Srinagar, Oct 01 (KNO): New rice varieties introduced and distributed by the Agriculture Department in Kashmir are yielding encouraging results, with farmers reporting a significant increase in production and reduced incidence of crop diseases compared to traditional varieties.
Farmers from different parts of the Valley told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the newly introduced varieties, particularly SR3 and SR4, have helped them achieve higher yields this season, with some reporting nearly double the production compared to previous years.
They said the improved varieties have not only increased productivity but have also shown greater resistance to diseases, including rice blast, which continues to affect paddy cultivation in several areas of Kashmir.
Mansoor Ahmad, a farmer from south Kashmir's Kulgam district, said he had been cultivating traditional rice varieties for years but faced recurring problems due to rice blast, which affected crop production.
"Rice blast was a common problem in my fields every year, resulting in considerable losses. However, this season I cultivated the SR3 variety supplied by the Agriculture Department, and the results have been very encouraging," he said.
Ahmad said his production had almost doubled this year, adding that the crop remained free from disease during the growing season.
He said farmers who continued cultivating traditional varieties faced similar disease-related problems this year, highlighting the difference in performance between the old and newly introduced varieties.
Another farmer, Nazir Ahmad from Pulwama district, said the new varieties had brought a noticeable improvement in paddy production, particularly for farmers struggling with declining yields in recent years.
Nazir said he owned four kanals of agricultural land, where production had generally remained around 2.5 quintals per kanal in previous years. "However, this year, after cultivating the new variety, I harvested around four quintals per kanal.r This is a considerable improvement for a farmer like me," he said.
The new varieties, Nazir said, were also performing well in terms of grain quality and market value, providing farmers with the possibility of better returns.
He said disease resistance and improved productivity could help reduce crop losses and improve the economic condition of farmers, particularly those dependent on paddy cultivation for their livelihood.
A senior official of the Agriculture Department told KNO that the SR3, SR4 and SR5 varieties had demonstrated encouraging results in different areas of Kashmir, with reported yields ranging between four and five quintals per kanal.
The official said the department was promoting improved rice varieties after successful trials to help farmers overcome the challenges associated with traditional paddy cultivation.
"Traditional rice varieties are more susceptible to various diseases, which can significantly affect productivity. The newly introduced varieties have shown better performance during trials and are being distributed among farmers accordingly," the official said.
He said the department was focusing on introducing improved varieties that could increase agricultural productivity while reducing losses caused by crop diseases.
The encouraging results reported by farmers come amid recurring complaints of rice blast in several parts of Kashmir, where traditional paddy varieties have reportedly suffered damage during the current growing season.
Farmers said wider availability and adoption of improved varieties could help address the recurring problem of crop diseases and improve overall rice production in the Valley—(KNO)