Wed Mar 05 08:30:42 UTC 2025: **New Rice Varieties Promise 50% Urea Reduction in Telangana**
Hyderabad, March 5, 2025 – New varieties of rice, requiring only half the current urea usage without impacting yield, are expected to be available in the coming years, significantly reducing urea consumption in paddy cultivation in Telangana. This announcement was made by Ajay Kohli, Deputy Director General (Research) of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), during a seminar on “Rice Research for Better Future” in Hyderabad.
Kohli highlighted ongoing research to develop rice varieties with minimal urea dependence. This reduction, he explained, will not only improve soil health but also enhance human health by minimizing fertilizer residue in both soil and grain. He noted the success of previous IRRI-developed varieties, like IR-8 and IR-64, in boosting food security across Asia.
Samarendu Mohanty, a world food prize winner and Professor of Practice at PJTAU, emphasized the importance of promoting paddy cultivation to meet the needs of Southeast Asian countries and improve farmers’ incomes. He also advocated for modern rice mills to enhance rice quality and farmer profitability. The seminar also featured presentations from other leading agricultural experts.
The Telangana Secretary (Agriculture), M. Raghunandan Rao, felicitated Dr. Kohli at the event, which was attended by PJTAU Vice Chancellor Aldas Janaiah and other dignitaries.
First Piper 