New rice varieties developed by IRRI scientists to combat climate change

IRRI is developing rice varieties that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change. These varieties are resistant to drought, flood, heat, cold, and soil issues like high salinity and iron toxicity.

Purpose of Developing These Rice Varieties:

Environmental stresses disrupt rice production, affecting approximately 30% of the 700 million poor people in Asia who live in rained rice-growing areas. These stresses can be caused by extreme climate changes such as drought, flooding, or rising sea levels. The goal is to develop rice varieties that can survive in these harsh conditions.

IRRI's Development of Drought-Tolerant Rice Varieties:

IRRI has developed drought-tolerant rice varieties that have been released in several countries and are now being cultivated by farmers. These include Sahbhagi Dhan in India, Sahod Ulan in the Philippines, and Sookha Dhan varieties in Nepal. The average yield advantage of these drought-tolerant varieties over drought-susceptible ones is 0.8-1.2 tons per hectare under drought conditions. IRRI scientists have identified several key regions of the rice genome—called quantitative trait loci (QTLs)—that confer drought tolerance and improve grain yield under such conditions. IRRI is working to introduce drought tolerance into popular high-yielding rice varieties, including IR64, Swarna, and Vandna.

Climate-Resilient Rice Varieties:

In recent years, IRRI has developed rice varieties with better tolerance to drought, submergence, cold, salinity, and sodicity. National research and agricultural extension partners test these breeding lines in various locations and countries, including evaluating their performance in farmers’ fields. The lines that survive under stress and retain desirable grain qualities are either released directly or bred into widely grown and popular local varieties. With improved crop management, proper use of technology, and support from national institutions, these improved varieties or "climate change-ready rice" are making a significant, positive impact on the lives of poor farmers.

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Impact of Drought on Rice Crops: Drought is the most widespread and damaging environmental stress, affecting 23 million hectares of rainfed rice in South and Southeast Asia. In some states in India, severe drought can cause up to 40% yield loss, amounting to $800 million.