The Faculty of Agriculture and Research Complex of Rabindranath Tagore University has started organic cultivation of ‘black salt’, a rice species at the university.
This rice species plays an important role in increasing immunity in humans. University Registrar Vijay Singh said that the focus of the university is on organic farming. It is also helping in improving the health of the natural resource lands and improving the environment.
The university is also emphasizing on high-yielding ancient varieties under self-sufficiency in agriculture. The university is emerging as a centre of innovation and organic farming for the farmers of the region. Director of IQAC Nitin Vats has said that this species is rich in zinc, iron and protein.
While informing the students about it, Ashok Verma, Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture, informed that it is found that 3 milligrams of iron, 0.4% zinc and 10.6% protein is found in 100 grams of black salt, to increase the immunity of the species from 135 to 140 days.
It will prove to be useful in the era of corona pandemic. Shubham Kulshrestha, Horticulture expert of the Faculty of Agriculture, gave information in this context that organic cultivation of this fragrant paddy is being done in which cow manure, mustard cake, structure can be grown with the help of green manure, bacteria and other beneficial micro-organisms.
Organic pesticides are being used in place of chemical pesticides. In future, farmers of the area will also be made aware that they can earn more profit by planting rice of this species.