In India, a diverse range of papaya varieties are cultivated, each prized for its unique attributes and suitability for different purposes. Here are some prominent varieties found across the country:
- Red Lady The Red Lady hybrid variety is highly popular for its vibrant orange-red flesh, ideal for processing. With a relatively short growing period, it flowers within three months of planting and is ready for harvest in 4-5 months.
- Washington Known as the table variety, Washington papayas exhibit medium to large oblong fruits with yellow pulp and a sweet flavor. Unlike Red Lady, they turn bright yellow when fully ripe.
- Pusa Delicious This gynodioecious line yields high-quality fruits with deep orange flesh, suitable for table consumption. It begins fruiting 8 months after planting and offers fruits with a sweetness level ranging from 10° to 13° Brix.
- Coorg Honeydew Cultivated for both processing and table purposes, Coorg Honeydew papayas bear greenish-yellow oblong fruits with delicious orange flesh, garnering a high market value for their superior quality.
- Co-1 Medium-sized with a smooth greenish-yellow exterior and firm orange-yellow flesh, Co-1 papayas boast high keeping quality and juicy texture. The dwarf plant bears fruits at a convenient height from the ground.
- Co-2 Obovate in shape with greenish-yellow skin and red flesh, Co-2 papayas are primarily used for papain extraction. With moderately juicy flesh, they offer a pulp thickness of 3.8cm and comprise 75% pulp content.
- Co-3 A hybrid of Co-1 and Washington, Co-3 papayas feature medium-sized fruits with purple-hued yellow flesh, suitable for domestic gardening. It is dioecious and produces fruits with a TSS of 13.2°Brix.
Papaya Varieties Across States
Karnataka and Kerala Coorg Honeydew, Honeydew, Pusa Delicious, and Pusa Nanha.
Andhra Pradesh: Honeydew, Coorg Honeydew, Sunrise Solo, Taiwan, Co-1, Co-2, Co-3, and Washington.
Jharkhand Pusa Nanha, Honey Dew, Ranchi Selection, and Pusa Delicious.
West Bengal Honey Dew, Washington, Coorg Green, and Ranchi Selection.
Orissa: Coorg Green, Washington, Pusa Nanha, Honey Dew, Pusa Delicious, and Ranchi Selection.
Papaya Season and Cultivation
The peak papaya season in India spans from August to November, with planting primarily occurring during the monsoon and spring seasons. Papayas are cultivated throughout the year in states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Arunachal Pradesh. However, they are not planted during winter to avoid frost damage, and papaya orchards typically have a limited economic life of 3-4 years. Depending on various factors, a papaya orchard can yield between 75-100 tons per hectare in a season.
Papaya Production in India
India stands as the leading global producer of papaya, contributing a significant 44% to the world’s papaya production. Following India, the Dominican Republic and Mexico hold the second and third positions, accounting for 9% and 8% of the production, respectively. Over the period from 2014 to 2019, India experienced a notable 7% growth in papaya production. Mexico and Brazil emerge as the top exporters of papaya, with Mexico showing a remarkable 13% growth in the past five years.
The tropical climate in India favors the continuous increase in papaya production. In 2019, the Dominican Republic and Mexico together shared 16% of the world’s total papaya production. Meanwhile, Mexico and Indonesia jointly contributed 7% of the global production, with expectations of further growth in the coming years.
In India, papaya cultivation is predominantly concentrated in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. Papaya cultivation has significantly expanded over the years, with production accounting for 1.9% of the total fruit cultivation area and about 6.6% of India’s total fruit crops in 2012-13. Papaya yields the highest production per unit area among all fruit crops, with an impressive 41 tonnes per hectare.
Over the past five decades, papaya production in India has witnessed substantial growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% and 7.1%, respectively. The production surged nearly six times, from 7.7 tonnes per hectare in 1985 to 40.1 tonnes per hectare in 2013, driven mainly by southern and western states. With such growth rates, papaya production in India is anticipated to reach 6.8 million tonnes by 2030.
Andhra Pradesh leads papaya production in India, commanding a market share of 28%, followed by Gujarat with 20%, and Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Papaya cultivation thrives in mild subtropical regions up to 1000 meters above sea level, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and other states offering ideal climatic conditions. However, papaya cultivation is sensitive to factors like water stagnation, strong winds, and frost.
States Cultivating Papaya and Growing Areas:
- – Karnataka: Bellary, Bidar, Bangalore (R & U), Mandya, Shimoga, Chitradurga, Mysore, Belgaum, Hassan.
- – Maharashtra: Sangli, Satara, Pune, Nasik, Sholapur, Nagpur, Amravati.
- – Andhra Pradesh: Cuddapah, Medak, Kurnool, Rangareddy.
- – Madhya Pradesh: Khandwa, Dhar, Bilaspur, Guna, Ratlam.
- – Gujarat: Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Kheda.
