Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Announces Two Genome-Edited Paddy Varieties Developed in India

05 May 2025, New Delhi: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the development of two genome-edited paddy varieties DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1. This marks a new beginning in the field of scientific research and innovation. A large number of scientists and farmers attended the event in New Delhi

Addressing the gathering, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, ” India’s vision for a developed nation is being realized, and farmers are moving towards prosperity. Today’s achievement will be written in golden letters. ICAR scientists have made exceptional achievements in the field of agriculture with the creation of these new varieties.”

He further said that the development of these new paddy variety DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1 will not only enhance production but will also yield positive results in environmental terms. It will save irrigation water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby lowering environmental pressure. This is a classic example of getting both benefits – increased production and environmental conservation.

Mr. Chouhan emphasized that in the coming times, there is a need for ensuring food security, increasing nutritious production, and providing food for both India and the world, while making India the food basket of the world. He stated, “We are proud that our efforts have led to the export of 48,000 crore worth of Basmati rice annually.”

The Minister also urged the need to take further steps to increase production of soybean, arhar, tur, lentils, urad, oilseeds, and pulses.

Union Minister Chouhan also introduced the “Minus 5 and Plus 10” formula, explaining that it involves reducing the area of rice cultivation by 5 million hectares while increasing rice production by 10 million tons in the same area. This would free up space for the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.

Dr. M.L Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR), emphasized the importance of demand-driven research, highlighting the need to gather feedback from farmers about their specific requirements. This approach will ensure that research outcomes are tailored to meet the needs of farmers and effectively reach them with the right solutions.

Paddy Variety DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1

ICAR has developed India’s first genome-edited rice varieties – DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1. These varieties have the potential to bring about revolutionary changes in terms of higher production, climate adaptability, and water conservation.

These new varieties were developed using genome-editing technology based on CRISPR-Cas, which makes precise changes in the organism’s genetic material without adding foreign DNA. Genome editing of SDN 1 and SDN 2 types of genes has been approved under India’s biosafety regulations for general crops.

In 2018, ICAR initiated genome-editing research to improve two major rice varieties – Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010 – under the National Agricultural Science Fund. The outcome of this research is the two advanced varieties that offer the following benefits:

• A 19% increase in yield.
• A 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• A saving of 7,500 million cubic meters of irrigation water.
• Improved tolerance to drought, salinity, and climate stresses.

The DRR Rice 100 (Kamala) variety was developed by ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad, based on Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204). Its objective is to increase the number of grains per panicle and it matures 20 days earlier (~130 days). Due to its shorter duration, it helps save water and fertilizers and reduces methane gas emissions. Its stalk is strong and does not fall. The rice quality is similar to the original variety, Samba Mahsuri.

The second variety, Pusa DST Rice 1, was developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, based on MTU 1010. This variety can increase yields by 9.66% to 30.4% in saline and alkaline soils, with the potential for up to 20% increase in production.

These varieties have been developed for states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Zone V), Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal (Zone III).

Also Read: Post-Harvest Field Management and Safe Grain Storage: Essential Practices for Farmers – IARI Advisory

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