Farmers in high altitude rice growing regions will be trying two new varieties of rice from the next cultivation season.
The Renewable Nature Research Centre (RNRC) in Yusipang, Thimphu, has, in consultation with farmers in Thimphu, selected two new rice varieties, the YP4 and YP6 after field verification of the varieties in Khasadrapchu on Saturday.
The high yielding and rice-blast resistant varieties would be put to national level trial next year, said the RNRC research assistant, Padamlal Giri. “We have tried many varieties, but farmers chose the YP4 and YP6 because of its socio-economic benefits,� he said.
Both YP4 (red) and YP6 (white) are a cross-improved variety of the Japanese Akiyutaka. YP4 was cross-improved with Akiyutaka and our local Rey Marp, and YP6 from Akiyutaka and the local Janak.
According to Padamlal Giri, farmers found a lot of advantages with the varieties after trying it for years. “They are blast resistant, have tall stalks to be used as straw feed, easy to thresh and, above all, yield more grains,� he said.
Meanwhile, after two to three years of trials in various environments, results will be sent to the agriculture ministry for approval to be released to farmers for mass cultivation. “We will be reporting field results to the ministry during the trial period,� said Padamlal Giri. “The results will be put up to the Variety Release Committee and, if they approve, we’ll give it a local name and release it to the farmers.�
Since the detection of rice-blast infection of paddy in 1995, Yusipang RNRC has been doing its own research and evaluation on improving the variety of paddy in the country, according to research officials.
According to Padam Lal Giri, high altitude local varieties were severely infected by blast in 1995. 72 percent of the blast pressure was in Genekha, Thimphu, according to an agriculture ministry survey.
About 402 rice varieties, 351 from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, are being tried for cross-improvement in Bhutan. Source: Kuenselonline
