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Scientists working on rice which can grow in less water
New Delhi, Sept 18: Scientists are developing rice varieties which can grow in almost similar conditions as needed for wheat - that is less of water, a top rice scientist said today.
New Delhi, Sept 18: Scientists are developing rice varieties which can grow in almost similar conditions as needed for wheat - that is less of water, a top rice scientist said today.
Work was being done on "aerobic" rice which could give high yield in less of water at the international rice research institute, its director general Dr R P Cantrell told reporters here.
Genotypes had been identified, he said adding the work was important as availability of fresh rice would be a major issue in next 20-30 years.
Rice needs flooded conditions for high yield, but there has been evidence which shows that rice can grow in conditions favourable for wheat, he said. Plant breeders in China are also working on it and yields are "not bad", he said.
Scientists believe that yields can be further improved by five-six times, he said.
However, cuts in funding by countries were adversely affecting international agricultural research including that in IRRI, he said.
Money is needed to develop new varieties, improve the current ones and testing them, he said adding one major donor country had reduced its funding by almost half last year which had affected the research programmes of the institute.
Bureau Report
Genotypes had been identified, he said adding the work was important as availability of fresh rice would be a major issue in next 20-30 years.
Rice needs flooded conditions for high yield, but there has been evidence which shows that rice can grow in conditions favourable for wheat, he said. Plant breeders in China are also working on it and yields are "not bad", he said.
Scientists believe that yields can be further improved by five-six times, he said.
However, cuts in funding by countries were adversely affecting international agricultural research including that in IRRI, he said.
Money is needed to develop new varieties, improve the current ones and testing them, he said adding one major donor country had reduced its funding by almost half last year which had affected the research programmes of the institute.
Bureau Report