ICAR Launches 7 New High-Yielding Varieties of Soybean, Groundnut, Safflower, and Sesame

Key Highlights

• 7 new high-yielding varieties of oilseeds launched by ICAR.
• Varieties include soybean, groundnut, sesame, and safflower.
• Improved pest and disease resistance.
• Suitable for diverse climates and rainfed farming.
• Increased yields, up to 30.30 quintals per hectare.

In a significant move for Indian agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has introduced seven new high-yielding varieties of soybean, groundnut, safflower, and sesame. These varieties are designed to provide higher yields, better resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptability to different climates.

These new crop varieties promise to benefit farmers across various regions of India, offering improved production with less loss.

Also Read: Government to Buy Soybeans at MSP, Millions of Farmers to Benefit

Soybean Varieties

1. ARC 197 Soybean Variety: - Developed by ICAR's Indian Research Institute in Indore, this variety is suitable for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It is ideal for rain-fed farming during the Kharif season and matures in 112 days. This variety is non-breakable and resistant to pests and diseases like stem flies and semiloopers. Farmers can expect up to 16.24 quintals per hectare from this variety.
2. NRC 149 Soybean Variety: - Also developed by the Indian Research Institute, this variety is recommended for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It matures in 127 days and offers excellent resistance to pests such as stem flies and white flies. Farmers can achieve up to 24 quintals per hectare of yeild with this variety.

Groundnut Varieties

3. Girnar 6 (NRCGCS 637) Groundnut Variety: - Developed by the Directorate of Peanut Research in Junagadh, Gujarat, this groundnut variety is recommended for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. It matures in 123 days and has a high oil content of 51%. It is moderately resistant to drought and various diseases. Farmers can expect yields of up to 30.30 quintals per hectare.
4. TCGS 1707 (Spanish Bunch) Groundnut Variety: - Sponsored by ICAR-AICRP, this variety is recommended for Odisha and West Bengal. It matures in 110-115 days, with 49% oil content and 29% protein. This variety is moderately resistant to foliar and soil-borne diseases and yields up to 24.76 quintals per hectare.

Sesame Variety

5. Tanjila (CUMS-09A) Sesame Variety: - Developed by the University of Calcutta, this sesame variety matures in just 91 days and is suitable for early or late-sown summer cultivation. It has a high oil content of 46.17%, and farmers can achieve yields between 963 to 1147.7 kg per hectare, with oil yields ranging from 438.5 to 558.0 kg per hectare.

Safflower Varieties

6. ISF-123-sel-15 Safflower Variety: - Developed by ICAR’s Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research in Hyderabad, this variety is recommended for late-sown rain-fed conditions in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. It matures in 127 days and provides yields of up to 16.31 quintals per hectare. Its oil content is 34.3%, and it is resistant to wilt.
7. ISF-300 Safflower Variety: - Also developed by the Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, this variety thrives in both rainfed and irrigated conditions. It matures in 134 days, has an oil content of 38.2%, and is resistant to fusarium wilt. Farmers can expect yields of up to 17.96 quintals per hectare.

Also Read: Registration for Selling Kharif Crops at MSP Starts September 19

CMV360 says

These seven new crop varieties offer farmers across different states a range of benefits, including high yields, better disease resistance, and suitability for various climates. With these improvements, Indian farmers can expect increased productivity and profitability.