The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Rick Dubbeldam
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Dear Editor,
"Hybrid rice expected to triple crop yields" is the headline above a report highlighting a Malaysian-Cambodian joint venture (PPP, November 20, 2008). The jubilant tone of the report, however, seems out of sync with the reality.
The hope that hybrid rice breeds can triple yields is exactly that - a hope. Between what farmers really yield and the potential yield quoted in the article lies a huge yield gap (difference between what scientists can achieve and what farmers achieve).
Even though there may be some merit in testing potential techniques with unknown outcomes, using hybrid rice seeds has hardly proven to be a panacea for the Cambodian rural sector, as quoted by the partners in the joint venture.
In general, hybrid rice varieties have failed to attain high yields in climatically warmer tropical countries. In particular, the Malaysian company (RB Biotech) developing the hybrid variety in this project has been unable to present significantly higher yields in tests in Malaysia.
Also lost is the potential economic rewards to the farmers involved. Thai agro-biz giant Charoen Pokprand, promoting its hybrid rice in Central Thailand, quotes yield gains of 20-50 percent.
However, a counter-study actually revealed that farmers' income from hybrid rice was 60 percent lower. To attain the yields quoted, besides the use of hybrid seeds, a high amount of fertilizers and pesticides is required as well as having optimal control over water supply and drainage, the former of which is seriously lacking throughout Cambodia.
The article did not report details on the backers of this venture, "investors from Singapore and the Middle East." This should have rung alarm bells regarding the fact that the benefits (if attained) are much wider than only to farmers.
Hybrid rice production is a mechanism to introduce and benefit agro-business: Seeds are to be purchased each year, often from the same companies promoting the pesticides, while the trade of the produce is often controlled by the companies that provide the seeds because the rice varieties fail to be marketed in normal markets in Cambodia.
When publishing such jubilant reports, it would help if the Post could place them within the correct context. Development in the rural areas of Cambodia is not served by experimenting with untested and unfit technologies, which offer little real potential.
Rick Dubbeldam
Phnom Penh
Written by Rick Dubbeldam
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Dear Editor,
"Hybrid rice expected to triple crop yields" is the headline above a report highlighting a Malaysian-Cambodian joint venture (PPP, November 20, 2008). The jubilant tone of the report, however, seems out of sync with the reality.
The hope that hybrid rice breeds can triple yields is exactly that - a hope. Between what farmers really yield and the potential yield quoted in the article lies a huge yield gap (difference between what scientists can achieve and what farmers achieve).
Even though there may be some merit in testing potential techniques with unknown outcomes, using hybrid rice seeds has hardly proven to be a panacea for the Cambodian rural sector, as quoted by the partners in the joint venture.
In general, hybrid rice varieties have failed to attain high yields in climatically warmer tropical countries. In particular, the Malaysian company (RB Biotech) developing the hybrid variety in this project has been unable to present significantly higher yields in tests in Malaysia.
Also lost is the potential economic rewards to the farmers involved. Thai agro-biz giant Charoen Pokprand, promoting its hybrid rice in Central Thailand, quotes yield gains of 20-50 percent.
However, a counter-study actually revealed that farmers' income from hybrid rice was 60 percent lower. To attain the yields quoted, besides the use of hybrid seeds, a high amount of fertilizers and pesticides is required as well as having optimal control over water supply and drainage, the former of which is seriously lacking throughout Cambodia.
The article did not report details on the backers of this venture, "investors from Singapore and the Middle East." This should have rung alarm bells regarding the fact that the benefits (if attained) are much wider than only to farmers.
Hybrid rice production is a mechanism to introduce and benefit agro-business: Seeds are to be purchased each year, often from the same companies promoting the pesticides, while the trade of the produce is often controlled by the companies that provide the seeds because the rice varieties fail to be marketed in normal markets in Cambodia.
When publishing such jubilant reports, it would help if the Post could place them within the correct context. Development in the rural areas of Cambodia is not served by experimenting with untested and unfit technologies, which offer little real potential.
Rick Dubbeldam
Phnom Penh
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