Budgam, Sep 17: After SKUAST-Kashmir developed and released Shalimar Rice-4 (SR-4) and Shalimar Rice- 5 (SR-5) paddy varieties to boost agricultural production throughout the Kashmir region, farmers have been benefited from both the varieties in terms of yield gains, and as reported by some growers their production has approximately doubled compared to cultivation of traditional old varieties.
Chief Scientist at Directorate of Extension, SKUAST-K, Prof. Mohammad Anwar Bhat when contacted told Rising Kashmir that Shalimar Rice-4 (SR-4) and Shalimar Rice-5 (SR-5) are two high yielding varieties of Rice. Rice cultivation is associated with the economic, social, and cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. Cultivation of low-yielding varieties followed by the frequent incidence of diseases (especially blast) acts as a limiting factor to rice production in Kashmir valley. In order to enhance the crop productivity, and boost production, the rice varieties Shalimar Rice-4 (SR-4) and Shalimar Rice-5 (SR-5) were developed by the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC), Khudwani, of SKUAST-K.
“Both the varieties have been developed by the pedigree method from the advanced generations. Shalimar Rice-4 is highly adaptive to the plains and mid altitude areas of the Kashmir valley and possesses high yield potential, good grain quality, higher head rice recovery, good cooking quality, early maturity, and moderate resistance against blast disease. The SR-4 variety, on the whole, is tolerant to low temperatures at the seedling stage. These features make this variety a preferable choice for the farmers of the region, “He said.
According to Dr. Bhat, Shalimar Rice-5 is highly adapted to higher altitudes of the Kashmir valley, which are characterised by short growing seasons, low atmospheric temperature, cold irrigation water, and insufficient solar radiation, limiting crop production.”In higher altitudes, the temperatures are generally mild even during the summer season, leading to lower grain yields he said.
“Shalimar Rice-5 possesses higher yield potential, cold tolerance, good grain quality, early maturity and tolerance against blast disease. These features make this variety a preferable choice for farmers in semi-hilly regions. During the various multi-locational trials (testing) both these varieties “Shalimar Rice-4 and Shalimar Rice-5” performed excellent and the trials were successfully conducted across the Kashmir valley in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture of Jammu & Kashmir,” he added.
Abdul Rehman Sofi, one of the farmers from the Arwah village, said that he started sowing the SR-4 variety of seed on his agricultural land in the year 2019.
“Before 4 years ago, I brought the SR-4 variety seed from MRCFC Khudwani of SKUAST-K through which my production of the crops has been doubled as compared to the traditional variety crop,” he said.
Since the last three years, many farmers from various parts of the Budgam district have approached me. They have also taken SR-4 variety seed from me. “Now this time, most of the farmers are only using SR-4 as their agricultural production has been increased since the last three years through this Shalimar Rice-4,” he said.
Sofi said that most of the farmers from his district have also started buying this crop variety from the agricultural department on the government rates. Due to the SR-4 Variety, the agricultural production in most of the villages have increased. After the farmers started using of the SR-4 variety into their agricultural fields.
Dr Syed Tafazal Hussain Madni, Chief Agricultural Officer, Budgam, stated that the total of paddy seed of high yielding varieties distributed this year was 3079.40 quintals, with 1852 quintals of the SR-4 variety also distributed to farmers.
“No blast was reported in any such paddy areas where departmentally distributed seed was used by the farmers.” “Varieties developed and improved by SKUAST-K are blast resistant, vigorous and location specific and have shown tremendous results over locally used decades-old varieties of farmers which have lost the vigour and are susceptible to various paddy diseases and pests besides low yielding,” he said.
Madni said that the farmers are continuously being advised and informed by the Agricultural field functionaries to replace their old paddy varieties every three years to boost their income and to save themselves from the losses otherwise incurred by the use of disease-prone old varieties.
