Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Institute stocking saline-resistant paddy seeds

Staff Reporter

Tsunami-hit areas in Nagapattinam dt.

TIRUCHI : Anticipating an unprecedented demand for the saline-resistant paddy seeds in the tsunami-hit areas in Nagapattinam district, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute near here has geared up stocking of seeds to meet any emergency.

Even as harvest of two varieties of paddy raised about four months ago is brisk on about 22 hectares, a group of women labourers are transplanting nurseries, testifying to the preparedness of the Institute to supply seeds in the season, from June-August this year. The Institute is noted for raising samba, kuruvai and thaladi varieties best suited for alkaline and saline areas, termed as `agriculturally-dark zones', in the State.

Sensing the demand for the saline-resistant seeds in the aftermath of the tsunami, the Institute, in September / October 2005, had stepped up the area under coverage of the `TRY-R2' variety from its usual 1.5 acres to 10 hectares in 2005, harvest of which was nearing completion.

``We shall process and stock the seeds to meet the requirements of the Nagapattinam farmers during the forthcoming kuruvai season'', says S. Anthoni Raj, Dean of the Institute. Nurseries of this variety are being raised on 1.5 acres at the Institute. Similar effort has been made for the `ADT-43', another `kuruvai' variety. Realising the coastal farmers' need for the seeds of this variety, the Institute has started raising the variety on another 1.5 acres. Harvest of the samba variety, 'TRY-1', on about 12 hectares is also nearing completion. The average per hectare yield is 5 tonnes, he said. The Tsunami-hit farmers of Nagapattinam district could resume agricultural activities in February / March last year, due to timely supply of 13 tonnes of saline-resistant seeds of 'TRY-1' and 'TRY-R2', he said. Farmers of Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam preferred the TRY-1 variety, while those from Sembanarkoil opted for the short-duration TRY-R2 variety.

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