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Wednesday / February 5. 2025

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HomePosts Tagged "Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth"
Agribiotechnology, Environment, Oilseeds, Sustainability

BARC developed high yielding non-GMO varieties using radiation-based mutation breeding techniques, to “revolutionize” agriculture across India

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, has introduced eight new high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of wheat, rice and oilseeds, it said on Friday. Developed using radiation-based mutation breeding techniques, these non-GMO crop varieties are set to “revolutionize” agriculture across India, the BARC said in a statement here.

The new varieties — five cereals and three oilseeds — are tailored to diverse agricultural conditions and were launched in collaboration with state agricultural universities. Speaking at the launch, Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the non-GMO crop varieties (DAE) and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, highlighted BARC’s significant contribution in enhancing farmer incomes and boosting food and nutritional security.

Vivek Bhasin, Director, BARC, called these varieties a “boon for farmers” due to their early maturity, disease resistance, climate resilience, salt tolerance, and higher yields compared to existing options. India’s wheat production faces challenges from rising temperatures, especially during the grain-filling stage. For the first time, BARC has developed wheat varieties, he said. The Trombay Jodhpur Wheat-153 (TJW-153) was developed in collaboration with Jodhpur Agriculture University for Rajasthan. TJW-153 is heat-tolerant, ensuring stable yields despite early or terminal heat stress. It is resistant to fungal diseases like blast and powdery mildew, which significantly reduce yields, and is ideal for Rajasthan’s arid conditions, the BARC said.

Trombay Raj Vijay Wheat-155 (TRVW-155) was developed in collaboration with Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior, for Madhya Pradesh. It has enhanced zinc and iron content, better ‘chapati’-making quality, and resistance to fungal diseases such as blast and powdery mildew. Rice variety Bauna Luchai-CTLM was developed with IGKV, Raipur, for Chhattisgarh. Bauna Luchai is a dwarf, early-maturing variety with lodging resistance (doesn’t topple in rain or wind), retains the soft-cooked quality while achieving a 40 per cent higher yield than its parent Luchai landrace. The Sanjeevani rice variety launched by the BARC is derived from the Layacha rice landrace. Sanjeevani is rich in more than 350 phytochemicals known for therapeutic and medicinal properties, boosting immunity and antioxidant responses, the BARC said. Developed for Chhattisgarh in collaboration with IGKV, Raipur, it addresses the growing demand for health-enhancing rice varieties.

The Trombay Konkan Khara variety is designed for Maharashtra’s saline coastal soils. It achieves 15 per cent higher grain yield under saline conditions. Developed in collaboration with Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, it allows rice cultivation in previously non-arable brackish soils. The other new crop varieties launched by the BARC are Trombay Jodhpur Mustard-2 (TJM-2), Trombay Latur Til-10 (TLT-10) and Chhattisgarh Trombay Mungfali (CGTM) oilseeds.

BARC developed high yielding non-GMO varieties using

Agribusiness, Agro Universities, R&D, Start ups, Sustainability

The collaboration between Salam Kisan and DBSKKV Dapoli is focused on a comprehensive suite of agritech advancements designed to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability

In a transformative step for Indian agriculture, Salam Kisan, a leading agri-tech platform under PRYM Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious state agricultural university Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (DBSKKV Dapoli). This strategic partnership focuses on facilitating a research-backed, tech-driven transformation within the agricultural ecosystem. With this partnership, Salam Kisan strengthens its existing features and creates additional value for the entire agricultural community with the addition of expertise in R&D, field trials, and data analytics to its ecosystem.

The MoU, signed by Dr. Parag Haldankar, Director of Research and Mr. Akshay Khobragade, Chief Operating Officer at Salam Kisan, PRYM Group in the presence of Dr. Sanjay Bhave, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Satish Narkhede, Dean & DI, Dr. P.U. Shahare, Associate Dean from DBSKKV Dapoli, and aims to address critical needs in modern agriculture. Established for a period of five years, the partnership provides a stable foundation for long-term initiatives.

The strategic goals of this partnership include strengthening the crop calendar by utilizing data-driven AI and machine learning solutions to optimize agricultural planning, allowing for more precise planting and harvesting schedules. It also aims to develop drone Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for the safe and effective use of drones in agriculture, addressing a current industry gap as limited such government SoPs exist. Additionally, the collaboration will deliver real-time pest and disease management solutions, offering farmers on-the-ground support to protect their crops. Finally, the partnership will focus on formulating and promoting natural farming practices to encourage sustainable, eco-friendly methods that support environmental health and long-term agricultural resilience.

The partnership will benefit agriculture graduates, researchers, farmers, policymakers, micro-entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders who are vital to building a resilient agricultural ecosystem.

Ms. Dhanashree Mandhani Founder & CEO of Salam Kisan commented “This partnership is critical for the future of sustainable agriculture in India. Known for its excellence in agricultural research, the state agricultural university brings invaluable knowledge to this collaboration. By combining DBSKKV’s rigorous research expertise with Salam Kisan’s advanced technological capabilities, we can deliver impactful, scalable solutions that uplift the agriculture sector as a whole. This alliance represents a meaningful step toward our commitment to transforming agriculture through accessible, sustainable technology. Together, we aim to drive substantial improvements in farming productivity and resilience, enhancing livelihoods and supporting rural entrepreneurship across the nation.”

The collaboration between Salam Kisan and DBSKKV