by Charisma Love B. Gado
Chinese and Filipino rice experts from
the Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) and
Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice), respectively, signed a memorandum of
agreement (MOA) to improve and boost hybrid rice seed production
and commercialization in their respective countries.
This agreement sustains the long years
of collaboration between the Philippines and China on rice
research since 1995. Previous collaborations covered rice
varietal improvement, and hybrid rice seed production and
commercialization.
Hybrid rice, a product of crossing two
rice plants with superior qualities, can yield 12 t/ha a season
with proper management and favorable environment.
Under the new agreement, the Chinese and
Filipino experts will collaborate on developing high yielding
cultivation techniques for hybrid rice production, breeding and
commercialization of new hybrid rice varieties, and maintenance
of genetic purity of hybrid parentals, among others.
The signing, led by JAAS Vice-President
for Research and Development Xie Jinshui and PhilRice Executive
Director Leocadio S. Sebastian, was held January 19 at the
PhilRice Central Experiment Station in the Science City of
Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Both countries are implementing hybrid
rice commercialization programs in response to increasing
demands for rice brought about by increasing populations and
diminishing agricultural areas.
The five-year collaboration, from 2007
to 2011, covers exchange visits and trainings in both countries
and development of hybrid rice varieties.
JAAS will assist PhilRice in hybrid rice
seed production and PhilRice researchers will be trained on new
hybrid rice seed production technologies.
PhilRice will also lead the development
of commercially competitive hybrid varieties that are suited to
Philippine conditions.
Moreover, there will be a yearly
exchange of the best hybrid varieties with long and slender
grains and A lines for testing and improvement of agronomic
traits of local varieties. This exchange is hoped to increase
hybrid rice seed production by 2 t/ha; cytoplasmic male sterile
or mother parental, about 1.5 tons/ha; and R (father parental)
line multiplication, about 4 t/ha.
