The Hassan Horticulture Research Extension Station of the University of Horticultural Sciences-Bagalkot (UHS-B) is planning on introducing around 35 new varieties of potatoes in the next one to three years.
“The Research Station, in association with the All India Co-ordinated Research Project of Potato, is bringing high-yielding, pest-resistant and heat-tolerant varieties,” says Amarananjundeshwara, the Station Head.
Many varieties have already been introduced to farmers, including the Jyoti, Surya, Kufri, and Himalini. Among the new varieties, which are set to be released, the AICRP C-28 variety was the one to be watched due to its distinct features which will make it easier and more productive to farm, he said.
“The new variety, which is a 125-day crop (around 15 days more than traditional variety) will give a yield of around 40 tonnes/acre unlike the traditional variety, which gives around 30 tonnes. This is a heat tolerant and pest-resistant variety whose tubers will be bigger in size,” he said.
He said it would take at least a year to introduce the variety to the farmers.
