Technology
Shankar Guru (63), an innovative farmer from Mysore, has been growing an improved and high yielding variety of paddy ‘NMS-2’ developed through simple selection from local heterogeneous landrace varieties. Suitability for low external input cultivation, high tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, absence of shattering, quality fodder, fine rice quality with brick red colour are the distinctive features of this variety.
NMS-2 is fine rice of brick red colour and high yield (80 q/ha) than the conventional locally popular variety (65q/ha) along with the good quality fodder. It also does not shatter and is suitable for low external input cultivation. As a variety, well adapted to the local conditions, it is highly tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress. The field trials of the variety were conducted at UAS Bangalore where the results were very positive. In order to diffuse the variety widely, Shankar Guru distributed the varieties to farmers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. In an Akashvani function in Mysore, the variety was distributed to thousands of farmers.
The feedback on the variety was good and many are taking yield up to 30-32 quintals/acre. Along with NMS 2, Shankar Guru also conserves the Ratnachudi variety obtained from a relative. This is a medicinal rice variety, which is consumed by pregnant women and also lactating mothers after mixing with ghee, pepper and salt. Another variety with him is Jeeraga sanna, which is a scented variety.
