Cuttack, April 23: Scientists here have come up with a new variety of rice that can increase productivity by at least five times per hectare.

Speaking at an event organised to mark the 67th foundation day of the Central Rice Research Institute, director Trilochan Mopahapatra said: “The new generation rice variety, which will be a climate resilient crop, will soon be tested in other parts of the country. We hope to release it within the next three years.”

Besides this, the rice institute also released seven new varieties of rice on the occasion of Dhan Divas today. The new varieties include three aerobic rice varieties — CR Dhan 201, 202 and 203 ( Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra).

Two other irrigated varieties CR Dhan 304, 305 (Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh) and two deep water varieties (Odisha, Assam) were also released.

The Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, was established in 1946. Over 107 varieties of rice have been released so far.

“This new rice variety can produce 800 grains (100 grains in other regular varieties) per panicle. Similarly, the new variety can yield 140 quintals of rice per hectare,” said agricultural scientist S.K. Pradhan.

Former director-general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Mangala Rai expressed concern over the central government’s delay in giving the released varieties of rice to the farmers.

“It usually takes five years for the farmers to get the new varieties of rice. The government should reduce the time gap and replicate the Bihar model where seeds are provided to farmers in various packets of 5-6kg,” said Rai.