Thar Kamal
An ICAR-CIAH (Bikaner) release with deep red skin colour and high pulp content, bred with processing (juice, squash, colour-rich products) specifically in mind.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Starts bearing
- Bears from year 2–3 (grafted/cutting)
- Expected yield
- Good; roughly 13 kg/plant in CIAH evaluation
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- No special resistance claimed; bred for arid tolerance
- Release
- ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH), Bikaner, Rajasthan
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Thar Kamal is a karonda variety released by ICAR's Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH), Bikaner, in Rajasthan, bred with an emphasis on deep red skin colour and high pulp content specifically for the processing trade — juice, squash and other colour-rich products where a vivid, consistent red pulp matters commercially. CIAH's own evaluation figures place it at roughly 9.5°B total soluble solids, about 6% total sugar and around 13 kg of fruit per plant, giving farmers a documented, if moderate-yield, option distinct from the maximum-tonnage Maru Gaurav and better suited where processors are paying specifically for pulp colour rather than sheer volume.
Should you pick this variety?
Thar Kamal is for farmers who sell to juice and squash makers and are paid for deep red colour and plenty of pulp. It gives about 13 kg per plant in the CIAH Bikaner trial. That is a fair yield, but well below the up to about 40 kg reported for Maru Gaurav. So choose Thar Kamal when pulp colour matters more than total weight, and Maru Gaurav when the weight matters most. It suits the dry conditions of Rajasthan, where it was developed. It is not the right pick for sour pickle fruit; the Pant varieties do that job.
Sowing & cultivation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Deep red skin colour and high pulp content specifically suit juice, squash and colour-focused processing.
- Documented CIAH evaluation figures (TSS, sugar, yield) give a real, station-tested baseline rather than an unverified claim.
Things to consider
- Moderate per-plant yield (roughly 13 kg) compared to Maru Gaurav's much higher cited figure — a trade-off for its colour and pulp-quality focus.
- Best documented for Rajasthan's arid growing conditions specifically.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
Colour is what you are paid for — do not lose it
This CIAH Bikaner release gives about 13 kg per plant, less than Maru Gaurav, and it earns its place through deep red skin and plenty of pulp for juice and squash. The colour is the product, so anything that dulls it costs you money.
Pick when the fruit has gone fully red; under-coloured fruit pulls down the shade of the whole batch. Harvest in the morning, keep the crates in shade, and do not pile the fruit deep, because crushed fruit at the bottom bleeds and browns. Red pulp is also worth more as pulp than as fruit — ask the squash unit whether it buys de-stoned pulp, and what it pays over raw fruit, before you decide how to sell.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Karonda (Carissa) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHES-K-II-7 | Sweet fresh fruit, juice (vitamin C) | Good; high sugar and vitamin C | Karnataka |
| Konkan Bold | Fresh eating, jam, jelly, juice | High; prolific bearer | Maharashtra |
| Maru Gaurav | Highest yield on hot, dry land | Very high — up to ~40 kg/plant | Rajasthan, Gujarat |
| Pant Manohar | Pickle and chutney (green fruit) | Good, pickle-grade fruit | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Pant Sudarshan | Pickle and chutney (green fruit) | Good, pickle-grade fruit | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Pant Suvarna | Pickle and chutney (green fruit) | Good, pickle-grade fruit | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Thar Kamalthis page | Red pulp for juice and squash | Good; roughly 13 kg/plant in CIAH evaluation | Rajasthan |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Karonda (Carissa) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Karonda (Carissa) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Karonda (Carissa) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Karonda (Carissa) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Karonda (Carissa) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Karonda (Carissa) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Karonda (Carissa) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Thar Kamal or Maru Gaurav: which one should I plant?
Plant Maru Gaurav if you want the most weight of fruit, up to about 40 kg per plant as reported. Plant Thar Kamal (about 13 kg per plant) if your buyer pays for deep red colour and pulp, as in juice and squash.
What are the tested figures for Thar Kamal?
CIAH Bikaner reports about 9.5°B total soluble solids, about 6% total sugar and about 13 kg of fruit per plant. These are trial figures, and your own results will depend on soil, water and care.
Where is Thar Kamal grown?
It was released by the Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, and is listed for Rajasthan. Its performance in other states is less documented, so test a few plants first.
Can I use Thar Kamal for pickle?
It is not the right pick for sour pickle. Thar Kamal is grown for deep red colour and plenty of pulp, for juice and squash. For pickle fruit, look at the Pant varieties.
Does Thar Kamal suit dry land?
Yes. It was developed for the dry conditions of Rajasthan and is listed for sandy soil. It gave about 13 kg per plant in the CIAH Bikaner trial.