Government approves export of 'Super Basmati' variety

Ludhiana, June 16 (UNI) The Union Government has given its consent for the export of 'Super Basmati', a variety developed by the scientists at Panjab Agricultural University (PAU), Dr N S Malhi, Head, Department of plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology today said.

The decision of the government follows the acceptance of this variety in the international market.

Dr Malhi said this would be good news for farmers in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ropar and Hoshiarpur districts, as these areas have a natural niche for growing basmati. PAU has asked the farmers of these districts to go in for the cultivation of this variety on a large scale alongwith other varieties.

Dr Malhi said the university has developed and recommended complete packages for basmati cultivation. This variety gives 40 per cent higher yield than basmati-386, the prevalant variety.

He said the Basmati Export Association has joined hands with PAU to popularise this variety. The PAU has supplied the seed to the association for production and multiplication in Punjab.

Giving details of the characteristics of this variety, Dr Malhi said that super basmati is a medium tall variety with good lodging resistance. It has weak photo period sensitivity and can be grown even in medium fertility soils. Compared to the popular basmati-386, super basmati matures early. The grains of this variety are extra long and superfine with strong aroma.

The transplanting of super basmati is recommended in the first fortnight of the basmati sowing season, thus it helps in saving a lot of water. Popularisation of this variety fix well in the 'save water campaign' launched by the univerisity,' Dr Malhi added.

He said that advantage of growing basmati is that after harvesting wheat in March there is enough time till July to grow a crop of summer moong. This way, farmers can take three crops in a year.

Growing summer moong has an added advantage as it improves the soil health which saves on fertiliser use in the subsequent crops.

Efforts are on by PAU to develop better basmati varieties having yield as high as super basmati and quality characteristics superior to that of basmati-386.

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