Salient Rice Varietal Achievements of Assam Agricultural University

Hemchandra Saikia

(saikia.hemchandra@rediffmail.com)

Since several decades onwards Assam Agricultural University Jorhat is standing as the sole and most reliable source of all suitable improved agricultural technologies like suitable high yielding varieties of rice crops, oilseed, sugarcane, pulse etc not only for the state Assam but reliable and reputed technology provider to other northeastern states of India.  Hence Assam Agricultural University Jorhat has distinct importance for the desirable development of its agricultural sector in which a lion’s share of its population considers it as the main source of livelihood. Hence the establishment of Assam Agricultural University Jorhat on April 1, 1969 under the Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968 was indeed a landmark step for the greater causes of desired development of our farming community in particular and economy of the state in general. Because agricultural university has a crucial role in the desired development of agricultural sector of a state through its various means of technology development, it’s up-gradation, up-scaling, showcasing or dissemination among farming community in due place and time with due quantity and quality. It is reported that till date Assam Agricultural University Jorhat is well to do with more than 60 suitable improved high yielding varieties of rice crop capable of fulfilling the various varietal need  of our rice farmers to benefit them with a very desirable satisfactory level of output with due profit on  a very sustainable basis. This university is also seen as continuously putting its honest effort to meet the various varietal of need of crops keeping in view the ongoing process of climate change so that farmers can sustain their farm production and income. Let us have critical look about various salient achievement of Assam Agricultural University Jorhat in fulfilling various varietal need of rice farmers in augmenting and sustaining the production, productivity and profit from rice cultivation in the state for a desirable development of farming community in particular and economy of the state in general.

The salient rice varietal achievement of Assam Agricultural University Jorhat can be summarized as:

Contribution in the form of Semi-dwarf high yielding varieties of rice:  In this case promising proven high yielding varieties of Sali rice are Ranjit, Bahadur and Kushal having its crop duration as 150-155 days capable of yielding 4500kg to 5500kg per hectare which is much superior over its traditional rice varieties. Due to this encouraging productivity and resulting profitability farmers across the state Assam are found to   intrinsically accepting and adopting these varieties. Prafulla and Gitesh are another two high yielding Sali rice variety suitable of staggered planting or suitable for aged seedling planting required for flood prune situation and its potential yield are 5000-5500 kg per hectare in addition to its resistance characteristic against sheath rot and moderately resistance to blast and bacterial leaf blight disease. Due to positive characteristics these two rice variety are found to be accepting and adopting by our farming community.Mahsuri is another reported accepted preferred Sali rice variety to both consumer and producer having its yield potential of 3500 kg to 4000 kg per hectare.

Aromatic and Glutinous high yielding rice varieties: Assam Agricultural University Jorhat also developed and recommended high yielding Sali rice variety having encouraging improved aromatic properties having its yield potential of 2500 kg to 3000 kg per hectare which much higher than that of traditional scented Joha rice variety and this variety is Ketaki Joha. Another premium quality rice varieties contributed by the university are Bakul Joha and Kola Joha. In case of glutinous or sticky rice university has developed and recommended two suitable high yielding glutinous Sali rice varieties and these are Aghoni and Bhogali having its yield potential as 2500 kg to 3000 kg per hectare and nicely accepted and adopted by our farmers across the state.

 Rice variety for Double Cropping programme: In case of promoting rice based double cropping in our farmers field Assam Agricultural University Jorhat is found to contributing a very suitable rice variety named as Numoli having its crop duration as 130-135 days which makes double cropping possible after the harvest of Sali rice and its proven potential yield is 5000 to 5500 kg per hectare thereby encouraging our farmers due to its higher yield over its local traditional rice varieties. It is reported that this year Assam Agricultural University Jorhat under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Dr.Bidyut Chandan Deka has already completed 1000 hectare of area under double cropping successfully with suitable Sali rice variety like Numoli and Dholi and productivity is reported as 5100 kg to 5400 kg across the state in its demonstrated localities and has already running its second suitable crop toria with a very suitable high yielding variety TS 67 oilseed crop. This is really an appreciable step both for our farming community in particular and economy of our state in general. Hope this will be a successful continuous process.

 Rice varieties to tackle the situation arising from the menace of Flood: To tackle rice cultivating in the situation of pre and post flood  university has contributed theses most promising rice variety like Luit, Kapilee and Disang which can be cultivated as either direct seeded or transplanted ahu or directed seeded late Sali crop as its duration is about 90- 95 days having its yield potential as  3000-4000 kg per hectare  which is again much higher than that of our traditional local rice varieties and hence farmer can exploit higher level of benefit. Another short duration Sali rice variety is Surma Dhan having 140-145 days duration having its encouraging yield as 5500 kg to 6000 kg per hectare and at field level this variety is also found to perform very well.

As we all know that Assam is flood affected state and hence state need flood tolerant rice varieties and hence through its concerted dedicated effort of scientist Assam Agricultural University Jorhat is seen in developing , recommending and demonstrating  suitable flood tolerant rice varieties like  Ranjit Sub-1, Bahadur Sub-1 , Swarna Sub -1 and Bina Dhan 11effectively. These varieties can tolerate submergence flood water up to 14 days which is a great ray of hope for pursuing success for our farmers to undertake rice cultivation in a flooded situation.  Moreover the productivity of these rice varieties is also found to be very high and encouraging and profitable.  The very yield of Ranjit Sub-1 is reported as 5000 kg to 5500 kg per hectare, 5000 kg to 6000 kg per hectare in case of Bahadur Sub-1, Swarna Sub-1 exhibiting its average yield as 5500 kg to 6500 kg per hectare and in case of Bina Dhan it is 5500 kg to 6000 kg per hectare. Now these promising flood tolerant rice varieties especially Ranjit Sub-1, Bahadur Sub-1 and Swarna Sub-1 are found to be very increasingly accepting and adopting by our farmer across various locations in the state due to its higher level of productivity even under the situation of flooded situation in addition to high consumers taste and preference. University is also having another two suitable high yielding submergence tolerant rice variety like Jalashree and Jalkunwari for rainfed low land flash flood situation having its yield potential as 4000 kg per hectare.

Rice varieties for cultivating under waterlogged situation:

Water logging is also creating problem in pursuing rice cultivation in many parts of Assam and hence farmers need rice varieties suitable for cultivating under waterlogged situation that too having high level of productivity. In this case Assam Agricultural University Jorhat has contributed suitable proven varieties like Chakra Lahi, Diphlu, Dhansiri and Manah and all these varieties can tolerate waterlogged situation up to 50 cm and their performing yield level is reported as 46.6 to 51.1 quintal per hectare reflecting as encouraging level of productivity for our farmers.

Rice varieties for low input situation: Under the compelling situation of low input use or low level of input existence Assam Agricultural University advocates suitable high yielding rice varieties like Gandhari, Mohan, Srimanta and Bharati having their yield potential as 4100 kg to 5100 kg per hectare which is also much higher than that of our local traditional rice varieties and great scope to be highly benefitted by our farmers.

 Rice Varieties for Suitable for Drought like Situation:  To pursue rice cultivation profitably Assam Agricultural University recommending rice varieties like DRR Dhan 44 and DRR Dhan 46 having encouraging yield advantage.

Rice varieties as Direct Seeded Ahu Rice:  To continue the process of direct seeded ahu rice cultivation across the state Assam Agricultural University Johan has the contribution in the form of suitable high yielding rice varieties like Govind, IR 50, Rasi, IR 36, Banglami, Rongdoria, Ahu Joha,Maibee and Dimroo. Another addition is Inglongkiri and Rongkhang which are especially suitable for the cultivation in hill situation.

AAU Recommended Deep Water Rice Varieties: Bao or deep water rice is also an important agricultural crop for several communities due to their locality or situational advantage and these people need suitable deep water rice varieties having desirable yield advantage. In this case Assam Agricultural University Jorhat has developed and recommends varieties like Padmapani, Panindra, Padmanath, Panchanan, Padumani, Amona, Negheri, Kakua, Dholabadal, Maguri and Panikekuwa. Among these Padmapani, Panchanan and Padumoni is reported as proven improved bao rice variety from which our farming community can broadly exploit yield potential of these varieties. The potential yield of these varieties varies from 2600 kg to 3000 kg per hectare. Similarly multiple resistant high yielding medium duration varieties developed by the university are Shraboni and Mulagabhoru with a yield potential of 4500-5000 kg/ha. University is having suitable recommendation for bao rice crop like Boro 1 and Boro 2 having their yield potential as 3000 kg per hectare.

Recently developed and recommended promising rice varieties: As the development of rice varieties of Assam Agricultural University Jorhat is a continuous intervention with remarkable success, so mention may be made about very recently developed and recommended high yielding varieties of rice which include varieties like Labanya, Prachur, Shatabdi and Patkai.

Special characteristic of rice variety Labanya is that it is known as Purple Rice variety having its distinct nutritional and medicinal value which can serve economy and health of our farming community to a great extent besides its potentiality of capturing lucrative market of both local and foreign consumers. This is because Labanya is characterized by taste, nutrition, high productivity and scent, antioxidents, rich in protein and iron besides beneficial for diabetic patients. Hence, rice variety Labanya is an importance contribution for food security and malnutrition.  The varieties Prachur, Shatabdi and Patkai are reported as very high yielding suitable fine grain rice variety having high market demand for both producer and purchaser including consumers. The yield potential of Prachur and Shatabdi are 6000 kg to 6600 kg per hectare which is very encouraging for our farming community having encouraging profit yielding. In this case variety Patkai is not exception as its reported yield potential is 5500 kg to 6000 kg per hectare.

Thus Assam Agricultural University Jorhat is having vast array of proven suitable rice varieties for giving due benefit to our farming community in the form of both productivity and profit and farmers across the state are seen to accept and adopt most of these varieties in their crop field. Thus university is seen in promoting due development in agricultural sector in particular and economy in general. Hope the very process of contributing and promoting agricultural development through the contribution process of varietal development, testing, recommendation and demonstration at farmers field will be there from the very bold and effective intervention from Assam Agricultural University Jorhat on a sustainable basis keeping in view the changing situation of environmental change or climatic change so that Assam can sustain agricultural production at very high level with optimum satisfaction.