Faizabad Parwal-1

Faizabad Parwal-1 (FP-1) is a pointed gourd variety released by Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (NDUAT), Faizabad, and is among the more established, popular commercial varieties among farmers in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining parts of Bihar. Its fruit is round and green — a distinct shape from the more elongated, spindle-type fruit of some other named varieties — and it has a long track record in the region's farming practice. NDUAT went on to release related Faizabad Parwal varieties (FP-3, FP-4) for different niches within the state, but FP-1 remains a standard reference point for growers in the Faizabad-influenced belt. As with all pointed gourd, it is propagated from vine or root cuttings, and male cuttings must be interplanted with the fruiting stock for pollination.

Plant typeVine/root cutting
MaturityFirst harvest ~3–4 months after planting
Yield potential15–17 t/ha
Disease resistanceNo special resistance widely documented
SoilLoam
SeasonAll seasons

• Seed rateVegetatively propagated — about 2,000–2,500 cuttings/ha, roughly 10% male cuttings interplanted for pollination
• SpacingPits 2–3 m apart on an overhead bower

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar

• Swarna Alaukik

  Released by ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Ranchi. Light greenish, unstriped, elongated fruit with soft flesh and soft seeds, suited to both table use and sweet preparations, on a heavy-bearing vine.

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• Swarna Rekha

  Also from ICAR RCER, Ranchi. Elongated green fruit with distinct light stripes, soft seeds and good shelf life, widely grown across the eastern belt from Bihar and Jharkhand to West Bengal and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

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• Swarna Suruchi

  A third ICAR RCER, Ranchi release alongside Swarna Alaukik and Swarna Rekha — light greenish, unstriped fruit with soft flesh and seeds, bred for heavy yield and good eating and processing quality.

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• Rajendra Parwal-1

  A clonal selection from Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, developed for the state's eastern Gangetic plain conditions with light-green fruit and a heavy-bearing vine.

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• Rajendra Parwal-2

  A later, high-yielding clonal release from the same Bihar university, distributed to farmers as part of state high-value horticulture programmes. Small, light-green fruit (about 25–30 g each) borne heavily — 150–175 fruit per vine.

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• Faizabad Parwal-4

  Also from NDUAT, Faizabad. Light-green, spindle-shaped fruit with tapering ends, specifically recommended for bower (pole) cultivation and noted for tolerating reclaimed sodic soils better than most named varieties.

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