Agronomists develop world's first tropical Japonica rice

MANILA, Philippines - Introducing: The world’s first tropical Japonica rice.

Named Maligaya Special 11 (MS11), the variety is the outcome of a pilot-project of Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) coordinating scientists at the Los Baños-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The project was started in 1992 and completed last year.

Adaptation tests were done in eight countries, among them the Philippines. Involved locally were some government institutions, among them the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet.

A Korean delegation led by RDA administrator Dr. Jae-Soo Kim reported on MS 11 at a forum held last April 14 at the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) in Los Baños.

The forum was attended by officials of PCARRD and the Philippines-Korea Rural Development Administration Alumni Association (PhilRAA) and journalists.

The Korean group also presented MS 11 at a scientific conference at IRRI on the occasion of its 50^th anniversary celebration.

“This variety will be cultivated at about 200 hectares of field in Bohol,” the Korean report stated.

During the forum at PCARRD, Dr. Kim and Dr. Faylon turned over samples of the Japonica rice to Larry Pamugas, Engr. Sergio Cuako, both of the Bohol Office of Provincial Agriculturist; and Nador Tadena, president of the Bohol Japonica Rice Growers Association (BJRGA).

MS 11, the Korean report stated, can yield 4.9 tons per hectare, or nine percent higher than IR 72, a superior tropical variety.

RDA explained that temperate varieties are not normally grown in tropical areas. They tend to flower a month earlier in the tropics as the temperature is high and the day is short.

“Also, they yield very little grains,” it added.

Indica has been commonly cultivated in tropical countries. However, as the round-type, sticky Japonica is consumed more and more in some high-class restaurants and by families that can afford the price, the demand for it is considerable, the Korean report stated.

Corollary to the project, the Philippines-Korea RDA Alumni Association conducted a subproject titled “Model Farm in Japonica Rice Production” in Bohol with the OPAG and BJRGA as implementing agencies.

Collaborating agencies were PhilRAA, IRRI, PCARRD, and RDA. Project leaders were Tadena, Pamugas, and Liza Quirog, provincial agriculturist.

During the three-year (2006-2008) project implementation, nine model farms covering 60 hectares involving 30 farmers were established and maintained. Adaptability trials of three varieties, among them MS 11, were also done.

“Average production was 3.8 tons per hectare,” reported PhilRAA, headed by PCARRD Deputy Executive Director Richard Juanillo.