Hybrid food crops developed by ICAR
	17:45 IST

Rajya Sabha Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed a number of hybrids in different food crops. In rice, hybrids such as KRH2, PA6201, 6444 and Suruchi 5401 have been popular. Similarly in other food crops popular hybrids have been developed such as DHM 103, DHM 105, Paras, Buland, Trishulata in maize; CSH 16, CSH 18 in Sorghum and GHB 558, Nandi 35, MLBH 504, PAC 903 in Pearl Millet. Seed Production technology of released hybrids has been developed. System for Rice Intensification (SRI) method of cultivation has been found effective in enhancing the production and productivity of rice in various parts of the country including Andhra Pradesh. The adoption of these hybrids and their production-protection technologies have helped in enhancing the productivity of foodgrains in Andhra Pradesh where the foodgrain productivity has increased from 709 kg per hectare during 1956-66 to 2012 kg per hectare during 2003-04. This information was given in the Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh in a written reply. MP:CP:rajya(A)16.3.2007