Promising variety of Bajra developed in HAU

Hisar, Nov 22 (UNI) A promising variety of bajra, HHB-197 having superior grain and fodder yield capacity, maturity period and disease resistance, has been developed by Haryana Agricultural University here.

Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.C. Katyal said here today that National Variety Notification Committee for Permillet has released this variety for cultivation in first zone, comprising Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Utter Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.

The release of this variety will prove to be a boon for the farmers and there will be no shortage of bajra seed in the state as farmers would be able to produce bajra seed of their own.

The Vice-Chancellor said that HHB-197 performs well under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions and was quite responsive to advance production technologies.

The varsity's Director of Research, Dr. B.S. Chhillar said that developed by the bajra breeders of the university's department of plant breeding HHB-197 was capable to yield 50 quintal per hectare of grain and 110 quintal per hectare of fodder.

He said that as HHB-197 was early maturing, farmers could harvest its crops within 68-72 days. As for its high degree of resistance to downy mildew disease, he said, HHB-197 is the only hybrid which is also tolerant to sumut and ergot diseases.

UNI