Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has released 14 new diverse crop varieties as a Pongal gift for the benefit of the farming community.

The varieties include Rice ADT 53 (short duration, 105 days), Rice VGD1 (semi dwarf, 130 days), Little millet ATL1 ( samai ), Greengram VBN 4, Groundnut BSR 2, Castor YTP 1, Kadam MTP 1 (for pulp and plywood), Bottlegourd PLR 2, Garlic Ooty 2, Star Jasmine CO 1, Kufri Sahyadri (potato), and banana varieties Kaveri Saba, Kaveri Kalki, Kaveri Sugantham.

The State Variety Release Committee has given its approval, said N Kumar, Vice Chancellor, TNAU.

A fast growing, short duration 3-5 years, multipurpose Kadam MTP 1 tree is recommended for cultivation throughout Tamil Nadu.

Mean yield ranges from 135-175 t/ha. Highly suitable for pulp wood (3 years), plywood and splints (5 years).

Kufri Sahyadri, a high yielding medium maturing potato variety has been released by CPRI, Ooty. Suited for cultivation in summer, autumn and spring, the average yield of tuber ranged between 28 and 35 tonnes/ha.

The National Banana Research Centre in Tiruchi has released the three banana varieties.

Kaveri Kalki is a short duration variety with an annual yield of 52 – 60 t/ha; Kaveri Saba is drought tolerant, dual purpose (both culinary and dessert) variety with yield potential of 58 to 60 t/ha; and Kaveri Sugantham is suited for cultivation specifically in Kolli hills of Namakkal district, with a record yield of 50 t/ha.

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