PINDI BHATTIAN, Nov 12: The Soil Research Institute, Punjab, Pindi Bhattian, has developed two new varieties of Basmati rice which are more resistant to diseases with high per acre yield as compared to varieties already being sown.

This was stated by agriculture scientists Dr Nazir Ahmad and Dr Mehdi Shaikh Muhammad.

They said one of the new varieties, Shaheen Basmati, has already been approved for sowing.

“The other is Basmati PB-95, whose length is more than all varieties being sown at present in the country.”

They said as the quality of rice was determined on the basis of its length, it was hoped that sowing of PB-95 would help boost rice exports.

They maintained that the new varieties could be grown even on arid and semi-saline land, and have maturity period of 90-95 days, which would help in getting three crops from the land in a year.—APP