmers earning >₹1.0 lakh/acre. The variety's success earned Mr. Jare the prestigious Late Vasantrao Naik Krushi Bhushan Award (2012) and Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Award (2013), who credits DOGR for his achievements.
