Global Rice News

Rice Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) has recommended eight high-yielding rice hybrids for cultivation in Pakistan to enhance productivity by up to 25 percent. The VEC and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) recently discussed this matter during a meeting in Islamabad.

During the meeting, PARC Chairman Dr Ghulam Mohammad Ali acknowledged the efforts made by the private and public sectors in researching and developing rice in the country. He stressed the importance of high-quality seeds in improving farmers’ productivity and profitability. He also commended research institutes and seed companies for their role in providing quality seeds to rice farmers in Pakistan.

Dr. Muhammad Yousuf, National Coordinator (Rice) of PARC, presented the committee members with an overview of 38 proposals for rice hybrids and varieties. 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.

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 that have a 23-24 percent higher yield compared to existing varieties. These varieties were also endorsed by the VEC for cultivation in Pakistan.

Moreover, the VEC recommended the cultivation of a long-grain (9 mm) Sandal Bar Basmati developed by the Soil Salinity Research Institute Pindi Bhattian. They also suggested two coarse rice varieties, one from Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku and the other from Rice Program, NARC, Islamabad. The introduction of these varieties and hybrids is expected to increase farmers’ productivity and profitability.

This initiative by the VEC and PARC aims to boost the rice industry in Pakistan by introducing high-yielding hybrids and varieties. By adopting these recommendations, farmers can expect higher yields and better profitability. It is encouraging to see collaboration between the public and private sectors in advancing the research and development of rice in the country.

Source: [Dawn.com](https://www.dawn.com){target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”}