ICAR - CCARI, Goa, demonstrated new salt tolerant rice varieties in the coastal district of Karnataka
ICAR - CCARI, Goa, demonstrated new salt tolerant rice varieties in the coastal district of Karnataka
ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, in an effort to test salt tolerant rice varieties, taken up demonstration in the farmers' field at Karwar in Karnataka. Representatives of social organization 'Community Organization of Rural Educe, Karwar', Shri. Yeshwanth Rane and Shri. Ramesh Kadam and progressive farmer Shri. Narayana Gaonkar approached ICAR-CCARI, Goa, for suggesting them with the suitable technologies to bring back cultivation of paddy in the coastal low lying areas which are often affected with salinity and water stagnation. Accordingly, seeds of the new salt tolerant rice varieties developed at the institute was provided to farmers and demonstration plots were laid out at three villages viz., Ulga, Hankon and in Gopshitta. All the package of practices were suggested during the course of discussion and necessary guidance was given during the visit to the farmers field.
Field Day was organized at Ulga village, in Karwar district of Karnataka on 7th October 2018. During the field day, farmers were apprised about the newly introduced salt tolerant rice varieties viz., Goa dhan-1, Goa dhan-2 and GRS-1. Later a formal interaction meeting with the farmers was organized at the auditorium of the local college. Speaking on the occasion as chief guest director ICAR-CCARI Dr. E. B. Chakurkar, emphasised on the integration of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries to increase the income of the farmers. He informed the farmers that the new varieties of paddy are boon to farmers in the low lying coastal saline area and are capable of meeting the demands as per the local farmers. As farmers are producing the paddy with least use of chemical fertilizers in the salt affected soils, the rice produced will have huge demand among the consumers, he said. Dr. Jagadeesh Rane, Principal scientist and Head at ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, emphasised on retaining youths in agriculture and highlighted that community farming along with other subsidiary agriculture help in retaining them in the villages. He also emphasized on use of machinery to bring back a vast area of fallow land into agriculture. Dr. Manohara, K. K., Scientist in Plant Breeding, ICAR CCARI, apprised the farmers about the new varieties of paddy. He said that new varieties are tolerant to salinity and water stagnation, and are capable of giving higher yield compared to the local varieties. The varieties are best suited for parboiled rice and for making poha, he said. He also emphasized that farmers should involve in seed production to earn additional income than just producing them as grains.