India Unveils Two Genome-Edited Rice Varieties: A Major Leap in Sustainable Agriculture

New Delhi: In a landmark moment for Indian agriculture, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today announced the development of two genome-edited rice varieties at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, New Delhi. The announcement marks a significant stride in agricultural innovation and sustainability, with the potential to transform food production and environmental conservation.

The varieties—Pusa DST Rice 1 and DRR Rice 100 (Kamla)—are the result of cutting-edge research by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientists. These varieties are expected to improve yields while reducing irrigation demands and greenhouse gas emissions, setting a benchmark for climate-smart agriculture.

Addressing a packed audience of scientists, farmers, and officials, Chouhan declared, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s vision of becoming a developed nation is being realized, and today’s achievement will be written in golden letters. These innovations reflect the spirit of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the PM’s call for modern farming solutions.”

The Minister emphasized the dual benefits of the genome-edited crops—increased productivity and reduced environmental impact. “These varieties save water, lower emissions, and help build a resilient agricultural ecosystem,” he said.

In a strategic push for food security and global leadership in agriculture, Chouhan unveiled the ‘Minus 5 and Plus 10’ formula—an ambitious plan to reduce rice cultivation area by 5 million hectares while boosting output by 10 million tons. This, he noted, would free up land for pulses and oilseeds, aligning with the government’s aim to reduce import dependency.

“We must grow more soybean, arhar, tur, lentils, urad, and oilseeds,” he urged, while encouraging young farmers to embrace scientific advancements. “When agricultural scientists and farmers collaborate, miracles happen,” he added.

Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, extended virtual congratulations to the ICAR scientists, while Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of DA&FW and MoEF&CC, called the development a potential game-changer for Indian agriculture.

Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR), underscored the importance of demand-driven research, saying, “Farmers’ feedback is vital to ensure our research meets their specific needs and delivers practical solutions.”

The event also honored the scientific teams behind the breakthrough:

• Pusa DST Rice 1: Dr. Vishwanathan C, Dr. Gopal Krishnan S, Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Shivani Nagar, Dr. Archana Vats, Dr. Soham Ray, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, and Dr. Pranjal Yadav.
• DRR Rice 100 (Kamla): Dr. Satyendra Kumar Mangruthia, Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Dr. R. Abdul Fiyaz, Dr. C.N. Neerja, and Dr. S.V. Sai Prasad.

Other key speakers included Dr. Devendra Kumar Yadava, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Director of ICAR-Indian Rice Research Institute, Hyderabad, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Former Director, ICAR, and Dr. C.H. Srinivas Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI.

With this scientific milestone, India is poised to strengthen its position as a global agricultural leader, ensuring nutritional security, enhancing climate resilience, and paving the way toward becoming the food basket of the world.