Kerala Agriculture University develops rice that resists climate change

Kochi: The agriculture university and research organisations in the state should take an active role in addressing climate change, Minister for Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar has said. Research in developing new paddy varieties which can withstand climate change  such as drought and saline water intrusion has attained success, he said while inaugurating the modernised tissue culture lab at Kerala Agriculture University’s Rice Research Station (RRS) at Vyttila here on Tuesday.

“A financial assistance of Rs.3 crore will be provided to the rice research station for further research works on paddy,” he said. He  stressed the need to strengthen the ties between agriculture university and agriculture department so as to spread the benefits of researches to farmers.  He also said that production at the agriculture department’s tissue culture lab at Kazhakoottam will be doubled.

Mr P.T Thomas MLA, Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran, research director Jiju P. Alex and corporation councillor Nisha Dinesh also spoke.
When paddy cultivation in the state is passing through tough times, the  yield and climate resilient varieties developed by the RRS have been well accepted by farmers. The RRS is the only agency which conducts research on the traditional climate resilient farming practice –Pokkali farming, where paddy and fish are grown alternatively.  It has already developed nine varieties of Pokkali rice named Vyttila 1 to Vyttila 9.