CHENNAI: The Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) has been wreaking havoc for years in the lives of farmers cultivating black gram or Urad bean, inflicting on them losses as high as 50%.
Farmers can now breathe easy with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) developed Trombay varieties of black gram that are totally resistant to YMV and also high yielding, being introduced in the state.
This gains immense importance as Tamil Nadu is one of the largest cultivators of black gram, an important pulse grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons in the state that accounts for nearly 41% of the total area under pulses.
The crop is extensively grown in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Toothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Villupuram districts, which together account for 77.7% of the total area under the crop.
It is cultivated in over two lakh hectares and the state produces over 70,000 tonnes annually.
Trombay varieties are very popular and in great demand throughout the country, for instance the TAU-1 variety enjoys a mammoth Cultivation Maket Share (CMS) of 95% in Maharashtra.
The good news is the state government has already swung into action in popularising two Trombay black gram varieties among the farmers. Already, farmers in Tirunelveli and Villupuram districts are reaping high dividends where the new varieties are cultivated on pilot scale.
“In response to the request from Tamil Nadu Agricultural Department, BARC made available sample seeds of two popular black-gram varieties ‘Trombay Urdbeans’ TU-94-2 and TU-40, known for their proven YMV-resistance and shorter maturity period,” J. Daniel Chellappa, senior scientist, BARC
Technical Coordination Wing told DC.
The TU-94-2 crop was grown in the state-owned, sprawling 83.59 acre seed farm at Karaiyiruppu in Tirunelveli district to assess its superior properties and the adaptability. The farm is located at the tail end of Kadagan channel of Tamirabharani river irrigation system in Tirunelveli district.
The Trombay variety has now proved and demonstrated its phenomenal 100% resistance to the killer-virus at the Karaiyiruppu seed farm. Local farmers are excited and firmly believe that TU-94-2 will enhance their livelihoods, he said.
Another variety TU-40 which is resistant to the dreaded YMV and also to ‘Powdery mildew disease’ is being cultivated on a pilot scale in Villupuram and is maturing for harvest.
Both varieties have the potential to rekindle the lives of farmers through enhanced productivity. This also means the country can reduce the amount spent on import of pulses each year since India is the largest producer as well as importer of black gram.
The State Agricultural Department satisfied with the amazing performance, has now approached
BARC for bulk supply of TU-94-2 and TU-40 varieties for cultivating, multiplying and popularising the superior varieties for the benefit of the state’s farming community during 2015-16, sources in the State agriculture department said.
