The State Seed Farm situated near Pongalur, which is on the revival path after lying defunct for many years, is set to become the ‘breeding ground’ for production of hybrid sorghum seeds using latest technologies.
Under an initiative mooted by the Department of Agriculture, about eight tonnes of foundation seeds of sorghum will be produced in the first phase that begins immediately.
These foundation seeds will then be distributed to the needy farmers in the district at subsidised rates through various government-sponsored schemes.
“For producing the targeted quantity of foundation seeds of CSH-14 variety of sorghum, we have already stocked breeder seeds procured from the Directorate of Sorghum Research in Hyderabad,” Joint Director of Agriculture Mohammed Kalimullah Sherif told The Hindu.
The dry and cool weather conditions prevailing in the Pongalur area has come as a catalyst for the officials to begin the seed production process soon.
Field preparation works will be carried out on the Seed Farm premises which include creation of good drainage facility to avoid water stagnation and places for drying the harvested foundation seeds of sorghum as well as storing them.
To ensure water supply during production, the agriculture department has recently set up three borewells in advance on the Seed Farm premises.
