ICAR working on paddy that can withstand high temperatures

With climate change impacting agriculture, particularly key crops such as wheat and paddy, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) is in the process of developing varieties that can withstand higher temperatures.

Besides impacting productivity significantly, higher temperatures would mean higher levels of nitrogen losses, putting a burden on farmers.

ICAR has set up a Heat Tunnel at the Indian Institute of Rice Research (formerly Directorate of Rice Research) here to carry out the research.

“We are working on developing efficient nitrogen use and temperature tolerant rice lines. The tunnel can simulate higher temperatures of up to 5 degrees Celsius,” V Ravindrababu, Director of IIRR, told BusinessLine .

He said scores of germplasm resources available in the country are being used to develop improved rice varieties that can withstand increasing temperatures.

The tunnel system could detect an increase in temperatures up to 5 degrees.

The ICAR scientists are studying how the germplasm reacts and how pathogens behave as temperatures go up.

“The first batch of Nitrogen (N) efficient rice lines and hybrids were tested at multiple locations. It confirmed tolerance to this stress. Stability of these lines is in progress,” an IIRR scientist said.

It, however, will take at least 5-6 years before farmers get a climate change-ready variety that can tolerate higher temperatures.

Meanwhile, the institute has developed a paddy variety fortified with zinc.

“This would mean a lot for expecting mothers — a healthy level of zinc in the polished rice. It is ready for commercial use,” he said.

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