parc suggests high-yield rice hybrid varieties
Published on: April 4, 2024.
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The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has recommended a series of high-yielding rice hybrid varieties, including Green Super Rice varieties, for cultivation in Pakistan. These varieties have been found to yield 23-24 percent higher than the existing varieties. The recommendations were made by PARC’s Rice Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) during a meeting chaired by Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman of PARC.
Dr. Ali commended both the private and public sectors for their interest and involvement in rice research and development in the country. After thorough discussions, the VEC recommended eight high-yielding rice hybrids from private seed companies for cultivation in Pakistan.
Additionally, the National Institute of Genomics and Biotechnology (NIGAB) of PARC presented four high-yielding fine rice varieties, endorsed by the VEC, which also yield 23-24 percent higher than existing varieties. The cultivation of these high-yielding rice varieties is expected to increase output while utilizing the same amount of land. Dr. Ali stressed the importance of quality seed in enhancing the productivity and profitability of farmers and acknowledged the contributions of research institutes and seed companies in providing quality seed to rice farmers in Pakistan.
Dr. Muhammad Yousuf, the national coordinator for rice at PARC, provided an overview of thirty-eight proposals for rice hybrids and varieties during the meeting. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Federal Seed Certification, national and multinational seed companies, as well as rice scientists from provincial and federal research institutes.
In addition to the recommended hybrids, the VEC also suggested the cultivation of a long-grain (9mm) Sandal Bar Basmati developed by the Soil Salinity Research Institute Pindi Bhattian, and two coarse rice varieties from Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku and Rice Program, NARC, Islamabad. These new varieties and hybrids are expected to enhance farmers’ productivity and profitability.
Dr. Imtiaz Hussain, a member of the Plant Sciences Division at PARC, presided over the VEC meeting and expressed confidence that the release of these high-yielding rice varieties would contribute to improving rice productivity in the country. He also emphasized PARC’s commitment to supporting both public and private sector institutes and seed companies in evaluating and releasing rice hybrids and varieties.
Dr. Waseemul Hassan, Food Security Commission of MNFSR, praised the efforts of rice scientists in Pakistan for the release of these high-yielding rice hybrids and varieties.
Source: [Business Recorder](https://www.brecorder.com)
