“We are all set to release around 20 water-saving rice varieties. Taking into account the looming problem of water scarcity in agriculture, we have developed the new varieties that come under the category of aerobic rice,” said Prof Devi Singh, the dean of the College of Biotech of the SVBPUAT.

“Initially, we will release the MAUB-13 rice variety that has been produced by hybridisation technology involving indigenous rice varieties only,” he added.

This will be followed by the release of the aerobic varieties of rice— IR72862-27-3, IR74371-46-1-1, IR74371-70-1-1 etc that have been produced by hybridisation technology involving rice varieties from Sri Lanka, Philippines etc.

Highlighting the advantages of aerobic rice varieties over the other usual varieties of rice, the researchers at the SVBPUAT said 500 litres of water is required for growing one kilo of the usual paddy crops. The new varieties, however, can reduce the amount of water required to around 40 per cent.

“Such new varieties can be grown without standing water that is needed for the usual varieties of rice,” researchers at the university said.

The other benefit of using aerobic rice varieties is that no churning is done to puddle soil, which though is done for retention of water in the fields actually disturbs the soil structure and the concentration of micronutrients.

“As a result, gradually the productivity of soil decreases. However, in the aerobic rice varieties as there is no need of churning there is no question of loss of micro-nutrients from soil.”

For improving and development of new rice varieties, SVBPUAT is already conducting collaborative research work with the scientists of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines.

“Our scientists in co-operation with IRRI are continuously striving to develop sustainable technology and methods to improve the condition of poor rice farmers,” said SVBPUAT vice-chancellor Prof M P Yadav.