Rice is the single most important crop in Assam as well as North Eastern Region of India. It occupies an area of 2.54 m ha out of total 4.16 m ha gross cropped area.Among the three overlapping seasons where rice is grown, Ahu rice generally grown in the month of March-April and harvest during June/july and is predominantly direct seeded under rainfed upland ecosystem. The productivity of local cultivars of ahu rice is less than 1.0t/ha which is lowest among all the rice cultures due to a number of problems. Direct seeded ahu rice is cultivated by poor and marginal farmers of Assam. A few high yielding modern semi dwarf rice varieties were identified and recommended for direct seeded upland ahu rice ecosystem. But none of theses varieties has got acceptance among the farmers. So, one direct seeded upland ahu rice variety was developed from the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Assam Agricultural University, Diphu which is ideally suited to the upland ahu rice situation.
Haccha is a short duration direct seeded upland ahu rice variety. It exhibited advantage in yield and maturity duration over best recommended check variety. The ahu rice variety’ Haccha showed 30.0% and 12.2 % yield advantage over National Check variety (Vandana) and Zonal check varieties 2016 in the All India Co-ordinated Trial(IVT-E-DS (Normal)during kharif 2016.
The variety ‘Haccha’ is semi dwarf, deep green leaves, well exerted panicle with desire degree of seed dormancy to escape pre and post harvest sprouting and non- lodging type. On the otherhand the variety exhibited high degree of resistance against blast and moderately resistance to stem borer and leaf folder.
The newly developed normal Sali rice variety ‘LANGPI’ is suitable for organic situation of Assam and it is the first organic rice variety notified and released for the state. The variety ‘Langpi’ has shown consistent performance over years and the locations under different trials i.e. Station trials, MLTs , OFTs and AICRP trial(in IVT_IM kharif 2018)and with an average yield of 5895 kg/ha .The variety ‘Langpi’ showed high degree of resistance against blast and sheath blight and moderately resistance to gundhi bug, stem borer and leaf folder under normal field situation..The variety exhibited semi tall, deep green leaves well exerted panicle and at par with Mahsuri in maturity duration i.e. 140-145 days along with non shattering , non-lodgingtype of characteristics.
Chokuwa rice varieties are photosensitive and long duration semi glutinous traditional Sali rice variety of Assam. This class of Sali rice is not known to other parts of India.A semi-glutinous sali rice variety ’DIYUNG’ suitable for organic situation of Assam was developed from Regional Agricultural Research Station, AAU, Diphu. It is the first high yielding chakua rice variety developed from Assam Agricultural University. The variety showed advantage of yield and maturity duration(145 days) over the check varieties in Station trials, MLTs , OFTs. And AICRP trials( in IVT –IM kharif 2018). The variety’ Diyung exhibited yield advantages over national check(NDR 359) and zonal check varieties during testing in kharif 2018 in the co-ordinated trial. The variety showed high degree of resistance against Blast and Sheath Blight and showed moderately resistant to Stem borer ,Gundhi bug and Leaf folder under organic Sali paddy situation. It is very important to note that two organic Sali rice varieties “LANGPI’ and ‘DIYUNG’ and one direct seeded ahu rice variety ‘HACCHA’ notified in 88th meeting of Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops held on 17th June, 2022 And moreover, these varieties were notified in the Gazette of India 31st August 2022(CG-DL-E-31082022-238490) New Delhi. These varieties were developed by a team of scientists leaded by Dr Ashutosh Roy, Ex Chief Scientist of Regional Agricultural Research Station, AAU, Diphu and now at present he is working as Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding),AAU- Sugarcane Medicinal and Aromatic Research Station,,Buralikson, Golaghat. His continuous effort in the hill regions of Assam has led to the development of number of varieties of rice, sesame and chilli.