Zinc rice is gaining popularity in India

Zinc deficiency affects 30 to 40 percent of India’s population, especially women, children and the elderly. A new biofortified rice variety has been developed to help address this problem by enriching a widely consumed product with higher nutritional value.

To combat zinc deficiency and improve nutrition through staple foods, a new high-zinc rice variety, Spoorthi (GNV 1906), is being actively promoted among Indian farmers after its official release for commercial cultivation.

Recently, the International Rice Research Institute, IRRI, in collaboration with the Indian Rice Research Institute (IIRR) and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, conducted a seed training/distribution programme on the biofortified rice variety, providing farmers with about 50 quintals of seeds for propagation and multiplication.

Spoorthi rice variety was officially released in 2023 through a collaborative effort between IRRI, IIRR, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, and partners from IRRI’s Zinc Biofortification Breeding Network in India. It has been approved for commercial cultivation by the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Programme (AICRIP) and is the only zinc biofortified rice variety to have passed AICRIP testing in the last three years.

This variety contains 26 ppm zinc in milled grain, which is significantly higher than that of currently grown rice varieties (which contain around 12-16 ppm). The yield is comparable to popular varieties such as IR64 and MTU1010, which typically yield 4.5 to 6.5 tonnes per hectare. This makes zinc biofortified rice a practical and promising alternative that improves nutrition without compromising farm productivity.

While many rice varieties are approved every year, only a few achieve widespread adoption without timely seed propagation and farmer awareness, with the zinc variety, it has been decided to maximize seed promotion and production. The seedbeds are located near seed production centers set up in Hyderabad, Telangana and Raichur to ensure faster scale-up and farmer access. In addition, training and awareness programmes are being conducted for farmers on the health and economic benefits of growing bio-fortified zinc rice. Traditionally, farmers prioritize yield and pest resistance when selecting varieties, but developers point out that nutritional properties can also add value to the crop.

“Many farmers still associate value with yield or pest resistance rather than nutrition,” said Dr. B. P. Mallikarjuna Swamy, Senior Scientist, IRRI. “That’s why we are working to raise awareness about the health benefits of zinc and are partnering with government departments and agencies that support school feeding and public health initiatives. For example, we are exploring opportunities to collaborate with the Department of Women and Children, school feeding programs, and public-private partnerships to increase effectiveness and expand coverage.”

Tags: rice, India