India’s first ginger variety ‘IISR Surasa’ developed exclusively for use as a vegetable, has been released by the ICAR and the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR)
ICAR and Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) have launched India’s first ginger cultivar, “IISR Surasa,” which was created specifically for vegetable usage. The “IISR Surasa,” created by IISR through a farmers’ participatory breeding program with the intention of helping ginger growers, is a non-pungent cultivar with superior organoleptic qualities that make it more appealing when eaten. It can produce up to 24.33 tons per hectare when grown scientifically, giving the grower steady output. John Joseph, a farmer in Kodancherry, Kozhikode, provided the researchers with the variety’s original rhizome. Over a six-year period, the IISR scientific team conducted extensive testing and trials on the accession with his permission.
The variety has demonstrated consistent yield throughout the trials, guaranteeing consistent and high output. Farm experiments of the variety have been conducted in areas of Kerala, Nagaland, and Odisha. The growing of Surasa in Kerala has recently received approval from the Kerala State Varietal Release Committee. The rhizomes of Surasa have a creamy golden center and are plump and robust. Because of its low fiber content and roughly 21% dry recovery rate, it’s perfect for creating dry ginger as needed. Additionally, the cultivar is perfect for growing in polybags. The principal researcher for Surasa, Dr. C.K. Thankamani, Principal Scientist at IISR, claims that the variety is ideal for commercial use due to its outstanding qualities and bold rhizomes.
Farmers will have restricted access to this variety’s planting material beginning with the upcoming May–June planting season. Dr. N.K. Leela, Dr. T.E. Sheeja, Dr. K.S. Krishnamoorthy, Dr. D. Prasad, Dr. Sharon Aravind, and Dr. S. Mukesh Shankar are members of the research team that created IISR Surasa.
