Whereas acknowledging the work completed by the Indian Agricultural Analysis Institute (IARI) within the growth of HT Basmati rice, the community desires these advantages to be prolonged to a broader spectrum of rice cultivators.
Non-Basmati rice constitutes a significant portion of India’s rice manufacturing, catering to the home and worldwide markets.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister just lately, the farmers stated that although the nation made good progress in rice cultivation, persistent challenges, notably weed management, pose a big menace to productiveness and profitability.
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The letter associated varied challenges confronting rice farmers, together with weed administration, water shortage, and labor shortages. It contended that HT non-Basmati rice varieties might alleviate these points by decreasing the need for handbook weeding, conserving water, and diminishing cultivation prices.
“Weeds compete aggressively with rice crops for important sources similar to water, daylight, and vitamins. If left unchecked, weeds usually outcompete the crop, leading to substantial losses for farmers,” Ravichandran Vanchinathan, a pacesetter of the Community, stated within the letter.
He argued that HT non-Basmati rice varieties might revolutionise rice farming by successfully addressing the weed drawback. By enabling using herbicides, these varieties would scale back the necessity for handbook weeding, a labour-intensive and expensive follow.
With decreased tillage and flooding necessities, these varieties might contribute to water conservation and decrease methane emissions, aligning with India’s sustainable agriculture and local weather motion objectives.
He stated small-scale farmers wanted to get entry to technological developments by information switch initiatives and complete coaching programmes. A science-based method to agricultural policymaking and a secure regulatory setting is essential for fostering innovation and funding within the sector.
“We’re optimistic about the way forward for Indian agriculture and the function that herbicide-tolerant rice varieties can play in it. We look ahead to continued collaboration with analysis establishments, policymakers, and business stakeholders to make sure that these improvements attain all rice farmers,” the letter stated.
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