Los Banos, The Philippines
December 6, 2004The
progress of the Asian Development
Bank (ADB)-funded international hybrid rice initiative,
titled "Sustaining Food Security in Asia through the Development
and Use of Hybrid Rice Technology" was recently reviewed at the
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI).
IRRI is the coordinating
institution for the project that is set to end this year.
PhilRice deputy executive
director for R&D Edilberto D. Redo represented the Philippines
in the workshop. Among the agreements reached was a no-cost
extension of the project until May 2005. Activities to be
focused on are sensitization of policy makers, socioeconomic
impact assessment, R&D, promotion of public-private-NGO
partnerships, and training.
National hybrid rice leaders of
India, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar, Korea, and Thailand as well as representatives from the
China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center, the Asia Pacific Seed
Association, the Food and Agriculture Organization, seed
companies, the ADB, and IRRI presented their progresses in the
development and use of hybrid rice technology in their
respective countries/organizations since project implementation
in 2001.
According to IRRI principal
scientist Sant S. Virmani, "Hybrid rice currently covers an area
of 1.46 ha outside China, with 27 hybrid rice varieties released
in India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Bangladesh using IRRI
germplasm."
He also said that an average
yield superiority of commercialized hybrids over certified
inbred seeds ranging from 1.02 to 1.65 t/ha is noted in
Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines and that new
parental lines with improved outcrossing ability and grain
quality are already shared with various participating countries.
Virmani also reported that there
are now about 58 seed companies involved in hybrid rice breeding
and seed production with increased seed production yields in
many countries, with various opportunities for the use of hybrid
rice technology under aerobic and fragile ecosystems.
Challenges that must be
addressed are the development of simplified breeding and seed
production procedures, grain quality matching that of popular
inbred varieties, economically viable seed production systems,
and economically viable agronomic management systems.
To expedite the dissemination
of hybrid rice technology, an organized and efficient seed
industry is needed in public, private and NGO sectors. Cost of
hybrid seeds should be lowered, as well as achieve more stable
hybrid performance with improved management systems.
Action plans and partnerships
with the seed industry are also critical factors. |
