Hybridisation may boost rice output by 20%

NEW DELHI: Productivity of rice per hectare in the world’s second-largest producer of the cereal may have plateaued but applying hybridisation technology for the key kharif cereal could ’dramatically improve’ productivity from the current low levels.

According to agricultural scientists and experts, the rate of adoption of hybrid rice in India is on the rise (35% CAGR). Hybrid rice is known to boost productivity by as much as 20% in some cases.

Scientists subscribing to this view include BC Virakthamat, project director at the Hyderabad-based Directorate of Rice Research and VN Singh of the Jharkhand Agricultural University, both attending the ongoing International Rice Congress here.

India is the world’s second-largest rice producer (128m tonnes) but by productivity, it ranks as low as 16, according to industry estimates. With Vision 2020 envisaging a CAGR of 4.3% for rice production, target production for rice has been estimated at 163m tonnes (’05 base year).

However, at the existing growth rate of only 1.3% pa, India, it is estimated, will only achieve a production of 106m tonnes by ’20, a shortfall of nearly 60m tonnes.

Experts say that at current levels, the additional yield of hybrid rice at 1.5 tonnes/ha can help immensely in bridging the gap.

Close to 40% of the total area under foodgrain is covered by rice but a good 57% of that is rainfed area, which means that hybrids have to focus not just on yield but also disease-resistant, shorter duration and hardier varieties.