Jharkhand Agri Research Institutes Release 16 High-Yielding Crop Varieties for Farmers

The Jharkhand State Variety Release Committee (SVRC) has released 16 improved varieties of nine crops developed by various agricultural research institutions for Jharkhand, four of which were developed by the scientists at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) after years of experimentation using various breeding techniques and protocols.

There are seven new rice varieties, two new chili varieties, and one each of tomato, litchi, bael, linseed, soybean, field pea, and brinjal. These high-yielding, early-maturing varieties are resistant to major diseases and pests and are ideal for Jharkhand's drought-prone, dryland ecosystem.

A Wadood, director of research at Birsa Agricultural University Jharkhand, informed that the release proposal was approved at an SVRC meeting conducted on March 24 at the Department of Agriculture under the chairmanship of agriculture secretary Aboobacker Siddique P.

Other attendees included BAU vice-chancellor Dr. Onkar Nath Singh, director agriculture Nisha Oraon, head FSRCHPR Plandu, Arun Kumar Singh, and director Sameti, Subhash Singh, as well as various breeders.

Birsa Tisi-2, a linseed variety produced by BAU chief scientist Sohan Ram, has a production potential of 19.7 quintals per hectare, contains 36.75 percent oil, matures in 128-30 days, and outperforms the national check T-397 by 10.46 percent.

Birsa Soybean-4, a soybean cultivar developed by Nutan Verma of BAU, has a production potential of 28q/ha and matures in 110 days. Its yellow color seed with brown hilum contains 40.30% protein and 17.55% oil.

Birsa Matar-1, a dwarf-type plant of medium maturity developed by CS Mahato, with a production potential of 13-15 q/ha and matures in 112-116 days.

Birsa Chianki Baigan-3, a high producing brinjal variety developed by Abdul Majid Ansari at the Zonal Research Station in Chianki, Palamu, with a production potential of 350-400 q/ha and comes under medium maturity group.