Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Ukrainian firm begins research at Kurnool

Special Correspondent

To take advantage of Indian climatic conditions for growing its corn varieties

JOINT EFFORT: Victor Borisov and his daughter Victoria at the research farm near Kurnool. — Photo: U. Subramanyam

KURNOOL: Ukrainian corn seed company Maiz has set up its research base at K. Nagalapuram, 20 km from here. The primary motive behind the research base on Indian soil is to escape the harsh climatic conditions of Ukraine.

In Ukraine, crops are cultivated between April and September. The rest of the period is dogged with poor sunlight and heavy snowfall. Development of a new hybrid takes nearly 10 years in Ukraine as against four in India. Ten cycles needed for a hybrid can be accommodated in four years in India.

The peak temperature in Ukraine is 30 degrees Celsius and lowest is minus 20 degrees. The crop duration also is relatively reduced in India by 25 days. Chairman of Maiz company Victor Borisov, his daughter Victoria and breeder Gontarovskyy visited the farm near K. Nagalapuram where nearly 500 hybrids and straight maize lines are sown.

Collaboration

The firm collaborated with Sri Rama Agri Genetics of Kurnool for its breeding programme with the condition that the latter offered its land, water and labour for growing the research varieties.

According to Mr. Borisov, the company developed a gene pool of 5,000 corn varieties and 1,000 hybrids. Of them, the company marketed 26 commercial hybrids in Ukraine and other European countries. The main emphasis of the research is on reducing the duration of the crop.

According to Mr. Gontarovskyy, they may chance upon some of the hybrids suitable for Indian conditions too.

Indian market is already flooded with plenty of high yielding hybrids but the advantage of Ukrainian ones is short duration.

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Ukrainian firm begins research at Kurnool

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