India: Agriculture University in Madhya Pradesh develops new varieties of oats, wheat, rice

State-run agricultural university in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur has developed new varieties of oats, wheat, rice and niger crop, which are suitable for production in other states as well. The Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (JNKVV) has developed two varieties each of oats and wheat, one type of rice and three varieties of niger, which have been notified by the Centre as being suitable for production, the university’s vice-chancellor Dr P K Bisen said. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare had issued a gazette notification on January 3 in this regard, he said. “Seeds of these new crop varieties will be made available to farmers shortly. This will ensure quality production of crops and generate more income,” Bisen said. The new varieties were tested over a period of three years in various agro-climatic conditions in specific crop-growing areas of various states, said Dr G K Koutu, director of research services at the JNKVV. These new crops possess a ...