Scientists working at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) has developed four salt-tolerant rice varieties for the Andaman and Nicobar islands and other coastal areas which yield an average of 2.5 to 3.7 tonnes per hectare against the national average of about 2.2 tonnes. Scientists at the institute, evolve suitable rice varieties compatible for large-scale cultivation in the humid, tropical climate of these islands, have now introduced four varieties found promising due to their in-built tolerance to excess salt. These tolerant materials were evaluated in multi-locational trials in fields over a period of eight years under the island conditions. |
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