Jakarta, Indonesia
December 21, 2006
Following
successful launches in India, the Philippines and Vietnam,
Bayer CropScience
has now started to market its Arize™ hybrid rice seeds in
Indonesia. The launch ceremony (photo) for its new variety
Arize™ Hibrindo R-1 was held in Jakarta on December 19th in the
presence of Indonesia Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono,
President Director of PT Bayer Indonesia Mr.Hans-Josef Schill,
Country Head Bayer CropScience Indonesia Mr Benjamin Jowett, and
Bayer CropScience Bioscience General Manager Rice Frederic
Arboucalot. Joining them were more than 200 participants
including Indonesian government officials, rice farmers and rice
millers.
Indonesia is the third biggest rice producer in the world with
approximately 54 Mio tones per year. Arize™ Hibrindo R-1 can be
planted in most parts of the country, in both wet an dry
seasons. It has been widely tested in various agro-climatic
conditions in Indonesia since 2004 and was officially registered
by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in 2005. “Development
and commercialization of our Arize™ Hibrindo R-1 hybrid rice
seeds in Indonesia confirms the support from Bayer CropScience
to the Ministry of Agriculture objective of achieving rice
self-sufficiency for Indonesia” said Mr. Frederic Arboucalot,
Bayer CropScience Bioscience General Manager Rice on the
occasion of the launch ceremony.
Hybrid rice has the potential of yielding up to 35% more than
inbred varieties grown under similar conditions. Hybrid rice
technology provides farmers with high yields, saves land for
agricultural diversification and creates rural employment
opportunities. Hybrid rice can play a major role in enhancing
the productivity of the rice crop and therefore contributes
sustainable food security. Bayer CropScience plans to further
expand supply of hybrid rice seeds to farmers from the Central
Java and Lampung provinces in the following season. |