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- Science
- Scroll.in
India has developed two genome-edited rice varieties – but some experts are concerned
In a significant stride towards bolstering food security amid escalating climate challenges, researchers at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the Indian Institute of Rice Research, both operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, have developed two innovative genome-edited rice varieties, named DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1. These varieties aim to enhance yield and resilience against environmental stresses. Developed by Indian Institute of Rice Research in Hyderabad, DRR Dhan 100 or Kamala is based on the popular Samba Mahsuri (BPT-5204) and exhibits high yield potential along with improved drought and salinity resistance. Pusa DST Rice 1 is developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi from Cotton Dora Sannalu (MTU 1010) and is engineered for enhanced DST or drought and salt tolerance. Both varieties were developed using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technique, which allows for precise modifications in the plant's DNA without introducing foreign genes. This, according to the scientists, is a very different method from genetic modification of the plant. Genome editing accelerates the breeding process and enables the development of crops with desired traits more efficiently. Genome editing vs genetic modification While both genome editing and genetic modification involve altering an organism's genetic material, they differ fundamentally in approach and outcome. Genome editing uses specific tools to make targeted changes to the organism's own DNA without introducing genes from other species. In contrast, genetic modification typically involves inserting foreign genes into an organism's genome, often resulting in transgenic organisms. Viswanathan C, joint director (research) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, explains, 'In genome editing, mutations are induced at specific sites where change is needed. These are internal and guided changes – a modern, targeted way to induce genetic mutations that also occur in nature, but with precision for specific outcomes.' Genetic modification, on the other hand, can result in unintended genetic changes and has been subject to stricter regulatory scrutiny. Scientists have used Site-Directed Nuclease 1 and Site-Directed Nuclease 2 (SDN-1 and SDN-2) genome editing techniques to develop the seeds. Vishwanathan highlights that genome editing in rice is being pursued to address agricultural challenges such as low yields, drought, and soil salinity, which are increasingly prevalent due to climate change. For instance, Pusa DST Rice 1 and DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) were developed to tolerate harsh conditions such as drought and saline soils, which are common in many Indian farming regions. Kamala, derived from the popular Samba Mahsuri rice, also has improved grain numbers and reduced environmental impact, according to the scientists. Biosafety concerns The release of these genome-edited rice varieties has garnered attention from various stakeholders in the agricultural sector. While many experts view this development as a positive step towards sustainable agriculture, some have raised concerns about the long-term implications and regulatory oversight of genome editing technologies. The Coalition for GM-free India, in a press conference held in Bengaluru, put forward the concerns around the safety of genome editing of crops such as rice. They alleged that both SDN-1 and SDN-2 techniques used for the rice varieties are illegal and unsafe. Kavitha Kuruganti, a member of the coalition says, 'Published studies such as Sukumar Biswas et al. in their paper say that SDN-1 technology, using CRISPR/Cas9 system is not precise in rice. Early and accurate molecular characterisation and screening must be carried out for many generations before the edited rice varieties are handed over to the farmers.' In a rebuttal, Indian Council of Agricultural Research scientists responded to these allegations saying that genome editing techniques, (SDN-1/SDN-2) are comparable to natural or chemical-induced mutations used safely for more than 75 years. They explain that these techniques require specific tests to confirm absence of foreign DNA. 'More than 30 agriculture-based countries have exempted SDN1 and SDN2 genome editing from stringent biosafety regulations. India too joined the progressive nations and notified the exemption of SDN1 and SDN2 genome edited plants in 2022,' the rebuttal sourced by Mongabay India says. While Kurnganti questions the need for a better yielding paddy, considering India is one of the largest rice producers in the world, second only to China, and the country could do better with better distribution of paddy produced, Vishwanathan says that rice plays a central role in the country's food security and cannot be overlooked. He adds that similar research is ongoing in millets and other crops as well.
Deccan Herald
02-06-2025
- Science
- Deccan Herald
ICAR's nodal office dismisses concerns about gene-edited rice varieties
The two varieties of rice -- DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala), developed by Indian Institute of Rice Research in Hyderabad and Pusa Rice DST1 developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -- were released on May 4.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Banned Pusa-44 finds its way to paddy fields in Punjab — with help from Haryana
Despite a ban by the Punjab government on Pusa-44, the longest-duration paddy variety, farmers in Punjab are readying its nursery after obtaining seeds from neighbouring Haryana. One such farmer from Patiala, Ranjit Singh, says, 'We know it is not allowed, but our livelihood depends on it. The yield is 5–6 quintals higher than that of the short-duration varieties, and millers happily take this variety. What else can we do?'. Ranjit said he procured the seeds from Karnal in Haryana through known contacts. 'it is not banned in that state. If you know someone, you can get it. You just have to avoid getting caught while bringing it into Punjab.' The Punjab government in April banned the sale of Pusa-44 and hybrid paddy varieties. Some farmers have challenged the ban on hybrid seeds. Ranjit said he used to grow hybrid seeds, but could not get them from Haryana because several dealers were selling full kits that included seed and multiple costly sprays. 'The kits were expensive, so I decided to go with Pusa-44, which offers nearly the same yield. Its seed is much cheaper in comparison. I bought Pusa-44 seed at Rs 120 per kg, and for one acre, I need about Rs 480 worth of seed. My nursery is now 10 days old, and I plan to transplant it into the field by June 8 or 9.' Another farmer, Major Singh from Ludhiana, too procured Pusa-44 seed from Haryana, as most dealers in Punjab are not selling it. 'Those who still have some stock, sell it only to people they know well,' he added. Farmers like Jatinder Singh from Sangrur, Jeet Singh from Barnala, and several others echoed similar sentiments, citing high yield, strong grain quality, and preference from millers as reasons for continuing with Pusa-44. Pusa-44, a long-duration paddy variety released by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in 1993, was once extensively grown across Punjab. Its popularity was driven by yields of 32–36 quintals per acre and strong demand from rice millers. However, its long maturity period of over 155 days requires seven to eight more irrigation cycles than short-duration varieties. This leads to a huge burden on groundwater, narrows the window between harvesting and wheat sowing, and contributes significantly to stubble burning — a major factor in North India's worsening air pollution. To address this, the Punjab government banned Pusa-44 cultivation in November 2023 and promoted short-duration, water-efficient alternatives like PR 126 and PR 121. But enforcing the ban has proven to be a major challenge. Hard to trace paddy flow from Haryana: Officials Many wholesalers and retailers continue to prepare and sell paddy seed in Karnal, a known seed hub. Sellers there admitted that Pusa-44 seeds are still sold over the counter. 'We don't advertise it, but farmers, especially from Punjab, know about it. They are willing to pay a premium. Some local farmers even grow the seed specifically for them,' said Balwinder Singh, a seed producer. Another seller added that private growers are filling the gap while large companies have officially stopped producing Pusa-44. 'It is not hard to find. Farmers from Punjab often visit during the off-season, collect small quantities, and distribute them informally.' While some seeds are packed in labelled bags, farmers often request plain packaging to avoid regulatory scrutiny in Punjab, they said. Officials from the Punjab Agriculture Department admitted that enforcement of the ban remains inconsistent. 'Our teams conduct regular inspections, but tracking informal seed networks is difficult. When seeds are exchanged between farmers or brought in from Haryana in small quantities, it is hard to trace,' said an official in Chandigarh. They also acknowledged that the issue goes beyond enforcement. 'As long as market economics favour Pusa-44, farmers will continue finding ways to cultivate it.' A senior agricultural economist from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) emphasised the need for a deeper, more practical solution. 'If farmers prefer hybrid paddy varieties due to better returns, they should be allowed to grow all recommended hybrids. At the end of the day, it is an economic decision. Farmers are doing the math, and when they are getting free power for irrigation of longer duration varieties with high yield, why wouldn't they go for higher-yielding varieties?' He added that if millers are concerned about hybrids giving lower outturn (processing yield), the government should step in — either by offering incentives to millers or by adjusting the acceptable outturn percentage. 'While the short-term benefits of growing Pusa-44 are clear to farmers, the long-term environmental costs — stubble burning, excessive water use, and worsening air quality — threaten Punjab's agricultural sustainability. Until policies better reflect on-ground realities and economic drivers, farmers will continue to turn to banned seeds for better harvests,' another expert from the Punjab Agriculture Department said on the condition of anonymity.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Pusa-44 banned in Punjab to save groundwater, but ground reality shows its unabated flow from Haryana
Despite the ban by the Punjab government on Pusa-44, the longest-duration paddy variety, farmers in Punjab are still obtaining its seeds from Haryana. The government in April banned the sale of Pusa-44, which significantly burdens Punjab's groundwater, as well as hybrid paddy varieties, which offer yields comparable to, or even higher than, Pusa-44 in just four months. Ranjit Singh, a farmer from Patiala, said he has planted a nursery of the paddy variety Pusa-44 this season despite the ban. 'We know it is not allowed, but our livelihood depends on it. The yield is 5–6 quintals higher than that of the short-duration varieties, and millers happily take this variety. What else can we do?' he asked. Ranjit said he procured the seeds from Karnal in Haryana through known contacts. 'There are farmers there who grow the seed for us. It is sold openly since it is not banned there. If you know someone, you can get it. You just have to avoid getting caught when bringing it into Punjab, where it is banned.' Ranjit said he used to grow hybrid seeds from various companies, but could not get them from Haryana because several dealers were selling full kits that included seed and multiple costly sprays. 'The kits were expensive, so I decided to go with PUSA-44, which offers nearly the same yield. Its seed is much cheaper in comparison. I bought Pusa-44 seed at Rs 120 per kg, and for one acre, I need about Rs 480 worth of seed. My nursery is now 10 days old, and I plan to transplant it into the field by June 8 or 9.' Another farmer, Major Singh from Ludhiana, said he also procured Pusa-44 seed from a grower in Haryana, as most dealers in Punjab are not selling it. 'Those who do, they sell it only provide it to people they know well,' he added. Farmers like Jatinder Singh from Sangrur, Jeet Singh from Barnala, and several others echoed similar sentiments, citing high yield, strong grain quality, and preference from millers as key reasons for continuing with Pusa-44 despite the ban. Despite environmental concerns and a formal ban, a steady flow of the variety continues to enter the state. Farmers, seed sellers, and agricultural experts all paint a picture of a policy quietly being defied on the ground. Pusa-44, a high-yielding, long-duration paddy variety released by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in 1993, was once extensively grown across Punjab. Its popularity was driven by yields of 32–36 quintals per acre and strong demand from rice millers. However, its long maturity period of over 155 days requires seven to eight more irrigation cycles than short-duration varieties. This leads to a huge burden on groundwater, delays harvesting, narrows the window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing, and contributes significantly to stubble burning — a major factor in North India's worsening air pollution. To address this, the Punjab government banned Pusa-44 cultivation in November 2023 and promoted short-duration, water-efficient alternatives like PR 126 and PR 121. But enforcing the ban has proven to be a major challenge. Hard to trace paddy flow from Haryana: Officials Many wholesalers and retailers continue to prepare and sell paddy seed in the Karnal district of Haryana, a known seed hub. Sellers there admitted that Pusa-44 seeds are still sold over the counter. 'We don't advertise it, but farmers, especially from Punjab, know about it. They are willing to pay a premium. Some local farmers even grow the seed specifically for them,' Balwinder Singh, a seed producer. Another seller added that private growers are filling the gap while large companies have officially stopped producing Pusa-44. 'It is not hard to find. Farmers from Punjab often visit during the off-season, collect small quantities, and distribute them informally.' While some seeds are packed in labelled bags, farmers often request plain packaging to avoid regulatory scrutiny in Punjab, they said. Officials from the Punjab Agriculture Department admitted that enforcement of the ban remains inconsistent. 'Our teams conduct regular inspections, but tracking informal seed networks is difficult. When seeds are exchanged between farmers or brought in from Haryana in small quantities, it is hard to trace,' said an official in Chandigarh. They also acknowledged that the issue goes beyond enforcement. 'As long as market economics favour Pusa-44, farmers will continue finding ways to cultivate it.' A senior agricultural economist from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, emphasised the need for a deeper, more practical solution. 'If farmers prefer hybrid paddy varieties due to better returns, they should be allowed to grow all recommended hybrids. At the end of the day, it is an economic decision. Farmers are doing the math, and when they are getting free power for irrigation of longer duration varieties with high yield, why wouldn't they go for higher-yielding varieties?' He added that if millers are concerned about hybrids giving lower outturn (processing yield), the government should step in — either by offering incentives to millers or by adjusting the acceptable outturn percentage. 'While the short-term benefits of growing Pusa-44 are clear to farmers, the long-term environmental costs — stubble burning, excessive water use, and worsening air quality — threaten Punjab's agricultural sustainability. Until policies better reflect on-ground realities and economic drivers, farmers will continue to turn to banned seeds for better harvests,' another expert from the Punjab Agriculture Department said on the condition of anonymity.
Mint
08-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
India sets record grain production target of 354.64mt for 2025-26, to help boost rural demand
Buoyed by an above-normal monsoon forecast, the Centre has set a record foodgrain production target of 354.64 million tonnes for the crop year 2025-26. This is 3.8% or 13 million tonnes more than the 341.55 mt foodgrain target in 2024-25 and, if achieved, will be good news for India's agrarian economy, rural demand and food inflation. With the production increase expected in rice, wheat, maize and other cereals, it will also help the government to ease its ban on exports that, in turn, will benefit farmers, traders and exporters. 'We plan to achieve record foodgrain production through introduction of high yielding varieties, climate resilient seeds, crop diversification, increased area and through intervention of better technology and agricultural practices," said Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare and rural development, while addressing media at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, on the sidelines of the national conference on agriculture for kharif campaign 2025. Also read: Surge in summer sowing offers more cushion against food inflation Rice production is projected at a record 147.35 million tonnes in 2025-26, compared with 136.30 mt in 2024-25. Sowing is expected to start this month. Wheat is projected at a record 117.40 mt as compared with 115 mt in 2024-25 and maize at 42.68 mt, compared with 40 mt in 2024-25. However, the target for pulses is lower than the target in 2024-25—projected at 26.47 mt in 2025-26 compared with 29.90 mt in the 2024-25 target. This is mainly due to lower production than the target in 2024-25. The actual production was 23.02 mt. Similarly, the target for oilseeds is more or less the same as the 2024-25 target at 44.75 mt. Also read: As harvest picks up pace, wheat flour prices fall by ₹5-7 per kg, offering relief to consumers 'While the supply is expected to improve on year, we are also expecting demand sentiments to be better with pick up in rice exports," said Pushan Sharma, director-research, Crisil Intelligence. However, Pushan said given that the mandi prices for wheat are trading higher than the minimum support price, the government may find it challenging to procure wheat from farmers. Hence, export restrictions on wheat may continue. Mint reported on 2 May that that the Union government will consider resuming exports of wheat products such as flour, semolina and wheat flour (atta) as the country is estimated to see a record wheat production of 115.43 million tonnes this year. The proposal may be taken up at an upcoming inter-ministerial meeting that will have representatives from the ministries of commerce, cooperation, consumer affairs and food, agriculture, and food processing, said people on the condition of anonymity. The government had restricted these exports in August 2022, following a decline in wheat production. These products have a strong consumer base in countries with a large Indian diaspora, including the US, the UK, the Gulf nations and parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Given forecasts of the south west monsoon hitting 105% of the long period average, the conditions look good for the upcoming kharif and rabi seasons. However, two things need further monitoring. The India Meteorological Department sees over a 50% probability associated with monsoon being above 105%, with 26% probability of it being above 110%. If the latter materializes, it could be detrimental for the crop yield, according to Crisil Intelligence. Additionally, the spatial and temporal distribution of southwest monsoon will bear watching Also read: Wheat procurement crosses 18.39 mt, 54% more than last year The monsoon season is crucial for India as it delivers nearly 70% of its annual rainfall. Nearly half of India's arable land doesn't have access to irrigation and depends on these rains to grow crops such as rice, corn, cane, cotton and soybean. According to Indian Meteorology Department(IMD), India will likely receive above-normal monsoon rainfall this year, signalling relief across sectors, especially in agriculture. 'India is likely to see above-normal rainfall in the four-month monsoon season (June to September) with cumulative rainfall estimated at 106% of LPA (87 cm)," Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, India Meteorological Department director general, said earlier.
