CUTTACK: In what can ideally come as a solution when it comes to the disastrous drought and flood cycles in the state, the National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) has invented flood and drought-tolerant rice varieties for cultivation in disaster prone areas.The rice is called ‘Climate Resilient’ rice or CR. The two varieties are called CR Dhan 801 and CR Dhan 802. In areas prone to floods, the rice can re-grow once the waters recede. In land that sees drought, the rice can go without water for days.“We have tested these varieties of rice over three years in several paddy fields of the country. The climate of Assam, Tripura, Odisha , West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand is favourable for its growth. A Central identification team under the Union ministry of agriculture and farmer welfare approved the rice varieties of 801 and 802 a year ago,” said NRRI director Himanshu Pathak.The institute has selected several districts of the state like Bargarh, Balangir, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur for farmers to receive training in cultivating the rice. “We are providing awareness training to village-level workers and educating them about the need and benefits of cultivation of these varieties,” said Pathak.The institute’s senior scientist A K Nayak said the NRRI will provide ‘breeder seeds’ to the Union ministry of agriculture and farmer welfare. “State governments will collect these breeder seeds and multiply them in their seed farms. These farms will provide rice seeds to farmers by certifying them,” said Nayak.The NRRI has also developed a protein rich rice variety, the CR Dhan 310. This rice contains 10.03 per cent protein. Traditional rice varieties contain mostly carbohydrates and less than three per cent of protein.“The CR Dhan 310 is a very good quality of rice. It is tolerant to diseases like leaf blast, brown spot and bacterial leaf blight,” said Nayak.“As malnutrition is a major problem in our society, this rice can combat this alarming issue. We are in conversation with the government for inclusion of this rice in the midday meal scheme where lakhs of schoolchildren can get proper nutrition,” he added.NRRI has developed 132 varieties of rice including three hybrid rice varieties since its inception in 1946.

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