Bt
rice could be launched in India by 2011–12
India is developing
nutritionally enhanced biotech rice that is high in protein, iron and
beta-carotene; using less pesticide that could double the yield and
save traditional low yielding varieties from extinction…
According to the ISAAA report, deployment of biotech rice as a crop is
seen as an important step to the adoption of biotech crops globally.
Rice is the second most consumed cereal grain, after maize, for a large
part of the world’s population, especially in Asia and
tropical Latin America. Bt rice is almost ready for adoption,
principally the pest/disease resistant biotech rice extensively field
tested in China and awaiting approval of the Chinese regulatory
authorities. It has the potential to increase net income by
approximately $100 per hectare for the 110 million poor rice households
in China, equivalent to 440 million people, based on an average of four
per household in the rural areas of China. Golden Rice—or
genetically biofortified rice with beta carotene that produces vitamin
A is being field-tested at the International Rice Research Institute in
Los Baños, Laguna. Its adoption for the Philippines is being
done by the Philippine Rice Research Institute with two other traits
incorporated in the rice—tungro virus and bacterial blight
resistance.
With over 43 million hectares, India has the largest rice acreage in
the world and is the second largest producer of rice with production at
96.43 million tones in 2007-08. With India’s population
estimated to reach 1.3 billion by 2017, the Government of India
estimates that we may be short of 14 million metric tonnes of food
grains. To meet this huge challenge, Indian scientists are working upon
developing biotech enhanced rice that has built-in insect protection,
rice with high iron and zinc and golden Indica rice, Xa-21 rice for
bacterial blight resistance. Leading institutes like International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, and Central Rice Research
Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, are conducting research in the areas of
disease resistance, weedicide control and nutrition enhancement with
beta carotene and iron fortification. After all the required
processes and approvals, it is estimated that biotech enhanced rice
could be launched in India by 2011 –12.
While commenting on the role played by Bt rice in food security, Dr
Swapan Datta, professor, University of Calcutta said, “Plant
biotechnology has the potential to enhance productivity of crops,
including rice while addressing the problems of rising food needs.
Biotech enhanced rice could double the yields of crops and can save
traditional low yielding varieties from extinction by converting taller
varieties into shorter heights with multiple tillers resulting in
higher yields. Biotech rice and new generation rice tolerant to
drought, salinity and cold will provide better adaptation to challenge
the threat of global climate change.”
Dr GJN Rao, head, plant improvement, CRRI, Cuttack, Orissa said,
“Biotech rice has a clear advantage. It can address many of
the production constraints in India, enhance productivity and help
protect the environment by reducing the use of chemical pesticides.
Since India is also home to the world’s largest number of
malnourished people, most of whom are women and children, CRRI is
working on developing nutritionally enhanced rice for high protein and
high-iron. Using conventional means and transgenic approach, we are
developing rice varieties for incorporating resistance to diseases and
insects and abiotic stresses like drought.”
Recently, an agreement was signed between Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) and IRRI to support and facilitate
India’s rice research for the next three years, helping the
nation’s rice production at a time of new challenges such as
global climate change, increased cost of production, value addition and
the revitalization of food production.
In addition to CRRI Cuttack, some of the Indian Institutes that are
conducting research on biotech rice include University of
Calcutta, Bose Institute, Directorate of Rice
Research, National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology,
University of Delhi, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Madurai Kamaraj
Unviersity, Osmania University and MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation, Chennai.