The Hindu Business Line : TN to release 2 new wheat varieties

THE official release of two wheat varieties for cultivation in Tamil Nadu is on the cards. "The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is expected to make the announcement probably during January 2005. This would be the first wheat variety to be released by the State Agricultural University," the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director, Dr S. Nagarajan told Business Line.

Conceding that there was no technology for taking to wheat cultivation in Tamil Nadu in a modest way until recently, Dr Nagarajan expressed confidence about raising wheat in select pockets like Salem, Theni, Cumbum, Vellore, Palladam, Udumalpet, Pollachi etc, with minimal irrigation.

"The idea is to introduce an alternative crop, diversify the food habit and farm practices, particularly in a water-starved situation. Besides supplementing the protein intake, the crop is a rich fodder for the cattle," he added.

Recalling the crop response when it was first introduced in the equatorial belt of Indonesia, he said: "The country was importing close to 4 million tonnes of wheat until they started raising the crop. Though not self sufficient in wheat production yet, Indonesia has been able to reduce imports marginally."

"Changing food habits and quicker adaptation to wheat-based food items has indirectly amplified demand. It is estimated that by 2020 the demand for wheat would be 40 per cent greater than what it is today."

"We have to experiment. We have come a long way from the days of scarcity, starvation to concentrating on health and nutritive value of the food intake. Today we are able to perceive that technological alternatives are possible, though such alternatives have not been perfected," he said in reply to a question.

Earlier, inaugurating the two-day symposium on "Wheat Improvement for Tropical Areas,'" Mr K. Pandurangan, Minister for Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Government hailed the scientific community for their relentless efforts in reviving wheat cultivation in the State.

Emphasising the need for popularising wheat cultivation in non-traditional areas, he said the country would need 105 mt of wheat grains annually, and the only way to achieve this is by expanding the area.

The TNAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr C. Ramasamy, said identifying the genotypes - HW 3070, HW 3094, DWR 162 and HD 2285, resistant to fusarium root rot was possible only after five long years of intensive research. He called upon the researchers to implement different strategies for increasing productivity in unfavourable environments and for introducing wheat in non-traditional areas.