Odisha Approves 14 New Crop Varieties to Enhance Farm Income and Climate Resilience

Bhubaneswar: To promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen climate resilience, the Odisha State Seed Sub-Committee has approved the release of 14 new agricultural crop varieties for cultivation in the state. The meeting, chaired by Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), brought together senior officials and experts from OUAT and the Agriculture Department to finalize the selection.

The approved varieties include three non-paddy crops developed by Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), namely OUAT Kalinga Maize 1 (Khushi), OUAT Kalinga Mustard 2 (Samrudhhi), and OUAT Kalinga Mustard 3 (Sidhhi). These high-yielding mustard varieties have higher oil content, while the maize variety has shown strong performance under kharif rainfed dry spell conditions, making it suitable for cultivation in maize-dominated districts such as Nabarangpur.

In the paddy segment, eleven rice varieties have been approved, comprising four from OUAT and seven from the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack. OUAT’s rice varieties include OUAT Kalinga Rice-3 (Sampada), which is suitable for puffed rice with antioxidant properties and fits well into rice-based cropping systems; OUAT Kalinga Rice 12 (Paraja); OUAT Kalinga Rice 12A (Padmaja), a bio-fortified variety suitable for organic farming; and OUAT Kalinga Rice 14 (Shreepada), a bio-fortified, iron-rich variety expected to replace the widely used Swarna (MTU-7029).

Among the CRRI-developed paddy varieties, CR Dhan 215 (Indumati) has been recommended for aerobic and saline conditions, particularly beneficial for coastal districts. CR Dhan 604 (Kalpana) has demonstrated tolerance to low temperatures at the seedling stage and resistance to terminal heat during the reproductive stage, along with resistance to stem borer, leaf folder, and gall midge. CR Dhan 912 (Ashutosh Mehek) is an aromatic variety that also shows resistance to common rice pests.

Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee emphasized that these new crop varieties will not only enhance productivity but also contribute to improving the income of farmers across the state. He noted that prioritizing climate resilience, shorter crop durations, and nutritional value will remain key focus areas in the development of future varieties.