Varanasi: The Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) on Tuesday signed licensing agreements with several private seed companies to ensure the availability of high-quality seeds for farmers.An agreement was signed with Fateh Seeds, Ballia, for the improved okra variety, Kashi Utkarsh. The variety offers high productivity due to its plant height of around 110–115 cm and short internodes of 2–3 cm. Flowering begins early at the fifth to sixth node, and the crop provides an extended harvesting period from 48 to 120 days, allowing 35–37 pickings. The fruits are dark green, uniform, , measuring about 14–15 cm in length and 1.45–1.50 cm in diameter.The variety has a yield potential of approximately 165–170 quintals per hectare and is resistant to major diseases such as Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) and Okra Enation Leaf Curl Virus (OELCV).Another licensing agreement was signed with Ananya Seeds Private Limited, New Delhi, for the leafy vegetable variety Kashi Manu (Karamua saag). This fast-growing variety can produce high biomass within a short period. The first harvest can be taken within 20–25 days after sowing, providing farmers with early economic returns.Under recommended cultivation practices, the variety can yield 693–1,000 quintals per hectare of leaf biomass. Specifically recommended for UP, it is suitable for intercropping and crop rotation systems and can withstand high summer temperatures.On the same occasion, licensing agreements for the popular cowpea varieties Kashi Kanchan and Kashi Nidhi were renewed with VNR Seeds Private Limited, Raipur (Chhattisgarh).
