Prime Minister Modi launches new climate resistant wheat variety, know what is its specialty

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched 109 high-yielding, climate-resistant, and biofortified crop varieties at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi. These varieties are set to play a pivotal role in advancing the country's agriculture and horticulture sectors. Among the 109 varieties, 61 are related to different crops, with 34 focusing on field crops and 27 on horticulture.

New Wheat Varieties to Enhance Farmers Income:

The three newly introduced wheat varieties are expected to significantly contribute to the future of Indian agriculture. These varieties are climate-resistant, high-yielding, and nutritionally enriched, aiming to boost crop production, increase farmers' income, and strengthen national food security.

Key Features of the New Wheat Varieties:

• Pusa Gehun Sharbati (HI 1665): Developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, this variety is ideal for the plains of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It is suited for timely sowing and performs well under restricted irrigation conditions, yielding 33.0 q/ha. It matures in 110 days and is tolerant to heat and drought. This variety is noted for its excellent grain quality, higher zinc content (40.0 ppm), and resistance to leaf and stem rust.
• Pusa Gehun Gaurav (HI-8840): An open-pollinated variety developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Pusa Gehun Gaurav is suitable for the plains of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It thrives in irrigated conditions with an average grain yield of 30.2 q/ha. It is heat-tolerant and resistant to stem and leaf rusts.
• DWRB-219: Developed by ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal, Haryana, this open-pollinated variety is suited for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, the Jammu and Kathua districts, Paonta Valley and Una district of Himachal Pradesh, and the tarai region of Uttarakhand. It performs well under limited irrigation conditions, with an average yield of 54.49 q/ha and matures in 132 days. It is moderately resistant to leaf rust.