Farmers and officials of Rajendra Agriculture University check paddy in Mahangua village. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Nov. 14: Scientists at Rajendra Agriculture University said a variety of paddy has been developed which can withstand the onslaught of flash floods.

The variety, called Swarna Sub 1, can be produced in around one or two extra tonnes every hectare, the scientists said.

Senior agriculture scientist of Rajendra Agriculture University J.P. Singh yesterday visited Motihari, along with a team of agriculture scientists and nodal officer of the university V.P. Singh, for a demonstration of the variant at the fields of Shambhu and Ram Vichar Yadav.

The two farmer brothers cultivated the crop on a large piece of land at Mahangua village under Motihari block, about 7km from the headquarters.

This was the second time that the two brothers have successfully cultivated Swarna Sub-1. They invited the RAU scientists for a demonstration of the variety among farmers and promote it as well.

While briefing the farmers, Singh stressed the need to develop a variety like Swarna Sub-1 that can fight adverse situations for over two weeks.

“Both the government and Rajendra Agriculture University are equally serious to promote this variety (of paddy) in the state. The variety assumes importance because while 25 lakh hectares were affected by floods in the state in 1952, the area has increased to around 72 lakh hectares now,” he said.

To address the problems met by the crops and the farmers, this variety of paddy was developed, J.P. Singh, who is also in-charge of seed multiplication and dissemination among the farmers in RAU, pointed out.

He sounded hopeful that the popularity of Swarna Sub-1 would soon spread to the larger parts of the state. “Nearly 50 per cent farmers in West Champaran have already adopted the variety,” he said.

On the origin of the variety, Singh told The Telegraph: “It was developed in a joint venture carried out by International Rice Research Institute Manila, Philippines and Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa, Bihar under Stress Tolerant Rice for Poor Farmers in Africa and South Asia project, which was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”

David Michael, who has been associated in the field of international rice research, “was also the father of Swarna Sub-1 variety”, Singh said.