BAU Develops Sabour Vibhuti Paddy Variety That Survives 10-12 Days of Flooding, Offers 60 Quintals Yield

Key Highlights

• BAU Sabour develops a flood-tolerant rice variety named Sabour Vibhuti.

• The variety survives 10-12 days of continuous submergence in floodwater.

• It offers an average yield potential of 55-60 quintals per hectare.

• Initial assessment indicates only around 10% crop loss despite flooding.

• The variety also shows resistance to blight disease.

Farmers in flood-prone regions of Bihar may soon get relief from crop losses caused by heavy rainfall, floods and prolonged waterlogging. Scientists at Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, have developed an improved paddy variety called Sabour Vibhuti, which has shown promising performance even after remaining submerged in floodwater for 10-12 days.

Rice cultivation is highly dependent on water, but prolonged submergence can damage plants and significantly reduce production. This creates serious challenges for farmers, particularly in Bihar, where several districts experience flooding and waterlogging during the Kharif season.

The newly developed Sabour Vibhuti variety has demonstrated encouraging results under such conditions. Despite waterlogging in the university's research fields, the crop remained largely unaffected, with initial assessments indicating approximately 10% crop loss.

The variety also offers an average yield potential of 55-60 quintals per hectare and has resistance to blight disease, making it a promising option for farmers looking for better crop performance under challenging weather conditions.

Sabour Vibhuti Paddy Variety Shows Strong Performance During Flooding

One of the biggest challenges for paddy farmers in flood-affected areas is protecting their crops from prolonged waterlogging. When rice plants remain underwater for several days, they can suffer damage, resulting in lower yields and additional cultivation expenses.

To address this problem, scientists at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, developed Sabour Vibhuti, an improved medium-duration rice variety suitable for the Kharif season.

During recent flooding at the university's research fields, the variety demonstrated the ability to withstand 10-12 days of submergence. Even after prolonged exposure to floodwater, the crop remained in comparatively good condition.

According to the university's initial assessment, the crop experienced only around 10% damage despite the waterlogging. This performance highlights the variety's potential to reduce flood-related crop losses and provide greater support to farmers in areas frequently affected by floods.

Sabour Vibhuti Offers 55-60 Quintals per Hectare Yield

Apart from its ability to tolerate prolonged flooding, Sabour Vibhuti also has promising production potential.

The variety is classified as an improved medium-duration paddy variety, with an average yield potential of 55-60 quintals per hectare. Its grain structure and texture are similar to Mansuri-type rice, making it a potentially suitable choice for farmers as well as consumers who prefer this type of rice.

Here are the important details of the newly developed Sabour Vibhuti paddy variety:

Sabour Vibhuti Also Shows Resistance to Blight Disease

Another important feature of Sabour Vibhuti is its resistance to blight disease, which can seriously affect rice cultivation.

Blight damages rice leaves and plant tissues, affecting plant growth and potentially reducing overall crop production. Disease outbreaks can create additional financial pressure on farmers by increasing the need for crop protection measures.

BAU scientists have developed Sabour Vibhuti with particular attention to resistance against this disease. Initial university assessments found that the variety was not significantly affected by blight, while some other rice varieties experienced disease-related damage.

This resistance, combined with its flood-tolerant performance, could help farmers manage two major challenges in paddy cultivation: prolonged waterlogging and crop disease.

BAU Cultivates Sabour Vibhuti on 3 Acres for Seed Production

To take the new variety forward, Bihar Agricultural University has started its cultivation for seed production at its research farm in Sabour.

Currently, Sabour Vibhuti has been cultivated across approximately 3 acres of university research land. This will help support seed production and further evaluation of the variety.

University Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh has emphasised the importance of sharing the variety's promising performance with farmers.

He has directed university scientists to organise special field days so that farmers can visit the research fields, observe the crop's performance and understand its important characteristics and cultivation practices.

These field activities will also help farmers learn about the variety's flood tolerance, yield potential and disease resistance before considering its cultivation.

BAU Also Develops Six Potential Varieties of Shree Anna

Apart from developing improved paddy varieties, Bihar Agricultural University is also working on research related to Shree Anna (millets) and other coarse grains.

According to the university, scientists have developed six potential varieties that are currently being studied under the All India Coordinated Minor Grain Research Project.

The six varieties include:

1. Sabour Madua-1

2. Sabour Madua-2

3. Sabour Kangni-1

4. Sabour Sawah-1

5. Sabour Kutki-1

6. Sabour Kodo-1

These varieties represent the university's wider efforts to improve the production potential of coarse grains and develop crops that can perform under changing climatic conditions.

The research focuses on developing improved varieties capable of withstanding challenging weather conditions and major crop diseases while helping farmers achieve better agricultural productivity.

Also Read: GT-7 Sesame Variety: How to Cultivate Sesame with Less Water, Yield, Oil Content and Farming Tips

CMV360 says

Bihar Agricultural University's Sabour Vibhuti paddy variety could offer significant support to farmers in flood-prone regions. Its ability to survive 10-12 days of submergence, average yield potential of 55-60 quintals per hectare and resistance to blight make it a promising development. With seed production underway on three acres and field demonstrations planned, the variety could help reduce flood-related crop losses and strengthen paddy cultivation in Bihar.