The Hindu Business Line : AP to grow more flood-resistant rice

Hyderabad April 10 After testing the improved Swarna rice variety, which can withstand floods, in a few pockets last year, the Andhra Pradesh Government and ANGRAU have decided to increase the use of the seed in the next kharif season.

The upgraded variety promises to be useful to farmers in the rice-growing coastal areas prone to floods and cyclones every year.

Dr P. Raghava Reddy, Director of Research at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), told Business Line that the Swarna Sub I (submergence) variety was found to be very useful in resisting submergence.

"Submergence of paddy fields due to floods and cyclones results in losses to the tune of hundreds of crores. The improved variety can withstand up to 20 days of submergence and save the farmers from losing the crop," he said.

"We are going to test the improved variety for resistance and yields in additional extent in the next kharif season in East and West Godavari and Krishna districts, some of the important paddy-growing districts in the State," he said.

After analysing the results, the Government would promote the variety in a big way.

More Stories on : Rice | Natural Calamities | Research & Development | Andhra Pradesh

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