Picture for representational purpose only.

Nellore:

A rice variety, NLR 34449 (Nellore Masoori), developed by NG Ranga Agriculture Research Station in Nellore and introduced in the market after successful trials a few years ago has become popular not only in AP but also in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

It is preferred because of high yields to the extent of three to five puttis (one putti is equal to 850 kg of paddy) an acre as against three puttis for other varieties. It is also blast resistant, non-lodging and suitab-le for machine harvesting. The size of the grain is thin and it is among the fine varieties in the market.

Interestingly, farmers of Nellore district are vary of this variety, especially developed for local climatic conditions, because rice traders and millers discourage them by offering meagre price, under the pretext that the quality is poor after cooking, though it was not true.

The traders prefer BPT 5204 (Bapatla) for reasons best known to them. It was alleged that they avoid 34449 because it is difficult to mix them with the low quality rice. Moreover, the traders offer Rs 13,000 to RS 14,000 for 34449 as against Rs 15,000 to Rs 16,000 for BPT 5204. The crop period is around 125 days for 34449 and it is suitable for both rabi and kharif as well as early kharif, said P. Ramesh Babu, principal scientist ARS, Nellore.

He said that there is also good demand for NLR 20084, popularly known as Nellore Molagolukulu variety developed by them. It is not cultivated much in Nellore district because traders and millers pay paltry sum for the crop.

Principal scientist (rice), Dr Y. Suryanarayana of Re-gional Agriculture Resea-rch Station, Maruteru in West Godavari district said that NLR 20084 (Molagolu-kulu) is being raised in large extents in the neighbouring Chittoor, Kadapa and Prakasam districts.

“Yields are very high for this 150-day-long crop and it is resistant to blast (aggitegulu), pests and lodging etc.,” he said and attributed the increasing price of rice in the market to reduction in area of cultivation from 40 lakh hecta-res to 30 lakh hectares. He said cultivation area has come down from 14 lakh hectares to eight lakh hectares during rabi.

Meanwhile, two new variety rice seed, NLR 3041 (Nellore Sona) and NLR 40024 in June last year have been attracting the attention of farmers because of encouraging results during trials. Nellore Sona is widely cultivated all along the north coastal AP due to its quality. NLR 40024 was developed exclusively for cultivation during summer, scientists of ARS said.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Pathri Rajasekhar / February 12th, 2013