COIMBATORE: The area and production of redgram has decreased drastically, which in turn has led to an increase in the market price for consumers. The performance of LRG 41 variety of redgram has been good and hence can be popularised among farmers for large-scale adoption, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) P. Murugesa Boopathi said here recently.

Witnessing a frontline demonstration of the variety at Boluvampatti village in Thondamuthur Block, the Vice-Chancellor observed that the gram was grown as a rainfed crop in the State in 29,000 hectares.

“Because of climate change, labour shortage and poor adoption of advanced technologies by farmers, the area and production of this gram has decreased to a great extent.

In order to increase the area, production and productivity, the Central and State Governments are implementing various schemes for the benefit of farmers,” Mr. Boopathi said.

The variety produced more number of branches, pods per plant and bold seeds with four to five seeds per pod. Due to high yielding nature and tolerance to pod borer pest, this variety had good scope for increasing the production and productivity of redgram under rainfed conditions.

Courtesy - Hindu