The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Alternative paddy seed suggested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 30, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Alternative paddy seed suggested

Correspondent

Kakinada: Officials of the Agricultural Department have initiated steps to overcome shortage of Swarna variety of paddy seed by supplying MPU 1001 variety, popularly known as Vijeta, as an alternative. The district requires 1.68 lakh quintals of paddy seed to cover 2,24,444 hectares of normal crop area during kharif. The department, as per the norms, has to supply 30 per cent of the total seed requirement that comes to 55,000 quintals.

According to Deputy Director of Agriculture I. Rama Krishnamurthy, the department has so far supplied 64,900 quintals. However, shortage is felt regarding the Swarna variety with more number of farmers preferring it to other varieties. Thus, the area under Swarna has gone up to 80 per cent as against a mere 60 per cent last year. Moreover, the recent rain has adversely affected Swarna paddy nurseries, resulting in a shortage of over 5,000 quintals. Dr. Krishnamurthy said that nearly 35 per cent of the total 11,000 hectares of paddy nurseries was affected by the rain. The department had put an indent for Vijeta as an alternative. It would be ready for distribution soon.

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