UP’s ‘Bismil’ sugarcane variety named after freedom fighter  gets nod for cultivation in 4...

Key Highlights

• It is resistant to red rot disease, a major threat to sugarcane crops, and has an average yield potential of 86.35 tonnes per hectare with a sugar recovery (pol per cent in cane) of 13.97 per cent, its breeder Dr Arvind Kumar said.
• Senior scientist Ajay Tiwari said the new variety would significantly boost farmers’ income while also enhancing sugar production.
• The variety has been named ‘Bismil’ in honour of revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, a key figure in the Kakori train action of 1925, to acknowledge his contribution to India’s freedom struggle, officials said.
• Extension officer Sanjeev Pathak said seeds of the variety had already been distributed across all 42 sugarcane-growing districts of Uttar Pradesh, with encouraging results.
• Shukla said ICAR recently approved 184 new varieties across 25 crops, including CoSha 17231, underlining its scientific merit and potential impact.