Srinagar, Dec 25 (KNS): Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has released 16 new high-yielding, nutrient-dense, and climate-resilient crop varieties. The announcement was made during the 10th meeting of the State Seed Sub Committee held at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar.

The meeting, attended by Prof Haroon Naik, Director Research SKUAST-K, Prof SK Gupta Director Research SKUAST-J, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Anil Gupta, Director Agriculture Jammu, Divisional Seed certification Officers, members of SSSC, and all the principal breeders of the varieties, showcased a diverse portfolio of crops designed to address food security and the evolving challenges of climate change. The release includes six varieties of maize, two specialized Ambri apple varieties, four types of pulses, and one variety each of rice, wheat, oats, and oilseed.

The newly released lineup features a comprehensive array of specialized crops, led by two high-density Ambri apple varieties, Shalimar Ambri-01 and Shalimar Ambri-02, prized for their superior aroma and shelf life. In the grains category, the university introduced Shalimar Rice-10, a blast-resistant and early-maturing version of the traditional Mushkbudji rice developed via marker-assisted selection, alongside the extra-early maturing Shalimar Wheat-4. The maize portfolio saw the most significant expansion with six distinct releases: the nutritionally enhanced Pusa Shalimar QPMH-1, the region’s first carotenoid-rich Shalimar Maize Composite-10, the water-logging resistant Shalimar Maize Hybrid-7, a high-altitude specific Shalimar Maize Hybrid-6, as well as a new baby corn hybrid and a high-yielding general hybrid.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe pulses and oilseeds sectors were equally strengthened with the release of Shalimar Rajmash-6 and Shalimar Rajmash-7, the drought-tolerant Shalimar Urdbean-1, Shalimar Cowpea-4, the bold-seeded Shalimar Sarson-4, and the high-green fodder Shalimar Oats-8.

Dr Parvaze A Sofi, Head, Division of Genetics & Plant Breeding, SKUAST-K, informed the committee that the university utilized cutting-edge technologies, including genomics and high-throughput phenotyping, to identify and develop these traits. He assured the house that adequate quantities of seeds and planting materials are already available for dissemination following formal notification.

Shailendra Kumar lauded SKUAST-K’s efforts in identifying new niches and crop options through modern science. However, he urged the institution to move beyond laboratory success by developing a holistic roadmap for seed production. He suggested that SKUAST-K should lead the establishment of a Union Territory-level seed company to scale up availability and improve the seed replacement rate across the region.

With this latest release, SKUAST-K reaches a historic milestone of 140 total varieties developed across food, vegetable, fruit, and spice crops. Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai and Director Research Prof Haroon R Naik complimented the principal breeders for their tireless work in creating varieties that promise to transform the adaptive capacity of Jammu and Kashmir’s agricultural sector.(KNS)