Cuban rice growers look for ways to increase production

Cuban rice growers look for ways to increase production
Published on Friday, May 23, 2008

HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): At a time when the international market price of
rice tops US$1,220 a ton, producers, researchers and agronomists from
different parts of the world will converge in Havana from June 2 to 6 to
discuss the current situation and prospects for this vital crop.

The Fourth International Rice Congress will discuss the transfer of
sustainable technologies, information updates and how to enrich genetic
diversity. Jorge Luis Hernandez, director of the Rice Research
Institute, said Cuba is working to increase the number of high-yield
rice varieties, reported Granma newspaper.

While there are presently experimental zones and fields with higher
yields, the national rice production averages 4 tons per hectare. The
specialists consider the indicator positive when it reaches between 5
and 7.6 tons.

By 2015, Cuba hopes to recover the volume of rice it used to produce in
the 1980s when 3,500 hectares were under cultivation. Hernandez said the
effort seeks to recover areas previously dedicated to this crop in the
different provinces as well as adding new areas with good potential.

Hernandez said the Rice Research Institute has 35 varieties adapted to
the new requirements and also a germ plasma bank.

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-8034--5-5--.html