Following successful launches in India, the Philippines and Vietnam, Bayer CropScience has now started to market its Arize™ hybrid rice seeds in Indonesia. The launch ceremony (photo) for its new variety Arize™ Hibrindo R-1 was held in Jakarta on December 19th in the presence of Indonesia Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono, President Director of PT Bayer Indonesia Mr.Hans-Josef Schill, Country Head Bayer CropScience Indonesia Mr Benjamin Jowett, and Bayer CropScience Bioscience General Manager Rice Frederic Arboucalot. Joining them were more than 200 participants including Indonesian government officials, rice farmers and rice millers.

Indonesia is the third biggest rice producer in the world with approximately 54 Mio tones per year. Arize™ Hibrindo R-1 can be planted in most parts of the country, in both wet an dry seasons. It has been widely tested in various agro-climatic conditions in Indonesia since 2004 and was officially registered by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in 2005. “Development and commercialization of our Arize™ Hibrindo R-1 hybrid rice seeds in Indonesia confirms the support from Bayer CropScience to the Ministry of Agriculture objective of achieving rice self-sufficiency for Indonesia” said Mr. Frederic Arboucalot, Bayer CropScience Bioscience General Manager Rice on the occasion of the launch ceremony.

Hybrid rice has the potential of yielding up to 35% more than inbred varieties grown under similar conditions. Hybrid rice technology provides farmers with high yields, saves land for agricultural diversification and creates rural employment opportunities. Hybrid rice can play a major role in enhancing the productivity of the rice crop and therefore contributes sustainable food security. Bayer CropScience plans to further expand supply of hybrid rice seeds to farmers from the Central Java and Lampung provinces in the following season.