Hyderabad: After 12 years of work, the Indian Institute of Rice Research has come out with a high zinc variety of rice, DRR Dhan 45, which offers as much as 24 parts per million zinc.
Its significance lies in the fact that 27 per cent of the state’s soil is deficient in zinc, according to a study by the Professor Jaya-shankar Telangana State Agricultural University. Another study says 43 per cent of soil countrywide is deficient in zinc. Zinc plays an important role in health; deficiency can affect the immune, skeletal, reproductive and central nervous systems.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, IIRR director Dr Ravindra Babu said the plan was to commercialise the the high zinc variety by next year.
Along with this, IIRR has developed two other varieties of rice — DRR Dhan 42, that is drought resistant and DRR Dhan 46 which can be harvested in 110 days.
Dr Babu said the IIRR was focusing on widening the genetic diversity of rice to achieve high yields. He said, “The yield of rice in India has plateaued over the past decade. Over the years 1,100 varieties of rice seeds have been developed in the country. They have originated from 40-50 parent varieties resulting in a lot of in-breeding. We are working towards broadening the genetic base to develop rice variety with higher yields.”
He stressed the importance of genetically modified rice for increasing yields and making rice more nutritious like Beta Carotene rice also known as Golden Rice which is among the few varieties of GM rice available with IIRR which have not been tested in field trials yet as it is not allowed in India. IIRR has developed around 46 rice varieties since its inception in 1965.
From Rice bran oiL, Pain balm, ointment
Rice bran oil, well known for its health benefits over other cooking oils has been successfully used to develop healthcare products by the Indian Institute of Rice Research.
On Saturday IIRR said it had developed a moisturiser, pain balm and cream for cracked feet out of rice bran oil. Work was on to develop an insect repellant.
The institute plans to sign a three-year non-exclusive agreement with private companies to commercialise the three products under which multiple companies can produce and market the products.
IIRR said that as of now the work on commercialisation of products is being done by the business incubator at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management in Hyderabad.
IIRR officials said that ITC had shown interest in manufacturing these products.
