The improved Toor variety by University of Agriculture Sciences-Raichur (UASR) is gaining popularity among the farmers for its higher yield.
The variety known as ‘TS3R’, developed by the University under National Food Security Mission, promises eight to ten quintal yield in an acre of land while the traditional seed varieties are yielding only about five quintals.
In order to educate the farmers on this new variety, the University selected some 26 farmers of Basavanabagewadi taluk of the district for cultivation of the new variety in the farms.
According to the scientists, the traditional variety bears only three grain in each shell while the improved variety has five grains.
Speaking to The Hindu , T. Manjunath, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture said that the new variety hadseveral advantages over the traditional variety.
“Besides higher yield, it has pest resistance quality as the pink colour of the grains does not attract the moths which is normal problem in the Toor. With less pest attack, the farmers could save money on spraying pesticides”, he said.
He said that though there is not much of difference in cost of cultivation between the traditional and improved variety, however, higher yield gives additional revenue to the farmers.
Mr. Manjunath said that the seeds of improved variety are best suitable for black and deepblack soil as it gives higher yield in this type of soil, and said that district like Vijayapura is ideal as this region has huge tracks of black soil.
He said that this year, the department has distributed around 1,192 quintals of seeds of this improved variety and plans to increase the quantity in coming days.
“Vijayapura district alone produces around Rs. 1800 crore worth of Toor every year, the improved variety would surely enhance this revenue”, Mr. Manjunath said.
