editorialteam
New Member
Revives Mushk Budji and Kamad, two farmers rice varieties with high aroma and good market value
Everyone wants high-yielding crop varieties but at what cost? Replacing indigenous varieties with hybrid seeds just for more production is a very small and short term vision that causes extreme losses like great genetic erosion of nature gifted crops. Once any crop variety goes extinct, it can never be brought back even by spending millions of rupees. It is accepted that low yield, vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses surely create problem for the farmers because their livelihood is based on what they grow in their fields. What is the solution?
Dr. G.A.Parray
The native varieties must be upgraded for its negatives as stated above. Following this, Sher-e-Kashmir Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) took six to seven years for purification and revival program of Mushk Budji and Kamad rice varieties, with the vision to revive the native varieties and raise the economy of the farmers growing these two variants. During revival programme various integrated nutrient and disease management modules were formulated in the area for successful cultivation of these two varieties. The seeds were processed through integrated nutrient and disease management taking the help of farmers. Finally with rigorous experimentation the native rice varieties of Kashmir were conserved and restored. Dr. G.A.Parray, (Principal Rice Breeder) Associate Director of Research, SKUAST-K, shares the details on revival program with respect to native rice varieties identification, purification, conservation, conduct of purification trials in niche area, disease and nutrient management and marketing assistance. Excerpts:
To begin with rice varieties were identified that suited different agro-ecological niches and possess combined adaptive traits for the temperate climate. In addition the rice variants had unique quality features particularly aroma, desirable taste and texture of the cooked rice. These two varieties mature early and have high degree of cold tolerance.
Based on the laid criteria aromatic rice varieties selected were Mushk Budji (MB), Kamad, Nun Bouel, Begum, Nurmeeri etc. All these enjoyed huge demand in local markets. Amongst all SKUAST selected Mushk Budji (MB) and Kamad rice to be conserved and revived.
Mushk Budji is short bold aromatic rice grown in higher reaches of Kashmir valley. The cooked rice is unique and possesses harmonious blend of taste, aroma and rich organoleptic properties. Kamad is packed with aroma and highly cold tolerant. Due to its aroma it fetches good price in the market. The grain is bold, and plant height varies from 110-115cm. The head rice recovery is more than 60%. Both the crops mature within 130 days from seed to seed.
The program commended in the year 2007 with collection of more than 200 Mushk Budji samples from across the valley. The samples were purified by ear to row method and promising lines were evaluated for aroma in 2008 and 2009. Purified / aromatic line was put under nucleus seed production in the year 2010 at Khudwani Centre. Seed multiplication was done by the farmers participatory trials viz., mother and baby trials (Snipp,1998) in the niche areas for adoption and popularization of pure aromatic Mushk Budji.
SKUAST-K selected a group of farmers who were original cultivators of Mushk Budji and Kamad for farmers participatory trails. Purified Mushk Budji and Kamad paddy seeds were supplied to the farmers. We ensured the seeds are physically and genetically pure. The farmlands were monitored under the strict supervision of the breeders who worked under my control. The special farming requirement for growing these varieties is that it needs cold water for irrigation and grows only in niche area such as Sagam village of District-Anantnag for its distinctive climatic conditions as needed. These two varieties can be grown at other locations also but with less aroma and more disease spectrum which will increase its input cost.
The main disease that attacks Mushk Budji and Kamad varieties is rice blast. It can be prevented through seed treatment by recommended fungicides. In addition very less nitrogen fertilizer must be applied to these varieties. In order to safeguard the crop, along with the seed farmers were also given the required fertilizer and fungicides for controlling rice blast. The average yield potential of these two varieties is between 20-22q/acre.
Demand of these rice variants is high in Jammu and Kashmir and other north Himalayan states but due to the middlemen involvement farmers are not able to make the profits and therefore SKUAST-K and Department of Agriculture (Kashmir Division) provided the marketing facility as well and invited market entrepreneurs and millers for creating smooth and sustainable market facility to safeguard interests of farmers. This aromatic paddy is sold at Government approved rate of Rs. 8500/q and its rice after proper milling and polishing is sold between Rs. 19000 to 20000/q.
The future plan of SKUAST-K and Department of Agriculture is to continue efforts to safeguard Mushk Budji and Kamad rice varieties from various diseases and in this regard SKUAST-Kashmir has taken a lead and a durable resistance gene has been incorporated in order to make it disease free. New versions of Muhk Budji and Kamad with durable resistance will be given to farmers during 2018 so that farmers can grow disease free Mushkbudji and Kamad without any spray of fungicides. This can further help in boosting the economy of the farmers of niche area and by this way farmers can preserve this precious genome for future generations.
Contact details :
Dr. G A Parray
Associate Director Research
SKUAST of Kashmir (J&K-INDIA)
Mobile: 91-9419009738
Email: parray_2005@rediffmail.com
Everyone wants high-yielding crop varieties but at what cost? Replacing indigenous varieties with hybrid seeds just for more production is a very small and short term vision that causes extreme losses like great genetic erosion of nature gifted crops. Once any crop variety goes extinct, it can never be brought back even by spending millions of rupees. It is accepted that low yield, vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses surely create problem for the farmers because their livelihood is based on what they grow in their fields. What is the solution?
Dr. G.A.Parray
The native varieties must be upgraded for its negatives as stated above. Following this, Sher-e-Kashmir Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) took six to seven years for purification and revival program of Mushk Budji and Kamad rice varieties, with the vision to revive the native varieties and raise the economy of the farmers growing these two variants. During revival programme various integrated nutrient and disease management modules were formulated in the area for successful cultivation of these two varieties. The seeds were processed through integrated nutrient and disease management taking the help of farmers. Finally with rigorous experimentation the native rice varieties of Kashmir were conserved and restored. Dr. G.A.Parray, (Principal Rice Breeder) Associate Director of Research, SKUAST-K, shares the details on revival program with respect to native rice varieties identification, purification, conservation, conduct of purification trials in niche area, disease and nutrient management and marketing assistance. Excerpts:
To begin with rice varieties were identified that suited different agro-ecological niches and possess combined adaptive traits for the temperate climate. In addition the rice variants had unique quality features particularly aroma, desirable taste and texture of the cooked rice. These two varieties mature early and have high degree of cold tolerance.
Based on the laid criteria aromatic rice varieties selected were Mushk Budji (MB), Kamad, Nun Bouel, Begum, Nurmeeri etc. All these enjoyed huge demand in local markets. Amongst all SKUAST selected Mushk Budji (MB) and Kamad rice to be conserved and revived.
Mushk Budji is short bold aromatic rice grown in higher reaches of Kashmir valley. The cooked rice is unique and possesses harmonious blend of taste, aroma and rich organoleptic properties. Kamad is packed with aroma and highly cold tolerant. Due to its aroma it fetches good price in the market. The grain is bold, and plant height varies from 110-115cm. The head rice recovery is more than 60%. Both the crops mature within 130 days from seed to seed.
The program commended in the year 2007 with collection of more than 200 Mushk Budji samples from across the valley. The samples were purified by ear to row method and promising lines were evaluated for aroma in 2008 and 2009. Purified / aromatic line was put under nucleus seed production in the year 2010 at Khudwani Centre. Seed multiplication was done by the farmers participatory trials viz., mother and baby trials (Snipp,1998) in the niche areas for adoption and popularization of pure aromatic Mushk Budji.
SKUAST-K selected a group of farmers who were original cultivators of Mushk Budji and Kamad for farmers participatory trails. Purified Mushk Budji and Kamad paddy seeds were supplied to the farmers. We ensured the seeds are physically and genetically pure. The farmlands were monitored under the strict supervision of the breeders who worked under my control. The special farming requirement for growing these varieties is that it needs cold water for irrigation and grows only in niche area such as Sagam village of District-Anantnag for its distinctive climatic conditions as needed. These two varieties can be grown at other locations also but with less aroma and more disease spectrum which will increase its input cost.
The main disease that attacks Mushk Budji and Kamad varieties is rice blast. It can be prevented through seed treatment by recommended fungicides. In addition very less nitrogen fertilizer must be applied to these varieties. In order to safeguard the crop, along with the seed farmers were also given the required fertilizer and fungicides for controlling rice blast. The average yield potential of these two varieties is between 20-22q/acre.
Demand of these rice variants is high in Jammu and Kashmir and other north Himalayan states but due to the middlemen involvement farmers are not able to make the profits and therefore SKUAST-K and Department of Agriculture (Kashmir Division) provided the marketing facility as well and invited market entrepreneurs and millers for creating smooth and sustainable market facility to safeguard interests of farmers. This aromatic paddy is sold at Government approved rate of Rs. 8500/q and its rice after proper milling and polishing is sold between Rs. 19000 to 20000/q.
The future plan of SKUAST-K and Department of Agriculture is to continue efforts to safeguard Mushk Budji and Kamad rice varieties from various diseases and in this regard SKUAST-Kashmir has taken a lead and a durable resistance gene has been incorporated in order to make it disease free. New versions of Muhk Budji and Kamad with durable resistance will be given to farmers during 2018 so that farmers can grow disease free Mushkbudji and Kamad without any spray of fungicides. This can further help in boosting the economy of the farmers of niche area and by this way farmers can preserve this precious genome for future generations.
Contact details :
Dr. G A Parray
Associate Director Research
SKUAST of Kashmir (J&K-INDIA)
Mobile: 91-9419009738
Email: parray_2005@rediffmail.com