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ShareShimla: Here is a good news for potato growers.
To cope up with the adverse effects of global warming, Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, has developed a new variety of potato having more heat resistance.
The variety 'Kufri Surya' can resist over four degree Celsius heat, Principal Scientist CPRI, J S Minhas told PTI.
Night temperatures up to 18 degrees is ideal for cultivation of the ordinary potato variety, but Kufri Surya could endure heat up to 22 degrees, Minhas said.
Though countries like Israel had developed such vegetables, Kufri Surya is the first of its kind in India, he said.
The scientist said trial cultivations conducted in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), Dharwara (Karnataka) and Pune in Maharashtra were successful.
Its seeds are being prepared at Modipuram in Meerut for distribution among growers.
The new variety would be made available in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, which account for 90% of potato cultivation.
In Himachal Pradesh, Kufri Surya could be recommended for lower areas like Nagrota in Kangra district and Una, he said.
