UAS introduces new crop breeds

University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Dharwad has developed and released several crop breeds that include heat tolerance capacity, resistant to rust and leaf bloch diseases. The varsity has released new wheat breed UAS-304 which is having a yield potential of 42-46 quintal per hectare. New paddy variety Siri-1253 is leaf and neck blast resistant breed which is recommended for cultivation in rain-fed midland situation.

UAS Vice-Chancellor R R Hanchinal said higher fibre yielding mesta variety (pundi pallya) AS-73-CP-560 has also been developed and released. In horticulture, the varsity has released non-stacking, high yielding, fresh market type with resistance to bacterial wilt and high density planting tomato variety named DMT-1 and DMT-5. Besides, medium-sized, dark coloured fruits, suitable for long distance transport coccinia variety (tondikai) DRC-2 with a yield potential of 65 tonne per hectare has been released.

He said, the research conducted in organic farming system has proven similar yield levels for both organic farming and integrated farming under rain-fed conditions. This includes less production cost, increased organic carbon content and improvement in physical, chemical and biological activities in soil.An Institute for Agriculture research on Climate Change is established in the University. Under this programme, real-time now-casts and short range forecasts are provided to the farmers. Hanchinaal said, the varsity has given top priority for seed production and technology transfer through supply of quality seeds to the farming community. University has produced 34,072 quintal of seeds in 2009-10. The varsity has supplied seeds of improved varieties at 50 per cent subsidised rates to 4,425 farmers.

This year, the varsity has fixed a target of producing 1.50 lakh quintal of seeds.Further he said, the university cannot depend on government alone to fund.

The scientists at UAS are involved in dissemination of technology through production and supply of quality inputs, and value-added products. Besides, offering consultancy services to farmers under revolving fund schemes.