BPM-1825 Mustard Gets Wider Seed Distribution, What Should Farmers Know?

Farmers preparing for the rabi season may soon have wider access to BPM-1825, an improved Indian mustard variety developed by ICAR. On September 23, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research signed an agreement to license the variety for seed production and wider distribution.

The agreement with Telangana-based Delta Agrigenetics Pvt Ltd is non-exclusive. The company will undertake seed production, quality assurance and distribution. ICAR says the arrangement is intended to improve access to the variety and move the institute’s improved mustard technology from research centres to farmers.

What is BPM-1825?

BPM-1825, also identified as DRMR 2018-25, is an Indian mustard variety developed by ICAR-IIRMR. The institute lists it as a 2025 re-identified variety and recommends it for timely-sown irrigated conditions.

ICAR-IIRMR reports an average seed yield of 2,630 kg per hectare and oil content of 41.7%. The variety takes about 133–137 days to mature and is described as resistant to white rust with low aphid infestation.

The reported yield is an institutional average under recommended conditions. Farmers should not treat 2,630 kg per hectare as a guaranteed farm yield because actual production depends on sowing time, irrigation, soil, weather, seed quality and crop management.

BPM-1825 is recommended for Zone II and Zone III mustard-growing areas. ICAR-IIRMR lists Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh under Zone II, while Zone III includes Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.

The institute’s 2025–26 recommendations also include BPM-1825 for timely-sown irrigated mustard in several testing locations. These include Abohar, Bawal, Ludhiana, Hisar, Sri Ganganagar, New Delhi and Modipuram under Zone II.

Farmers should check the variety recommendation for their district before buying seed. A variety being officially recommended for a zone does not mean it will perform identically across every soil type or farm.

What are its main traits?

The variety has a reported maturity period of 133–137 days and oil content of 41.7%. ICAR-IIRMR lists white-rust resistance and low aphid infestation among its special characteristics.

The variety was also identified in ICAR’s rapeseed-mustard research programme as having high seed and oil yield and white-rust resistance. These traits are relevant because disease pressure and oil recovery can affect the final value of a mustard crop.

The licensing agreement does not mean BPM-1825 is a brand-new variety. The variety had already been notified and recommended. The September 23 agreement concerns commercial seed production and wider distribution.

ICAR-IIRMR said the partnership is intended to strengthen access to improved mustard varieties. The company has committed to quality assurance and responsible distribution so that seed can reach farmers in a timely manner.

Farmers should first check whether BPM-1825 is recommended for their location and whether their field meets the timely-sown irrigated conditions specified by ICAR-IIRMR.

They should then buy seed through an authorised source and check the seed packet for details such as variety name, lot number, germination information, production details and validity. Farmers should retain the purchase receipt in case they need to raise a complaint.

BPM-1825 is one of several improved Indian mustard varieties developed by ICAR-IIRMR. The institute lists varieties such as BPM-11, Radhika, Brijraj, DRMR 1165-40 and DRMR 150-35, each designed for particular growing conditions.

For example, BPM-11 is recommended for late-sown conditions in parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar. Radhika is recommended for late-sown irrigated conditions in Zone II. This shows why farmers need to match a variety with their field conditions.

What about sowing time?

BPM-1825 is specifically listed for timely-sown irrigated conditions. Sowing outside the recommended window can change crop duration, flowering conditions and exposure to pests or temperature stress.

Farmers should therefore follow local agricultural advisories for the appropriate sowing window rather than selecting the variety only because of its reported yield. The right sowing date is part of the recommended production package.

White rust is one of the diseases affecting rapeseed-mustard crops. A variety with resistance can reduce the risk of losses from the disease under conditions where it occurs.

BPM-1825 is listed by ICAR-IIRMR as white-rust resistant. This does not mean the crop can be left without monitoring. Farmers should continue field scouting and follow local recommendations if disease symptoms appear.

Higher oil content can be useful because mustard is grown partly for its oil value. BPM-1825 has an oil content of 41.7%, according to ICAR-IIRMR.

The actual income received by a farmer still depends on seed yield, market price, quality, production costs and procurement conditions. Oil content alone should not be used to calculate expected farm profit.

Before wider licensing, the availability of a variety can depend on the seed multiplication and distribution systems already in place. Commercial licensing can add another seed-production channel and increase the volume reaching farmers.

ICAR-IIRMR said Delta Agrigenetics will undertake production and distribution while following quality-assurance commitments. The agreement is non-exclusive, so it does not give the company exclusive rights to commercialise the variety.

What should farmers do before choosing BPM-1825?

Farmers should consider four factors: location, irrigation, sowing time and seed source. BPM-1825 is recommended for specific zones and timely-sown irrigated conditions, so these requirements should match the farmer’s field.

Farmers should also compare the variety with locally recommended mustard varieties. Local KVKs and agriculture departments can provide guidance on varieties tested under nearby soil, weather and farming conditions.

BPM-1825’s wider commercial distribution could make an ICAR-developed mustard variety easier for farmers to access ahead of future rabi seasons. Its reported 2,630 kg per hectare average yield, 41.7% oil content and white-rust resistance make it one option among several improved mustard varieties.

The key point for farmers is not simply the yield figure. BPM-1825 is recommended for timely-sown irrigated conditions and specific mustard zones. Farmers should match those requirements with their own field before purchasing seed and should use authorised, quality-assured seed sources.