There are 3 kinds of rice varieties in Pakistan, which are produced for local consumption and export. These are Basmati (aromatic), IRRI variety (medium long grain) and bold grain (cold tolerant varieties). Throughout the world, Basmati rice is quite famous for its pleasant aroma combined with eating qualities and perfect cooking. The medium long grain rice varieties are usually produced in Sindh region and provide superior yield than basmati rice varieties.
List of rice varieties in Pakistan
Ahmed and Akram (2007) have made a considerable effort to consolidate all the rice varieties grown in Pakistan. The rice varieties are as follows:
| Name of rice variety | Release year |
|---|---|
| Basmati 370 | 1933 |
| JP-5 | 1965 |
| Basmati Pak | 1968 |
| IR6 | 1971 |
| Basmati 198 | 1972 |
| Kashmir Nafes | 1981 |
| DR 82 | 1982 |
| KS 282 | 1983 |
| DR 83 | 1983 |
| Swat 1 | 1984 |
| Swat 2 | 1984 |
| Basmati 385 | 1988 |
| Shadab | 1988 |
| Sada Hayat | 1988 |
| DR 92 | 1993 |
| Shut 92 | 1993 |
| Pakhal | 1996 |
| Rachna basmati | 1996 |
| Super Basmati | 1996 |
| Kushboo 95 | 1996 |
| Saheen basmati | 2001 |
| Basmat 2000 | 2001 |
| NIAB-IR( | 2001 |
| Sarshar | 2003 |
Rice varieties in Punjab
Basmati Rice (fine long grain and aromatic) is popular in Punjab for cultivation. Punjab’s climate and soil work to the advantage of the production of Basmati rice varieties. The soil is either sandy with good drainage or limited with good drainage. Locally grown rice varieties in Punjab are as follows:
- Basmati 370
Year of release 1933 AGRONOMIC TRAITS Plant height (cm) 172 Tillers/hill (No.) 11 Maturity days (No.) 115-120 Leaf habits Droopy Stem Weak Grains/panicle 115 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.50 Breadth (mm) 2.20 Milling Recovery (%) Total 70.4 Head Rice 62.3 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.70 Breadth (mm) 1.60 LIB ratio 4.19 Size Long Shape Slender - Mushkan-7
Muskan-7 Plant height (cm) 175 Tillers/hill (No. 10 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.50 Paddy Grain breadth (mm) 2.10 Milled Grain Deep Chocolate Color Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.70 Milled Grain breadth (mm) 1.92 L/B ratio 3.50 - Jhona-349
Jhona-340 Plant height (cm) 175 Tillers/hill (No.) 12 Maturity days (No.) 95 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.09 Paddy Grain Breadth (mm) 2.33 Milled Grain Length (mm)
6.36 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 2.00 LIB ratio 2.86 - Mushkan-41
Mushkan - 41 Paddy Grain - Length (mm) 9.72 Paddy Grain Breadth (mm) 2.00 Milled Grain Light Chocolate Colour Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.80 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 1.90 LIB ratio 3.54 - Sathra-278
Sathra -278 Plant height (cm) 150 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.54 Paddy Grain Breadth (mm) 2.30 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.70 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 2.20 - Mahlar-346
Mahlar-346 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.4 Paddy Grain Breadth (mm) 2.56 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.55 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 2.08 LIB ratio 3.14 - Palman 246
Palman 246 Paddy Grain Length (mm 9.9 Paddy Grain Breadth (mm) Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.9 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 1.7 L/B ratio 4.05 - C-622
C-622 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.40 Paddy Grain Breadth (mm) 2.10 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.90 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 1.7 - Basmati Pak
Basmati Pak Rice Paddy Grain Length (mm) 10.9 Breadth(mm) 2.20 Milling Recovery Total (%) 70.0 Head Rice 60.0 Milled Grain Length (mm) 7.70 Milled Grain Breadth (mm) 1.80 L/B ratio 4.27 - IRRI-8
IR-8 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 8.81 Paddy Grain Breadth
(mm)2.65 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.40 Breadth (mm) 2.80 - IRRI-6
IR-6 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.70 Breadth (mm) 2.40 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.62 Breadth (mm) 1.90 - BASMATI – 198
BASMATI - 198 Paddy Grain Length
(mm9.70 Breadth (mm) 2.26 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.9 Breadth (mm) 1.90 - PK 177
PK 177 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.9 Breadth (mm) 4.31 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.8 Breadth (mm) 2.3 - KS 282
KS - 282 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.80 Breadth (mm) 2.30 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 72,4 Head Rice 58.5 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.7 Breadth (mm) 2.00 - BASMATI – 385
BASMATI - 385 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.60 Breadth (mm) 2.2 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 71.7 Head Rice 65.2 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.8 Breadth (mm) 1.6 Size Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 8.1 Amylose (%) 23.18 Aroma Moderate - SUPER BASMATI RICE
SUPER BASMATI RICE Paddy Grain Length (mm) 11.2 Breadth (mm) 2.11 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 69.7 Head Rice 58.8 Milled Grain Length (mm) 7.4 Breadth (mm) 1.6 Size Extra Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 8.9 Amylose (%) 24.8 Aroma Strong - BASMATI – 2000
BASMATI - 2000 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 10.89 Breadth (mm) 1.97 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 69.5 Head Rice 53 Milled Grain Length (mm) 7.68 Breadth (mm) 1.83 Size Extra Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 8.1 Amylose (%) 25.2 Aroma Strong - KASHMIR NAFEES
KASHMIR NAFEES Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.8 Breadth (mm) 2.3 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 68 Head Rice 52 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.61 Breadth (mm) 1.80 Size Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 6.5 Amylose (%) 20.15 Aroma Strong - RACHNA BASMATI
NIAB IR9 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 10.5 Breadth (mm) 2.4 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 68.0 Head Rice 51.5 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.87 Breadth (mm) 1.6 Size Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 7.23 Amylose (%) 22.29 Aroma Nil - NIAB IR9
NIAB IR9 Paddy Grain Length (mm) 10.5 Breadth (mm) 2.4 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 68.0 Head Rice 51.5 Milled Grain Length (mm) 6.87 Breadth (mm) 1.6 Size Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 7.23 Amylose (%) 22.29 Aroma Nil - SHAHEEN BASMATI
SHAHEEN BASMATI Paddy Grain Length (mm) 9.88 Breadth (mm) 2.0 Milling Recovery' (%) Total 68.4 Head Rice 62.75 Milled Grain Length (mm) 7.23 Breadth (mm) 1.77 Size Extra Long Shape Slender Protein (%) 7 Amylose (%) 22.96 Aroma Moderate