Low Gi Organic Rice - Broken (%): 5

LOW GI ORGANIC RICE - "ISM" in the context of rice stands for Improved Samba Mahsuri, a specific, high-yielding rice variety developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in India.

Key Characteristics

Disease Resistance: It is highly resistant to bacterial blight disease, a major constraint in rice production, which can cause significant yield losses in conventional varieties like Samba Mahsuri.

Low Glycemic Index (GI): The ISM variety has a low glycemic index of approximately 50.9, making it a potentially healthier option, particularly for people with diabetes, as it results in a slow release of glucose into the bloodstream.

Grain Quality: It is a fine and medium-slender grain variety with excellent cooking and eating qualities, similar to the popular original Samba Mahsuri, which allows it to fetch a premium market price.

Yield: In bacterial blight-affected areas, it has shown a 25-40% increase in yield compared to susceptible varieties. In uninfected fields, its yield is comparable to the original Samba Mahsuri.

Development Method: It was developed using molecular marker-assisted selection (Marker Assisted Selection or MAS) and is not a genetically modified (GM) crop.

Cultivation and Availability

The Improved Samba Mahsuri variety is widely cultivated in several Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh, especially in areas where bacterial blight is a concern.

It has been licensed to seed companies for wider distribution, and licensing agreements have been signed with rice mills to market the grains to health-conscious consumers.