Pusa-1121, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here and released for commercial cultivation in kharif 2003, has been a major hit with farmers, both in view of its higher yields as well as remunerative prices. The newly-bred variety gives 19-20 quintals of paddy per acre, against 9-10 quintals for traditional tall basmati cultivars such as HBC-19 (Taraori) and 14-15 quintals for CSR-30 (an improved selection, which is shipped out as ‘traditional’ basmati). Although Pusa-1121’s yields are marginally below the 20-21 quintals per acre for Pusa Basmati-1 (the original evolved basmati bred by IARI), it scores over the latter in terms of aroma, greater elongation upon cooking and less chalky grain content.
