Durable rice varieties that can withstand drought conditions and carry better nutritional values for an expanding population have been developed through breeding, biotechnology, and selection, a press release from Bionet Pilipinas said.

Director Alicia Ilaga of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office said that submergence, flood, drought and saline-tolerant rice varieties can already be used and their production should be increased.

Among the developers of the said rice varieties are the International Rice Research Institute, UC-Davis, Nagoya University, University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

PhilRice’s Dr. Antonio Alfonso said that rice is such a crucial food item for the country since 86 percent of the entire population depends on it and it accounts for 35 percent of consumers’ daily caloric intake.

The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist said last week that it aims to help the province become 100 percent rice sufficient by next year.

Farmer trainings and technical support are being planned to reach the goal, the OPA said.

A plant breeder and biotechnologist, Dr. Alfonso said in the press release that such varieties would redound to increased income for 2.4 million rice farmers with an average of six household members. A farmer tills an average of 1.14 hectares.

PhilRice is supported by IRRI, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, JAAS of China, Rockefeller Foundation and a host of local funding agencies, the press release said.

The major aspects of the research and development efforts in rice are increased yield, resistance to pests, better physical and milling qualities, abiotic stress tolerance and good quality for consumption.

Alfonso stressed these varieties must likewise be acceptable to farmers, millers and consumers, must show stability of traits, adaptable to all weather conditions and must grow quicker.

PhilRice develops new varieties from existing strains and combine various traits in a single variety.

In the process of developing the best variety, PhilRice scientists will work on various combinations and permutations, testing the strains as to output, ease and timeliness in production and adaptability to both climatic and agronomic conditions.*

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