Wheat is cultivated on 0.76 m hectares in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with an annual production of 1.36 million tons. The provincial average yield is 1.9 tons ha-1 which is the lowest among the four provinces of Pakistan. Wheat production is highly sensitive to climatic and environmental variations. Increasing temperature, incidence of drought and emergence of new rust races are posing serious threats to food security. Frequent changes in the climate have been observed for the last few years in the province and the crop is suffered from high temperature, drought and water shortage. Such conditions halt the potential wheat production in the province. New high yielding varieties with tolerance to such abiotic stresses are desperately needed for cultivation in these areas. The rainfed wheat group is actively involved in the development of improved varieties and quality seed production through implementation of innovative and effective R & D activities.

1. Higher Grain yield potential
2. Abiotic stress tolerance (moisture and heat stress) 
3. Rust resistant genes
4. Higher zinc content

1. Dr. Farooq-i-Azam, PS (GROUP LEADER)
2. Dr. Salman Ahmad, SS
3. Dr. Akhtar Ali, SS
                                  

1. The research group has successfully developed six improved varieties for cultivation in rainfed areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

   1. Tatara 96
   2. Takbeer 2000
   3. NIFA Barsat 2010
   4. NIFA Lalma 2013
   5. NIFA Insaf 2015
   6. NIFA Awaz 2019

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