Demonstrations on
Biofortified maize hybrid ‘Pusa HQPM5 Improved’ (Quality Protein Maize (QPM)+provitamin-A rich) and sweet corn hybrid,‘Pusa Super Sweet Corn-1’
By Division of Agricultural Extension
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Biofortified maize hybrid ‘Pusa HQPM5 Improved’ (Quality Protein Maize (QPM)+provitamin-A rich) and sweet corn hybrid,‘Pusa Super Sweet Corn-1’
weredemonstratedunder “Enhancing Nutritional Security and Gender Empowerment” by Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi on 10thand12thAugust,2022 in project villages of Sonipat district, Haryana and Baghpat district, U.P.
Maize is a major cereal crop with its high content of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, important vitamins and minerals. Healthy diets for humans must include essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan, and provitamin-A carotenoids. But, normal maize lacks essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan but Quality Protein Maize (QPM) possesses almost double the quantity of lysine and tryptophan. Provitamin-A carotenoids rich maize possess desirable provitamin-A level which are good for proper vision and immunity.Whereas,sweet corn is specialty maize; its kernels are tender, delicious, and eaten as a vegetable.It is harvested while their corn-ears have just attained the milky stage.
Our Indian Agricultural Research Institute has come up with a number of biofortified maizeand sweet cornhybrids. Hence, these are nutritionally important crops, Dr. V. Sangeetha and Dr Sukanya Barua organized an awareness program among farmers and farm women about the nutritional benefits ofconsumingbiofortified maize and sweet corn and how important it is to cultivate it for their home consumption. They both popularized the IARI-bred biofortified maize hybrid ‘Pusa HQPM-5 Improved’ (enriched with lysine 3.37%, tryptophan 0.72%, provitamin A 6.60 ppm) and sweet corn hybrid,‘Pusa Super Sweet Corn-1’.They also emphasized about utilizing the abundant and unutilized space, because, these crops can be grown in backyard garden for own family consumption.Nutritional benefits of it were explained to them.
In addition to it tree planting activities were organized on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) in KVK Sonipat, Haryana and both the scientists participated in it. The above-mentioned activities were organized by Dr. V. Sangeetha, Sr. Scientist and Dr Sukanya
Barua, Scientist, Division of Agricultural Extension with the help of Dr. Firoz Hossain, Principal Scientist and Dr Vignesh Muthusamy, Senior Scientist, Division of Genetics under the guidance of Dr. B.S.Tomar, Joint Director (Extension) and Dr R.N. Padaria, Head & Professor, Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
Glimpses of activities
Dr V Sangeetha explaining the benefits of biofortified maize to farmers and farm women
Farm women were made aware about the benefits of biofortified maize and sweet corn through PUSA Samachar episode too
Farmers with biofortified maize& sweet corn hybrid seeds inJagdishpur village, Sonipat
Farm women with biofortified& sweet corn hybrid seeds inLahchoada&Bassi villages, Baghpat
Farmers with biofortified maize& sweet corn hybrid seeds in Khaila village, Baghpat
Dr V Sangeetha and Dr Sukanya Barua plantingbougainvillea tree in KVK, Sonipat
Biofortified maize and sweet corn hybrid seeds were provided to Dr. Nandan, Head, KVK Sonipat for demonstration.
