Ukhrul, November 11 2009: For a tenant farmer like R S Jerry of Sanakeithel,a tiny Tangkhul village in Manipur's Ukhrul district, introduction of IR 64, a new paddy variety,in his paddy field makes him happy as his family had a bumper harvest getting as many as 46 paddy bags from a single acre of land for the first time.

The new variety of rice was introduced on an experimental basis under North Eastern Council sponsored Integrated Pest Management (IPM) scheme through state's agriculture department.

Thirty five year old Jerry who lives in Sanakeithel, around 46 km north of Imphal along with his wife and three children, usually collect around 30-35 bags per acre on an average every year, collects an average of 45-46 bags(50 kg per bag) this year.

Thus his family could accumulate as many as 360 bags from his 2 hectares of land unlike 240 bags in the previous years.

At the same time, his family also reduces utilization of chemical fertilizer which in turn saves extra expenditure from their annual family budget.

Like him,as many as 30 other farmers of the village who benefited from the new paddy variety besides learning new farming system with inputs from agriculture department, are expected to greet their dear and near ones with a new variety of rice this Christmas.

Sharing a similar sentiment,another farmer Yangmasho Zimik of the village said many farmers of the periphery areas of Sanakeithel including Laphura, Pashong,Maleg, Lepleng,Longshum, Songphel Molan are now want to cultivate this high yielding variety IR 64 in the upcoming season after witnessing the recent bumper harvest.

Earlier Sanakeithel farmers used to cultivate other paddy varieties.

Young farmer R V Marsel,32 of the village also appreciated the Society for People's Advancement of Manipur for introducing the new paddy variety under IPM schemes in the 2500 populated village.

Last year farmers of Ethai village in Bishnpur district have planted IR-64 in an area of 35 hectares and it yielded a minimum of 33 bags per acre on an average creating a national record in production sector.

Ph Rajendro,Deputy Director,State Agriculture department said,"As the rice variety is suited to our soil here,we're thinking of continuing a campaign for extension of cultivation of the same variety to other fields as well".

He said seeds of IR 64 was distributed to farmers as an experiment besides introducing IPM method of farming across 1194 hectares of land in the state last year.

But it has been expanded upto around 2000 hectares this year with the help of farmers,he added.

The production rate of this paddy variety is amazing as there is a record of 9,600 kg of paddy per hectare this year which is much higher than that of last year's record(7,200 kg per hectare) .

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