Eleven new crop varieties released

Coimbatore, Jan 6: Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister, R Jeevanantham on Sunday released 11 new crop varieties and six farm implements, as a ‘Pongal gift’ to farmers.

Among the varieties released were two strains of rice, maize, cowpea, groundnut, coconut, french bean, brinjal, tapioca, coriander and button mushroom.

While ADT (R) 46 rice variety is semi dwarf, non-lodging and high-yielding with 135 days duration, for late samba (September) sowing, the TKM (R) 12 is suitable for dry and semidry cultivation, with direct seeding during the season in July-aug August-September and of 115-120 day duration.

The minister also released farm implements like paraplough, hill drop seeder mechanism, lawn mower, portable winnower, biogas brooder and rice husk gasifier.

— PTI