Tehran — Iran is developing new rice varieties with greater drought tolerance and climate resilience as part of efforts to sustain production, improve water-use efficiency and reduce crop losses caused by environmental stresses.

 

Ali-Akbar Ebadi, head of the Rice Research Institute of Iran, said developing varieties adapted to climate change and water scarcity is a major priority of the institute’s research program.

 

He said the new varieties are designed to maintain stable yields under limited water availability while reducing the impact of drought and other environmental stresses.

 

Highlighting the importance of rice to the economy and livelihoods of Iran’s northern provinces, Ebadi said the institute’s research focuses on food security, higher productivity and addressing emerging production challenges.

 

He stressed that new varieties must offer not only good yields but also high cooking quality and market appeal to meet the needs of both farmers and consumers.

 

Ebadi cited Hasti as one such variety, saying it was developed to help maintain production under late-season drought stress while offering favorable agronomic and quality characteristics.

 

The institute is also pursuing the development of hybrid rice varieties, demonstration farms and more effective transfer of research findings to farmers, with researchers working directly alongside growers to promote modern production practices.