New rice variety for late sowing developed

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), India's leading farm research body, has developed a variety of rice, which can be sown late, an official at the institute said on Tuesday.

Despite late sowing, this variety of rice will be ready for harvest at the usual time, with a normal yield, the official said.

The new variety of rice can be sown even in January and will be ready for harvest by March, the official said. "We believe average yield of the new variety will be 3.5 tonne a hectare under very late sowing conditions."

Normally, winter rice crop in India is sown from October to December and the harvest takes place in March-April.

Sowing of this variety of rice will augment the country's output. The farmers who could not complete sowing due to weather or financial constraints, will get another month to cover up.

India is the world's third-largest producer of rice and the cereal is a staple food for 65 per cent of Indians.

"We plan to introduce the new variety of rice to different states in a phased manner. To begin with, the new variety of rice has been released in the National Capital Territory of Delhi," the official said.

The new variety, named "WR 544", has been entirely developed by the IARI.

The government has decided to sell seeds of the new variety of rice at Rs 15 a kg through the research institute.

In India, major rice producing states include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu among others.

Major rice varieties are classified under the Basmati and non-Basmati categories. The crop has tremendous export potential.

"It is a little early to comment on export prospects of the crop from the new seed variety, but the new variety holds tremendous potential for overseas markets. The development of the new variety also addresses the concern of relatively dated production techniques," the official said.

India has also decided to work with Pakistan, to jointly claim patents for Basmati rice. Commerce ministries of both countries have decided to float a common legal entity to fight for the patent of the aromatic rice.