By Jatindra Dash

The rice variety developed at the government-run Central Rice Research
Institute (CRRI) at Cuttack in Orissa is characterized by low amylase
content and becomes soft on soaking in water, institute director Tapan
Kumar Adhya told IANS in an interview.

Production of rice in India is extensive and last year's production
figure stands at 98.5 million tonnes. The present variety, he said,
can serve specific niche consumers and make rice cooking a hassle-free
affair.

The new variety, named Aghanibora, tested by the institute is of 145
days duration with a yield of 4-4.5 tonnes per hectare and is at par
with the currently grown rice varieties in the country, he said.

"One can get ready to eat rice after soaking it for about 45 minutes
in ordinary water, and 15 minutes if soaked in lukewarm water, whereas
other rice varieties need cooking," Adhya said.

The rice is a local, improved land variety of Assam under the 'Komal
chawl' category and is not genetically modified rice. It is like any
other rice variety grown and consumed in India.

"However, this variety is usually prepared as parboiled rice and then
it can be used for consumption after milling," the researcher said.

The initial experimentation was to test whether the rice variety could
be grown in the hot and humid climate of Orissa and still retain the
property of softness.

Scientists at the institute have done extensive research over the past
three years and tested its nutritional properties and other
biochemical parameters, he said.

"We are glad that our experiment has proved successful, and from our
knowledge we believe it could be grown in the eastern states of
India," he said.

"The present rice variety is an already released variety and can be
taken up by the farmers with the availability of the seeds," Adhya
told IANS.

According to the institute director, the rice variety can be grown in
all the eastern states of Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and
coastal Andhra Pradesh. "As such there is no technical barrier in
cultivating it in any part of the country," he said.

"We do not have knowledge of any other country developing such rice
variety as rice is a cereal with huge diversity.

"We do not have specific data about the average household requirement
of fuel. But this variety of rice will help in saving fuel, at least
for cooking of rice. Moreover, it will be a relief to housewives," he
said.

(Jatindra Dash can be contacted at [email protected])