Shivraj Singh Chouhan Announces Two Genome-Edited Rice Varieties Developed in India

Key Highlights:

• "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has achieved a historic milestone in scientific research," said Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• "Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, agricultural research has been given a new direction," added Shri Chouhan.
• "This is a golden opportunity for the agriculture sector," stated Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• "These new varieties will play a leading role in heralding the second Green Revolution," emphasized Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced the development of two genome-edited rice varieties, in India, at Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, New Delhi. This marks a new beginning in the field of scientific research and innovation. A large number of scientists and farmers attended the event.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India’s vision for a developed nation is being realized, and farmers are moving towards prosperity. Today’s achievement will be written in golden letters. During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Modi had called upon farmers to adopt modern techniques to overcome agricultural challenges. Inspired by his words, ICAR scientists have made exceptional achievements in the field of agriculture with the creation of these new varieties."

He further said that the development of these new crops will not only enhance production but will also yield positive results in environmental terms. It will save irrigation water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby lowering environmental pressure. This is a classic example of getting both benefits – increased production and environmental conservation.

Shri Chouhan emphasized that in the coming times, there is a need for ensuring food security, increasing nutritious production, and providing food for both India and the world, while making India the food basket of the world. He stated, "We are proud that our efforts have led to the export of 48,000 crore worth of Basmati rice annually."

The Minister also urged the need to take further steps to increase production of soybean, arhar, tur, lentils, urad, oilseeds, and pulses.

Shri Chouhan also introduced the "Minus 5 and Plus 10" formula, explaining that it involves reducing the area of rice cultivation by 5 million hectares while increasing rice production by 10 million tons in the same area. This would free up space for the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.