Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today launched a new flood-resistant paddy variety, called Swarna sub 1, which was developed from the genetic resources of the Andhra origin. | |
| The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with University of California, has isolated the submergence tolerance locus (sub 1 gene) from FR 13 A, an Andhra paddy variety, and incorporated into Swarna, a popular variety from the state known for its flood-resistant quality. |
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| While the existing variety withstands submergence for up to a week, the new variety can survive up to 10-12 days, according to N Raghava Reddy, director (Research), Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University. |
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| Owing to regular floods in the coastal Andhra region, the state agriculture ministry has acquired a sample of the new variety, which will be cultivated in 100-200 centres across the flood-prone East and West Godavari districts during the next Kharif season for evaluation. |
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| "If the farmers are satisfied with the overall performance of the new variety, it will be automatically multiplied and used by more number of farmers," Raghava Reddy told Business Standard. Swarna sub 1 is also under evaluation in West Bengal and Orissa. |
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| According to Raghava Reddy, the agriculture university is transferring the new variety free of cost to farmers as it has also received the sample without any obligation to pay royalty since the genetic resources used in the development of the new variety belongs to Andhra Pradesh. |
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| "But if somebody starts branding and commercial production of the seed, the university may expect a nominal charge from them," he said. |
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