New rice variety to address environmental challenges 

Government and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have launched the Water-Efficient and Drought-Resistant (WDR-73) rice variety in Butaleja district.

The new variety was developed by the Shanghai Agro-biological Gene Centre in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro). The rice variety is a result of a December 18, 2019 collaboration agreement between the two organisations to develop water-saving and low-carbon emission rice suitable for Uganda’s soil ecosystem and cultural practices.

Dr Jimmy Lamo, the head of the Cereals Programme at Naro, said the WDR-73 hybrid rice combines both high yield potential and water saving, as well as drought tolerance, compared to the common irrigated rice varieties.

“This variety will address the resource and environmental challenges faced by rice producers. The variety was developed through conventional breeding,” he said.

On his part, Zhang Xiaoqiang, the team leader of the project, said: “We are grateful to partner with Uganda to promote food security, income generation, and the transformation of the agriculture sector in Uganda. We can join hands for a braver and brighter future together.”

Dr Charles Owach, the assistant FAO representative in charge of programmes, said rice is a staple for more than 3.5 billion people, including most of the world’s poor. While it is an important food crop, it requires massive amounts of water, and the paddies in which it grows emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

“From the studies conducted in Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana, this variety will bolster the food and income security of many rice producers. Out of the over 50 varieties of rice tested, based on how the grains grow and how they taste, the WDR-73 proved to have huge potential, with the ability to boost yields by about 30 per cent compared to locally grown varieties. We believe it will help many rice farmers and producers boost their incomes and nutrition and contribute to economic development,” he said.

Meanwhile, Stephen Katabazi, a senior agricultural inspector, said this five-year project will support value addition, mechanization, capacity building, and facilitate investments for industrialization and trade.

“Our work as the ministry is to transform agriculture from subsistence to commercial. We are now in subsistence farming before going commercial. Commercial means you have food for yourself and produce for others, to get money,” he said.