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NMS-2- An improved and high yielding variety of paddy
M K Shankara Guru
Mysore, Karnataka

6th National Grassroots Innovation - 2012

 Innovator Profile

Shankara Guru (63), an innovative farmer from Mysore, has been growing an improved and high yielding variety of paddy ‘NMS-2’ developed through simple selection from local heterogeneous landrace varieties. Suitability for low external input cultivation, high tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, absence of shattering, quality fodder, fine rice quality with brick red colour are the distinctive features of this variety.

Belonging to a traditional agricultural family, his inclination was naturally towards farming. In 1992, he started collecting and conserving traditional seeds. Shankara Guru developed the improved variety ‘NMS-2’ through simple selection method. He noticed a plant in his field with different height and growth between the plants of a traditional variety ‘Salem Sanna’. He collected and separately cultivated the seeds and found the plant to perform well in terms of yield, robustness of stem and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. The process was continued for seven years during which he could stabilise the characters. 

NMS-2 is fine rice of brick red colour and high yield (80 q/ha) than the conventional locally popular variety (65q/ha) along with the good quality fodder. It also does not shatter and is suitable for low external input cultivation. As a variety, well adapted to the local conditions, it is highly tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress. The field trials of the variety were conducted at UAS Bangalore where the results were very positive. In order to diffuse the variety widely, Shankar Guru distributed the varieties to farmers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. In an Akashvani function in Mysore, the variety was distributed to thousands of farmers. The feedback on the variety was good and many are taking yield up to 30-32 quintals/acre.  Along with NMS 2, Shankara Guru also conserves the Ratnachudi variety obtained from a relative. This is a medicinal rice variety, which is consumed by pregnant women and also lactating mothers after mixing with ghee, pepper and salt. Another variety with him is Jeeraga sanna, which is a scented variety.