Goa, June 30 -- SHASHWAT GUPTA RAY

Faced with the twin chal lenges of low farm mechanisation due to the tall stature of traditional paddy varieties and relatively low yields, former Deputy Director of Agriculture-turned-farmer Joaquim D'Souza has cross-bred two locally grown paddy varieties - Korgut and Basmati - to develop a new experimental variety aimed at deliv ering higher yields, improved nutri tional value and compatibility with mechanical harvesting. "Drawing on my 33 years of experience with the Agriculture Department, my post-retirement goal is to support the farming community by addressing a major challenge associated with Korgut. While this variety is well-suited to our Khazan lands, its height causes the crop to lodge, makin...