Long-overlooked plan by top rice scientist offers eco-friendly alternative to GM crops

By Bharat Dogra 

At a time when genetically modified and gene-edited crops are facing growing opposition in India—particularly in relation to rice, the country’s most important food crop—a long-overlooked plan by one of India’s top rice scientists, Dr. R.H. Richharia, offers a low-cost, ecologically safe path to boosting rice productivity.

Titled A Silent Rice Revolution, this comprehensive strategy was prepared at the request of the Prime Minister’s Office in 1983–84. However, following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the plan was shelved and never implemented. With rising concerns around the ecological risks and economic costs of GM technology, experts now argue it’s time to revisit Richharia’s visionary approach.

Dr. Richharia, a pioneer of rice research in India and former Director of the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), advocated for strengthening indigenous rice biodiversity. Despite being sidelined during the Green Revolution, he was repeatedly recalled from retirement to offer critical guidance on rice development, highlighting his unmatched expertise.

His four-part strategy emphasized:

1. Utilizing India’s rich diversity of indigenous rice varieties;

2. A decentralized extension model;

3. Large-scale adoption of clonal propagation for high-yield indigenous varieties;

4. Deep farmer involvement, especially those with traditional knowledge and skills.

He was critical of the government’s push for exotic high-yielding dwarf varieties, warning they were ill-suited to India’s variable climate and often susceptible to pests and diseases. Instead, Richharia advocated identifying and promoting indigenous high-yielding varieties that were better adapted to local conditions, including extreme weather events like droughts and floods.

Between 1971 and 1974, his survey in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh identified numerous local rice varieties with yields exceeding 3705 kg/ha. By 1978, he had developed 1,500 improved versions from over 7,800 indigenous cultivars.

Richharia called for the creation of “adaptive rice centers” across rice-growing regions to conserve local germplasm, train young farmers, and promote community-led innovation. He believed women farmers, in particular, were key to successful implementation, based on their rapid adoption of methods at his Baronda research center.

Clonal propagation, he noted, could increase yields by 20% and unlock hybrid vigor, leading to even higher gains. His work also underscored the flood and drought resistance of many indigenous varieties, making the approach even more relevant amid climate disruptions.

The scientist supported organic practices such as composting, crop rotation, and intercropping. His plan included 17 supporting research documents and an offer to serve in an honorary capacity to help implement the program.

Today, while much of his collected material may be harder to access, and village-level knowledge of local varieties has declined, the urgency to revive and act on his plan has only grown. With conventional and GM agriculture facing serious limitations, Dr. Richharia’s eco-friendly, farmer-driven approach offers a sustainable path forward.

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save the Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Saving Earth for Children, A Day in 2071, and India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food