ICAR to release new maize varieties soon

Guwahati, Oct 3 (UNI) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), North East Hill Region (NEH), is all set to release four new varieties of maize and two varieties of brinjal.

ICAR Director Dr Bujarbarua said the scientists working on the new varieties were satisfied and the center is planning to release them very soon.

''We have given trial production of these varieties in the ICAR farm and the results are satisfactory. We are certain that these varieties will produce more, '' he assured.

The director said the scientists working in the center are generally more concerned to develop suitable varieties for the hilly region. So far a number of rice and tomato varieties released by ICAR (NEH) has helped the hilly states of the region.

At present it is engaged in 206 institutionally funded projects and 25 externally funded projects. The ICAR has also bagged three internationally funded projects after completing three such projects earlier, he said.

The projects include screening and development of crop varieties, development of intensive integrated farming system models, bio-technical research for both crop and animal in the genetic research division, development of farm implements, use of plastic in agriculture, macro water-based farming etc.

In all 130 scientists are currently working in over 230 projects undertaken by the institute with some projects going on for last few years.

''Some projects take a longer time. For example, the new crop varieties we are now planning to release had to be cultivated in our farm and tested to ensure that they would help the farmers and it would not harm people when consumed. All these take quite some time,'' Dr Bujarbarua explained.

He said since 1975, the ICAR located near Shillong has made a good contribution towards the farmers of hilly terrain of the North East region. It has so far released 12 rice varieties for different altitude conditions, three tomato varieties and one each of turmeric and yellow mustard variety, cultivated throughout the country now.

Apart from these, the ICAR has also developed a pig variety, indigenous ornamental fish breeding and a farming system, which is much improved to the shifting cultivation. It has also developed a technology for organic agriculture, he added.

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