Scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute have developed a new rice variety that can withstand up to 30 days without irrigation, potentially transforming rice cultivation in water-stressed regions across South and Southeast Asia.
The variety, named ‘Pusa Resilient-1’, was developed using CRISPR gene-editing technology to enhance the plant’s natural drought tolerance mechanisms. In field trials conducted across five states over two growing seasons, the variety maintained 85% of its normal yield under severe drought conditions, compared to just 20% for conventional varieties.
The development is significant given that rice cultivation accounts for approximately 30% of India’s agricultural water consumption, and climate change projections indicate that monsoon variability will increase significantly over the coming decades.
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