Selecting the right variety is the most critical first step. Your choice will depend on whether you want to focus on producing pods (drumsticks) or leaves (for powder).
Here are some of the best Indian variety that are widely available in Market. But do make sure that you are purchasing your seeds from a authentic vendor.
| Variety Name | Best For | Key Features & Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| ODC-3 | Leaves & Pods | 1. Highly Recommended. 2. This is a very popular modern variety. 3. It yields a huge quantity of leaves, making it perfect for leaf powder production. 4. It also produces good quality pods. The fruits are fleshy and tasty. 5. It generally grow to a height of 2-3m. 6. The average yield of the variety is 250-300 fruits / tree. 7. It’s ideal for high-density farming. |
| PKM-1 | Pods (Drumsticks) | 1. A popular, high-yielding variety for pods. 2. The trees are bushy, and the pods are long and fleshy. 3. It produces long, tender drumsticks (65-70 cm) and starts bearing pods within 6-8 months of planting. 4. Average of 200-225 fruits per tree, with 53 tonnes per hectare. 5. Primarily for fresh consumption. 6. Requires annual pruning for best results. |
| PKM-2 | Pods & Leaves | 1. A hybrid variety with a higher pod yield than PKM-1. The pods also have a better shelf life, which is great for transportation to markets. 2. Produces longer (125-130 cm), more fleshy, and softer pods with less fiber, making them very tasty. 3. PKM-2 has a significantly higher yield in terms of fruit weight and number. 4. While both are for fresh consumption, PKM-2 is particularly advantageous for processing into by-products. |
| Bhagya (KDM-1) | Pods | 1. Developed in Karnataka, India. 2. This variety is known for its good yield of long and tender pods 3. It produce early fruit (within 6 months) and yielding 350-400 pods per tree annually 4. Medium-length (around 60 cm or 2-2.5 feet), fleshy, and tasty pods. 5. Requires less water and is suitable for medium-sized soil lands. |
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