Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released a new variety each of cucumber, pumpkin, coriander, turmeric and cauliflower. It also introduced new sowing technology. Among new varieties released are Punjab Samrat (pumpkin), Punjab Sugandh (coriander), Punjab Haldi (turmeric), Punjab Naveen (cucumber) and Punjab Katki (cauliflower).
Talking about the new variants in the university, Vegetable Department Head Dr D S Cheema said the new variety of cucumber is rich in Vitamin C and is of a better quality.
While, the new pumpkin variant would mature early and would be rich in vitamin A. It would also be moderately resistant to mosaic virus, yielding 165 quintals per acre, he said.
In addition to it, PAU also announced approval of Low Tunnel Technology for raising sweet pepper and direct seeding of cabbage.
“With Low Tunnel technology for sweet pepper, the farmers can capture the market in early summer and get good returns of their produce. Another advantage of such technology is that poly tunnel can be easily dismantled and utilized during the next season,” he said adding that this technology has been widely accepted in Amritsar district by farmers.
He also advised plating direct cabbage seeding for early crop yields having ridges at 60 cm apart from maintaining a distance of 15-20 cm between plants.
“It would be ready for harvesting about two weeks earlier than transplanted crop,” he said. Further he said that radish varieties should be sown in the second fortnight of March for off-season production.
“The roots will be ready for harvesting by the end of April or early May,” he informed.
Another new technology has been developed to prepare low alcoholic self carbonated carrot-amla beverage at small and large scale with shelf life of three months.
