The first major blow to India’s vast diversity of indigenous rice varieties was delivered by the monocultures introduced during the Green Revolution. Now, a second major blow may come from genetically modified (GM) or gene-edited rice monocultures—if current efforts to introduce them succeed.
A myth has been perpetuated that India needed Green Revolution rice to avoid starvation. In reality, under the leadership of Dr. R.H. Richharia, then Director of the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, India was prepared to launch a promising rice improvement programme based on indigenous varieties. This initiative was derailed by the imposition of dwarf, high-yielding varieties (HYVs) associated with the Green Revolution. Dr. Richharia was compelled to leave his position, a move he accepted with deep regret.
However, due to his eminence in the field, he was later recalled by the government to head a task force investigating the problems that the Green Revolution rice varieties had created. This expert group convened at CRRI in 1979 and identified several core issues: the narrow genetic base of the exotic HYVs, their unsuitability for large parts of India, and their high vulnerability to pests and diseases. (Note: the term HYVs here refers to exotic HYVs, also called Green Revolution varieties.)
As the task force reported:
“Most of the HYVs are derivatives of T(N)1 or I.R.8 and therefore carry the dwarfing gene dee-geo-woo-gen. This narrow genetic base has created alarming uniformity, increasing vulnerability to diseases and pests. Most of these varieties are not suitable for typical uplands and lowlands, which together constitute about 75% of the total rice-growing area of the country. To address this, research strategies must be reoriented.”
On pest susceptibility, the task force stated:
“The introduction of high-yielding varieties has changed the status of insect pests like gall midge, brown planthopper, leaf folder, whorl maggot, etc. Since most HYVs are susceptible to major pests, with potential crop losses of 30% to 100%, developing pest-resistant varieties has become essential to stabilize yields.”
Despite the need, the breeding programme for pest resistance showed disappointing results:
“The results have not been encouraging. Except for Ratna, no resistant variety has gained wide adoption. A good stem borer-resistant variety is yet to be developed, as an appropriate donor has not been identified. For gall midge, although highly resistant donors exist, released varieties either yield poorly or lack consistent resistance across regions. During the 1977 Kharif season in Bihar, promising gall midge-resistant varieties became susceptible, possibly due to a new virulent biotype.”
On disease susceptibility, particularly to sheath blight, the task force noted:
“The disease is becoming more serious due to increased plant density, high tillering, and heavy nitrogen usage. So far, no varieties with a high degree of resistance have been identified.”
Many of these issues remain unresolved, and are arguably intrinsic to exotic varieties, which are poorly adapted to India’s diverse environments.
Recognizing these challenges, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked Dr. Richharia to draft a new plan for improving rice cultivation. He did so promptly, but the plan could not be implemented following her assassination in 1984.
In this specific “Plan for Action for Increase in Productivity of Rice,” Dr. Richharia first identified key constraints that limited productivity despite substantial investments in fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, research, and extension services. He proposed a strategy involving three interlinked elements. Rice development was to be based on the country’s rich indigenous germplasm, which had to be further explored and preserved. He emphasized a highly decentralized extension approach. In addition, he strongly advocated large-scale adoption of clonal propagation to efficiently spread improved varieties.
In Dr. Richharia’s words:
“The main constraint has been the hurried introduction of undesirable HYVs (dwarfs), replacing even reputed local high-yielding varieties. Under drought conditions, HYVs reduced yields. With heavy fertilization and irrigation, they became highly susceptible to pests and diseases, further reducing productivity.”
He also wrote:
“The frequent replacement of adapted local varieties has disturbed the agro-ecological balance. Indigenous varieties, developed over centuries through empirical breeding and natural selection, maintained ecological harmony—what may be termed ‘ecological breeding,’ a concept coined in 1959 by a Japanese scientist.”
Fortunately, many indigenous high-yielding varieties suited to local conditions are still available. A 1971–74 survey in Madhya Pradesh found that 8% of local varieties yielded above 3705 kg/ha, qualifying them as high-yielding. This calls for a redefinition of ‘HYVs,’ which have thus far been limited to exotic dwarf, fertilizer-responsive varieties.
For both research and extension, Dr. Richharia advocated a decentralized approach, rooted in the nature of the rice plant itself. He explained that the rice plant’s most distinctive feature is its variability—thousands of cultivars exist due to its flexible genetic makeup and adaptive mutation. This necessitates a decentralized system grounded in local adaptation.
He recommended the establishment of a wide network of adaptive rice centres in all rice-growing regions. These centres would act as custodians of local rice cultivars, maintained in their natural habitats with the support of local farmers. They would also serve as educational hubs, where young farmers could learn the value of their indigenous varieties while expanding their knowledge base.
Based on his field experience, Dr. Richharia observed that in every rice-growing area, some farmers were deeply attached to their local varieties and could trace their history and uses with great pride. He proposed that such farmers, devoted to conserving and cultivating these varieties, be put in charge of the adaptive centres.
Dr. Richharia’s vision—a decentralized, diversity-based approach centered on protecting and utilizing indigenous rice varieties—remains highly relevant today. As India stands at a crossroads, this approach offers a sustainable alternative to the ecological risks posed by GM and gene-edited monocultures.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food, Saving Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, and A Day in 2071
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