The development of crop varieties and technologies suited to different agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu is one of the key mandates of TNAU. The 23 varieties are inclusive of 16 agricultural crops, 3 in horticulture and 4 in tree crops.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore released 23 new crop varieties besides 10 agro technologies and 6 farm machinery to the farmers of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, to increase yield and reduce drudgery and the cost of cultivation.
The development of crop varieties and technologies suited to different agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu is one of the key mandates of TNAU. The 23 varieties are inclusive of 16 agricultural crops, 3 in horticulture and 4 in tree crops.
In this regard, four varieties of rice including an improved version of Kavuni CO 57 were released. The CO 57 is an alternative to the CO 56 and is capable of producing 4300-4400 kilograms per hectare, suitable for cultivation in all seasons. This variety holds about 15-20 percent high yield, unlike the other varieties. It is said to have high therapeutic value, a glycemic index of 67 percent and is photo-insensitive by nature.
In addition, it has high dietary fibre up to 3.5 percent, Lutein (good for vision) and Flavonoids (to prevent cancer cells). The capable harvest can be carried in 130-135 days. The other three rice varieties include CO 56, ADT 58 and ASD 21.
Maize hybrid COH (M) 11 is an alternative to maize 6 and 8. It is drought-tolerant and is capable of producing 8100 kgs per hectare which is a 12 percent high yield than the private hybrid varieties.
Three in pulses include the Green gram CO9, Green gram VBN 6 and Cowpea VBN 4. Two Oil seeds include Sunflower hybrid COH 4 and Sesame VRI 5. The two varieties are capable of producing 40-42 percent and 52 percent of oil content respectively.
In commemoration of the international year of millets 2023 and to encourage the farmers to cultivate more area under millets and the consumers to take more millets in a regular diet, four new varieties of millets (Pearl millet hybrid COH 10, Sorghum K 13, Kudiraivali ATL 1 and Panivaragu ATL 2) were released.
The other varieties include Sugarcane CO 18009 (Punnakai), Green manure crop Sunnhemp ADT 1, Ridge Gourd MDU 1, Winter Jasmine CO 1, Bush Lab Lab CO 16, Silk Cotton MTP 1, Red Sanders MTP 1, Casuarina (MTP 3) and Khaya (MTP 1) were released alongside.
The mentioned 10 agro technologies include forecasting for every 3 km due to climate variabilities covering major areas using Weather Resource Forecast (WRF) model, customized agro advisory, seed treatment, home gardening, oil from polythene and methods to increase groundwater.
The released seeds will be available at the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Horticultural College and Research Institute, and Forest College and Research Institute.
The development of crop varieties and technologies suited to different agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu is one of the key mandates of TNAU. The 23 varieties are inclusive of 16 agricultural crops, 3 in horticulture and 4 in tree crops.
In this regard, four varieties of rice including an improved version of Kavuni CO 57 were released. The CO 57 is an alternative to the CO 56 and is capable of producing 4300-4400 kilograms per hectare, suitable for cultivation in all seasons. This variety holds about 15-20 percent high yield, unlike the other varieties. It is said to have high therapeutic value, a glycemic index of 67 percent and is photo-insensitive by nature.
In addition, it has high dietary fibre up to 3.5 percent, Lutein (good for vision) and Flavonoids (to prevent cancer cells). The capable harvest can be carried in 130-135 days. The other three rice varieties include CO 56, ADT 58 and ASD 21.
Maize hybrid COH (M) 11 is an alternative to maize 6 and 8. It is drought-tolerant and is capable of producing 8100 kgs per hectare which is a 12 percent high yield than the private hybrid varieties.
Three in pulses include the Green gram CO9, Green gram VBN 6 and Cowpea VBN 4. Two Oil seeds include Sunflower hybrid COH 4 and Sesame VRI 5. The two varieties are capable of producing 40-42 percent and 52 percent of oil content respectively.
In commemoration of the international year of millets 2023 and to encourage the farmers to cultivate more area under millets and the consumers to take more millets in a regular diet, four new varieties of millets (Pearl millet hybrid COH 10, Sorghum K 13, Kudiraivali ATL 1 and Panivaragu ATL 2) were released.
The other varieties include Sugarcane CO 18009 (Punnakai), Green manure crop Sunnhemp ADT 1, Ridge Gourd MDU 1, Winter Jasmine CO 1, Bush Lab Lab CO 16, Silk Cotton MTP 1, Red Sanders MTP 1, Casuarina (MTP 3) and Khaya (MTP 1) were released alongside.
The mentioned 10 agro technologies include forecasting for every 3 km due to climate variabilities covering major areas using Weather Resource Forecast (WRF) model, customized agro advisory, seed treatment, home gardening, oil from polythene and methods to increase groundwater.
The released seeds will be available at the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Horticultural College and Research Institute, and Forest College and Research Institute.