The First 2022 Special Radio Interview of Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII) with Darich (The Window) program of Guilan Province Radio Channel (Baran) of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcaster
Director-General of Rice Research Institute of Iran attended on Darich (Window) program of Guilan Province Radio Channel (Baran) of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcaster on Thursday, January 27, 2022.
In answer to a Radio host about the rice sector challenges, introduced the RRII’s newly released rice varieties, explained the rice evolution production program, and issued the last extensional recommendations for rice farmers to increase sustainable rice yield in the rice-growing area of the country.
Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran: The main research objectives of the Rice Research Institute of Iran, and more broadly the Ministry of Jahad Agriculture focus on increasing the rice grain yield as well as enhancing the cooking and eating quality of rice by introducing new improved varieties.
In this 45 minutes program, Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran discussed and answered questions about the morphological and physiological characteristics of the newly introduced rice cultivars by RRII breeders.
She categorized these recently introduced rice varieties into three different groups, namely, Good to high-quality varieties with reasonable grain yield. These varieties were released and introduced to replace some local cultivars to increase the average yield per unit area because they have higher yields than local cultivars. Gilar and Anam are the most important cultivars of this group. Group 2: High-potential cultivars with high yield and suitable cooking quality.
These varieties were released and introduced to replace previously introduced high yield improved rice cultivars. During the last three years, three cultivars of high-potential categories have been introduced by the Rice Research Institute of Iran. Rash, Tisa, and Tolou cultivars which were earlier mature than the previous high potential cultivars consumed less irrigation water and better cooking and eating quality than group 1. Group 3: Cultivars are tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought and water shortage crisis, and the latest cultivar introduced in this field is called Kian, which was produced in collaboration with the Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute. The last 30 days of the growing season do not require irrigation water.
In this part of the interview, Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran promoted the rice producer across the country to cultivate these triple groups due to their resistance to lodging, drought-tolerant. Good cooking quality to obtain a higher grain yield and consequently more income.
She also added that with the evolution program of rice production, which will be implemented in the new crop season and will continue for 5 years, we will have plans to support farmers to make production economical, and we will have a gradual increase in domestic rice production to the point where it is no longer needed to import rice.
He also said that locally produced rice has healthy rice standards, and in fact, Iranian rice is one of the highest quality and healthiest rice produced in the world. It is based on the fact that in all breeding and agricultural programs, attention to taste and aroma, and healthy food are seriously considered and with the support of a paddy farmer and through contract farming in rice, the rice production evolution program can be implemented.
At the first QA part of this radio program, Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran answered all questions received through a phone call, SMS, and radio report about new rice cultivars and how to provide these rice seeds.
In response to a question about the important applied recommendations for rice farmers, she said: the farmer must notice the water scarcity at the coming cropping year in her or his crop calendar and the recommendations of experts, and be sure to prepare basic fertilizers containing macro elements and use them according to the RRII’s instructions. Also, she recommended the farmer consider agricultural recommendations in controlling detriment factors and use certified seeds to achieve higher yields.
In response to a question about the RRII’s program to improve the penetration coefficient of certified seeds, Dr. Hosseini, General of Rice Research Institute of Iran, added: the production of certified rice seeds will increase in the coming year due to the farmer welcoming to the newly improved rice cultivars and we hope that the penetration coefficient of certified rice seeds increases year by year through predicted supporting plans in the rice production evolution program.
He pointed out that because of the huge number of farmers in the paddy field, the cooperation of all media, especially Radio and Television will be very effective in promoting the new varieties cultivation and providing timely agricultural recommendations.
Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran: The Rice Research Institute Iran has organized various training courses, and workshops (In-person and online), publishing extension booklet and bulletins, technical reports, posters, and infographic design, and also the formation of a group of specific researchers to monitoring rice paddy fields, research and extension projects, and on-farm, etc., play a vital role to increase rice grain yield. In this regard, we must use capabilities, opportunities, and abilities in all media.
Dr. Hossieni stated that my request to everyone in the rice industry is to support farmers and local rice production, especially improved cultivars, due to the reduction of production costs and also the reduction of prices for the consumer.
In the end, Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran expressed hope that the rice farmer by using the pre-growing season soil analyses and better fertilizers recommendation by the RRII’s academic member achieves higher yield and grain quality. Also, all researchers and experts of the RRII will answer the paddy farmers’ questions through on farms visiting during the growing season.
He also referred to the visit of the IR Iran President and the Minister of Agriculture-Jahad on Friday, February 29, pointed out that this trip will be a source of good and blessing for the agricultural community of Guilan, especially rice cultivation sectors.