NATIONAL COORDINATED RICE PROGRAMME
NARC, Islamabad
CURRENT RESEARCH
Objectives
To accelerate the pace of rice improvement through coordination, training and information dissemination.
Varietal improvement for better agronomic and quality traits having insects/diseases resistance.
Enhance productivity through better crop stand and management.
Economical and sustainable nutrient management.
Development and adoption of integrated pest management technology for higher crop yield and cleaner environment.
Improve quality of paddy through better harvest and post-harvest operations.
On-going activities
a) Coordination
• Maintaining genetic diversity through acquisition and distribution of relevant germplasm.
• National Uniform Yield Trials (varieties and hybrids)
• Annual rice review and planning meeting.
•
Travelling seminar.
b) Research
1. Evaluating suitability of existing rice varieties and elite germplasm for par-boiling.
2. Micro yield testing of better performer Basmati somaclonal lines.
3. Screening Basmati somaclonal variants against salt stress in field and under controlled conditions.
4. Aflatoxin contamination in rice
5. Weed management strategies for the direct seeded rice crop.
6. Screening of different rice varieties and elite lines for direct seeding.
7. Effect of potash and iron use on crop growth and paddy yield.
8. Screening and evaluation of rice germplasm for resistance against SB, WBPH and LF.
9.
Technological shifts in rice and rice-based cropping system and its bearing on
the incidence of insect pests
and
population of bio-control agents.
10. Development of SRI technology
11. Evaluation of resource conservation technologies for improving water productivity in rice-wheat cropping system.