Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM) is a new, disease-resistant rice variety that was bred using Marker Assisted Selection (MAS). It provides immunity to bacterial blight, one of the most destructive rice diseases in India, without losing the fine grain quality and yield of the original Samba Mahsuri. Already cultivated in more than 1.5 lakh hectares of land in various states, ISM is helping income and crop protection for Indian farmers. The low glycemic index also makes it highly popular in health-conscious markets.
Improved Samba Mahsuri: A Big Breakthrough for Rice Farmers
Rice is the lifeline of Indian agriculture, especially in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. However, a major challenge for rice farmers is bacterial blight, a deadly disease caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas oryzae. This disease can destroy up to 50% of the crop, especially in areas like East Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Nizamabad.
The old Samba Mahsuri type, although revered for its fragrance and soft grains, is very susceptible to this disease. In order to counter this, researchers at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, collaborated to design a new variety called Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM).
What Is ISM Different From?
Better Samba Mahsuri is not a genetically modified (GM) crop. It was bred with Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), a scientific technique that utilizes natural DNA markers to identify plants with desirable qualities such as disease resistance. ISM has three resistance genes- Xa21, xa13, and xa5 that give it good protection against bacterial blight.
Though more developed, ISM tastes and looks exactly like Samba Mahsuri. It possesses fine and long grains with superior cooking and palatability. It provides a yield of around 5.5 to 6 tonnes per hectare that is comparable to the best of today's varieties.
Success from the Fields by Any Measure
ISM has proven its worth during actual challenges. Following the Hudhud cyclone in 2014, an acute bacterial blight attack had East Godavari district in its grip. Farmers who cultivated regular Samba Mahsuri had great losses. But those fields that had ISM were healthy and yielded well, thus establishing its strength during difficult times.
Due to consistent efforts by state agriculture departments, ICAR, and CSIR, farmers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, even Bihar and Maharashtra are now cultivating ISM on over 1.2 lakh hectares. Farmer-to-farmer extension and government promotion have transformed this variety into a household name in rice-growing areas.
More Yield, More Income
Frontline protests in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana attest that ISM yields 25–40% more in bacterial blight-affected regions. Even in disease-free zones, it is as good as Samba Mahsuri in terms of yield. The catch here is that ISM receives the same premium price in the market as Samba Mahsuri due to its superior grain and cooking quality.
Indeed, a MANAGE Hyderabad study revealed that ISM saved farmers Rs. 240 crore in losses by guarding them against bacterial blight. Overall farmer turnover from ISM cultivation has already exceeded Rs. 600 crore, demonstrating how precious this variety is to Indian agriculture.
Healthy for Farmers, Healthy for Consumers
ISM is not only advantageous to farmers but also to health-oriented consumers. It has a low glycemic index (GI) of 50.9, which signifies that it slowly releases sugar into the bloodstream. This makes it ideal for diabetics and consumers who seek healthier varieties of rice.
Owing to this advantage, ISM rice is also being sold through food companies. A licensing arrangement has been entered with Sri Krishna Rice Mills in Chhattisgarh to sell it as a health specialty rice.
Looking Ahead: A Brighter Future for Rice Farming
India possesses more than 20 lakh hectares of land on which rice is cultivated and is susceptible to bacterial blight. Most of such places cultivate fine-grained varieties such as Samba Mahsuri, HMT Sona, and PKV HMT. ISM is the perfect fit for this niche, it's the same grain quality, higher yield, and excellent disease resistance.
Now cultivated on approximately 1.5 lakh hectares, ISM can expand to 15 lakh hectares in the near future. It has already been licensed out to companies such as Sri Biotech and Metahelix Life Sciences, and its adoption is likely to increase at a fast pace.
Improved Samba Mahsuri is a case study of how Indian science and agricultural requirements can be aligned. It delivers safety, revenue, and peace of mind to lakhs of rice farmers. As demand for disease-resistant, quality, and health-friendly rice is increasing, ISM is not only a variety but the future of sustainable rice cultivation in India.
