Rice Experts Roll Out New Stress-Tolerant Rice Varieties for Africa

The Rice Breeding Task Force convened by the Africa Rice Center has recently nominated six rice varieties with improved tolerance to environmental stresses under the brand ARICA, or Advanced Rice Varieties for Africa. The ARICA varieties are selected through rigorous multi-environment testing process including regional and national trials as well as participatory varietal selection involving farmers.

The six varieties were developed with tolerance to iron toxicity, cold, and salt. One variety is notable as it combines tolerance to two stresses, namely, iron toxicity and cold.

Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, AfricaRice Irrigated Rice breeder said that more than 30 stress-tolerant rice varieties have already been released in nine African countries with support from the Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa project, with more varieties in the pipeline.

For more details, read the news release at: http://www.africarice.org/warda/newsrel-STRASA-Mar14.asp.