Rice stands as a cornerstone of India’s agricultural landscape. While the Kharif season offers a window from May 15th to July 15th for sowing rice seeds, water scarcity often prompts delays in cultivation across many states. Offering insights into top varieties conducive to direct sowing becomes imperative, especially considering their potential to bolster farmers’ profits by maximizing yields within shorter durations. These rice strains, meticulously developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), underscore a commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity.
This year’s inauguration ceremony at the IARI brought forth promising news regarding the thriving cultivation of Basmati rice varieties. Impressively, Basmati rice has contributed revenues amounting to Rs. 40,000 crore during the 2023-24 period. However, certain Basmati variants are susceptible to diseases, necessitating heightened pesticide application—a challenge confronting Indian farmers. Addressing this concern head-on, IARI Pusa has unveiled seven novel disease-resistant Basmati varieties, fortified against bacterial blight, bacterial blast, and blast diseases.
Here’s a rundown of these disease-resistant Basmati strains:
Pusa Basmati 1847: Acknowledged by IARI as an enhancement of the esteemed Basmati rice variety 1509, this strain boasts resistance to bacterial blight. With a maturation period spanning 120-125 days, it yields an impressive average of 22-23 quintals per acre.
Basmati 1885: This sought-after variant of Pusa Basmati rice offers resilience against both bacterial blight and blast diseases. Characterized by long, slender grains of superior quality, it matures in 135 days, yielding an average of 18.72 quintals per acre.
Pusa Basmati 1886: Derived from Basmati 6, this rice variety flaunts resistance to bacterial blight and blast diseases. Maturing in 145 days, it yields an average of 18 quintals per acre.
Pusa Basmati 1692: Thriving in regions with limited water resources, this strain matures within 115-120 days. With an average yield of 20-25 quintals per acre and minimal grain breakage, it requires a mere 5 kilograms of seeds per acre.
Pusa Basmati 1121 (PB 1121): This variety, widely recognized as the most exported Basmati rice, boasts aromatic, long grains measuring 9-10 mm. Optimal sowing spans from May 20th to June 15th, yielding 18-20 quintals per acre on average.
Pusa Basmati 1718 (PB 1718): A high-yielding, disease-resistant strain, it demands less water and matures within 135 days. Sowing between May 15th to June 20th ensures a yield ranging from 20-25 quintals per acre.
Pusa Basmati 1401 (PB 1401): This semi-dwarf Basmati variety matures in 135-140 days, offering yields of 4-5 tons per hectare. Distinguished by grain uniformity and cooking quality superior to Pusa Basmati 1121, it marks a noteworthy advancement.
The introduction of these resilient Basmati varieties not only fortifies agricultural resilience but also promises a brighter future for Indian farmers, ushering in a new era of productivity and sustainability.
The Swarna Sub 1 rice variety is renowned for its resilience to flooding, making it a valuable choice for farmers in regions prone to heavy rainfall, floods, or waterlogging. Given that rice is the primary crop in India during the Kharif season, it’s imperative for farmers to carefully select rice varieties suited to their local climate conditions.
Here are the key features of the Swarna Sub 1 rice variety:
The length of the rice plants typically ranges from approximately 105 to 110 centimeters.When directly sown, Swarna Sub 1 rice matures in about 140 days, while transplanted crops mature in 145 days. The grains of this variety are moderately slender, and it yields between 4.5 to 5.5 tons per hectare. For direct sowing, the first fortnight of June is considered the most suitable time, whereas preparing seedlings for transplantation is recommended during the first week of June. In terms of seed requirements, farmers typically need 60 to 70 kilograms of seeds per hectare for direct sowing and 25 to 30 kilograms per hectare for transplanting.
