Central Rice Research Institute

Agricultural Research Servicesicar-crri.in

ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute is a government rice research institute in Cuttack, Odisha under India's Ministry of Agriculture, conducting crop improvement, genomics, and extension services for rice farmers, seed companies, and state agricultural departments across India.

Company typePrivate
Founded1946
HeadquartersCuttack, India
Headcount501–1,000
GTM typeB2B and B2C
OfferingServices

What Central Rice Research Institute does

ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute (also known as ICAR-NRRI, formerly CRRI) is India's apex public-sector rice research organization, established in 1946 in Cuttack, Odisha as an autonomous institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It conducts rice-focused research across five divisions — Crop Improvement, Crop Production, Crop Protection, Crop Physiology & Biochemistry, and Social Sciences — supported by two regional stations (CRURRS Hazaribag and RCRRS Naira) and two Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Cuttack and Koderma), with a workforce of 501-1,000 employees.

The institute's core technology stack rests on the Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory Complex — India's first facility of its kind, inaugurated in February 2019 with 11 specialized technical laboratories covering genomic selection, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, SNP genotyping, bioinformatics, soil science, pesticide residue, grain quality, molecular biochemistry, food constituent analysis, and nutrition & sensory evaluation. Three of these laboratories (Pesticide Residue, Micronutrient and Heavy Metal, Food Quality) hold NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 effective December 24, 2024, covering 84 parameters for rice and rice products. The institute maintains the National Rice Germplasm collection and has released a continuous pipeline of CR Dhan rice varieties from 1968 to 2024, with newer additions including the high-protein CR Dhan 310 (2024). Digital advisory offerings include riceXpert, RiceNxpert, and Rice Crop Manager mobile applications, alongside the recently inaugurated Rice Health Clinic.

Revenue is derived primarily from ICAR government grant-in-aid as the institute's institutional mandate, supplemented by technology licensing fees to seed companies, fee-based NABL-accredited laboratory testing services, direct sale of commercialized technologies (NRRI-Tricho and NRRI-Bracon biocontrol cards, NRRI-Biostimulant products, agricultural implements), and incubation services through the SHITIJ programme. The institute serves a distributed base of small and marginal rice farmers across eastern and central India, state agricultural departments and KVKs, private seed companies and entrepreneurs licensing NRRI IP, rice processors and exporters requiring accredited quality testing, and tribal farming communities under the Tribal Sub Plan. Extension reach is delivered through KVKs, the Farmer FIRST Programme, Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav, Village Knowledge Centres (with MSSRF), Kisan Melas, and multilingual publications including the 'Dhaan' Hindi magazine.

Central Rice Research Institute firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Central Rice Research Institute
Legal name: National Rice Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Website: https://icar-crri.in
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1946
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 501–1,000 employees
Short description: ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute is a government rice research institute in Cuttack, Odisha under India's Ministry of Agriculture, conducting crop improvement, genomics, and extension services for rice farmers, seed companies, and state agricultural departments across India.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Central Rice Research Institute industry classification

Industry

Product category: Agricultural Research Services
SIC: Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
akta.pro primary industry: Yield Optimization & Crop Performance Consulting (AFACABAC)
akta.pro secondary industries: Seed & Hybrid/Variety Selection Consulting (AFACABAK), Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH), Field Mapping, GIS & Digital Agronomy (Zoning, Prescription Maps, Yield Maps, Spatial Analytics) (AFAGALAG)

Keywords

Rice research
Crop improvement
Agricultural extension
Seed varieties
Agricultural biotechnology

Where Central Rice Research Institute is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Cuttack
HQ country: India
HQ region: Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

Central Rice Research Institute business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B and B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

Government Funding (ICAR): As an autonomous institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, the institute operates primarily on government funding for research activities
Technology Licensing and Commercialization: Revenue generated from licensing of developed rice varieties, technologies, and commercialized products to seed companies, entrepreneurs, and farmers
Laboratory Testing Services: Fee-based analytical and quality testing services through NABL accredited laboratories for pesticide residues, heavy metals, micronutrients, and food quality parameters

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Laboratory Sample Analysis - Chemical Testing

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Central Rice Research Institute product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute conducts basic, strategic, and applied research on rice across crop improvement, crop production, crop protection, crop physiology and biochemistry, and social sciences. It develops and commercializes high-yielding and climate-resilient rice varieties (CR Dhan series), biocontrol agents, bio-stimulant products, and digital advisory mobile applications (riceXpert, RiceNxpert). It also operates NABL-accredited laboratories (84 parameters), the Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory, the Rice Health Clinic, incubation services, and extension programmes for farmers.

Product overview

ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute operates as India's premier rice research organization offering a portfolio of technology products and services. The institute provides digital advisory platforms (riceXpert, RiceNxpert, Rice Crop Manager), biocontrol agents (NRRI-Tricho Card, NRRI-Bracon Card), bio-stimulant products (NRRI-Biostimulant), and NABL-accredited quality testing services through its Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory. The institute commercializes high-yielding rice varieties (CR Dhan series) and provides technology incubation services through its ABI Unit. Recent product launches include new biocontrol and biostimulant products commercialized in 2025, and a Rice Health Clinic inaugurated in 2026. Extension services are delivered through KVK units, Village Knowledge Centres, and mobile-based advisory platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

riceXpert Mobile Application Mobile application developed by ICAR-NRRI providing farmers with real-time agro-advisory services, pest and disease identification, nutrient management recommendations, and weather-based advisories for rice cultivation. Available in English and Odia.
NRRI-Tricho Card (Tj, Tc) Trichogramma-based biocontrol card product for management of rice insect pests, commercialized by ICAR-NRRI for sale to farmers and entrepreneurs.
NRRI-Bracon Card (Bh) Bracon hebetor-based parasitoid card for control of rice stem borers and leaf folders, commercialized by ICAR-NRRI.
NRRI-Biostimulant (Th, Te, Ta) Bio-stimulant products (Th, Te, Ta variants) developed for enhancing rice plant growth and stress tolerance, commercialized by ICAR-NRRI for sale to farmers and entrepreneurs.
CR Dhan Rice Varieties High-yielding and specialty rice varieties developed by ICAR-NRRI including high-protein varieties (CR Dhan 310), flood-tolerant varieties, and climate-resilient varieties, licensed to seed companies for multiplication and distribution.
NABL Accredited Quality Analysis Laboratory Services Fee-based analytical and quality testing services through NABL-accredited laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) covering 84 parameters for pesticide residues, heavy metals, micronutrients, and food quality in rice and rice products.
Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory Services State-of-the-art research facility comprising 11 technical laboratories covering environmental soil science, soil quality, pesticide residue analysis, genomic selection, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, bioinformatics and SNP genotyping, grain quality, molecular biochemistry, food component analysis, and nutrition and sensory evaluation.
SHITIJ Incubation Programme (ABI Unit) Startup and entrepreneur incubation programme for agribusiness development offered through the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) Unit, supporting rice-based enterprises.
Rice Health Clinic Specialized clinic at ICAR-CRRI, Cuttack providing diagnostic services for rice crop health, pest identification, and disease diagnosis for farmers and stakeholders.
Rice Crop Manager Digital initiative providing customized crop management recommendations for rice farmers based on field-specific conditions, including site-specific nutrient and pest management guidance.
Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) ICT-based village-level knowledge centers providing farmers with agricultural information and extension services in collaboration with M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Extension Services Agricultural extension, training, and technology dissemination services provided through KVK units at Cuttack and Koderma (both rated 'A' by NITI Aayog) to farming communities.

Companies that use Central Rice Research Institute

Customer profile

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Central Rice Research Institute technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Central Rice Research Institute partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), ChennaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2019Joint workshop on 'Integration of Stakeholders for Promoting Climate-Smart Technologies through Digital Agriculture' organized with MSSRF. Collaboration on ICT interventions, Village Knowledge Centres, and Plant clinic programme for farmer advisory services.
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on rice improvement, germplasm exchange, and global rice research initiatives. Listed as useful link and collaborative partner.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization - autonomous institute under ICAR, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. ICAR provides funding, policy direction, and institutional framework.
SAARC Agriculture CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional consultative meeting hosted at NRRI for SAARC region collaboration on agricultural research.
Norway (RESILIENCE Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional Norway funded RESILIENCE project on climate resilience in agriculture. Led by Dr. A.K. Nayak as PI, focusing on improving agricultural productivity, adaptive capacity and livelihoods of smallholders.
Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with state agricultural university for student training, research, and extension activities.
SWATI NGOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner NGO supporting Tribal Sub Plan activities and tribal development programmes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Central Rice Research Institute competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

CIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center — a CGIAR research center with comparable mission in crop improvement, germplasm banking, and climate-resilient variety development for staple cereals, sharing similar funding and partnership models.
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): The global premier rice research institute headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines. Directly comparable as a public-sector rice research organization with germplasm collections, varietal development, and international research collaborations — IRRI is already a listed CRRI partner.
M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF): Indian non-profit research foundation focused on agriculture, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods. Directly comparable as a listed CRRI partner with shared focus on ICT-enabled farmer advisory, Village Knowledge Centres, and climate-smart agriculture.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR): Another ICAR institute focused exclusively on rice research, located in Hyderabad. Closest Indian institutional peer, sharing the same ICAR parent, mandate for rice varietal development, crop protection, and extension services.

Broad incumbents

Corteva Agriscience: Global agricultural input company with major rice seed, trait, and crop protection portfolios. Comparable as a competitor in commercial rice varietal licensing and trait development, though operating at much larger commercial scale.
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU): Major Indian state agricultural university with a long-standing rice breeding program, extension services, and KVK network. Comparable as a public-sector rice research and education institution, though with a broader multi-crop mandate.
CGIAR: Global agricultural research partnership coordinating 15 international centers including IRRI and CIMMYT. Comparable as a coordinating body for public-sector rice and crop research funding and partnerships relevant to CRRI's international collaborations.
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI): India's flagship agricultural research institute under ICAR. While not rice-specific, it operates in crop improvement, genomics, and extension at a larger national scale — comparable as a peer public-sector agricultural research institution.

Emerging players

Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company): One of India's largest private seed companies with active rice hybrid and variety development. Comparable as an Indian seed-sector counterpart that licenses public-sector rice germplasm and competes for farmer adoption.

Regional players

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU): State agricultural university in southern India with significant rice breeding, extension, and KVK activities. Comparable as a regional public-sector peer addressing rice production challenges, though serving a different agro-ecological zone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Central Rice Research Institute compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

Central Rice Research Institute financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Central Rice Research Institute leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Central Rice Research Institute subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries4 records

Central Rice Research Institute funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Central Rice Research Institute M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Rice Research Institute

What does Central Rice Research Institute do?

Is Central Rice Research Institute a public or private company?

Central Rice Research Institute is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Central Rice Research Institute founded?

Central Rice Research Institute was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is Central Rice Research Institute based?

Central Rice Research Institute is headquartered in Cuttack, India, in the Asia region.

How does Central Rice Research Institute make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding (ICAR) is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and Commercialization and laboratory Testing Services.

Who are Central Rice Research Institute's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are CIMMYT, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR). Broad incumbents are Corteva Agriscience, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), CGIAR and ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) is listed as an emerging player. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is listed as a regional player.

Does Central Rice Research Institute have an API?

No public API is recorded for Central Rice Research Institute.

What industry is Central Rice Research Institute in?

Central Rice Research Institute's product category is Agricultural Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACABAC, Yield Optimization & Crop Performance Consulting, with a secondary code of AFACABAK, Seed & Hybrid/Variety Selection Consulting. Its SIC code is 700.