Pusa Kisan Mela 2021: Be on IARI Ground to Grab Seeds of New Paddy, Moong, and Arhar Varieties

Pusa Kisan Mela 2021 will be held from February 25 to 27 at IARI, New Delhi. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will be the chief guest of the Mela this year.  

According to Director of IARI Dr. A. K. Singh, this year’s Kisan Mela will exhibit improved crop varieties and innovative crop cultivation practices.  The Mela will also feature a Q/A session, which will let farmers and scientists interact with each other. Scientists will answer the questions of farmers.  

Major attraction  

Major attraction of Kisan Mela 2021 is seeds.  

This year’s Mela will feature major varieties that are under research and experimental stage. A few examples are: Pusa Basmati 1121, 1718, 1509, 1401, 1637, and 1728.  

Pusa Kisan Mela 2021 will provide a new variety of Paddy – Pusa Basmati 1692. This is a short duration variety that is ready for harvest in just 115 days. This new variety provides 5 quintal/kg more yield than the popular variety Pusa Basmati 1509. 

One of the benefits of this new variety is that, being a short duration crop, farmers’ fields become available for the cultivation of potatoes, chillies, and sunflower. This way, farmer can indulge in cultivating a variety of crops and open newer doors of income.  

According to Dr. Singh, IARI will provide 1kg seeds of this new variety to each farmer participating in the Kisan Mela.  

In addition, farmers can get seeds of Pusa Arhar 16 (which is a short duration crop ready for harvest in 120 days), Arhar 1191 and 1192, and 3 major varieties of Moong.