"Need to develop hybrid rice based on local varieties"

"Suitability of Chinese hybrids for countries like India and South East Asia is very poor. They may be good hybrids for China...Possibly Korea. You cannot bring in Chinese hybrids. They have failed. It has to be built upon local varieties," Zeigler said at the 6th International Hybrid Rice Symposium that got underway here today.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Deputy Director General (Crop Science) Swapan K Datta also emphasised the need for development of locally adoptable varieties while developing hybrids.

"Each state has its own rice (variety) and particular taste and flavour is different. What China is successful with one type of rice... That would never ever be possible in India," he pointed out.

Zeigler, however said that today's hybrids are of much better quality.

"We expect (the global) hybrid industry to grow much more quickly in the coming decade then it has in the past decade. We see that hybrid rice is going to increase the proportion of market share over the coming decade. In the next 10 years we won't be surprised to see 25 per cent of rice from hybrid," he said.

"The idea that in minds of consumers, millers and policymakers is that hybrid rice quality is inferior...Which is not the case," he said.

The International Rice Research Institute was looking at a number of approaches to improve productivity of hybrid rice in terms of yield besides looking at improved yield of seed by making it available at low costs and also improving the quality of hybrid rice, Zeigler added.