Three of the new rice varieties were named Inpara (water resilient), Inpago (drought resilient) and Inpari (pest resistant).Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Agriculture Ministry`s research and development agency has succeeded in producing 10 new rice varieties to be introduced in anticipation of the impact of climate change on food production.
The agency`s head, B. Haryono, told newmen here on Tuesday, that climate change currently had caused the emergence of unpredictable extreme weather both wet and dry besides causing pest attacks.
Therefore, there was need for rice seeds which are resilient to drought, excessive water or attacks from planthopper pests," said Haryono who also revealed that his agency had produced 10 new rice varieties in anticipation of the natural phenomena.
Although the impacts of climate change have just recently been felt. The 10 new rice varieties are the result of research that had lasted between six to seven years.
Three of the new rice varieties were named Inpara (water resilient), Inpago (drought resilient) and Inpari (pest resistant).
Inclusive of the new 10 special rice varieties, Haryono said, in the last five years the agricultural research and development agency had produced a total of 31 new rice varieties. Since its establishment, the agricultural research and development agency has produced more than 200 superior rice varieties.
Efforts on tackling impacts of climate change on food production have also been launched through the introduction of planting calendars, including allocating certain varieties for certain localities up to district levels nationwide and recommendation on fertilizer uses.
"The current planting calendars need to be changed because of the dynamically volatile weather patterns," he said.
Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geo-physic Agency (BMKG) has introduced new planting calendars containing 220 season zones covering the 18 provinces and 198 regencies.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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