Sustainable rice production in the north-eastern states of India is increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change, including erratic monsoon patterns, irregular rainfall, and recurrent flash floods of varying intensity and duration. These climatic stresses severely affect rainfed lowland ecosystems, where rice yields are often low and unstable. To mitigate these challenges, varieties introgressed with submergence-tolerant genes (Sub1) namely, Ranjit-Sub1, Bahadur-Sub1, Swarna-Sub1, and BINA Dhan 11-were introduced under the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation program (APART). Between the year 2018–19 and 2022–23, these Sub1 varieties demonstrated a consistent yield advantage of 1.0–1.2 t/ha over their non-Sub1 counterparts, even under non-flooded conditions. While Swarna-Sub1 and BINA Dhan 11 were released in India in the year 2009 and 2016, respectively, widespread cultivation in Assam began only after the initiation of the program, with support from the World Bank. Strategic interventions-including coordinated seed production, targeted promotional schemes, policy support, capacity building, and awareness campaigns enabled rapid adoption among small and marginal farmers. The adoption of Sub1 varieties has opened new avenues for enhancing productivity and reducing production costs in the flood plains of Assam, thereby contributing to climate-resilient and sustainable rice cultivation in the state.