Amazing Yield, These 7 Basmati Paddy Varieties Can Make Farmers Millionaires – Know Their Names

paddy cultivation

Krishi Dunia

• 21 Mar, 2025 11:55 AM IST ,
• Updated Sat, 22 Mar 2025 12:20 PM

In India, paddy cultivation is carried out on a large scale, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. For farmers aiming for higher yields and better profits, selecting the right variety of basmati paddy is crucial.

To achieve a good harvest from basmati paddy cultivation, choosing the right variety is essential. In this article, we introduce you to 7 top-performing basmati paddy varieties that not only offer high yields but also fetch premium prices in the market due to their superior quality.

1. Pusa Basmati 1121:

  Key Features:

• Semi-dwarf variety with a height of 110–120 cm.
• Released as Pusa Sugandh 4 in 2003, renamed Pusa Basmati 1121 in 2008.
• Suitable for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Long, slender, and aromatic grains.
• Maturity period: 145 days
• Yield: 4.5 tons per hectare

2. Pusa Basmati 1985:

  Key Features:

• An improved version of Pusa Basmati 1509.
• Matures in 115–120 days.
• Tolerant to herbicide Imazethapyr 10% SL.
• Irrigated transplanted yield: 22–25 quintals per acre.
• Best suited for Delhi, Punjab, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
• Suitable for direct seeding, which saves water and reduces environmental impact.

3. Pusa Basmati 1979:

  Key Features:

• Developed by upgrading Pusa Basmati 1121.
• Matures in 130–133 days.
• Resistant to herbicide Imazethapyr 10% SL.
• Suitable for direct sowing, ensuring water conservation.
• Average yield in irrigated fields: 45.77 quintals per hectare.

4. Pusa Basmati 1592:

   Key Features:

• Suitable for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Average yield: 47.3 quintals per hectare; maximum: 67.3 quintals per hectare.
• Matures in 120 days, resistant to blight disease.
• Long (14.0 mm), slender, and translucent grains.
• Highly aromatic after cooking, fetching premium market price.

5. Pusa Basmati 1609:

   Key Features:

• Suitable for Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Delhi.
• Average yield: 46.0 quintals per hectare; maximum: 67.5 quintals per hectare.
• Resistant to sheath blight disease.
• Grain length: 7.9 mm, extends to 13.9 mm post-cooking, aromatic and slender.

6. Pusa Basmati 1692:

   Key Features:

• Developed for Delhi, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
• Average yield: 52.6 quintals per hectare; maximum: 73.5 quintals per hectare.
• Matures in 115 days.
• Extra-long, slender grains with post-cooking length of 17.0 mm.
• Highly aromatic, ensuring high market value.

7. Pusa Basmati 1886:

   Key Features:

• Suitable for Haryana and Uttarakhand.
• Average yield: 44.9 quintals per hectare; potential yield: up to 80.0 quintals per hectare.
• Matures in 145 days, resistant to bacterial blight and blast diseases.
• Contains xa13 and Xa21 genes for bacterial blight resistance and Pi2 and Pi54 genes for blast resistance.
• Grain length: 7.8 mm, extends to 15.2 mm after cooking.

To ensure better yield and higher profits, farmers should opt for improved basmati varieties.

• Pusa Basmati 1121 and Pusa Basmati 1592 are the most popular due to their aroma and grain length.
• Pusa Basmati 1692 and 1886 are highly profitable due to their yield potential and disease resistance.
• For direct seeding, Pusa Basmati 1979 and 1985 are the best options.

By adopting these advanced basmati varieties, farmers can maximize yield and secure better market prices for their produce.