Tehran – With water resources dwindling and climate pressures intensifying, Iran's Rice Research Institute has unveiled a new generation of rice cultivars engineered to thrive under drought and environmental stress.

 

Institute director Ali Akbar Ebadi said the newly introduced varieties are short-statured, early-maturing, and stress-tolerant, a direct response to the shortcomings of traditional local cultivars, which are notoriously tall, low-yielding, and heavily dependent on water.

 

In a parallel move, Ebadi confirmed that high-risk pesticides have been formally banned and removed from circulation, citing their severe toxicity to farmers, consumers, and the environment. Their replacements, "Fibrin" and "Padan", are now on the market, offering effective pest control with a significantly reduced chemical footprint.

 

The official also urged farmers to consider planting clover and other cover crops after the rice harvest—a low-cost, high-return strategy that supplements farm income while producing protein-rich livestock feed. The nutritional boost to forage, he explained, directly translates into higher-quality meat and milk, as well as improved animal health.

 

Ebadi further highlighted the resurgence of direct seeding—a water- and cost-saving technique previously abandoned due to weed control challenges. With the advent of advanced herbicides, the method is regaining traction. Last year alone, some 700 hectares in Gilan province were planted using this approach, reducing both expenses and irrigation needs. Given its economic and environmental benefits, adoption is expected to accelerate.