High quality paddy varieties to be promoted globally

BY UDITHA Kumarasinghe

THE Agriculture Development Ministry has decided to promote high quality traditional paddy varieties globally with the aim of earning foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.

Agriculture Development Minister Chamal Rajapakse has already issued guidelines to the relevant institutions, to implement this programme, a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.

The country's seed paddy production has to be increased immediately in order to implement this programme.

Therefore, Minister Rajapakse has already given instructions to commence a programme to produce seed paddy utilising certain amount of seed paddy varieties which are being presently stored in cool rooms, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry will seek the assistance of the scientists of the Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hanthana, University Professors of Agriculture Faculties and the officials of the Agriculture Department to conduct researches and obtain scientific data on the significant features of these traditional paddy varieties.

All paddy varieties which were cultivated in Sri Lanka over the past 3,000 years are well preserved at the Plant Genetic Resource Centre at Gannoruwa. Of these 3,000 paddy varieties, 600 have already been identified by their names.

Researchers have revealed that some of these paddy varieties contain special features. Several paddy varieties which are cultivated and preserved in the Kalutara district are ideal to prepare milk rice. Researchers have also confirmed that some traditional paddy varieties contain medicinal value.

Compared with other paddy varieties, the harvest of these traditional paddy varieties are somewhat below than the other paddy varieties.

Research is being conducted by the Bathalagoda Paddy Research and Development Institute to overcome this situation and obtain a bigger harvest from these traditional paddy varieties. The research conducted so far has shown greater results, the spokesman said.

The Ministry will also implement a special programme to explain the special features of these paddy varieties. Through the branding concept, the Ministry hopes to obtain a higher price to the farmers who cultivate these traditional paddy varieties, he said.