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Paddy is a transplanted crop that requires over 100 millimeters of rainfall and temperatures exceeding 25-27 degrees Celsius for optimal growth. Scientists from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the International Paddy Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines have jointly developed a new Paddy variety named Malviya Manila Irrigated Paddy-1. This variety has been approved by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). BHU's Professor Dr. Shravan Kumar Singh and his team have worked diligently over 15 years to develop this variety.
Malviya Manila Irrigated Paddy-1 is notable for its short maturation period, taking only 115-118 days to be ready for harvest. It has an average yield of 55 to 64 quintals per hectare, making it a high-yielding variety in a shorter time. The grains of this Paddy are very thick, but the Paddy itself has a length of 7.0 millimeters and a thickness of 2.1 millimeters, resembling Basmati Paddy with its long and slender appearance. According to ICAR, the milling of this variety results in 63.5% whole grains.
When compared to other varieties, such as the Samba Mansoori, which has an average yield of 60-65 quintals per hectare and takes 155 days to mature, Malviya Manila Irrigated Paddy-1 allows farmers to clear their fields 35 days earlier for the next crop. This efficiency enables farmers to easily cultivate an additional crop within the same year.
During the Kharif season, seeds of Malviya Manila Irrigated Paddy-1 will be available to farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. Trials conducted at 11 centers in Uttar Pradesh have also shown promising results.
India, the states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab are the largest producers of Paddy. West Bengal leads with a total contribution of 13.62% to the country's Paddy production. These three states collectively account for 36% of India's Paddy production. Additionally, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh also have extensive Paddy cultivation.
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