IRRI successfully develops a super salt-tolerant rice variety.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in the Philippines, announced that its scientists have successfully developed a super-salt-tolerant rice variety that could help farmers grow rice in coastal areas that are being abandoned due to seawater intrusion.

According to IRRI, scientists are in the process of perfecting the rice variety before conducting large-scale trial plantings.

This new rice variety has twice the salt tolerance of other rice varieties and is expected to be available to farmers within 4 to 5 years.

Illustrative image. (Source: ncnguyana.com)

This salt-tolerant rice variety was created by crossing exotic wild rice varieties found in brackish water areas with a rice variety developed in the institute (IR56). The result is a "new rice variety that can excrete salt from the soil through salt secretion in its leaves."

Scientists hope this rice variety will help farmers utilize abandoned, saline-affected land for cultivation.

Along with wheat and corn, rice is considered one of the three essential staple foods, providing food for people all over the world.

Scientists are currently continuing their research to create high-yielding rice varieties.

(VNA) - VT