High-yield crops approved

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Seed Sub-Committee, chaired by Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (A&FE) Principal Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Wednesday approved the release of several new high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties. In the meeting, the committee approved the three non-paddy crop varieties developed by OUAT.

Among them, OUAT Kalinga Maize 1 (Khushi) has shown promising performance under Kharif rainfed dry spell conditions and is particularly suitable for maize-dominant districts like Nabarangpur. Two mustard varieties OUAT Kalinga Mustard 2 (Samrudhhi) and OUAT Kalinga Mustard 3 (Siddhi), were also released, both recognised for their high yield and oil content.

Additionally, four new paddy varieties from OUAT and seven from CRRI, Cuttack, have been approved for cultivation in the state. Among them, OUAT Kalinga Rice 3 (Sampada) stands out for its suitability for puffed rice and antioxidant properties. OUAT Kalinga Rice 12A (Padmaja) is a bio-fortified variety ideal for organic farming, while OUAT Kalinga Rice 14 (Shreepada), also bio-fortified and rich in iron and antioxidants, is positioned as a potential replacement for the widely grown Swarna (MTU-7029) variety.

Among the CRRI-developed varieties, CR Dhan 215 (Indumati) is suitable for aerobic and saline conditions, making it ideal for cultivation in coastal districts. CR Dhan 604 (Kalpana) is notable for its tolerance to low temperatures during the seedling stage and terminal heat during the reproductive phase, along with resistance to major pests. CR Dhan 912 (Ashutosh Mehek), an aromatic paddy variety, offers resistance to leaf folder and stem borer.

Speaking on the occasion, Padhee highlighted the need to prioritise climate resilience, shorter crop durations, and nutritional enhancement in the development of future crop varieties.

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