Odisha ‘becomes first state’ to release 4 farmer varieties of ragi

Odisha has become the first state to release four farmer varieties of ragi under the seed system for landraces (SSL) of the Odisha Millet Mission, the state’s department of agriculture & farmers’ empowerment said. The four farmer varieties are Kundra Bati, Laxmipur Kalia, Malyabanta Mami and Gupteswar Bharati, a statement on Thursday read. The notified varieties are initially allowed to be sold for seed production and agriculture in Odisha’s Koraput and Malkangiri districts.

The ragi varieties under the SSL are also expected to be tested in 10 agroclimatic regions of Odisha.

A standard operating procedure (SOP) has been developed by the state agriculture department for reproduction, evaluation and release of the four traditional varieties. The SOP was formulated in consultation with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), technical experts, field NGOs and custodian tribal farmers, the release said.