The Dominance of Lok-1: Madhya Pradesh’s Leading Wheat Variety

10 April 2024, Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh ranks second in the country in wheat production, the main crop of Rabi season. With time, due to new varieties and new technologies, farmers are producing abundantly. But even now the influence of the Lok-1 variety remains intact in the state. Most of the farmers in the state are adopting this variety and are getting good production. After this, wheat varieties GW-322, Pusa Tejas HI 8759 and GW-273 are the favorite varieties among farmers. 

In the rabi season 2023-24, wheat has been sown in about 92 lakh 10 thousand hectares in the state, out of which the high-yielding varieties Lok-1, GW-322 and GW-273 have been planted in more than 75 lakh hectare area, while the remaining 17 lakh hectares are under durum, Sharbati and other varieties. Sharbati wheat of the state is famous for exports, yet the main reason for the decrease in its area is the decrease in production. Due to better minimum support prices, farmers prefer to plant high-yielding varieties.

For Rabi season 2023-24, the area under wheat has been reported at 92.10 lakh hectares and the production is estimated at 329.72 lakh tonnes. The main reason decline in production from the last 3 consecutive years is believed to be untimely rains and hailstorms as well as emphasis on increasing the production of pulses and oilseeds. Apart from this, there is also a decreasing inclination of farmers to sow Sharbati wheat.

While Lok-1 yields 50 to 55 quintals per hectare, GW 322 yields 55 to 60 quintals, Pusa Tejas HI 8759 is about 60 to 70 quintals per hectare. Whereas the production of Sharbati C 306, Sujata 617, etc. has remained at around 25 to 30 quintals per hectare.

Given these circumstances, according to agricultural officials of various districts, in the last Rabi, more than 5 lakh quintals of Lok-1 seeds were distributed, while about 3 lakh quintals of GW-322 and about 2 lakh quintals of Pusa Tejas seeds were distributed among the farmers.

Bhopal’s Joint Director – Agriculture, Mr. B.L. Bilaiya said that Pusa Tejas and Sharbati 1544 varieties have been planted in large quantities in the division because districts like Raisen, Vidisha, Sehore, etc. are famous for Sharbati wheat. Many farmers have also planted Lok-1 because it gives more production.

Gwalior’s Joint Director – Agriculture, Mr. DL Kori said that Lok-1 and GW-322 have been sown in the area. At the same time, Dr. Rajsingh Kushwaha, a scientist of KVK Gwalior and Dr. A P S Tomar, a scientist of KVK Bhind also informed about planting Lok-1 variety in large acreage.

Opinion Of Agricultural Scientists

Dr. S.S. Dhakad, a scientist of Shajapur KVK and Dr. AK Badaya, a scientist of Dewas KVK said that farmers have planted Pusa Tejas variety of wheat in abundance in the district, along with it Lok-1. Betul KVK scientist Dr. Vijay Verma said that HI 1544 and GW 322 have been planted in the district and according to Panna KVK scientist Dr. PN Tripathi, GW 322 variety has been planted in the district. Sheopur Kala’s Deputy Director Agriculture P Gujre said that the Raj 4035 variety was planted in the district which is a 120-day crop. Deputy Director in-charge of Jabalpur, Ravi Amravanshi said that GW 322, 273 and HI-1544 varieties have been planted in the district, whose average production is about 50 quintals per hectare.

Disillusionment with Sharbati

Overall, the Lok-1 variety of wheat is still leading in the state, leaving behind Sharbati varieties of wheat. Whereas the 306 variety of Sharbati wheat, famous for its gold-like shine and special taste in the country and abroad, may disappear from the market. In the last few years, 85 percent of the farmers have moved away from this variety. Instead, farmers are taking 1544, 322 and Harshita varieties. These three varieties look like Sharbati. Farmers are becoming disillusioned with the Sharbati 306 variety because its yield is low. While other varieties are available at double the cost, the prices are also good.

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