A decade-long agricultural project spearheaded by Chinese scientists has helped alleviate the poverty of more than 1.6 million farming households in 18 Asian and African countries by cultivating high-yield, resilient rice strains.
The Green Super Rice project, led by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has generated 78 rice varieties that have outputs 20 percent higher per hectare on average while also minimizing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation, said Li Zhikang, a professor and researcher of rice breeding at the academy, and a leading member of the project.
The total area cultivated with the high-yield, resilient strains in target countries has expanded to 6.12 million hectares as of the end of last year, including about 3.4 million hectares in the Philippines, 1.3 million hectares in India and 1.1 million hectares in Vietnam, he said on April 2.
“Instead of solely emphasizing higher output, the Green Super Rice project is intended to guarantee stable yields while also beefing up crops’ resistance to drought, flooding and disease,” Li said.
“Thus, farmers are able to save a large amount of resources, such as fertilizers and water, to fight against these issues,” he said.
The sustainable notion is welcomed by Philippine agricultural researchers and farmers, according to Jose Yorobe Jr, a consultant with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. He attended a meeting in Beijing on April 2 about the project’s conclusion with dozens of representatives from participant countries.
“Because of climate change and population growth, developing countries are now pressured to increase rice productivity,” he said. “Some high-yield modern varieties are still vulnerable to inclement weather, pests and disease.”
Yorobe said on-site studies have shown that the varieties introduced to the Philippines through the Green Super Rice project are capable of thriving in harsh environments and maintaining steady yields.
“After Typhoon Haiyan swept through Leyte island in the central Philippines in November 2013, we found that the Green Super Rice variety was one of the few that was still growing when submerged in saline water,” he said. “Local farmers were elated and regained hope.”
In West Africa, six Green Super Rice varieties with high-yield potential and strong tolerance to drought, salinity, and iron toxicity have been developed, and about 14.5 metric tons of such seeds were distributed to local rice breeders, according to Baboucarr Manneh, a researcher at the African Rice Center in Cote d’Ivoire.
“Moreover, about 500 scientists, technicians and farmers have been trained in fields such as breeding, seed production and crop management through the project. The training helps increase farmers’ capabilities and achieve sustainable future growth,” he said.
According to Li, the project has recently drawn to a close as sponsorship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ended as planned. “However, more green super rice strains are expected to be rolled out thanks to funds from the Belt and Road Initiative and the South-South Cooperation.”
Gary Atlin, a senior program officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said the project demonstrates a new collaboration model where rice scientists from different countries can work together to understand local needs, and then develop solutions on a global basis.
“The expertise of Chinese scientists in rice breeding and cultivation is a tremendous resource for the developing world,” he said. “I believe it will continue to have an impact for years to come.”
