Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Responding to the increasing demand for Ramdana (Amaranth/ Rajgira) prasadam in temples, Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology (ND University) has launched a dedicated research project aimed at developing a high-yield, advanced variety of the crop.
The university’s Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics is conducting the study under the Coordinated Research Network on Potential Crops, an initiative of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Scientists are targeting the development of a new variety by 2028 that combines high productivity with superior grain quality, suitable for local agro-climatic conditions.
According to Dr. Vikramjeet Singh, head of the department and associate professor, Ramdana is a resilient crop that requires minimal resources and thrives under general cultivation conditions. “Given Ayodhya’s rapid development and the growing number of international pilgrims, demand for Ramdana in prasadi preparations is rising sharply. This crop can offer a profitable supplementary income for farmers in Eastern Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
So far, researchers have collected 180 germplasm samples from across India, including sources from the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and centers in Bengaluru. Early trials indicate promising performance from local varieties sourced from Gujarat, Jodhpur, and Bengaluru.
The goal of the research is to officially release a new high-yield Ramdana variety by 2028, ensuring better grain quality and enhanced suitability for temple prasadam and local consumption.
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