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Stress Tolerant Rice Varieties - Making Headway in India

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014 ISSN 0971-975X Invited Paper

Stress Tolerant Rice Varieties -

Making Headway in India
M. H. Dar*1, S. Singh1, U. S. Singh1, N. W. Zaidi1 and A. M. Ismail2
(Received: October 28, 2013; Revised: December 15, 2013; Accepted: January 15, 2014)

ABSTRACT
Environmental stresses constrain rice production, affecting about 30% of the
700 million poor in Asia alone, who live in rainfed rice-growing areas. These stresses
can be caused by extreme climatic changes like drought, flooding or rising sea levels.
Rice productivity in stress-prone areas of eastern India is not only low but also fragile.
Swarna (MTU 7029) was the first variety for which the flash flood tolerance gene
(SUB1A) was introgressed using marker assisted backcross (MABC) breeding. Later,
this gene was introgressed into three more mega rice varieties of India (Samba
Mahsuri, IR 64 and CR 1009). They showed yield advantage of up to 1.0-3.0 t ha-1,
depending upon the duration of submergence, and were as good as or better than
original varieties, when there were no floods. Swarna-Sub1 was released for cultivation
in India in 2009. Sub1 varieties are not effective under stagnant flood or deep water
condition where more than 20 cm depth of water stays beyond 20 days. However,
several elite lines have been generated with stagnant flood tolerance or both the
stagnant flood and submergence tolerance. These are being evaluated by national
systems with excellent initial results. First genuine drought tolerant rice variety,
Sahbhagi dhan, developed through conventional breeding was released in India in
2010. Depending upon severity of drought, this short duration (105-110 days) variety
offers yield advantage of 0.8-1.0 t ha-1 both under upland and lowland conditions.
Three IR 64 NILs (IR 87707-182-B-B-B, IR 87707-445-B-B-B and IR 87707-446-
B-B-B) with two drought tolerance QTLs have shown excellent performance in multi-
location testing in India. One of these lines, IR 87707-446-B-B-B (IR 64 Drought),
has recently been released in the country for commercial cultivation. Swarna-Sub1
NILs with three drought tolerance QTLs are showing great promise under normal,
flood and drought conditions during evaluation in all the three South Asian countries

1
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Office, New Delhi 110 008, India, *E-mail: m.dar@irri.org;
2
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), DAPO Box 7777, Los Banos, Metro Manila, Philippines

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

(India, Nepal and Bangladesh). Three medium duration lines, IR 83383-B-B-129-4,

IR 83383-B-B-129-3 and IR 81412-B-B-82-1 tolerant to both drought and
submergence, have been developed and are under field evaluation. One medium
duration inland salinity / sodicity tolerant variety (CSR 43) and a coastal salinity
tolerant variety (CR dhan 405) had already been released in India. Due to excellent
performance of stress tolerant rice varieties in farmers’ fields and the proactive role
played by the NARES partners, both the flood and drought tolerant rice varieties
have been widely promoted and adopted by farmers at an unprecedented speed.
During kharif (2012), Swarna-Sub1 covered almost 1.1 million hectares (m ha) rice
area in India contributing to about 1.0 million tons (mt) of additional paddy. Sub1
varieties are expected to cover >4.0 m ha by 2014 in South Asia. The stress tolerant
rice varieties (STRVs) will also encourage farmers to use more inputs in stress-prone
areas. A large number of high-yielding, single and multiple STRVs are being evaluated
through NARES in South Asia and will be available to the farmers in near future.
These varieties have potential to usher another green revolution in rainfed areas
which were not benefitted earlier.

Key words: Anaerobic germination, Seed dissemination, Seed multiplication,

Stagnant flood, Stress tolerant rice varieties.

Introduction : maximum yields achieved in the better-

endowed areas have stagnated at around 11.0
The world currently faces a major food
t ha -1, with little prospects for significant
security challenge to which crop genetic
improvement can make a significant improvement. Technological innovations for
these areas have basically been directed
contribution. It has been estimated that world
towards maintenance research apart from
food production will need to be increased by
compensating for deterioration of soil fertility
70% by the year 2050 in order to meet
growing demand. Being one of the world’s and scarcity in water availability. Secondly,
the Green Revolution has remained elusive for
three main staple foods, productivity gains in
rainfed areas, particularly those affected by
rice are essential to achieve this goal, especially
flash flooding and drought. Major efforts have
for Asia where there is little scope for horizontal
expansion. Major boost in productivity were been undertaken by rice scientists around the
world to bring productivity gains in rainfed
achieved in the 1970’s with Green Revolution
areas prone to these environmental stresses.
technologies targeted at the better-endowed
areas under irrigation. Two issues have About half of the rice growing areas in
subsequently challenged scientists. Firstly, South Asia, particularly in India, Bangladesh

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

and Nepal, are rainfed and prone to abiotic different growth phases, which may further
stresses such as flooding, drought and salinity. add to the suffering of the farmers. Therefore,
In India, about 17.4 million hectares (m ha) of incidence and severity of poverty in these areas
rainfed lowland rice are grown each year, of are high as farmers suffer from various
which 5.36 m ha are more submergence- economic, social, and political disadvantages.
prone. Out of this, 3.93 m ha is in eastern Drought has been responsible for major famines
India. Although rice is traditionally grown in in Asia. In the last decade alone, east India
flooded soil, most rice cultivars die within days was hit by widespread droughts in 2003,
of complete submergence, often resulting in 2009, and 2010. The severe drought in 2009
total crop loss (Mackill et al ., 2012). resulted in major losses of crops and farm
Submergence can also damage crops in revenues, and 6 m ha of rice land remained
shallow rainfed and irrigated lowlands areas un-cropped in India alone, causing hardship
due to high rainfall and/or impeded drainage, for millions of people. Poverty increases during
especially early in the season. Average rice drought and/or flood years as people “fall back”
productivity of submergence-prone areas in into poverty and those who are already below
eastern India is quite low (0.5-0.8 t ha-1), the poverty line fall deeper into poverty. The
compared to >2.0 t ha-1 in favorable lowlands. disruption and hardship caused by crop failure
Therefore, the incidence and severity of are well known, but the crop losses themselves
poverty in these areas is high as farmers suffer are only part of the economic costs of these
from various economic, social and political stresses. Besides, almost 1.65 m ha in eastern
disadvantages. The challenges facing rice India suffers from inland salinity / sodicity or
production in flood-prone areas are becoming coastal salinity and productivity in these areas
even more complex with the long-term adverse is very insignificant.
effects of climate change. The affected areas
Flood Tolerant Rice Varieties :
are expected to increase as a consequence of
sea level rise, uneven distribution of rain and Flash flood (submergence) tolerant (Sub1)
predicted increases in frequencies and rice varieties :
intensities of flooding caused by extreme Development of Sub1 varieties : Complete
weather events. submergence of rice inhibits aerobic
The rice area regularly affected by drought respiration, restricts gas exchange and causes
is estimated to be at least 9 t ha-1 in India. A chlorophyll senescence. Farmers in eastern
significant proportion of these drought-prone India had been cultivating flood tolerant local
areas, particularly in rainfed lowlands, are also rice landraces for over 70 years and pure line
prone to submergence. Quite often rice crops selections such as FR13A from Dhalaputia
may experience both drought and were released in the early 1950s by the Central
submergence in same crop season during Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, India.

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

A few landraces were identified that can The above-mentioned mega-varieties of

withstand inundation for upto 2 weeks (Mackill South Asia have been grown by farmers for
et al., 1993). over 20 years and have spread to large areas.
For example, Swarna (MTU 7029), which was
Work on the development of high-yielding
released in 1979 in India, is still grown over 5
flash flood tolerant rice varieties started as early
m ha as the most popular rice variety in India.
as 1987 at the International Rice Research
Despite having a number of desirable features,
Institute (IRRI). Using a cross between an
these mega varieties are susceptible to
indica tolerant line (IR 40931-26) and a
submergence stress. Using MABC breeding,
sensitive japonica line (P 1543851), Xu and
SUB1A gene has been transferred to eight
Mackill (1996) mapped a major quantitative rice varieties, including three mega rice
trait locus (QTL) associated with submergence varieties of India. The new versions have a
tolerance on chromosome 9, accounting for small segment of the donor genome containing
70% of the phenotypic variance in this SUB1A gene, while retaining the entire
population. SUB1A, SUB1B and SUB1C were genome of the original varieties. They are
the three genes identified within the Sub1 therefore the same as original parental lines
(QTL). SUB1A was subsequently identified as in all characteristics, except for the added trait
the major determinant of submergence of submergence tolerance.
tolerance. The SUB1A gene, which confers
Preliminary evaluation of the new Sub1
tolerance to flash flooding, was characterized
introgression lines showed that this gene is
and fine-mapped from FR 13A by Mackill and effective in conferring tolerance to complete
his team (Mackill et al., 1993). In 2003, IRRI submergence for up to 2-3 weeks, depending
initiated a programme to introduce the SUB1A on the floodwater conditions, whereas the
gene into five mega varieties (Swarna, Sambha original varieties cannot withstand
Mahsuri, BR 11, IR 64 and CR 1009) of South submergence beyond 4-5 days (with the
Asia. An efficient marker assisted backcross exception of IR 64, which has moderate
(MABC) breeding system was developed and tolerance to submergence). The physical and
used to incorporate this gene into new rice chemical grain quality traits were also assessed
varieties. SUB1A was transferred from two in the trials. For all traits, Sub1s were similar
IRRI-developed lines, IR 49830 and IR 40931, to or better than non- sub1 counterparts
using gene-based markers GnS2 (SUB1A) and following the submergence (Singh et al., 2009
ART 5 (SUB1C). Recently these varieties were and 2011). Swarna-Sub1 was the first variety
available through the incorporation of SUB1A for which 200 g seed was shared each with
gene (Neeraja et al., 2007; Septiningsih et Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in India;
al., 2009). Sambha Mahsuri-Sub1, IR 64-Sub1 and CR

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

1009-Sub1 were supplied later in 2007, and ‘Swarna- Sub1 ’ to reap the benefit of its
Ciherang-Sub1 in 2009. After multiplication submergence tolerance during flood years.
of the seed at Rice Research Station (RRS), In trials where floods occur either
Chinsurah, West Bengal (W.B.), the seed was deliberately on stations, or naturally in farmers’
distributed and these varieties were widely fields, survival of Swarna- Sub1 was
evaluated by the National Agricultural Research substantially higher than Swarna. Swarna-
and Extension System (NARES) under Sub1 also recovers faster and generates
controlled submergence at research stations numerous early tillers that produce fertile
and in farmers’ fields. Excellent performance panicles resulting in higher yields. The wet
under controlled flooding conditions, at seasons (WS) of 2007, 2008 and 2011 were
research stations, and in farmers’ fields during real tests for this variety as most fields
2008 (flood-affected year) in India prompted experienced flooding, in some cases two to
their early release for commercial cultivation three times during the season. In all trials,
in a record time (Ismail et al., 2013). Swarna- Swarna and other varieties either died or
Sub1 was released in 2009 in India. IR 64- produced low yields, while Swarna- Sub1
Sub1, Ciherang-Sub1 and CR 1009-Sub1, yielded 1.0-3.0 t ha-1 higher than Swarna. In
which are being evaluated under multi-location one of the first trials conducted at 32 sites in
coordinated trials, are also likely to be released farmers’ fields in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) during
soon in the country. Ciherang is a mega-variety the WS of 2008, yields of Swarna and Swarna-
of Indonesia. Sub1 were similar at about 5.5 t ha-1, at sites
Field performance of Sub1 varieties : With the that did not experience submergence.
development of Swarna-Sub1, a long awaited However, in 24 of these fields, submergence
dream of the farmers in flood-affected areas occurred for more than five days and average
came true. As mentioned earlier IRRI sent 200 yield of Swarna- Sub1 was 3.98 t ha -1 ,
g of seed of Swarna-Sub1 to CRRI in late 2005 compared with 2.68 t ha-1 in Swarna, and the
which was multiplied in 2006 and shared with advantage of Swarna-Sub1 over Swarna could
other research institutions in India. During 2007- be gained with increasing duration of
09, a large number of on-station and on-farm submergence. Similar results were witnessed
field trials were conducted at different in trials conducted in thousands of farmers’
locations, evaluating Swarna-Sub1, Swarna fields in India, Bangladesh and Nepal between
and local varieties. In areas where no floods 2008 and 2012 for different Sub1 lines. This
were encountered, the grain yields of Swarna- variety continues to benefit farmers by
Sub1 and Swarna were basically the same, surviving the multiple floods. In 2013, Swarna-
indicating that SUB1 has no effects under Sub1 survived multiple flooding in Hooghly
control conditions, and provided evidence that district (W.B.) in IRRI-NFSM (National Food
Swarna can safely be replaced by the improved Security Mission) cluster demonstration (Fig. 1).

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

SUB1 gene is effective at all growth stages Mr. Jaipan Parida, a farmer in Dekhta village
from seedling to about a week before in Odisha (India), grew Swarna and Swarna-
flowering. With early flood damage, farmers Sub1 in adjacent fields, and both varieties
usually re-transplant their fields using aged survived submergence of 4-5 days, but
seedlings of local varieties, but this is costly Swarna-Sub1 produced 1.0 t ha-1 more than
and in some cases not possible as water Swarna. Similar results were seen in numerous
accumulates fast in the field. In 2008, some fields and also under controlled floods,
fields in Odisha experienced severe floods
indicating that replacing Swarna with Swarna-
during panicle initiation (PI) for 12-17 days,
Sub1 would be useful, even in the areas that
and yield of Swarna-Sub1 was 2.9-3.2 t ha-1,
experience submergence for less than a week.
while surviving plants of Swarna did not flower.
A randomized field experiment in 128 villages
Similarly in U.P. in 2011, flooding occurred
of Odisha showed that Swarna- Sub1 has
for about one week during PI and in one field
significant positive impact on rice yield when
Swarna-Sub1 produced 4.75 t ha-1 and Swarna
only 1.76 t ha-1. This wide adaptability of Sub1 fields are submerged for 7-14 days with no
varieties is important because flood incidences yield penalty without flooding and offers an
are becoming more erratic in recent years. approximate 45% increase in yields over the
Sub1 varieties were also effective even after current popular variety when fields are
short floods of 2-4 days (Singh et al., 2013). submerged for 10 days (Dar et al., 2013).

Figure 1. Performance of Sub1 variety after multiple flooding in Hooghly, West Bengal (2013-14)

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

Stagnant flood tolerant rice varieties : and AG and salinity. Many lines are showing
good promise even under field condition.
In general, two types of flooding cause
damage to rice: flash flooding that results in Drought Tolerant Rice Varieties :
complete inundation for a short duration
Drought is a widespread abiotic stress that
(usually 1-3 weeks), and the longer term drastically reduces rice yield. To avoid drought,
stagnant flooding, where 20-50 cm water
farmers quite often rely on early maturing
stagnates for up to a few months. SUB1 gene
varieties. These varieties are not really tolerant
is effective only under flash flood condition. A to drought, but they escape late season drought
large area in South Asia is affected by stagnant
due to earliness. If drought occurs early in the
flooding or both flash and stagnant flooding.
season, these short duration varieties can be
Stagnant flooding reduces yield through sown late. But drought can occur at any point
suppressing tillering; leaf area development;
during the cropping season and for any length
panicle size, fertility and survival. Numerous
of time, affecting a large array of physiological,
elite lines with stagnant flood tolerance were biochemical and molecular processes. These
developed and shared with NARES. They are
complexities, along with the uncertainty of
being evaluated at multilocation. Some of
drought timing, intensity, and duration, have
these lines (IRRI 119, IRRI 154, PSBRc 82 posed a major challenge for rice scientists.
etc.) have shown good promise. Several lines
Research at IRRI on drought tolerance was
have been developed with both flash flood
initiated very early, but it was only about a
(SUB1) and stagnanat flood tolerance. These decade back when promising results emerged.
lines are being evaluated in South and South
A few short duration drought tolerant lines (IR
East Asia with good promise.
74371-46-1-1, IR 74371-54-1-1 and IR
Tolerance to anaerobic germination : 74371-70-1-1), developed by IRRI through
SUB1 gene expresses only in seedling and conventional breeding, showed excellent
not during seed germination. For germination promise in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Under
severe drought, when the yield of control
under water, tolerance to anaerobic condition
is required. Anaerobic germination (AG) is very varieties (e.g. IR 64) collapsed, these lines
important for direct seeding. Five QTLs for could still yield around 0.8-1.0 t ha-1 and, under
normal conditions, they are as good as or better
AG have been identified. The largest QTL,
qAG9-2 (AG1), has been fine-mapped into a than the current popular rice varieties being
~58 kb region. Gene cloning and grown in these areas. One such line in India
characterization is nearly completed. Several was already released as Sahbhagi dhan (IR
single and multiple crosses have been 74371-70-1-1), and the same line has been
generated for the traits - AG and SUB1; AG released in Bangladesh as BRRI dhan 56 and
and stagnant flooding; AG and tungro resistance; as Sukha dhan 3 for drought-affected areas in
AG and weed competitiveness; AG and drought; Nepal (Table 1).

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

Table 1. Drought tolerant rice vareities released for commercial cultivation

Breeding line Year Designation Country

IR 74371-54-1-1 2009 Sahod Ulan 1 Philippines

2011 Sukha dhan 1 Nepal
IR 74371-70-1-1 2010 Sahbhagi dhan India
2011 Sukha dhan 3 Nepal
2011 BRRI dhan 56 Bangladesh
IR 74371-46-1-1 2011 Sukha dhan 2 Nepal
IR 87707-446-B-B-B 2013 IR 64 Drought India

Eight QTLs with large effects on grain yield IR 64 near isogenic lines (NILs) viz. IR 87707-
under drought stress (DTY 1.1, DTY 2.12, 182-B-B-B, IR 87707-445-B-B-B and IR
DTY 2.23, DTY 3.1, DTY 3.2, DTY 4.1, 87707-446-B-B-B with two drought tolerance
DTY 69.1 and DTY 12.1) have been identified QTLs have shown excellent performance in
by recent IRRI research, explaining 31-77% multi-location testing in India, Bangladesh and
of the phenotypic variance. These QTLs show Nepal. Proposals have been submitted for the
effect against two or more genetic backgrounds release of all three lines in Nepal. One of these
and across both lowland and upland lines, IR 87707-446-B-B-B, has been recently
ecosystems. Efforts to transfer these drought released. Swarna- Sub1 NILs with three
tolerance QTLs into mega varieties such as drought tolerance QTLs are showing great
IR 64, Swarna-Sub1 and IR 64-Sub1 using promise under normal, flood and drought
MABC breeding approach are ongoing. Three conditions during field evaluation.

Figure 2. Sahbhagi dhan in one of the NFSM demonstrations in Purulia (West Bengal) during
2012: Comparison between Sahbhagi dhan and a local variety in Rayagada (Odisha) in 2013
(IRRI-NFSM)

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

Three medium duration lines (IR 83383- cropping pattern in many lowland areas where
B-B-129-4, IR 83383-B-B-129-3 and IR farmers can grow three crops. Early harvesting
81412-B-B-82-1), tolerant to both drought of Sahbhagi dhan facilitates early sowing of
and submergence, have been developed and wheat, and thereby increasing their annual
are under evaluation. Within next 2-3 years, production and income. There is an evidence
a few of these pipeline varieties are expected of increasing yield and cropping intensity along
to be released for cultivation in all the three with reduction in input and labor costs
South Asian countries and they will greatly associated with the adoption of Sahbhagi dhan.
enhance and stabilize rice productivity not only Salt Tolerant Rice Varieties :
in drought-prone areas, but also in areas which
Several rice varieties (CSR 10, CSR 27,
are prone to both drought and submergence.
CSR 30 and CSR 36) have been developed in
This will further facilitate the development of
India with tolerance to inland salinity / sodicity.
drought-tolerant rice varieties and even allow
However, all these varieties are of long
varietal development for situations where
duration. Only recently one medium duration
drought and flood occur in the same cropping
salt tolerant rice vareity, CSR 43 (CSR-89IR-
season.
8), was released in U.P. for the inland sodictiy.
Sahbhagi dhan has shown excellent Not much progress has been achieved in
performance at farmers’ fields both under devloping salt tolerant varieties for the coastal
upland and unfavorable lowland, as evidenced salinity. Only in recent times, one IRRI line,
from the results of IRRI-NFSM demonstrations IR 72046-B-R-3-3-3-1, was released in India
(Fig. 2). It has outperformed the local and as CR dhan 405 (Luna Sankhi), which is
other traditional varieties in upland areas. suitable for both wet (kharif) and dry (boro)
Farmers’ benefits are multiple; in addition to seasons. CSR 36 has been showing remarkable
higher yields, this variety is changing the performance in sodicity-affected soils (Fig. 3).

CSR 36 Swarna

Figure 3. Performance of CSR 36 vs. Swarna in sodic soil in Mau district (U.P.) during kharif (2012)

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

Multiple Stress Tolerant Rice Varieties : to increase yields by 50% and benefit an
Quite often crop may encounter more than estimated 20 million households in South Asia
one abiotic stresses during the same crop and Africa through the development and
season at different points of time. Research dissemination of STRVs over next 10 years.
emphasis, therefore, needs to be given on the The project had a catalytic and supportive role
development of multiple stress tolerant rice that included: development of a seed plan,
varieties (STRVs). As indicated earlier, elite documentation of seed produced by formal
rice lines have been developed with multiple and informal seed sectors as a part of varietal
stress tolerance like flash flood + stagnant tracking, characterization of stress-prone areas
flood; flash flood + AG; stangant flood + AG; for the targeted dissemination of stress tolerant
flash flood + salinity; flash flood + salinity + rice varieties, assessment of farmer to farmer
Zn deficiency; flash flood + drought; flash flood seed dissemination, impact assessment and
+ resistance to bacterial leaf blight etc. These downstream research on seed system.
multiple stress tolerant lines, which are under Dissemination of Swarna-Sub1 and Sahbhagi
multilocational evaluation by NARES in South dhan in India has been a major achievement
and South East Asia, are expected to be facilitated by the STRASA project. The project
avaibale to the farmers for cultivation in near built a strong network of partners and
future. established linkages with several other national
initiatives supporting seed production and
Partnership for Out-scaling :
dissemination. Within this network, the
Both Swarna-Sub1 and Sahbhagi dhan are responsibility of breeder seed (BS)
now spreading at an unprecedented pace in multiplication is given to research institutions
India, possibly due to a combination of factors: under the supervision of qualified breeders.
excellent performance in farmers’ fields; no Foundation seed (FS) is produced by various
yield penalty under non-stressed conditions institutions including research institutes, federal
(normal field conditions); and the innovative, and state agriculture and extension
proactive and catalytic role played by the departments, seed corporations and private
project, “Stress Tolerant Rice for Africa and seed companies/corporations including a large
South Asia” (STRASA), in the form of number of medium and small seed producers.
mustering strong support and commitment
Certified seed (CS) production is undertaken
from national systems for varietal release and
by same organizations and also by individuals
promotion and seed policy issues.
or groups of farmers. Farmer’s clubs and
The STRASA project supported by Bill and associations, public sector seed corporations,
Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in October private seed companies and small and medium
(2007) and implemented by the IRRI, aimed seed producers, and banks involved in

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

agricultural development and supply of inputs University of Agriculture and Technology

also helped in raising farmers’ awareness, (NDUAT) arranged to produce over 180 t of
creating seed demand, encouraging seed seed during WS of 2009, the year when
multiplication and dissemination through their Swarna-Sub1 was released, and this provided
linkages with rural communities. an impetus for rapid dissemination throughout
Coordinating efforts with programmes India - unlike the norm when only limited
supported by national and state governments quantity of seed of a variety is available at the
for seed multiplication and dissemination have time of its release, considerably slowing the
also been very successful. The best examples dissemination process. The state governments
are the links with the poverty alleviation and of U.P., Bihar, Odisha, W.B. and Assam
climate change related programmes in India. initiated programmes for seed multiplication
These are: National Food Security Mission and dissemination of Swarna- Sub1. These
(NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern states are also promoting Swarna-Sub1 through
India (BGREI), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana other programmes like seed village, subsidized
(RKVY), National Initiative for Climate seed scheme and seed minikits, all aiming at
Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and other replacing Swarna with Swarna- Sub1 and
schemes of different state governments. All bringing it to flood-prone areas where it was
these mega-schemes have identified STRVs not possible to grow modern varieties before.
as major technologies for promotion. They are Approximately 38,000 t of Swarna-Sub1 seed
providing substantial resources for awareness was produced in the WS of 2011, reaching
generation, seed multiplication and distribution over 3 million farmers, and covering about
of seeds of these varieties to target sites to 1.1 m ha of rice during WS, 2012. Through
increase and stabilize rice productivity in stress-
similar approach drought tolerant rice variety,
prone areas. The vast network of partners in
Sahbhagi dhan, is also moving very fast in
India proved quite effective in awareness
South Asia particularly in India (Table 2).
generation, seed multiplication and out-scaling
Apparently, the success of Swarna-Sub1 and
of Sub1 varieties to reach large numbers of
Sahbhagi dhan is attributed to the strengths
farmers in flood-prone areas within a very short
of technologies, catalytic role played by the
span of time.
STRASA project, strong commitment from
Seed Multiplication and Dissemination : national systems for varietal release, seed
Various activities were supported to policy issues, seed multiplication and
produce seeds and create sufficient demand dissemination, and the vast network of partners
from the farmers. Through the support of state engaged in out-scaling to reach large numbers
government of U.P., the Narendra Deva of farmers in a relatively short time.

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

Table 2. Seed production and dissemination of Sahbhagi dhan in South Asia (primarily
India)

Year Seed production (t) No. of Area

farmers* cultivated (ha)
Formal and/or semi- Informal Total
formal sectors sector

2009 2 30 32 - -
2010 150 400 550 6,400 640
2011 1,112 1,600 2,712 27,500 11,000
2012 2,888 4,525 7,413 1,35,600 54,240
2013 - - - 3,70,650 1,48,260

*Based on 5 kg seed distributed as seed minikit to each farmer in 2010 and one acre farmer-1
with seed rate of 20 kg acre-1 in other years.

Strategies for Targeted Dissemination of remote sensing, geographic information

STRVs : systems (GIS), ground information and
For rapid up-scaling of Sub1 mega- village revenue maps;
varieties in South Asia, following strategies • Organization of demonstrations, cluster
may be adopted: demonstrations or distribution of seed mini-
• Replacing the major popular varieties (e.g. kits in areas that are severely affected by
Swarna) with improved submergence abiotic stresses like flash flood / drought
tolerant versions (e.g. Swarna-Sub1); and (first priority);

• Promoting cultivation of Sub1 varieties in • Organization of demonstrations, cluster

flash flood-prone areas where major demonstrations or distribution of seed mini-
popular varieties cannot be grown because kits in less stress-prone villages (second
of their susceptibility to submergence. priority); and

Targeted dissemination of seeds using • Replacing the original variety with the
mini-kits, demonstrations or cluster improved versions (e.g. Swarna with
demonstrations is a useful strategy for STRVs, Swarna-Sub1; Samba Mahsuri with Samba
particularly during initial few years after their Mahsuri-Sub1) both in stress- and non-
release when availability of seed is limited. stress-prone areas.
This approach involves : Awareness Generation :
• Identification of more stress-prone areas, Creating awareness is one of the most
up to the level of the village, by the use of essential steps for rapid expansion of new

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

varieties, which in turn, creates seed demand Conclusion :

and catalyzes large scale seed multiplication by
STRVs provide opportunities for
both public and private sector seed companies
improving and stabilizing yields in flash flood
and corporations. Typical pre- and/or post-
/ drought and/or salt-affected areas,
release varietal awareness generation strategies
significantly contributing to national food
adopted for the promotion of Swarna-Sub1 and
security. Through consolidated efforts of
Sahbhagi dhan with the help of national partners
STRASA and partners, and the enormous
are as follows :
support from the Indian Government, Swarna-
• Farmers’ participatory varietal selection Sub1 and Sahbhagi dhan have now reached
(PVS) trials; to large number of farmers. These varieties
• Pre-release seed multiplication and also provide additional opportunities for
demonstrations; enhancing annual productivity with the use of
input and adjusting cropping patterns. Single
• Involvement of small and medium seed
and multiple STRVs are becoming available
growers, seed companies, seed dealers and
through joint efforts of IRRI and NARES
distributors / millers in awareness creation;
partners, and these varieties are expected to
• Small (approx. 1 acre) and cluster transform agriculture in the less favorable
demonstrations (approx. 100-200 ha each); rainfed areas. They will not only enhance but
• Seed mini-kit (2-5 kg seed packet -1 ) also stabilize rice productivity in stress-prone
programme; areas.

• Subsidy on seed cost; References :

• Seed village programme; Dar, M. H., de Janvry, A., Emerick, K., Raitzer,
D. and Sadoulet, E. 2013. Flood-tolerant
• Post-release seed multiplication-cum-
rice reduces yield variability and raises
demonstration trials;
expected yield, differentially benefitting
• Organization of field days and farmers’ socially disadvantaged groups. Sci. Rep.
fairs;
3, 3315; DOI:10.1038/srep03315
• Distribution of information brochures, (2013).
charts and bill boards;
Ismail, A. M., Singh, U. S., Singh S., Dar M.
• Media coverage (newspapers, TV and radio H. and Mackill, D. J. 2013. The
programmes), documentaries and roadside contribution of submergence-tolerant
dramas, besides others. The Bangladesh (Sub1) rice varieties to food security in
media (newspapers, TV and radio) had flood-prone areas. Field Crops Research
been very active in promoting Sub1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/
varieties. j.fcr.2013.01.007.

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 SATSA Mukhapatra - Annual Technical Issue 18 : 2014

Mackill, D. J., Amante, M. M., Vergara, B. Singh, U. S., Dar, M. H., Singh, S., Zaidi, N.
S. and Sarkarung, S. 1993. Improved W., Bari, M. A., Mackill, D. J., Collard,
semi-dwarf rice lines with tolerance to B. C. Y., Singh, V. N., Singh, J. P., Reddy,
submergence of seedlings. Crop Science J. N., Singh, R. K. and Ismail, A. M. 2013.
33: 749-753. Field performance, dissemination, impact
Mackill, D. J., Ismail, A. M., Singh, U. S., and tracking of submergence tolerant
Labios, R. V. and Paris, T. R. 2012. ( Sub1 ) rice varieties in South Asia.
Development and rapid adoption of SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 45(1): 112-
submergence-tolerant (Sub1) rice varieties. 131.
Advances in Agronomy 115: 303-356. Singh, S., Mackill, D. J. and Ismail, A. M.
Neeraja, C., Maghirang-Rodriguez, R., 2009. Responses of Sub1 rice
Pamplona, A., Heuer, S., Collard, B., introgression lines to submergence in the
Septiningsih, E., Vergara, G., Sanchez, field: yield and grain quality. Field Crops
D., Xu, K., Ismail, A. M. and Mackill, D. Research 113: 12-23.
2007. A marker-assisted backcross
approach for developing submergence-
tolerant rice cultivars. Theoretical and Singh, S., Mackill, D. J. and Ismail, A. M.
Applied Genetics 115: 767-776. 2011. Tolerance of longer-term partial
stagnant flooding is independent of the
Septiningsih, E. M., Pamplona, A. M.,
SUB1 locus in rice. Field Crops Research
Sanchez, D. L., Neeraja, C. N., Vergara,
121: 311-323.
G. V., Heuer, S., Ismail, A. M. and
Mackill, D. J. 2009. Development of Xu, K. and Mackill, D. J. 1996. A major locus
submergence tolerant rice cultivars: the for submergence tolerance mapped on rice
Sub1 locus and beyond. Annals of Botany chromosome 9. Molecular Breeding 2:
103: 151-160. 219-224.

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