The quality of strong resistance to fungal diseases is increasing the popularity of the new variety of red rice in the command areas of Karnataka during the last two years, reports Deccan Herald.
The ‘Sahyadri Kempumukthi’ variety of rice has become popular over the ‘Jyothi’ variety developed by Kerala. The crop is cultivated on 1.25 lakh hectares of land in Shivamogga, Davangere, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts.
The new variety of rice is developed by the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agriculture & Horticultural sciences and is resistant to blast, a disease caused by fungus.
Scientists and rice breeders are appealing to farmers to use this new variety to increase their yield and avoid crop loss due to fungus attacks.
