New Rice Varieties Developed in Kashmir Yield Over Double National Average

Paddy fields in Kashmir are producing yields more than twice the national average using two newly developed rice varieties. The development offers farmers the prospect of higher returns and an earlier harvest that could allow them to plant a second crop.

The varieties, named Shalimar-4 and Shalimar-5, were developed by the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC) at Khudwani, operating under the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir. According to the centre, these varieties have recorded yields of about 7.2 tonnes per hectare.

This yield is approximately 2.5 times the national average, highlighting the potential of the varieties to raise rice productivity in the valley, where paddy remains an important crop for rural households. Najeeb-ul-Rehman Sofi, associate director at MRCFC, stated that Shalimar-4 was developed specifically for the plains, while Shalimar-5 is suited to higher-altitude areas.

Both varieties are resistant to blast, a fungal disease that can significantly affect rice production. Additionally, they mature earlier than conventional varieties, allowing farmers to harvest the crop between September 15 and September 25. This early harvesting paves the way for farmers to potentially take another crop, offering a shorter crop cycle that is particularly useful for those seeking to diversify beyond paddy and make better use of limited agricultural land.

The introduction of these varieties coincides with efforts by agricultural scientists to improve crop productivity while helping farmers cope with rising input costs and changing weather conditions. Official data indicates a decline in agricultural land in the region, with nearly 34,000 hectares of cultivable land lost between 1996 and 2023, raising concerns over the long-term sustainability of farming.

Beyond food grains, the new varieties offer an additional source of income through straw, which is widely used in the region. The varieties produce an approximately equal proportion of grain and straw, with grain accounting for about 50 percent of the total biomass and the remainder made up of straw. Paddy straw has commercial value in Kashmir, where it is utilized as cushioning material for packing apple cartons and as fodder for cattle during the winter months.

Sofi noted that higher yields, disease resistance, and an earlier harvest make the new varieties attractive to growers, particularly in areas where farmers are looking to maximize returns from small landholdings.

"The development of high-yielding, disease-resistant crop varieties is a crucial step toward improving agricultural productivity and economic returns for farmers facing limited landholdings and rising input costs. Innovations like Shalimar-4 and Shalimar-5 demonstrate how scientific research can directly address regional resource constraints by enabling multi-cropping and creating secondary revenue streams from agricultural byproducts like straw. In regions experiencing a reduction in cultivable land, maximizing the output and efficiency of existing acreage is vital for long-term agricultural sustainability." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes