Post News Network
Cuttack, Jan 18: There is good news for farmers of the state who face natural calamities every year. Scientists at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) here have developed four new varieties of drought-resistant paddy and one variety that can be grown with little water, according to sources.
The drought-resistant varieties have been named Ankit, Sachala, Gopinath and Maudamani, while the one that can grow in little water is named Chakaakhi. The CRRI scientists claim that it can also withstand high winds.
Ankit (CR Paddy-101) can be cultivated in highlands with less water and can be harvested in three-and-a-half months, said Sarat Kumar Pradhan, the chief scientist at CCRI. About 68 kg of rice can be obtained by milling a quintal of paddy of this variety, said Pradhan.
Sachala (CR Paddy-203) and Gopinath, which are immune to certain diseases, can be harvested in 110 days and can be cultivated and harvested like the Ankit variety, he said.
“Maudamani (CR-307) is a small, fatty and pest-resistant variety of paddy that can be cultivated in irrigated lands. About 50 quintals per hectare of this variety can be harvested in normal conditions,” Pradhan said.
Chakaakhi (CR-408), the fatty and longer variety, can withstand pest attack and grow up to 130 to 140 centimetre. The harvest period of this paddy is 160-165 days, said Pradhan.