Use biotech to boost rice output: PM

Worried over stagnation in production of India's major staple food crop, rice, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked scientists to explore cautious use of bio-technology for enhancing productivity through development of low water intake paddy crops.

"We, in India, are concerned that the growth rate of both production and productivity in rice cultivation in the country has tapered off in recent years. We need a new boost to rice production and productivity," Singh said at the inauguration of the 2nd International Rice Congress here.

Singh said about 815 million people in developing countries are reported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation to be undernourished. "Hunger and malnutrition are the underlying cause of more than half of all child deaths killing nearly six million children each year," the Prime Minister said.

"I see in rice a promise for better and affordable nutrition for our future generations. The challenge is before you," he told the scientists.

Stating that rice was the first field crop for which the complete genome sequence is available, Singh said this offers a tremendous opportunity for bio-technological applications to improve plant performance and resistance to various biotic stresses.

Observing that modern rice varieties are now grown on about 71% of area under rice in South and South-East Asia, the Prime Minister said it is estimated that annual gains from the adoption of modern varieties in South and South_east Asian countries now stand at over $10 billion.

As the dominant crop in most production systems, rice requires special attention in addressing natural and manmade challenges to the co-system of rice. India is characterised by wide swings in weather, he said adding scientists should come out with technologies that convince farmers to use less water in rice production without compromising on returns.