Special Live Radio Interview of Dr. Hossieni Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII) with Darich (Window) program of Guilan Province Radio Channel (Baran) of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
Director General of Rice Research Institute of Iran attended on Darich (Window) program of Guilan Province Radio Channel (Baran) of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Wednesday, April 13, 2023. In answer to a Radio host about the important challenges in knowledge-based rice production, she introduced the RRII’s newly released rice varieties, explained the rice agronomy management programs, varietal selection for higher rice farmers’ income, and seeds, fertilizers, and other agronomic input to increase sustainable rice yield in the rice-growing area of the country.
Dr. Hossieni Director General of the Rice Research Institute of Iran at the beginning of his interview said: The basic requirements for knowledge-based rice production are choosing the most sustainable rice variety for each rice growing area, compliance with the agricultural calendar, supplying the proper agricultural input such as certified seeds, and high-quality fertilizers. She also emphasized again to get valid agricultural calendars from the rice research institute or provincial agricultural organization. She pointed out some
In response to a question about the importance of the agricultural calendar in the water shortage problem in the current year, she said: the farmer must notice the water scarcity at the coming cropping year in her or his crop calendar and prepare the paddy field very close to transplanting time to save more irrigation water. Dr. Hossieni also strongly recommended the farmer consider agricultural recommendations for better-saving water resources. Therefore, the farmer must plan their activities to finish the transplanting stage by mid of May.
To cope with these problems, the rice research institute of Iran prepared the rice agricultural practices calendar together with local rice cultivation experts, and was available for rice farmers before the current rice growing year. According to this calendar, high-potential yield rice cultivars for the paddy fields with sufficient water and early mature and improved rice for the rest of the rice growing area are strongly recommended. The pure local rice variety (Hashemi), early mature improved rice cultivars such as Guilaneh, Anam, Gilar, and Kian recommended for paddy farmers this year for the rice-growing areas of Guilan province. All of these recommended rice varieties have cooking quality as same as local varieties. Kian not only has good cooking quality but also is drought tolerant and recommended for the area engage with the water crisis.
The Rash variety, a mid-mature rice cultivar, also not only has better cooking quality better, but also can produce a 1.5-time grain yield more than Shiroudi rice cultivar. Dr. Hossieni, Director General of the Rice Research Institute of Iran requested the farmers to select their rice variety based on their available irrigation water. Also, she recommended the farmer use certified seeds to achieve higher yields, save more seeds by using fewer seeds per hectare and harvest more pure head rice with higher quality.
Dr. Hossieni Director General of the Rice Research Institute of Iran requested the farmers to supply their rice seed requirements from local agricultural services, and seed supplier companies. The RRII is ready to give the best solutions and advice to the farmers on how they prepare their seeds.
Dr. Hossieni in response to the answer about applying basal fertilizers stated that the basal necessity fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and Potassium must be in balance, on the right amount and time based on the recommendations of the RRII and agricultural organizations’ experts. She pleased the farmer to avoid using Urea alone.
She also pointed out that the RRII prepared the soil fertility map of Guilan province and the RRII is ready to guide the farmers and answer all paddy farmers’ questions about soil fertility and fertilizers to achieve higher yield and more income.
At the end, she emphasized that the farmers must notice the agronomical recommendations concerning their selected varieties. All these recommendations are available at RRII’s website and extension hall of agricultural research, education, and extension organization at these addresses: https://agrilib.
At the end of this program, she answered farmers’ questions.