Pearlywhite
Jowar Variety—Sweta
Jowar
is the most important crop in Maharashtra occupying the highest area of 55 lakh hectares
with 36 per cent of the total cropped area under this crop. Jowar is grown both in Kharif
and Rabi seasons. There is more area in Rabi season (about 32 lakh hectares than in Kharif
about 23 lakh hectares). Generally the colour of jowar grains is pearly white and very
attractive Bhakari (Bread) prepared for Jowar grains is very tasty and relished by rural
people, particularly by the farming community. It is good for health also. Jowar fodder is
also nutritious and commonly fed to farm and dairy animals.
However
Kharif crop has some problems. Many high yielding and hybrid varieties are grown in Kharif
season. If there are rains during the stages of grain formation and grain filling when the
crop attains maturity, the grains get spoiled. Due to rains at this time humidity in the
atmosphere increases and temperature is also reduced. This particular micro-climate is
favorable for the growth of reddish-purple fungs (Fugarium). This leads to the development
of black fungus. The Jowar grains become black and unfit for human consumption and the
market price of the grains is also drastically reduced. Therefore farmers are put to great
loss and there is a general loss in foodgrain production. To overcome this serious
problem, the scientists of Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani made untiring and
sustainable efforts for some years, and developed appropriate Jowar variety PVK-801 which
is recently released for general cultivation by the States Seed-Release Sub Committee. The
variety PVK 801 is named as "Parbhani Sweta" (word "Sweta" means
white).
The
grains of this variety are not affected by the fungus prevailing at the time of
grain-filling like other varieties. The grains do not become black but remain pearly white
and hence the name "Sweta".
The other qualities
of this variety are :-
- Although this variety is not the
hybrid one,it has many qualities of hybrid variety.
- It is resistant to fungal diseases
and hence original colour of grains is not affected.
- The grains are bold and pearly-white
in colour. Weight of 1000 grains is 30 gms.
- The taste and quality of Bhakri
(Bread) is good.
- The fodder is nutrious and relished
by animals.
- The plants do not lodge on the
ground and hence no spoilage.
- Germination percentage is good.
- The yield is higher than other
varieties and it is easy for threshing.
- It gives good response to fertilizer
application.
- Since it is a straight variety (not
hybrid) farmers can reproduce the seed of their own.
- The grain yield is 35 to 37 Q/ha and
fodder yield is 95 to 100 Q/ha
Suitable areas in Maharashtra and
Karnataka where the problem of blackening of Jowar is serious. |
