West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee revealed that the State Agriculture department has successfully created four new high-yielding rice varieties tailored to the state’s weather conditions. These varieties, developed after extensive research at the Purulia Drought Resistance Research Centre and the Chinsurah Rice Research Centre, include Subhashini, Lachhmanti, Musafir, and Iravati. The Chief Minister commended the scientists involved in this achievement, emphasizing the benefits these new varieties bring to different regions of the state.
Chief Minister Banerjee highlighted that three of the new rice varieties, Subhashini, Lachhmanti, and Musafir, are specifically designed for drought-prone areas in West Medinipur, Purulia, and Bankura. These varieties are projected to yield between 52 to 55 quintals per hectare during the kharif season. Additionally, the variety Iravati has been developed to thrive in flood-prone regions of south Bengal, demonstrating resilience against water submersion and storms.
Since 2011, the West Bengal government has introduced a total of 25 new crop varieties, with 15 focusing on rice, to support farmers in the state. Agriculture experts believe that these new varieties will address the recurring challenges faced by farmers due to prolonged droughts and floods. The development of the Iravati variety is particularly crucial in mitigating the annual flood-related crop losses in South Bengal, offering a promising solution to the persistent issue of submerged seedbeds impacting agricultural yields.
