Haryana to develop improved varieties of strawberry, salvadora

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Science and Technology Minister, Anil Vij, said that improved varieties of strawberry and salvadora plants would be developed in the Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Hisar, to facilitate the farmers. These high-quality, tissue culture-derived plants would be made available to farmers next year.

The minister said that there was huge demand of these two varieties of fruit plants among the farmers. Therefore, the varieties of these plants are being improved so that farmers could get good-quality fruits. These plants would be provided at biotechnology centres at lower prices as compared to private centres, he added.

The Minister said that the Centre for Plant Biotechnology conducts research on new varieties of plants keeping in view the requirements and demands of the farmers. The Centre has been working to develop and improve the techniques for production of tissue culture-derived plants of 19 species. These included different varieties of sugarcane, aloe vera, brahmi, banana, sarpgandha, mulheti, kalmegh, lehsun, bamboo, stevia, potato and chrysanthemum.

Vij said that five varieties of sugarcane were being prepared in the Centre for Plant Biotechnology, and there was huge demand of coimbatore-160 and coimbatore-89 varieites of sugarcane. The State Government has been providing varieties of these plants at only Rs 3 per plant whereas Rs 20 to 25 per plant are being charged at private centres. Similarly, two varieties of banana are being produced and there is high demand of G-9 variety which is being provided at only Rs five per plant.

He said that stevia, which is also known as ‘Mithi Tulsi’, was said to be 300 times sweeter than sugar and could be used to add sweetness to food items of people suffering from diabetes.

 
Source: ECONOMIC TIMES