SRINAGAR: The Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC) of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) at Khudwani in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district is working to revive traditional rice varieties while developing high-yielding, disease-resistant cultivars and water-saving technologies aimed at improving farmers’ incomes.
Scientists at the centre are focusing on conserving Kashmir’s traditional aromatic rice varieties, including Mushkbudji, while promoting improved varieties from the Shalimar Rice series amid shrinking agricultural land, declining water resources and rising cultivation costs.
Dr Tasneem Mubarak, Professor of Agronomy at MRCFC Khudwani said that rice is deeply linked to Kashmir’s food habits, culture and agricultural heritage, making its conservation and sustainable production important.
He said the centre was developing high-yielding varieties and improved crop-production technologies to help farmers increase yields while reducing dependence on water and labour.
“Shalimar Rice 4 is popularly known as the 10-tonne variety because of its yield potential of around 10 tonnes per hectare. The journey from traditional varieties yielding around one tonne per hectare to modern high-yielding cultivars reflects the contribution of agricultural research,” he said.
Dr Mubarak said the centre had also developed and promoted dry direct-seeded rice technology, in which seeds are sown directly in the main field, eliminating the need for nursery preparation, puddling and transplanting.
He said the technology could save around 35 to 40 per cent of water and, when operations are mechanised, nearly 45 to 50 per cent of labour, reducing cultivation costs.
Farooq Ahmad, Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at SKUAST-K, said MRCFC Khudwani was mandated to develop improved crop varieties suited to the Valley’s diverse agro-climatic conditions.
He said the centre had developed varieties under the Shalimar Rice series for different growing conditions, including plain and mid-hill areas.
“Shalimar Rice 4 is among our high-yielding varieties, with a potential yield of around 10 tonnes per hectare under suitable conditions. Alongside yield, our focus is also on grain quality and other traits important for farmers,” he said.
Ahmad said improved varieties developed by the centre had seen good adoption among farmers. The centre is also developing varieties with greater resistance to diseases and other stresses to reduce crop losses and improve production reliability.
With agricultural land and water resources under increasing pressure, scientists say combining improved varieties with efficient cultivation practices is essential to sustain rice production in the Valley.
Through varietal development, seed production, field demonstrations and improved crop-management practices, MRCFC Khudwani is seeking to meet farmers’ needs while preserving Kashmir’s traditional rice heritage—(KNO)
