GoI develops new biofortified high protein wheat variety

The scientists of Agharkar Research Institute (Pune), operating under Department of Science and Technology (DST) have developed biofortified high quality wheat. The new variety is MACS 4028

Highlights

The new wheat variety has 14.7% better nutritional quality, 40.3 ppm of iron content and high milling quality. The new variety is semi-dwarf and matures in 102 days. Also, it has high yielding ability of 19.3 quintals per hectare.

Role of UNICEF

The MACS 4028 was supported by UNICEF funds to alleviate malnutrition in India. Now the new wheat variety will help boost Vision 2022 of India which is, “Kuposhan Mukt Bharat” (National Nutrition Strategy).

Significance

The Indian Council of Medical Research has been constantly making efforts to develop high-yielding, early mature, drought-tolerant, disease resistant varieties. MAC 4028 is an outcome of those initiatives. The Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley research operating under ICMR has launched All India coordinated Wheat and Barley improvement programme to develop more such varieties.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2020