New Delhi: The National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has facilitated the transfer of five high-yielding crop varieties developed by farmer innovators from Varanasi to a private seed company for commercialisation.
According to an official statement issued on Thursday, three wheat varieties and two pigeon pea varieties developed by Shreeprakash Singh Raghuvanshi and Ranjeet Kumar Singh have been transferred to Ginni Agro Products Limited (GAPL), a Nagpur-based company, through formal agreements.
Under the agreement, GAPL has secured commercialisation rights for Kudrat-3 (pigeon pea), Kudrat-8 and Kudrat-9 (wheat), developed by Shri Shreeprakash Singh, and Lalita (pigeon pea) and Annapurna (wheat), developed by Shri Ranjeet Kumar Singh. The company will undertake seed production, multiplication, processing, marketing and sale of these varieties as Truthfully Labelled (TL) seeds in designated territories, including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Officials said the initiative aims to integrate grassroots agricultural innovations into formal business channels while strengthening farmers’ rights. The collaboration is expected to improve access to quality seeds, enhance productivity and generate sustainable income opportunities for the innovators.
Key Features of the Varieties
Kudrat-8 (Wheat):
A high-yielding variety with potential output up to 65.41 quintals per hectare and an average of 50 grains per spike. The 76 cm dwarf plant structure reduces lodging, while higher tiller density (390/m²) and biomass (18 g per plant) add to productivity. It has shown moderate resistance to aphids and resistance to leaf rust.
Kudrat-9 (Wheat):
With a yield potential of up to 67 quintals per hectare, this bio-fortified cultivar contains 10–12% protein, 47.58 ppm iron and 23.77 ppm zinc, offering potential nutritional benefits.
Annapurna (Wheat):
This variety has a yield potential of up to 60 quintals per hectare, supported by a 25 cm panicle length and grain density of up to 80 long-bold seeds per panicle.
Kudrat-3 (Pigeon Pea):
A perennial variety capable of two harvests annually, with cumulative yield potential up to 36.17 quintals per hectare. It features 6–8 cm pods with an average of five bold seeds and can be used for both green pods and grain. The red-coated seeds can be marketed as whole arhar or processed into bright yellow dal.
Lalita (Pigeon Pea):
An annual variety with yield potential up to 30 quintals per hectare. Its round red seeds reduce breakage during milling and offer dal recovery rates above 80 per cent. It is also suitable for organic cultivation.
The technology transfer is part of ongoing efforts to promote farmer-led innovation and strengthen the agricultural value chain through strategic partnerships.
