Raipur: Scientists here have developed a high zinc-enriched variety of rice that is expected to play a crucial role in fighting malnutrition in tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh where nearly seven lakh children are still malnourished.
The new paddy seed, called 'Chhattisgarh Zinc Rice-1', the first zinc bio-fortified rice variety in India, was launched by State Variety Release Committee, the authority for official release of new varieties of seeds, in March and its production is likely to begin from the next kharif season.
Similarly, researchers from Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (IGAU), Raipur, led by Professor Girish Chandel, have rolled out two varieties of high zinc rice, of which one has been released.
"We focused on increasing our crop production since the inception of the Green Revolution in the country aiming to eliminate hunger. In the process, we managed to yield high production, but the quality of crop did not improve," Chandel told PTI.
In 2000, the Centre, along with, health organisations in a survey found that 60-70 per cent of population was suffering from malnutrition because of deficiency of micro-nutrients, particularly iron, zinc and Vitamin A.
Following this,?the government decided to come out with a research programme to improve the variety of three staple crops - rice, wheat and maize - in different states, he said.
Under the programme, Chhattisgarh, considered as the rice bowl of the country, decided to work on the quality aspect and took up 'Rice Bio Fortification Research Project'.
In the first phase of the project in 2003-05, some 200 rice germplasm lines with high grain nutritive values but low-yielding quality were identified, he said.
Subsequently, in the next phase of 2006-11, seeds were multiplied and subjected to genetic improvement exercise, which led to seven high-yielding zinc-enriched rice varieties.
In 2013, the Centre decided to conduct a separate exercise coordinated by Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, to analyse the outcome of the researches being conducted in different parts of the country.
Finally, four varieties were adjudged best in terms of quality, of which the top two came from Chhattisgarh.
"Currently, we have 100 kg seeds of this new variety and we are further planning to multiply it in 10 acres. By November-December this year, we will distribute it to around 5,000 farmers across the state. Its sowing would be started in the next kharif season," he said.
Chandel said the zinc content varies between 22-24 PPM,
around 8-9 PPM more than the level of the regular variety prevalent in the country.
"The university, along with the state government, is already planning to take this new variety of rice to farmers in a wider way so that in the coming year, its production can be enhanced to a great extent," Chandel added.
This variety of crop is expected to not only help combat malnutrition, but provide a great source of nutrients for pregnant women. Thus, the plan is to introduce it in several government schemes like mid-day meal and others.
Hailing the efforts of IGAU, renowned nutritionist Dr Aruna Palta suggested scientists need to develop both zinc- and iron-enriched varieties of food with an urgent need to bring down the malnutrition rate.
