The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council’s Rice Evaluation Committee selected 14 high-yielding rice hybrids from private seed companies for growing in Pakistan.
Furthermore, PARC’s National Institute of Genomics and Biotechnology (NIGAB) has introduced four fine rice varieties with much higher grain yields than currently farmed kinds.
The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) also approved these fine rice varieties for cultivation in Pakistan, with the goal of increasing farmers’ productivity and profitability.
In addition, the VEC also suggested the cultivation of Sona Super Basmati, a long-grain variety measuring 9.5mm, and Vital Super Basmati developed by the Rice Research Institute at Kala Shah Kaku. Vital Super Basmati is notable for its high levels of zinc and iron enrichment.
Dr Muhammad Yousuf, PARC’s National Coordinator Rice, provided the committee members with a complete analysis of fifty-one recommendations for rice hybrids and types.
During a discussion with rice scientists, PARC Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali expressed confidence in the good impact of these high-yielding rice varieties on productivity and profitability.
Moreover, PARC approved eleven new high-yielding rice varieties for cultivation in various ecologies a few years ago, including seven (7) hybrid and four (4) Open-Pollinated (OP) seed. Nineteen (19) rice varieties were offered to the VEC, including 14 hybrid and 5 OP types, with 11 authorised and eight rejected due to susceptibility to Bacterial-Leaf-Blight (BLB) disease and low grain quality performance. The varieties that have been accepted were suggested?to the National Seed Council.
According to the details the VEC-approved hybrid varieties had a yield potential of up to 92 mounds per acre, whilst the OP rice types had a substantially higher yield potential than the conventional IRRI-6 and KSK-133 kinds.
The OP varieties were?developed from germplasm donated by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines to PARC and the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE).