Shimla: Here is a good news for potato growers.
To cope up with the adverse effects of global warming,
Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, has
developed a new variety of potato having more heat resistance.
The variety 'Kufri Surya' can resist over four degree
Celsius heat, Principal Scientist CPRI, J S Minhas said.
Night temperatures up to 18 degrees is ideal for
cultivation of the ordinary potato variety, but Kufri Surya
could endure heat up to 22 degrees, Minhas said.
Though countries like Israel had developed such
vegetables, Kufri Surya is the first of its kind in India, he
said.
The scientist said trial cultivations conducted in Meerut
(Uttar Pradesh), Dharwara (Karnataka) and Pune in Maharashtra
were successful.
Its seeds are being prepared at Modipuram in Meerut for
distribution among growers.
The new variety would be made available in Punjab,
Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, which account
for 90 per cent of potato cultivation.
In Himachal Pradesh, Kufri Surya could be recommended for
lower areas like Nagrota in Kangra district and Una, he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, December 06, 2009, 10:14