International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

by Anirban Nath, Sarvesh Shukla, Neeraj Kumar Tyagi, Swati Nayak, Mosharaf Hossain

Farmers in Uttar Pradesh are driving the adoption of biofortified rice, improving nutrition and incomes through Seeds Without Borders. With better seeds, training, and market access, success stories like Durgawati Devi and Rajesh Singh show how a community-led approach can transform lives.

Tackling Hidden Hunger with Nutritious Rice

Micronutrient deficiencies, often called “hidden hunger,” are a silent crisis affecting millions in India, particularly women and children. In severe cases, they lead to low birth weight, anemia, weakened immunity, and even neonatal mortality. Moreover, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2021), 7.3% of children under five suffer from diarrhea, a condition linked to zinc deficiency.

Given that over half India’s population relies on rice as a staple food, making rice more nutritious through biofortification is a powerful and cost-effective solution. Despite the availability of biofortified rice varieties with higher iron (>10 mg/kg) and zinc (>24 mg/kg), farmers have been slow to adopt them. Limited awareness, poor seed distribution, and weak engagement with seed dealers and millers contributed to the challenge.

To change this, targeted efforts are underway to get biofortified rice into the hands of farmers—starting with better seed access, training programs, and stronger policy integration into India’s food systems.

Bringing High-Zinc Rice to Indian Farmers through Seeds Without Borders

To speed up the availability of high-zinc rice in India, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) leveraged Seeds Without Borders. This regional seed-sharing initiative allows modern rice varieties to move quickly across South and Southeast Asia. Through this program, two high-zinc rice varieties from Bangladesh—BRRI Dhan 84 (Zn = 27.6 mg/kg) and BRRI Dhan 100 (Zn = 25.7 mg/kg)—were introduced in India as DRR Dhan 67 and DRR Dhan 69.

However, new varieties are only useful if farmers have access to quality seeds. To make that happen, IRRI partnered with India’s National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to multiply foundation seeds. In Kharif 2023 (wet season), IRRI helped produce 310 kg of BRRI Dhan 84 and 290 kg of BRRI Dhan 100 from just 4 kg of breeder seeds per variety.

Building on this progress, in Kharif 2024, IRRI provided 80 kg of BRRI Dhan 84 and 70 kg of BRRI Dhan 100 foundation seeds to Nav Pragyan Farmer Producer Company (FPC) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Women farmers from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and progressive farmers from Mirzamurad and Inderkhapur villages stepped in to grow these varieties, ensuring high-quality seeds were available for local communities.

The work didn’t stop with seed distribution. In 2022 and 2023, FPC members were trained in varietal selection, seed production, best management practices, and marketing—building local expertise and strengthening grassroots seed systems.

Farmers Leading the Change: Higher Yields, Better Profits, and Improved Nutrition

Durgawati Devi’s Journey to Better Yields and Higher Profits

Durgawati Devi, a 70-year-old Mirzamurad village farmer, proves how biofortified rice can transform farming. As an active member of the Radha Self-Help Group (SHG), she planted BRRI Dhan 84 on 1.5 acres and BRRI Dhan 100 on 1 acre. With her daughter-in-law, Sarita Devi, she used her training in seed production to harvest 30 quintals (3.31 tons) of BRRI Dhan 84 and 20 quintals (2.20 tons) of BRRI Dhan 100.

Compared to the varieties they previously grew, Sampoorna and Sarjoo 52, the biofortified rice performed just as well but offered a major advantage: better market value. While she used to sell rice at ₹22/kg with a profit margin of 22.2%, she now plans to sell BRRI Dhan 84 and BRRI Dhan 100 seeds at ₹30/kg in Kharif 2025, increasing her profits to 36%, i.e. a 14.4% increase in profit margins. Durgawati Devi and her family attributed the increased profitability to selling quality seeds and the increasing demand for biofortified rice among the community members.

For Durgawati, the impact goes beyond profits. She values the nutritional benefits for her grandchildren and appreciates that these varieties mature earlier—allowing her to sow wheat sooner and avoid heat stress in the Rabi season.

Rajesh Singh’s Strategy for Higher Market Prices

Rajesh Singh, a 49-year-old farmer from Inderkhapur village, took a different approach to maximize his gains. After receiving 30 kg of BRRI Dhan 84 certified seeds and 25 kg of BRRI Dhan 100, he cultivated them on 4.5 acres. He saw strong results, with yields of 5.3 mt/ha and 5.0 mt/ha, respectively.

Instead of selling raw rice at ₹50-60/kg, as he had in past seasons, he milled the biofortified rice and marketed it at ₹130/kg—more than doubling his income. His success story has inspired other farmers in the village to consider biofortified rice a high-value product.

Scaling Up for a Healthier Future

The experiences of farmers like Durgawati Devi and Rajesh Singh demonstrate how a community-led approach can accelerate the adoption of biofortified rice. With proper training, access to quality seeds, and smart market positioning, these varieties can significantly improve both nutrition and farmer incomes.

Moving forward, IRRI plans to expand its efforts in Kharif 2025 by producing and distributing even more high-quality seeds through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). The goal is to integrate more SHGs, develop village-based production hubs, and ensure that both farmers and consumers benefit from nutrient-rich rice.

About Seeds Without Borders

This work is part of a larger effort supported through Seeds Without Borders, an initiative that helps move high-yielding, nutrient-rich, and stress-tolerant rice varieties across South and Southeast Asia effectively and efficiently. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam have all signed this agreement to help ensure farmers have better access to improved rice varieties.

Published Date: March 19, 2025