Bangladesh pins hope for rice sufficiency on Phl hybrid tech

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangladesh government is relying on Philippine hybrid rice producer SL Agritech Corp. to help Bangladesh meet its food security needs, particularly for rice.

Bangladesh officials led by Ministry of Agriculture Additional Secretaries Quazi Akhtar Hossain and S.M. Nazmul Islam, concurrent Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corp. chairman, yesterday reached agreement with SLAC president and chief executive Henry Lim Bon Liong to expand hybrid rice seed production in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and SLAC had signed a memorandum of agreement three years ago for hybrid rice seed production in Bangladesh.

From an initial production of 69 tons in 2009, rice seed production in Bangladesh has increased 400 tons in 2010 and up to 700 tons this year. For next year, seed production in Bangladesh is expected to increase to 1,200 tons.

Under the planned expanded production, seed production is targeted to reach 5,000 tons from 2013 to 2014.

According to Hossain and Islam, Bangladesh has found the hybrid rice variety SL8H of SLAC to be the most cost effective and highest yielding, producing 12 tons per hectare.

The Bangladesh government, Dr. Islam said, provides its farmers with the SL8H seeds at only $3 per kilo as compared to the cost of other hybrid varieties at $6/kilo.

During this visit, the Bangladesh government is trying to seek more parental lines to be able to increase its rice production.

According to Hossain, Bangladesh is already self-sufficient in rice. However, because of its 160 million population and a mere 8.5-million hectares devoted to rice, Bangladesh needs to increase its rice production.

At present, Bangladesh has two open pollinated rice seed varieties and three hybrid varieties – with SL8H producing the most per hectare.

Aside from Bangladesh, SLAC also produces hybrid rice seeds in Indonesia and is starting hybrid rice seeds in Vietnam.

SLAC exported 300 tons of hybrid rice seeds to Vietnam this year, but will increase that amount to 1,000 tons next year and up to 2,500 tons by 2013.

However, SLAC will soon start hybrid rice seed production in Vietnam so that SLAC’s own hybrid rice seed production in the Philippines would be for the country’s own requirements.

Aside from Indonesia and Bangladesh, SLAC is also in talks with Cambodia for possible hybrid rice seed production.

Interest from as far as Nigeria is also increasing with an initial export of 50 tons.