FNB News - ANGRAU poised to release new seed varieties of rice, pulses, oil

You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here

AGRICULTURE

ANGRAU poised to release new seed varieties of rice, pulses, oil

Saturday, 02 June, 2007, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

K Sriramulu, Hyderabad

GRAU) is poised to release new varieties of seeds of rice, pulses, oilseeds and spices, besides sugarcane for the upcoming kharif season.

The scientists in the ANGRAU, while talking to Food & Beverages News, claim that the new varieties of rice seeds will increase productivity twice that of the common variety. So is the case with new varieties of pulses and oil seeds.

The officials in the ministry of agriculture are deliberating on how to make the seeds available to a large number of farmers in the state. It has also sparked a debate whether it would help promote growth of the agriculture sector from the present 2% to at least 3% during the next kharif and rabi seasons. Sources in the ministry said the state government had allotted Rs 57.45 crore during this current financial year as against Rs 40.75 crore during 2003-2004 and Rs 10.68 crore for agriculture extension service to promote awareness among the farmers.

Among the new varieties, Indra (MTU 1061), Pardhiva (NLR 33892), Sree Kurma (RGL 2332) and Warangal Sannalu (WGL 32100) are fine strains. They have their edge over the ruling varieties in terms of distinct characteristics to address the problem like resistance to pests and diseases, suitability to different seasons, drought resistance etc.

The scientists certify that the Indra variety of rice with crop duration of 145-150 days will yield 66 quintals on a hectare as against the ruling variety's yield of 30-35 quintals. In the case of Warangal Sannalu, the yield is expected to be between 65-70 quintals on a hectare with crop duration of 135 days, and Pardiva with a crop duration of 155 days will have an yield of 60 quintals on a hectare.

Not less than 90% of the rice area in kharif and 65% of rabi area in the state are under hybrid varieties of ANGRAU. The university is producing the required breeder and foundation seed of various crops and planting material of horticulture crops. This is intended to raise the replacement rate to 100% in three years for the benefit of farmers, the scientists point out.

As for the new varieties of pulses, red gram spices are Lam 41 (LRG 41) and Palem khandhi (PRG 158) and black gram strains are Lam 709, Trombay Pesara, Lam Shanga and Tirupati Field Bean. Oilseeds are Prasuna, Abhaya and Hima. Sugarcane varieties are Durga and Sarada. New varieties of seeds of chillies and coriander and vegetable seeds of colocasia, tomato, cooking melon and sweet potato are also introduced in the market.

The scientists explain that the LM 41 variety of red gram with crop duration of 170-175 days will yield 20 quintals on a hectare. The black gram varieties, too, with the crop duration ranging between 80 and 85 days are expected to yield 20 quintals. The yield of Sarada sugarcane variety is put at 125 quintals with crop duration of 10 months. They are confident of increasing the productivity of spices, too.

The university during 2006-2007 produced and supplied 5,480 quintals of breeder seeds and supplied planting material of horticultural crops, tissue culture plant and bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides. Under the 100% seed replacement rate programme, the university produced and supplied 2111.73 quintals of breeder seeds and nucleus seeds to the Department of Agriculture.