The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Sreekaryam, will release three new crop varieties developed by it as part of its 60th foundation day celebrations on Saturday.
Himanshu Pathak, secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will inaugurate the celebrations and release one cassava variety and two taro varieties.
The cassava variety, named ‘Sree Kaveri’, is resistant to the cassava mosaic disease (CMD). This variety is intended for the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, said CTCRI director G. Byju. Two high-yielding taro varieties – ‘Sree Hira’ and ‘Sree Telia’ – developed by the CTCRI will also be released at the event. ‘Sree Telia’ can be harvested in four months after planting, according to the institute.
