High-yielding rice varieties from China are easing food insecurity in the rural areas of Northern Bangladesh during lean periods.
The country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Chongqing Zhong Yi Seed distributed eight hybrid varieties and farmers reported higher yields.
Chongqing Zhong Yi is a frequent participant in China’s aid and technical collaborations, leading rice technology cooperation in Bangladesh. Chinese agriculturists work directly with Bangladeshi farmers to provide current trends in rice cultivation.
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More on hybrid rice:
IRRI, Tao Corporation sign pact for the commercialization and distribution of elite hybrid rice varieties across the Philippines
IRRI and Tao Commodity Trader, Inc. signed a seven-year Limited Exclusivity Commercial License Agreement to promote the commercialization and nationwide distribution of seeds of three IRRI-developed elite rice hybrids. The selected hybrid rice varieties are bred for higher yield, superior grain quality, improved pest and disease resistance, resilience to climate change-induced stresses, and higher seed production, traits that could help farmers increase their yields and incomes by up to 20%. Hybrid rice technology has significant potential to improve rice productivity and contribute to a rice self-sufficient Philippines.
AATF and IRRI to bring hybrid rice and sustainable technologies to African smallholder farmers through partnership
IRRI and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) signed a 4-year partnership agreement aimed at helping African smallholder farmers increase their productivity, income, and resilience through enhanced access to good quality elite seeds and sustainable agronomic practices.
The partnership will benefit from IRRI’s six decades of expertise in rice science-based solutions in Asia, and AATF’s expertise in accessing, disseminating, and commercializing innovative agricultural technologies through a wide network of public and private sector collaborators, supported by knowledge of the needs of African farmers.
Hybrid rice for global food security
Hybrid rice has been proven to be a very effective approach for greatly increasing yield outside China. The use of hybrid rice has been spreading commercially throughout the world in India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Madagascar, and the United States, where hybrid rice occupied more than 7 million ha in 2016.
If half of the rice-growing areas in the world are replaced with hybrid rice varieties with a 2 t/ha yield advantage, it is estimated that total global rice production would increase by another 150 million tons annually. This could feed 400‒500 million more people each year. This would truly be a significant contribution to ensuring food security and peace all over the world.
