Rice Agriculture Sector: Variety selection and new variety introduction event

A Farmer-Participatory Variety Selection and New Rice Variety Introduction event was held at the research field of the Plant Biotechnology Centre in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Region on October 5. In the first part of the event, Union Minister U Min Naung delivered an opening address.

He stated that the ministry is striving for the development of the country's key staple crop, the rice sector, to achieve the target acreage and to increase yield per acre. He explained that, due to the nature of rice crops whose quality can decline over generations, researchers and experts are engaged in breeding and improving high-quality rice varieties through cross-breeding and multiplication. Similarly, efforts are being made to produce high-quality seeds, to ensure the quality of inputs through laws and regulations, and to upgrade original Myanmar rice varieties using biotechnology.

He urged farmers to actively participate in the farmer-participatory variety selection by personally observing and evaluating the introduced varieties' biophysical characteristics, yield, maturity period, and grain quality, and then voting to select them.

Following this, the Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Ye Tint Tun, explained the purpose of holding the Farmer-Participatory Variety Selection and New Rice Variety Introduction event.

The Union Minister then warmly met and greeted the farmers attending the event, and coordinated and addressed the issues presented by the farmers regarding the agricultural sector.

Afterwards, he viewed the rice plots and the exhibition on "Upgrading Rice Varieties Using Biotechnology" within the research field, inspected the Plant Biotechnology Centre's Biosafety Level-2 laboratory, and discussed operational requirements with the responsible officials.

In the second part of the event, 60 farmers from Yangon Region and 55 farmers from Ayeyarwady Region participated in activities. These included selecting modified early-maturing Taungpyann  (seasonal) rice varieties, bred for cultivation across all seasons, and new colored rice varieties with antioxidant properties and low cholesterol content.

They also practically observed varieties produced by the Plant Biotechnology Centre, such as early-maturing Pawsan, Manawthukha-2, and Ayartoe. Additionally, they tasted cooked rice to check grain quality, voted for variety selection, and held discussions.