Farmers in Assam’s Kamrup district are witnessing a bumper season for Toria (rapeseed), due to a unique synergy between traditional weather patterns and modern agricultural science. While dense fog often disrupts daily life, it has emerged as a “blessing” for the TS-38 variety, providing essential moisture to parched, rain-fed plots and preventing the crops from withering.

Why TS-38 is a Game Changer

Developed by Assam Agricultural University during 2018–19, the TS-38 variety is a certified toria (rapeseed) variety designed for the agro-climatic conditions of Northeast India.

• High Yielding & Short Duration: Its quick maturity makes it perfect for double or triple cropping, allowing farmers to plant it immediately after harvesting Sali rice.
• Climate Adaptability: It thrives in rain-fed conditions, yielding approximately 5 quintals per acre without requiring heavy irrigation.
• Adopted: TS-38 is now being adopted in other Northeastern states such as Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, and even in Odisha, Bihar and Rajasthan.
• National Demand: Due to its superior performance, the variety is now being exported to states like Odisha, Bihar, and Rajasthan, proving its adaptability across diverse ecological zones.

Institutional Support and Success

The success of rapeseed in the region is bolstered by a strong support framework:

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK): KVK Kamrup provides the critical link between laboratory research and the field, offering technical support and producing certified seeds for local farmers.
• Farmer Producer Companies: Groups like the Bhaillabari Fishery Farmers Producers Company are aggregating small-scale farmers to adopt these certified varieties, ensuring better market reach and collective bargaining power.
• Economic Impact: Individual farmers have reported earnings of up to ₹5 lakh from a single season, highlighting the potential of oilseed mission goals.

Key Concepts for Laymen

• Toria: A specific type of rapeseed commonly grown in India for its oil-rich seeds.
• Sali Rice: The traditional winter rice crop of Assam; TS-38 is grown in the fallow period after this harvest.
• Certified Seed: Seeds that have been tested and guaranteed for their quality, purity, and high-yield potential by authorized agencies.

Exam hook: prelims question

Q. With reference to ‘TS-38’ often mentioned in the news in the context of Indian agriculture, consider the following statements:

1. It is a high-yielding variety of rapeseed (Toria) developed specifically for water-stressed, rain-fed regions.
2. Its short maturity duration allows for multi-cropping sequences following the rice harvest.
3. It is a genetically modified (GM) crop developed to be resistant to aphids and dense fog.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (a) (TS-38 is a conventionally bred high-yielding variety, not a genetically modified crop. Fog is beneficial to it for moisture, not something it needs “resistance” against.)

The TS-38 variety serves as a blueprint for doubling farmers’ income by utilizing the “fallow” seasons of the Indian agricultural calendar.

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