Two fresh strains of paddy invented

P.P.G.Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group correspondent.

The Batalagoda Paddy Research Station has invented two fresh strains of paddy. Additional Director (Research) S.W. Abeysekara attached to Batalagoda Paddy Research Station said the two novel varieties of paddy are named BG 369 and BG 3R.

BG369 is a white rice variety and through the successful cultivation of this variety in an acre of land, a harvest of 100 to 125 bushels of paddy could easily be yielded. It is highly resistant to pests and insect diseases, Abeysekara said.

BG 3R is a red samba strain. This grain of rice is small. Around 140 to 150 bushels of paddy could be obtained by successfully cultivating in an acre of land. This is also highly resistant to pests and other paddy diseases, he said.

Abeysekara said this could be cultivated even in brackish and salty land.

Paddy researchers said within less than three and half months, yields of both these paddy strains could be obtained.