A new study by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has identified vegetable grafting, especially when combined with protected cultivation methods like Naturally Ventilated Polyhouses (NVPH), as a highly effective, climate-resilient farming strategy for smallholder farmers.
Published in Frontiers in Agronomy, the research demonstrates how grafting—a process in which a high-yielding vegetable variety (scion) is fused with a robust, stress-tolerant rootstock—can dramatically improve plant resilience, productivity, and profitability under adverse conditions where traditional farming techniques often fall short.
Key Findings: Yield and Economic Gains
The study showed that tomato plants grafted onto Solanum torvum rootstocks and grown in NVPH systems produced up to 63.79% higher yields compared to non-grafted plants cultivated in open fields. These gains were attributed to better plant vigor, prolonged harvesting periods (3–5 additional pickings), and greater resistance to environmental stressors.
“Vegetable grafting, especially under protected cultivation, is a game-changer for smallholder farmers,” said Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research & Innovation at ICRISAT. “It boosts yields, improves incomes, and offers a practical climate-smart pathway to more resilient farming systems.”
Economic analyses reinforced the agronomic results, with grafted vegetables under polyhouse conditions delivering the highest gross and net returns and favorable benefit-cost ratios—underscoring the technique’s role in enhancing both productivity and economic resilience.
Broader Agronomic Benefits
In addition to yield increases, the grafted plants showed notable improvements in:
- Leaf area expansion
- Chlorophyll concentration
- Fruit size and development
These physiological enhancements contributed to superior photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant health.
“Our research clearly shows that grafting can revolutionize vegetable farming in climate-sensitive regions,” noted Dr. Ramesh Singh, Interim Director – Resilient Farm and Food Systems at ICRISAT. “With the right infrastructure and policy support, this approach can transform horticultural value chains and contribute meaningfully to nutrition and livelihoods.”
Versatile and Scalable Innovation
Lead researcher Dr. Rohan Khopade emphasized the broad applicability of the technique, noting that while the initial focus was on tomatoes, it can be successfully adapted for other crops such as eggplant, chili, cucumber, gourds, and melons. This adaptability opens the door to widespread adoption across diverse farming systems.
Dr. Gajanan Sawargaonkar, Principal Scientist – Agronomy at ICRISAT, highlighted the tangible success of the GoAP–ICRISAT partnership, which leverages grafted vegetable technology to double farm incomes across Andhra Pradesh. In pilot regions, farmers saw productivity increases ranging from 30% to 150%.
Path Forward: Scaling with Support
As climate change continues to threaten global food systems, vegetable grafting offers a non-GMO, science-based solution that can improve both yield and resilience. However, its success at scale will depend on:
- Policy and institutional support
- Public-private partnerships
- Robust farmer training and outreach
With proper backing, vegetable grafting could become a cornerstone of sustainable horticulture, improving food security and farmer livelihoods across climate-vulnerable regions.
