International Rice Research Institute Philippines is promoting regional cooperation to increase rice production and germplasm exchange in South Asia to meet the nutritional needs of the rapidly growing population. These views were expressed by IRRI Director for Asia, DrJongsoo Shin, during an online meeting with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan and other stakeholders. He said that various countries should work together to bring food stability at the level. He said that IRRI’s efforts to increase the production of rice at the global level have resulted in rice meeting the nutritional needs of 56% of the world’s population. While twenty-five percent of the world’s population is cultivating rice and arranging their employment from it.
13 percent of the world’s crops are produced in the form of rice.
He said that 13 percent of the world’s crops are produced in the form of rice, which is worth 206 billion dollars. He further said that rice is being cultivated on 10 cultivable areas of the world, on which 35% of the total water resources are being used. New varieties of rice have been introduced. Similarly, in Pakistan, tall varieties of rice with the help of crisper case and genome editing can be adapted to the climatic changes by making them shorter in duration. He said that the world’s best fragrant rice is being produced in Pakistan and genetic diversity can be used to increase its production. Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan said that with the help of IRRI, Pakistan can make advancements in the rice production. He said Pakistan was producing valuable rice with excellent taste and aroma.
He said experts have to work together for value chain system equipped with new innovations. Director of Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku, Syed Sultan Ali Shah said that their institute has produced rice and several varieties have been introduced, one of which is a variety of 9mm rice, if it is improved, the country’s rice production can be greatly increased.
Efforts to reopen the IRRI office in Pakistan
Syed Faisal Ali, a progressive rice farmer, said that efforts to reopen the IRRI office in Pakistan with the support of Asian Development Bank are the most important need of the hour. He said that the production of rice can be increased by manipulation of different crops on the cultivated area.
Deputy Head Rice Breeding Innovation Dr.Varendor Kumar said that bio fortification should also be taken into account in the production of hybrid varieties of rice because two billion people around the world suffer from micronutrient deficiency. We have to keep an eye on these things that are in short supply.
Deputy Platform Leader Dr. Uma Shankar Singh said that more research is needed on sustainable cropping systems with a combination of rice and maize to achieve global food security goals. He said that rice, which meets the nutritional needs of half of the world’s population, can be a solution to problems such as malnutrition with the combination of various minerals and vitamins. Dr. Muhammad Sarwar, Dr. Muhammad Jalal Arif, Dr. Nadeem Akbar, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor, Dr. Asif Kamran, Dr. Muhammad Sagheer, Dr. Muhammad Waseem and Dr. Amir Maqsood Gill participated while Four Brothers Chief Executive Jawed Saleem Qureshi, Mr. Shahid Hussain Tarrar and Dr. Imtiaz Hussain also participated in the online meeting.