RICE RESEARCH STATION, KAUL

Dr. O. P. Chaudhary Regional Director , Rice Research Station, Kaul  Contact No  :  9416111775 Email   :  rrskaul@gmail.com

 In India, Rice Research Station was set up at Gurdaspur (joint Punjab) in 1950-51, that was later on shifted to Kapurthala (Punjab). After bifurcation of the erstwhile Punjab state, rice research in Haryana was initiated at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar in 1970. Realizing the importance of paddy in state’s agriculture, Rice Research Station (RRS) was established at Kaul (Kaithal) in the year 1972 to intensify rice research. Since then, RRS,Kaul has established itself as the major centre of research on scented rice (basmati) and non-scented rice.

This station released seven non-scented rice varieties viz., HKR 46, HKR 47, HKR 48, HKR 120, HKR 126, HKR 127 and HKR 128 that occupied substantial area in Haryana and other North Indian states. RRS, Kaul also released a non-scented high yielding rice hybrid Haryana Shankar Dhan 1. This station released three famous scented (basmati) rice varieties viz., Taraori Basmati, Haryana Basmati 1 and Haryana Basmati 2 that contributed immensely in Indian export of paddy. Taraori Basmati is still used as the quality check in National Basmati rice improvement programme. Recently in 2023, HKR-49- a non-scented genotype was identified by Central Varietal Release Committee for release in three zones of India (zones III, V and VI). The station also recommended four non-scented high yielding rice varieties viz., PR 106, Jaya, IR 64, Govind and four scented rice varieties (Basmati 370, Basmati CSR 30, Pusa Basmati 1 and Pusa Basmati 1121) for cultivation by the farmers. Package of practices for rice varieties suitable under transplanted and direct seeded conditions were also developed here along with the development of agronomic package for organic basmati rice. Plant protection discipline contributed significantly by identifying donors for resistance to major diseases and insect-pests of rice along with recommending effective and eco-friendly pesticides against major insect-pests and diseases.The centre also organizes farmer fairs/trainings/frontline demonstrations/kisan melas/gosthis on different aspects of rice to exhibit and transfer the technologies to the farmers.  RRS, Kaul has been recognized for its monumental contribution in rice at national level. This centre has been declared best AICRP Plant Pathology and Entomology Co-operator (Single Rice Crop) centre award in the country in 2011-12 by DRR/ICAR. This centre has been declared DhiruMorarji Memorial Award for Integrated Nutrient Management in RiceWheat Cropping System during 2012-13.This centre has also international collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines to develop mechanized DSR systems to enable farmers to use high-quality inbred or hybrids and elite varieties in DSR systems.