Following the government’s resolve to boost farmers income, Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), Ranchi in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi have embarked on various new methods to train farmers for the production of new crops or boost their produce, Linseed cultivation is one of the stream that is said to said to have potential of increasing the farmers’ income to four times in the State.
A delegation of ICAR visited the State recently to review the research, spread and possibilities of Linseed crops in Jharkhand and at the same time they have constituted strategy to produce Linseed in the State in large scale to increase the farmers’ income and simultaneously effectively use of moisture after harvesting of Kharif crops.
The delegation has also witnessed sown areas of tribal farmers’ of Ranchi, Saraikela and East Singhbhoom.
The delegation said that it is excellent farming of Linseed done by the farmers of Ranchi, Sahebganj, Saraikela and East Singhbhum. In these districts a total of 170 farmers had sown Linseed in 60 hectares of lands.
Speaking on the importance of the crop the delegation said it will prove to be a boon for the farmers of the State as after paddy harvest very less moisture remains in the farm to use the moisture Linseed crop is very useful and it needs only one to two times water to mature. It needs 100 days to 120 days to be mature. Where a farmers get Rs 1600 to Rs 2000 per quintal of wheat and wheat produce six quintal to eight quintal per acre while Linseed gives Rs 4000 to Rs 4400 per quintal and it also produce six to eight per acre.
Principal Scientist, Ashok Kumar termed the seeds plant developed by the BAU on its premises as very good. The university has developed two kinds of seeds including Divya for irrigated land and Priyum for non-irrigated land.
Speaking on the possibility of Oilseed crops in the State, Kumar said that the State have proper climate land to produce oilseed crops in large scale and it will proved boon for the farmers of the State.
“Both the seeds developed by the university are in good demand at national level. Government of India received every years a large quantity of demands of Linseed. With view to provide fulfill these demands the State have possibility to produce more and increase productivity,” he added.
Another member of the delegation Vijay Chopra said there are various use of Linseed. It use in Oil, Medicines, Feed of cows and other. It contains 20 per cent Protein, 37 per cent fats and 28 per cent Carbohydrate. It’s Omega-3 quantity proved very helpful in Heart and Arthritis. It’s Lignen chemical used in Cancer.