TRRI expert advises to go for direct sowing

According to V Ravi, Director of TRRI, the farmers can begin direct sowing only after levelling the field by ploughing using the moisture in the soil due to rains. 

He says that the medium-term varieties suitable for sowing now are ADT-39, ADT-38, ADT-46, CO-50, ADT-49 and TKM-13, CO-52. Those, who could not sow these varieties, could plough the land now after Cauvery water reached their field.

Those who could not take up direct sowing, could raise their nurseries till the first week of October and then transplant the same. Others can take up cultivation of varieties like ADT-36, ADT-45 and CO-51 which have a duration of 105 to 110 days, taking into consideration the rains during October. 

However, they should not be sown before October 15 as continuous rain during November would deter pollination and lead to yield loss, explains the director. 

Senior Agriculture Experts Forum which celebrated its silver jubilee, urged the experts to find short term crop varieties that would give a good yield. 

The ADGP (Prisons) C Sylendra Babu, was the special invitee of the programme.