High Yielding Varieties / Hybrids

As a result of sustained research in agriculture, many high yielding varieties /hybrids have been released in our countries (India 2000). In rice, more than 600 high yielding, early maturing, dwarf disease resistant varieties have been evolved. Many rice hybrids such as ProAgro 6201, APRH - 2, KRH - 2, CORH - 2, Pant Shankar Dhan - 1, Narendra Shankar Dhan - 2, Sahyadri and fine grained hybrid Pusa RH -10 are released for cultivation. For cold regions of our country, scented rice varieties such as Pusa Basmathi - having high export value are released.

Similarly, more than 260 high yielding, disease resistant varieties of wheat are released. Besides triple dwarf wheat UP - 310, many high yielding varieties are added in later days. They include PBW - 343, PBW - 396, Sreshtha, DP 2425 for irrigated areas of north western Punjab. Durum wheat - suitable for instant foods and having high export value - varieties such as PDW - 215, PDW - 233, Malav Shakthi, HD 4672 etc are released for cultivation.

In maize, 130 composites and hybrids with high yield potentiality have been developed so far. Some early maturing hybrids with high yielding qualities are Vivek - 9, Pusa early hybrid Makka - 3, JH 3459, KHMH - 175, Kohinoor and Aravalli Mekka - 1. High protein hybrids like Shaktiman - 1 and Shaktiman - 2 are also released. They are useful for baby food industry and poultry feed industry.

In pulses, more than 430 improved varieties were developed and released. They include high yielding disease resistant short duration varieties of pigeon pea like (red gram) Pusa ageti, Pusa 84, UPAS 120, chickpea (bengal gram) like K850, H 208, Pusa 240, urd bean (black gram) like Pant 430, PSI, CO 5, mung bean (green gram) like PS 16, T44, Aasha. Pulses occupy a unique position in our agriculture in terms of their suitability to different cropping system. High yielding varieties of oil seeds like Ground nut (MH2, Kaushal), Mustard (Pusa Bold, Pusa Agarni), Soya bean (Pusa 24, Durga) and sunflower (Modern, Arun)

All these varieties and hybrids were developed and released adopting one of the breeding methods. Release of variety / hybrids in various food crops in the last 3-4 decades has been the prime reason for achieving our present level of food production (209 million tons). The process of release of new varieties and hybrids is a continuous process, as old varieties / hybrids lose their potentiality and new varieties / hybrids have to be evolved. Moreover, our country has greatly varying climatic and soil situations coupled with equally varying agricultural practices. The preferences of foods and varieties of food preparations have also resulted in varying type of requirements. Combined effect of all these variations is the release of large number of varieties suitable for different situation and requirements.