This study evaluates the effectiveness of Sahbhagi Dhan as a drought-tolerant rice variety in India. The study used a randomized controlled trial to evaluate Sahbhagi Dhan by providing Sahbhagi Dhan seeds to randomly selected farmers in treatment villages in either 2012 or 2013.

To meet rising demand for rice, it is estimated that the global rice production needs to increase by 116 million tons by 2035. Much of the increase has to come from smallholder rice farmers in developing countries. In this article, we review 25 evaluation studies on new rice technologies and practices that have been tried and used by smallholder rice farmers in developing countries. Stress-tolerant rice varieties are found among promising new rice varieties. African farmers benefit from New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties.