IARI develops new varieties of high-yielding rice

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 21. The Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has developed and released three new varieties of rice, including the world's first hybrid variety code-named RH-10.

Disclosing this to presspersons on Monday, the IARI Director, Dr. Punjab Singh, said the new hybrid would increase production to 5 tonnes a hectare, against an average of 4 tonnes a hectare. The other two varieties, nicknamed Pusa Sugandhi-1 and Pusa Sugandhi- 2 would yield about 4.5 tonnes a hectare.

The new varieties mature 15 days earlier and are said to be good for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and neighbouring areas.

The Institute is negotiating with a Maharashtra-based seed company, MAHYCO, in which the U.S.-based MNC, Monsanto, has stake, for commercialisation of the new seeds. The hybrid seed will hit the market next year.

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Section  : Business
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