8 New Varieties of Seeds for Farmers in Telangana

Professor Jayashankar, Telangana Agriculture University has (PJTAU) has prepared 8 new varieties of seeds which can be used by farmers this month. These include three new varieties of Paddy. If all get approval, the number input subsidy seeds in the state post bifurcation will reach 25. 

As informed, each new seed variety has to satisfy 30-50 quality parameters before it gets approval. The seed varieties have been sent to seed varietal approval committee of the state agriculture department.  The varieties that will be screened this week by the committee are three varieties of Paddy and one from each of Red gram, Groundnut, Bajra, Fingermillet and Jowar. As per the permission of state government committee, all these varieties are funded by state government under non plan quota.  

These newly released varieties funded by state government will be supplied as certified seeds either by private companies or public institutes. Last year a total of 17 seed varieties were released by the university of which 7 were of Paddy. 

Breeder seeds need to have 98% of quality. Farmers will also be supplied certified and foundation seeds, which will have 95 percent quality. Label seeds are those which are proposed by small players but they should have quality certification. 

Two other varieties of seeds have also been recommended by Telangana which needs approval from IACR and require the permission of Central committee.