Udaipur based Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT) entered into a agreement with six seed companies on September 11, 2024, for the production of the hybrid maize variety, Pratap Sankara Makka-6. This is the first time in the university’s history that it has signed such a comprehensive agreement with multiple companies at once.
The companies involved in this agreement are Indo US Biotech (Gujarat), Chakra Seeds, Sampurna Seeds, Sri Lakshmi Venkteshwara Seeds, Murlidhar Seeds Corporation (Andhra Pradesh), and Mahankaleshwara AgriTech Private Limited (Telangana).
The agreement centers around supplying parental seeds of Pratap Sankara Makka-6, a maize variety developed by the university. By partnering with these six seed companies from different states, MPUAT has showcased the exceptional quality of this maize variety.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ajeet Kumar noted that Pratap Sankara Makka-6 can produce between 62 and 65 quintals per hectare, with potential for even higher yields under optimal conditions. This variety can be utilized for both grain and fodder. The university will supply the parental line seeds at a rate of Rs. 40,000 per quintal. In return, the companies will pay the university Rs. 2.5 lakh plus a 4% royalty.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the increasing use of maize in poultry farming, starch production, and ethanol production. Ethanol, blended with petrol and diesel, is used as a green fuel and is viewed as a future fuel option.
Dr. Arvind Verma, Director of Research, said that Pratap Sankara Makka-6 has been tested at 22 centers nationwide and has shown superior performance. It has been approved for cultivation in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat.
Professor R.B. Dube, senior breeder and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Udaipur, described Pratap Sankara Makka-6 as an early-maturing variety with yellow, bold grains. It is well-suited for both irrigated and unirrigated areas and is resistant to diseases such as stalk rot, nematodes, and stem borers.
Maize is essential for ethanol production in India, and the government is also taking steps to boost crop production in order to enhance biofuel output.
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