Karnataka: India To Supply UAS Dharwad-Developed Wheat Seed To Indonesia
DWR 162 combines high yield potential with resistance to leaf and stem rust, good grain quality and tolerance to heat stress: University
DHARWAD: India will supply 100 tonnes of high-quality DWR 162 wheat seed, developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, to Indonesia as part of a bilateral initiative to strengthen food security and agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
A press statement from the University stated that the commitment follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia.
UAS Dharwad Vice-Chancellor MV Manjunath congratulated the university's Directorate of Research, Special Officer (Seeds) and the Wheat Improvement Project team for their contribution to the initiative.
Developed by UAS Dharwad, DWR 162 is a bread wheat variety bred to perform under the relatively warm conditions of peninsular India. The university began its wheat improvement programme in 1985 under the leadership of wheat breeder Dr R.R. Hanchinal, and the variety was released by the Government of India in 1993 for cultivation in the peninsular region.
According to the university, DWR 162 combines high yield potential with resistance to leaf and stem rust, good grain quality and tolerance to heat stress. More than three decades after its release, it continues to be one of the most widely preferred wheat varieties in peninsular India and attracts high demand for breeder seed.
Recognizing its superior performance, the Government of Indonesia imported larger quantities of DWR 162 seed in 1999-2000 for extensive large-scale testing. It also invited Dr RR Hanchinal to serve as a technical advisor and provide scientific guidance on the cultivation and management of the variety. In addition, Dr Nagarajan, Director of the Indian Wheat Programme, and Dr SA Patil, then Vice-Chancellor of UAS Dharwad, were invited to participate in strengthening bilateral agricultural cooperation.
Meanwhile, the implementation of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, created regulatory constraints in the supply of high-quality DWR 162 seed to Indonesia. Consequently, the Government of Indonesia continued to pursue discussions with the Government of India to facilitate seed transfer through appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms.
The fresh commitment to export 100 tonnes of DWR 162 seed is expected to support Indonesia's food security programme while marking a renewed phase of agricultural collaboration between the two countries.
