Islamabad, Pakistan
January 9, 2016
The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) on Rice has recommended fourteen (14) new rice hybrids to National Seed Council for their commercial cultivation in the country. Some of the recommended hybrids have yield upto 106 maunds per acre.
Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Dr. Nadeem Amjad said that with the addition of new recommended hybrids in the national system of the country there would be a significant improvement in the rice production in Pakistan.
The Rice VEC meeting was held here at PARC Headquarters which was presided over by Dr.Ahmad Bakhsh Maher, Member (Plant Sciences) PARC and Chairman VEC. The technical members of Rice VEC committee from National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of the country attended the meeting. The members included rice breeders, agronomists, entomologist, pathologist, seed experts, policy makers, private seed companies and provinces seed corporation representatives.
There were sixteen private seed companies that presented their rice hybrids proposals in the meeting. The VEC rejected fifteen (15) rice hybrids due to poor paddy yield, BLB disease susceptibility and poor grain quality.
The National Coordinator (Cereal Systems) PARC Mian Abdul Majid gave a detail presentation of new rice hybrid proposals. He appreciated the role of private seed companies for taking interest in rice research and development and working in close collaboration with public sector for the improvement of agriculture sector in Pakistan.
The experts also discussed in detail the issues related to making the rice hybrid national adaptability trials more qualitative and productive. They also appreciated the efforts of Mian Abdul Majid for conducting 2nd Rice VEC meeting successfully in one year.
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