Union govt approves Krishna Prabha Rudra hybrid chilli breed

Haveri: After 12 years of comprehensive research at the Horticultural Research and Extension Centre of Devihosur, the Union govt has approved a hybrid chilli variety - Krishna Prabha Rudra, which is similar to the Byadagi Dabbi chilli variety. The ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare released an official notification on Nov 13, 2024, introducing this new variant.The Byadagi Dabbi variety chilli, recognised worldwide, continues to be in high demand for its distinctive flavour and colour. The research centre's scientists developed Krishna Prabha Rudra to sustain the Byadagi Dabbi variety. This new variant shares similar attributes with Byadagi Dabbi, including moderate spiciness, rich colour, and contains 14 to 16 per cent Oleoresin oil content.Ratnakar Shet, HoD of the Horticultural Research and Extension Centre of Devihosur, explained that the traditional Byadagi Dabbi variety, despite farmers cultivating it for the past 200 years using traditional preservation methods, has not been studied. "But we have scientifically studied the yield, quality, and quantity of Rudra Dilex (Krishna Prabha), which has been receiving a good response from farmers for the last six years," he claimed."The Krishna Prabha Rudra is almost similar to the Byadagi Dabbi variety. The University of Horticultural Sciences of Bagalkot has been selling 1500 kg seeds every year for three years. Farmers have been getting a good yield of 5 to 6 quintals and 10-12 quintals in irrigation. Meanwhile, farmers have been getting only 2 to 3 quintals of the traditional Byadagi Dabbi variety per acre," shared scientist Prabhudev Ajjappalavar.He added that they initiated breeding this variety in 2012, received university approval in 2018, and recently obtained govt notification. "Due to the introduction of the Rudra breed, last year's chilli yield increased drastically. This variety is farmer-friendly for economic sustainability," Prabhudev stated.Rajeev K, a farmer from Basanal village, noted that the Krishna Prabha Rudra variety possesses antibodies and produces better yield than the traditional Dabbi variety. "I got 7 to 8 quintals of chilli on my farmland. This is a better yield when compared to Byadagi Dabbi," he stated.However, chilli merchants are concerned about this new variety. "We cannot compare the Krishna Prabha Rudra with the basic Byadagi Dabbi because the new variety's colour does not sustain for a long time. Scientists should develop the basic variety of Byadagi Dabbi because it has global demand," suggested Sureshgouda Patil, president of the Chilli Merchants' Association of Byadagi.