Biotech Updates

New Rice Varieties to Increase Upland Farmers' Yield in the Philippines

November 7, 2012

Thirteen new rice varieties which were developed through the effort of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are seen to give hope to the indigenous and other upland farmers in the Philippines. These rice varieties are believed to give yield far higher than their conventional counterparts. One of the varieties, known as NSIC Rc23 or Katihan 1, is reported to yield for up to 7.6 tons per hectare after 100 days compared to conventional rice's yield of less than 2 tons per hectares which is grown only once a year. The initiative is part of the Improving Livelihoods and Overcoming Poverty in the Drought-Prone Lowlands of South and Southeast Asia project funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development.

See PhilRice's news release at http://www.philrice.gov.ph/?page=resources&page2=news&id=191.