India to develop high-yielding variety of pulses

KANPUR: India has joined hands with other SAARC nations to start a project to develop high-yielding variety of pulses in south Asia.

"The project will involve cross breeding of pulses from different countries so that new high-yielding varieties are produced," Dr Masood Ahmed, director of the Indian Institute of Pulse Research said.

India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan will soon sign an agreement in this regard. Later, Afghanistan and Pakistan will also join, Ahmed said.

Scientists from IIPR, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, National Grain Research Centre in Nepal and Department of Agriculture in Bhutan will analyse climatic conditions and soil properties of participatory countries.