GUNTUR: Dr YSR Horticulture University (YSRHU) here has developed 23 new varieties including that of Gouthami Ganga, Vynateya Ganga and Abhaya Ganga of hybrid coconut, BPP 10 and 11 of hybrid cashew nut, Godavari bontha of hybrid banana, paprika LCA 436, 424, 620, 625 and LCH 111 of hybrid chilli and other new hybrid varieties of coriander, ajowan, fenugreek and colocasia, which have high yielding potential.
YSRHU Board of Management member P Sivarama Krishna said these new varieties are disease resistant and are best suited for weather and soil conditions of AP. He said a team of scientists from YSRHU developed these new varieties for the benefit of farmers. The new hybrid Godavari bontha banana cooking variety is suitable for sowing in different regions of Andhra Pradesh and it can be cultivated under tissue culture and organic farming. The hybrid chilli variety can be cultivated in rainfed areas. The fertigation schedule is designed for better yield of hybrid turmeric, betel vine and cashew.
Subsidy makes horticulture lucrative
Sivarama Krishna stated that the university was working on developing new varieties which are resistant to rising temperature. He said that the government aims at expanding cultivation area under horticulture crops and added that plans are afoot to cultivate horticulture crops in one crore acres of land in 13 districts of AP. He asked horticulture growers to procure new hybrid varieties of seeds through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and research centres. He said the government is offering 75% subsidy to farmers to raise horticulture crops.
Profitable avenue for farmers
There is a lot of potential for raising horticulture crops profitably in the State
The State government has introduced many schemes to encourage horticulture
Scanty rainfall in the State has changed the cropping pattern
Ryots who have raised crops have reported bumper harvest and are encouraging others to take to horticulture cultivation