HYDERABAD: Scientists attending the 42nd All-India Rice Research Group meeting here said efforts should be made to increase rice production in view of the projected demand of 120 million tonnes by 2020.

They told the gathering at the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University that hundreds of efficient rice varieties were yet to reach farmers. About 500 scientists from within the country and abroad are attending the three-day meet which began on Monday.

Participatory system

S.N. Shukla, Additional Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, advocated the need for participatory approach by both scientists and farmers to usher in public-private partnership to develop new rice varieties/technologies. This was necessary in view of stagnation in rice production.

He said rice research needed to be intensified to develop resistance to pests and diseases so that the cost of production could be reduced.

He called for popularising hybrids to improve rice production levels, mentioning the good quality hybrids, which are in the pipeline at the Maruteru and other research centres under the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project.

Dr. Shukla also advocated the need for developing new rice plant types, which could yield 20 per cent more than the existing hybrids.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail