RRDI develops new paddy strains

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Bathalagoda Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) has developed new paddy varieties and technologies to meet the country's fast changing weather and climatic conditions, RRDI Director Nimal Dissanayake said.

"Sri Lanka is experiencing fast changing weather conditions. We cannot expect rain at the correct time.

Sometimes our farmers have to do their cultivation with less water. Though there are two main cultivation seasons, farmers now cannot follow them due to the bad weather conditions.

The RRDI has developed varieties and technologies to cultivate with less water without affecting the yield. We have developed short mature rice varieties," said the director.

The RRDI has developed a two and a half month rice variety which can yield five tons per hectare," he said.