New Delhi, Dec 2 (KNN)  The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has released as many as 50 improved varieties of vegetables that can be grown in hilly regions at comparatively lower costs while giving better returns to the farmers.

The hybrid / resistant varieties of vegetables include tomato, ladies finger, French beans, chillies, brinjal, amaranthus, palak, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India under the scheme Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture provides financial assistance for adopting modernized methods of production of vegetables.

Various components of the scheme are production and distribution of improved varieties of vegetable seeds, area expansion under hybrid varieties of vegetables, protected cultivation of vegetables under controlled conditions, promotion of micro irrigation and fertigation, integrated nutrient, pest and disease management, good agricultural practices, human resource development, organic farming, horticulture mechanization etc. (KNN Bureau)