India’s ICAR panel shortlists 23 new wheat varieties for commercial release

SK Pradhan, reviewed requests for 46 new varieties of wheat and barley. According to the meeting minutes, 28 were “identified” for approval by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification & Release of Varieties (CSN&RV). This selection includes 23 new wheat varieties out of 41 requested and all five new varieties of barley submitted by government institutes and private sector companies. The approval process this year is reportedly under stricter scrutiny, after Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed displeasure on farmers not adopting the numerous varieties released commercially. He reportedly questioned the rationale behind commercially releasing varieties that farmers ultimately do not grow. Of the four wheat varieties the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) sought clearance for, only two were identified for approval: PBW 906 and PBW 915. PBW 915 is noted for its yield advantage and resistance to wheat rusts in the North-East Plain Zone, while PBW 906 ...