Pulwama farmers applaud SR4 Paddy variety for increased yield, climate resilience

Pulwama, Oct 10: Farmers from various villages in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district are singing praises for the SR4 variety of paddy, highlighting the significant benefits they have reaped from its cultivation.
This paddy variety, released by SKUAST-K (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir) a couple of years ago, has garnered a dedicated following among farmers in this southern region, who now favor it over traditional varieties.
Javaid Ahmad, a forward-thinking farmer hailing from Samboora village in Pampore, shared his experience cultivating SR4 over the past two years.
He noted that while there were initial apprehensions among farmers about this new variety due to lack of familiarity, they soon discovered its many advantages.
“Firstly, SR4 ripens 20 days earlier than our traditional variety, which is a significant advantage,” Ahmad explained.
He added, “Another substantial advantage is that traditional varieties tend to fall flat on the ground when they mature, leading to extra labor and effort during harvesting. SR4, on the other hand, stands tall because of its strong roots.”
Ahmad also emphasized the third significant advantage of SR4: its impressive yield.
“SR4 yields 4 quintals of paddy per Kanal, which translates to an astonishing 80 quintals of paddy per hectare. This is a remarkable achievement,” he stated.
Another progressive farmer from the neighbouring Patal Bagh village, Irshad Ahmad Dar, highlighted the variety’s resilience to diseases like rice blast and its ability to thrive with less water for irrigation, making it suitable for harsh climatic conditions.
Incharge Scientist NSP( National Seed Project) at SKUAST-K, Dr. Gowhar Ali, said that they have distributed SR4 free of cost in many areas, including Pampore, Tral, Budgam, Ganderbal, and several other regions.
He mentioned that the leadership of SKUAST-Kashmir, including Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganaie and Director Extension Dil Mohammad Maqdoomi, has been instrumental in directly demonstrating the benefits of SR4 to farmers and providing them with the seeds.
“We initiate awareness programs in these areas, equipping farmers with comprehensive information about the SR4 variety and its substantial advantages. Over the past few years, an increasing number of farmers have embraced SR4, leading to an annual production of 700 to 800 quintals. Currently, approximately 50% of farmers are utilizing the SR4 variety,” he said, adding that the SR4 paddy variety has not only increased farmers’ yields but has also proven its adaptability to local climatic conditions, making it a valuable asset for agriculture in Pulwama and beyond.