Big Gift for Farmers on Pongal: TNAU Releases New Crop Varieties to Increase Agricultural Production in India

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Coimbatore has released 11 crop varieties inclusive of six varieties in agricultural crops and four in horticulture and one in Forestry as a ‘Pongal Gift’ to benefit the farmers and increase Agricultural Production in the state. The 51th State Variety Release Committee under the Chairmanship of Agricultural Production Commissioner (APC) & Principal Secretary to the Government, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS and Dr. N. Kumar, Vice Chancellor of TNAU has suggested 11 crop varieties for adoption in the state. There are 3 rice varieties released in Tamil Nadu. Rice variety Co 54 for Sornavari/ Kar/kuruvai/Navarai seasons and ADT 55 for Kar/ Kuruvai/Summer seasons and the rice variety TRY 4 for salt affected soils in Samba/Thaladi/late Thaladi seasons under irrigated conditions. In Small millets, varieties Ragi ATL 1, Varagu ATL 1 has been released for rainfed and irrigated conditions to improve the nutritional security and to adopt “eat right ...