The Indian Council of Agriculture Research has identified four improved varieties of rice, beside a hybrid, for release in different agro-climatic regions of the country. The five varieties were identified during the 42nd All-India Rice Research Group Meeting held recently in Hyderabad after consideration of various proposals. More than 400 delegates comprising scientists of ICAR centres, Directors of Research of State Agriculture Universities, representatives of private sector and non-government organisations, participated in the meeting.

The farmers in the traditional basmati growing areas of Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Uttarakhand can now avail a new high-yielding rice variety. The Pusa 1460 with a yield of 37 quintals per hectare (q/ha) is suitable for irrigated-transplanted production conditions and is resistant to bacterial leaf blight. It is developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.