Gram farming: Farmers should cultivate these varieties of gram for double the profit

 In Chhattisgarh, gram farming is crucial to the agricultural industry. Growers in Chhattisgarh gain a lot from growing gram. In addition to being an excellent source of nutrients, gram cultivation helps to improve the soil’s fertility. It aids in nitrogen fixing since it is a pulse crop. Additionally, it is a cheap crop, which helps farmers stay financially stable. The newly created varieties have expanded the options for growing gram, which should improve productivity and profitability for the state’s farmers.

According to Ritu Saxena, Chief Scientist of the All India Gram Integrated Scheme, the state of Chhattisgarh’s total gram acreage is 271 thousand hectares, and 226 thousand tons of gram were produced in 2023–2024. An estimated 836 kg of productivity per acre has been reported. Five gram cultivars have now been created by Indira Gandhi Agricultural University.

The state government recommends Vaibhav, Indira Gram 1, and Chhattisgarh Gram 2. The Central Variety Releasing Committee (CVRC) recommends the other two varieties, Chhattisgarh Lochan Chana and Chhattisgarh Akshay Chana. These are all disease-resistant cultivars. In addition, every variety is prepared for an early harvest. These cultivars produce around 18 to 20 quintals per hectare.

Farmers need to purchase high-quality seeds.

The primary causes of the lack of gram output, according to chief scientist Ritu Saxena, are the availability of poor-quality seeds, unplanned, uncontrolled rain, disease and insect outbreaks, and a shortage of high-quality seeds. An essential component in gram cultivation is the seed. In order to raise the seed multiplication ratio from 10% to 30%, the Government of India, or DAC, is working to provide farmers with high-quality seeds. The four new types created by Indira Gandhi Agricultural University in Raipur are now the most popular. The yield of Indira Chana 1, which was suggested and created in 2017, is around 16 to 17 quintals per hectare. In 100 to 110 days, it will be ready to ripen.

These two types are unique as well.

The second type was created in 2020 and is called Chhattisgarh Chana 2. In 97 to 105 days, this variety will be ripe. It yields between 18 and 20 quintals. In 2021, Chhattisgarh Lochan Chana was developed after the Center’s recommendation. Twenty quintals are produced per hectare by this cultivar. In 100–110 days, this cultivar is likewise ready to ripen. In 2021, a different type called Chhattisgarh Akshay Chana was created. In 94 days, this variety will be ready to mature. Additionally, it yields around 16 to 17 quintals per hectare.