Scientists have developed rice varieties resistant to floods, drought and heat. They have also produced more nutritious strains. These changes can reduce environmental damage and increase yields
; more frequent floods are destroying them. No mere victim of global warming, rice cultivation is also a major cause of it, because paddy fields emit a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The crop that fuelled the rise of 60% of the world’s population is becoming a source of insecurity and threat.
This makes productivity gains harder, especially where labour is scarce. Planting seeds in neat rows, replanting seedlings and harvesting them is back-breaking drudgery that Asian workers increasingly have the means to escape. Water, another big input, is scarcer. In many places soils are depleted and poisoned by excessive use of fertiliser and pesticide.. A study in 2004 found that a 1°C increase in minimum temperatures leads to a 10% decline in yields.
Addressing so many problems is complicated. If the first green revolution was about productivity, says Jean Balié, director-general of, the next one should focus on “systems rather than solutions at the plant or plot level”. This calls for better rice policies as well as varieties. Untying policy knots that have tightened over decades is fiendishly hard. Farmers are important vote banks that governments dare not antagonise. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which prides itself on implementing tough but necessary measures, learnt this in 2021 when it was forced to roll back agriculture reforms in the face of farmer protests.
The challenge is to get improved seeds and methods adopted at scale. Many farmers do not know they exist. Some are averse to trying something new. A nationwide survey of rice farmers in India in 2017-18 found that only 26% had adopted varieties released since 2004.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Arsenal fans convinced they know what Zinchenko told transfer target RiceIt’s been an interesting international break for Arsenal fans and one of their top summer transfer targets, Declan Rice. The West Ham captain is again linked with a move away from the London Stadiu…
Read more »
Murphy advises Rice on where to go this summer amid Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea linksDeclan Rice has been urged to leave West Ham for the sake of his career by Danny Murphy. Murphy added that the 24-year-old England midfielder would be an ‘automatic starter’ for Premier…
Read more »
Liverpool legend Gerrard hits back at Rice critics after 'fantastic display' for EnglandSteven Gerrard thinks that Declan Rice responded brilliantly to his critics with a superb performance for England while on international duty.
Read more »
McTominay goals 'Lampard-esque' as Man United man told he'd be good Rice replacementScott McTominay’s heroics for Scotland reminded talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy of Chelsea icon and former England star Frank Lampard. The 26-year-old scored twice for his country as they secur…
Read more »
Scientists Hack Early Stage Of Photosynthesis In Breakthrough For Biofuel | OilPrice.com🌿 New photosynthesis discovery by Cambridge_Uni could revive biofuels, improve crop efficiency, and generate clean fuel! Game-changer for renewable energy. 🔆🌍 biofuels renewableenergy photosynthesis
Read more »