Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 07:
Tampha variety of paddy, bred locally in Manipur is found to be giving a good yield.
The new breed cultivated in 30 hectares in Haorang Keirel when harvested this season gave a yield of 30 sacks (phoubot) per Sangam.
The Tampha breed was cultivated as a part of Integrated Pest Management programme under the aegis of Agriculture Officer (Chemistry) Imphal West, Department of Agriculture.
Under the initiative taken up in collaboration with New Era Farmers' Union, Haorang Keirel, 60 farmers were supplied with Tampha paddy seeds for cultivation at the rate of Rs 8 per kg.
The Tampha breed of paddy was developed by the Central Agriculture University.
Even though harvesting of all the 30 hectares has not been completed, data collected from the harvested fields and surrounding fields where other varieties of paddy were grown showed that the yield is more with Tampha variety.
A team comprising of AO (Chemistry) and CAU experts went to the agricultural fields where the harvesting is going on.
The team found that almost 25 hectares of field have been harvested already.
Calculating at the rate of 30 sacks per Sangam, it is estimated that the total yield from the 30 hectares shall be 216 metric tonnes approximately.
From this 216 metric tonnes, 142.56 metric tonnes may be obtained as rice.
Surplus rice produced by each household supplied with Tampha seeds will be bought by the CAU at the rate of Rs 8 per kg.
At this rate, a farmer will get a profit of Rs 2 per kg.
A total of Rs 8.19 lakhs were spent for cultivation in the 30 hectares.
This included Rs 1.44 lakh in land preparation, Rs 5.20 as labour cost, Rs 30,000 for procuring seeds, Rs 45,000 for chemicals and Rs 85,000 for fertilizers, said AO (Chemistry) Ph Rajendro.
At the rate of Rs 8 per kg, the total produce from the 30 hectares will fetch Rs 17.28 lakhs.
Deducting the total expenditure, a profit of Rs 9.05 lakhs could be earned by the farmers.
Leaving apart the aspect of profit, CAU experts who visited the fields today said that the ultimate objective of the initiative is to cultivate Tampha paddy all over the State and to ensure adequate supply of the locally bred rice variety to the people of the land.