New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released seven more improved varieties of rice, including two hybrid ones for different agro-climatic regions of the country, taking number of total hybrid rice varieties grown to 23 in an area of 0.75 million hectares(HECT) with an average yield of 6.5 to 7.5 tonnes a hectare.

New varieties - Sahyadri-4, a hybrid rice has been recommended for Punjab, Hayrana, UP, West Bengal and Maharahtra, JKRH-2000 for West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar.

RR 347-2 rice has been identified for rainfed area of Gujarat and Orissa and CR 314-10 variety for irrigated areas of Bihar, JHarkhand and Assam.

However, a new variety of rice, UPRI 99-1 suitable for irrigated eco-system has been suggested for cultivation in Central and Southern states.

And,for hill states of Himachgal Pradesh and Uttranchal, new rice varieity VL Dhan 86 has been released.

An improved new Basmati varity, CRM 2007-1 developed from Basmati 370 through mutation breedingwith a kernel length of 7.50 mm has been recommended for Punjab and Hayrana.

India is the second in the world for developing the popularising the hybrid technology in rice. UNI JSS VJ KP1643