New Delhi, India
August 24, 2007
Source:
Government of India
Central Potato Research Institute,
Shimla, has developed two new potato varieties, Kufri Himsona
for cultivation in the Himachal Pradesh Hills and Kufri
Sadabahar for Uttar Pradesh plains. Both the varieties have been
released by the respective state agencies.
Kufri Himsona, a processing variety, contains high levels of dry
matter and low sugar content. It produces excellent white chips
on frying. On-line’ testing of Kufri Himsona in the industry
produced excellent flawless chips.
Cultivation of this variety in the hills of Himachal Pradesh
will prove to be boon to potato farmers particularly in Kangra
region. Till now, this region was dependent on Kufri Jyoti
variety which has now become susceptible to late blight. Kufri
Himsona has very high degree of late blight resistance.
In spite of release of three exclusive varieties for potato
processing by CPRI for cultivation in the plains i.e. Kufri
Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2 and Kufri Chipsona-3, there was
urgent need for development of a suitable processing variety for
cultivation in the hills so as to maintain round the year
availability of raw material for processing units located in the
plains.
The cultivation of Kufri Sadabahar will boost potato production
in Uttar Pradesh which has already the record of highest potato
production in the country. New table potato variety Kufri
Sadabahar produces more than 10% higher yield over Kufri Bahar.
The variety is capable of yielding about 35-40 tones/hectare
under optimum agronomical practices. The added advantage of this
variety is field resistance to late blight.
CPRI released white skin potato variety Kufri Bahar in 1980 for
cultivation in plains of Uttar Pradesh. It is the most popular
variety of the State occupying as much as nearly 70 per cent of
potato area in the state of UP. Though the farmers are satisfied
with the productivity of this variety, it is susceptible to late
blight. |
|
