From Genes To Farmers' Fields: New 'Waterproof' Rice Developed
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 18:21
in Mathematics & Economics
"Waterproof" versions of popular varieties of rice, which can withstand two weeks of complete submergence, have passed tests in farmers' fields with flying colors. Several of these varieties are now close to official release by national and state seed certification agencies in Bangladesh and India, where farmers suffer major crop losses because of flooding of up to 4 million tons of rice per year. This is enough rice to feed 30 million people.