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Sunagro Seeds develops hybrid radish variety

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, May 1

THE Delhi-based Sunagro Seeds Ltd (SSL) has released the country's first ever indigenous hybrid radish (mooli), R-33. The company claims that the hybrid has recorded an average per hectare yield of 32.2 tonnes in multi-locational trials, as against 26.7 tonnes for the existing `best check' variety, pusa chetki long.

As pusa chetki long, R-33, too, is a summer radish crop but with higher yields, shorter maturity period and early planting advantage. ``Not only is our yield 20 per cent higher, but it can be planted right from March till September, as against May to Aug ust in the case of the pusa variety. Also, the hybrid can mature in 30-34 days, compared to 45 days for pusa chetki. The farmer can, therefore, grow four kharif crops of R-33 during March-September, whereas he can take out only two of pusa long,'' the Ch ief Executive of SSL, Mr K.V. Somani told Business Line.

The other advantage with R-33 is that the crop can be kept in the field up to 25 days even after maturity without it developing any sponginess. The farmer does not have to, then, harvest the crop in a hurry and he can wait till a better market price can be fetched.

Radish grown in summer has a trademark pungent flavour, unlike the sweeter version cultivated in winter. R-33, too, has a similar mild pungency trait. ``We are now in the process of developing a winter radish hybrid, which can be planted from October to January, similar to the sweet varieties such as hill queen and summer queen that are grown in the Himalayan region. Once this is released, the farmer can grow radish throughout the year,'' Mr Somani said.

The Rs 24-crore SSL is a market leader in cole crops, such as caulifower, cabbage and radish, apart from being a major player in tomato, cucumber and chilli. ``Our current market share is 23 per cent each in radish and tomato, 18-19 per cent in cucumber and cauliflower, 14 per cent in cabbage and seven per cent in chilli,'' Mr Somani claimed.

SSL is also the first private sector company to indigenously develop and commercialise hybrids in cabbage, cauliflower and radish. ``No company in India is now producing hybrids using its own indigenous pure lines and germplasm. They are instead importin g the entire first generation hybrids. We are developing our own varieties and hybrids, right from nucleus stage to breeder, foundation and certified seed stages,'' he added.

SSL is currently owned by seven finance companies controlled by the Barwale family - promoters of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company or MAHYCO. SSL, which has been in operation since 1973, was taken over by the Barwale family in June 1996. The company prod uces its seeds through the contract farming route in around 15,000 acres in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

``We specialise more in vegetable crops, unlike MAHYCO, which is a leader in field crops, including cotton, paddy, wheat and bajra. Also, our presence is largely in Northern India, whereas their operations are spread throughout Western and Southern regio ns,'' he said.