India’s Climate Crusade: Scientists Breed Super Seeds

In Rayanpet, a village in India’s arid south, farmers like P. Ravinder Reddy are racing against time. Unpredictable rains and blistering heat have turned rice cultivation into a high-stakes gamble. \"Seeds that once thrived now struggle to sprout,\" says Reddy, a former soldier-turned-farmer. But science might just have a lifeline.

Agricultural researchers across India are engineering climate-resilient rice seeds designed to survive erratic weather. For the past five years, Reddy has tested these super seeds on his 25-acre farm. The result? Higher yields , less water usage , and better disease resistance. \"The future is these tough seeds,\" he insists.

India—a global leader in rice and wheat production—faces a critical challenge: climate change could slash crop yields by 20% by 2040, according to UN data. With over 700 million people globally facing hunger last year, resilient crops aren’t just a local fix—they’re a global necessity .

From India’s labs to farms in Africa and Central America, the race is on to hack nature’s code. As Reddy puts it: \"We’re not just growing rice anymore. We’re growing hope.\"

Reference(s):

In India, warming climate pressures scientists to create tougher seeds

cgtn.com