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G. Gurumurthy

Coimbatore, May 1 The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is attempting to standardise the raised bed with furrow irrigation technique for rice cultivation, which has enough potential to give increased yield and at the same time save water.

Disclosing this in the two-day annual research meet on rice, held at the TNAU on Wednesday, Dr C. Ramasamy, the university Vice-Chancellor, said adoption of drip fertigation technology for rice would be futuristic and have great impact on rice production. The technology trials are quite promising, with high level of water use efficiency and saving of water.

Dr Ramasamy wanted the scientists to standardise the package of practices for these new technologies, so that the farmers would have technology choices. The demand for rice is increasing globally due to various reasons like income growth, especially in countries like China and India, and this has raised concerns from the World Bank and Food and Agricultural Organisation over impending food shortage threats.

He indicated that thrust areas in rice research would be on evolving new varieties and hybrids with superior yield qualities with higher drought resistance. The biotech tools application will focus on varieties having resistance to pests such as those against stem borer or leaf-folder.

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that marker-assisted selection work will be strengthened in TNAU. Introgression of yield enhancing genes from wild rice will be intensified and the system of rice intensification technique will be aggressively promoted, he added.

According to Dr T.S. Raveedran, Director, Centre for plant breeding and genetics, TNAU, two rice cultures with high-yield characters were recommended for release during 2008-09.

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Rice cultivation: ‘Drip irrigation trials promising’

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