Rainfed rice - IRRI books - International Rice Research Institute

RAINFED RICE A SOURCEBOOK OF BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES IN EASTERN INDIA
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Most modern varieties have been developed through hybridisation involving
the single dwarfing gene source De geo woo gen (DGWG). This single
dwarfing gene source increases the plant’s vulnerability to pests and
diseases, such as devastation by the brown planthopper in Kerala in the late
1970s and bacterial blight in Punjab in 1980. The current trend to use a
single wild abortive (WA) cytoplasmic male sterile source to develop hybrid
rice may lead to similar epidemics.
Strategies to meet projected rice demand in India
Total rice production in India has to increase from the present 82 million
tons to 95 million tons per annum by 2002-2003.
To achieve this target, in addition to the seeds of modern varieties,
higher amounts of chemical fertilisers and insecticides/fungicides will
have to be used. But these inputs can pose environmental and human
health hazards and need to be constantly monitored.
The increase of 13 million tons of
rice production has to be
achieved within the next five
years. This is possible only
through the extensive use of new
HYVs and improved production
technologies.
Eastern India has a total rice area
of 26.8 million ha amounting to
63.3% of the rice area of the
country. A modest yield increase
of half a ton per ha will
contribute about 13 million tons
of extra rice, thus meeting the
demand.