Haryana Agricultural University signs pact with Andhra firm to promote bajra

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sampurna Seeds Company of Andhra Pradesh to promote technical commercialisation as the demand for the improved varieties of millet developed by the university has been growing in various states.

Vice-Chancellor Prof BR Kamboj said agreements (MoUs) were being made with companies of different states so that the improved varieties developed by the university reach as many farmers as possible. Under the above agreement, the company will prepare the seed of HHB-67 modified-2 millet developed by the university and deliver it to farmers so that they can get reliable seeds and their yield can increase.

The MoU has been signed by Director of Research Rajbir Garg, on behalf of the

university, and Y Ramesh, on behalf of Sampurna Seeds Company.

Director, Human Resource Management, Ramesh Yadav said that after signing the MoU, the company will now pay the license fee to the university, under which it will get the right to produce and market the seeds. After this, farmers will also be able to get this improved variety of seed. Head of Bajra Section Anil Yadav said that the HHB 67 Modified 2 was an improved conversion of the well-known hybrid variety of millet, HHB-67 Modified, resistant to Jogia disease. This hybrid variety has been approved in 2021 for general cultivation in rainfed areas of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The male parent, H77/833-2-202, of HHB 67 Modified has been made resistant to Jogia disease by marker-assisted selection. This newly developed hybrid variety HHB 67 Modified 2 has all the qualities of HHB 67 Modified, such as very early ripening; drought resistance; early; medium and late sowing, good quality of grain and fodder. Its average yield of grain and dry fodder is 8 quintal and 20.9 quintal per acre, respectively. This new modified hybrid variety gives even better results with better management and is resistant to other diseases of millet.

On this occasion, OSD Atul Dhingra, Media Advisor Sandeep Arya, IPR Cell in-charge Yogesh Jindal, Renu Munjal, Jayanti Tokas, Jitendra Bhatia, Sombir, Devvrat Yadav and Harshdeep were also present.