Work on varietal improvement in rice started in 1926 in an area called Kallar Tract with the establishment of Rice Farm at Kala Shah Kaku in the famous rice bowl called “Kalar tract” of the Punjab. Rice Farm was elevated to the level of Rice Research Station in 1965 and later on upgraded to the status of full-fledged Rice Research Institute during 1970 with eight research disciplines i.e., Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Soil Chemistry, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Engineering, Rice Technology and Economics & Statistics. Up till now, this institute being the pioneer globally in developing delicious and aromatic basmati rice (Basmati 370) introduced 27 rice varieties.
Mission
Improved and diversified rice varieties using conventional and modern breeding approaches under different biotic/ abiotic stresses for sustainable rice production under climate change scenario
Objectives
- Development of high yielding, early maturing, fine and coarse grain varieties of rice that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
- Devising production technology for transplanted and direct seed rice (DSR).
- Production of pre basic seed.
- Addressing value chain issues for their sustainable solution.
- Advisory services to the stakeholders