ADUTHURAI, 8 July 2025: A newly-developed short-duration rice variety, ADT 59, is fast emerging as a preferred choice among farmers cultivating the Kuruvai crop in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta region.
Developed by the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI), Aduthurai, ADT 59 offers notable advantages over traditional varieties such as ADT 37 and ASD 16. These include higher yields, salinity tolerance, and bold grain quality — features that meet the region’s agronomic and economic needs.
“ADT 59 has shown 15–20% more yield compared to conventional varieties,” said K. Subrahmaniyan, Director of TRRI. “While average yields in delta fields hover around 2,500 kg per acre, a farmer in Malapalaiyam village in Virudhachalam recorded yields as high as 4,000 kg per acre using ADT 59 under Kuruvai conditions,” he said.
In addition to its productivity, the variety requires only 50% of the typical fertilizer input, making it cost-effective for small and marginal farmers.
“This is one of the highest-yielding bold grain varieties suited to Kuruvai. It is nutritive, non-lodging, and adapted to the region’s saline soil profile,” Mr. Subrahmaniyan noted, adding that the variety, officially released in 2024, is already gaining ground across delta districts.
Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs), which favour bold grain varieties, are also likely to support widespread adoption due to the grain’s weight and quality, thereby improving farmer returns.
Highlighting the nutritional and culinary strengths of ADT 59, R. Pushpa, Assistant Professor at TRRI, said, “It contains 19.4 mg of zinc per 100g, and matures in 110–115 days, making it ideal not only for Kuruvai but also Navarai and summer seasons.”
The grain quality — short and bold — is especially preferred for idli and dosa batter, she added. “With a 6:1 rice-to-black gram ratio, the variety delivers soft, firm batter with better output using less grain.”
Importantly, ADT 59 also addresses major pest and disease challenges faced by delta farmers. “It shows resilience to stem borers, blast, and brown leaf spot, offering a sustainable replacement for older bold-grain varieties like TPS 5,” TRRI authorities said.
As the delta region faces increasing climatic stress, the success of ADT 59 reflects a growing shift towards climate-resilient and nutrition-rich paddy cultivation.
Image credit: kisanindia.in
