The Hindu Business Line : Scientists urged to take up research on aerobic rice

RICE scientists have been urged to take up research of aerobic rice, while going in for a reduction in the area under the crop by 10 per cent o 15 per cent due to widespread water-stressed situation.

Research on aerobic rice assumes significance since it does not require standing water and has greater water use efficiency.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Dr C. Ramasamy, said intensive research on rain fed rice varieties with higher yield potential and better management practices was the need of the hour.

Presenting the worldwide rice scenario during the rice scientists' meet at TNAU, Dr Ramasamy said the global rice trade had dipped by 6 per cent in 2004. "Large declines are expected in India, too, in the coming years, but this should be considered an opportunity for furthering the Indian rice varieties on the export front."

For instance, there was huge demand for aromatic rice. India has registered a 6-lakh-tonne export of this rice. The breeders, he said, could focus on developing varieties for commercialisation, though not merely in the traditional rice belt.

However, a rice exporters' meet would help to find out the preferred varieties in the global market place as also the quality parameters required for exporting the produce. The research work could be prioritised in this direction, suggested the Vice-Chancellor.

According to him, post-harvest management, processing, value-addition, integrated pest and nutrient management, use of geographical information system, following SRI (System of Rice Intensification) practices, Site Specific Nutrient Management and pursuing biotechnology options for developing insect resistant cultivars should be the thrust areas for future research.

He said researchers in the US were now developing a genetically-modified rice variety that produces proteins such as lactoferin and lysozyme, which could be a cheaper way to develop drugs, as these two proteins fight infection and protect babies from ear infection, diarrhoea, meningitis and respiratory disorders. A perennial rice variety was being developed by IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), the Philippines.

The Director of Research, Dr S. Ramanathan, said production and productivity of rice was not satisfactory.

Yet another issue that the researchers discussed was the cost of cultivation. According to Dr N. Raveendran, Director, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, the cost of production was as high as Rs 9,741 per hectare in Tamil Nadu, while it was less than half at Rs 3,635 per hectare in Punjab. "Seed spend and labour costs are relatively high in TN compared to Punjab," he said, and pointed out that the seed cost was Rs 530 per hectare in Punjab against Rs 2,200 per hectare in Tamil Nadu.

More Stories on : Research & Development | Rice

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Scientists urged to take up research on aerobic rice

World tea export slips by 25 mkg

Palm oil may dip after correction

Untimely rains no problem... there's harvester combine

Bullion demand may continue to be under pressure