CPREEC - EIACP Programme Centre, Resource Partner on Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India

VADODARA: Godhra-based Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) popularly known as 'Bagayat Kendra' has developed a new variety of bael named 'Thar Divya' - the indigenous rainfed dryland fruit tree of the country.

Before 'Thar Divya', the research station that works under Bikaner-based Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, an ICAR institute, had developed 'Goma Yashi' in 2011.

"After thorough evaluation under rainfed conditions for ten years, 'Goma Yashi' was developed. And now we have released 'Thar Divya' - an early maturing variety for the health, nutritional and economic security of farmers of dry tracts of the country," said senior scientist (fruit science) and the man behind developing this variety at the station, Dr A K Singh.

Singh, principal investigator at CHES since 2003 is working on the crop. "So far, we have established 151 germplasm of this crop at the station," said Singh, adding that the crop possesses high therapeutic value and can be grown without irrigation.

Bael - a native tree species of India is considered to be sacred as the trifoliate leaves are offered to the Lord Shiva while fruits form holy offering during 'havan'. "Its therapeutic significance has been highlighted in the 'Yajur Veda', Buddhist and Jain literature. Recent advances prove that compounds purified from different parts of bael are biologically active against several major diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and has anti diabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cardio protective, anticancer, antiulcer and radio protective properties," said Singh.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/New-variety-of-sacred-bael-fruit-developed-in-Godhra/articleshow/49087456.cms