The Karnataka State Seed Corporation (KSSC) on Monday entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based International Crop Research Institute (ICRISAT) that will give the corporation access to new seed varieties that are drought and disease resistant.
The agreement will result in ICRISAT making available new improved varieties of seeds in sorghum, groundnut, chickpea, pigeonpea, bajra and minor millets for the benefit of farmers in Karnataka. The agreement period is for three years and during the period, drought and disease resistant cultivars will be introduced on a fast track mode to benefit farmers that in turn is expected to increase productivity.
The seed corporation on an average supplies three-and-a-half lakh quintal of quality seeds of different crops annually. It is expected to strengthen the corporation and its product portfolio. The MoU was signed by H.S. Devaraj, Managing Director of KSSC, and Arvind Kumar, Deputy Director General of ICRISAT, in the presence of Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy here on Monday.
