Plant nutrient-rich dry rice instead of wet rice

A new method of growing rice saves billions of cubic meters of water while ensuring food security and has been successfully tested. These are nutritious and dry seedlings instead of water-plated plants.

WWF experts have studied this new method in India - the country is facing a severe water shortage crisis and also the largest rice growing area in the world. The results show that the "Rice Growth System" allows to increase rice yields from 3 tons / ha to 4 or 5 tons / ha while using only 40% less water than traditional methods. .

The new method is based on principles that are different from the current way of growing rice. It is to develop nutritious and dry seedlings instead of water-plated plants; ensure wider spacing when sowing, prioritize compost or animal manure rather than artificial fertilizer; and optimal water management to avoid soggy rice roots.

According to the WWF report, large rice-producing countries like India and China should shift at least 25% of the current rice crop to the new system by 2025.

The " Rice Growth System " allows to increase rice production from 3 tons / ha to 4-5 tons / ha while saving 40% of water compared to traditional methods. (Photo: ciifad.cornell.edu)

This allows not only to reduce significant water consumption but also to help ensure food security. Moreover, it will also reduce a large amount of methane by non-methane " Rice Growth Systems " as in the current rice farming system.

For example, if this method is applied to 20 million hectares of rice cultivation in India, it will achieve its goal of producing 220 tons of rice in 2012 instead of 2050 as expected.

Although less than 6% of rice production is traded in the world, the demand for water plants such as rice will increase by 38% by 2040. This also exacerbates the water crisis. Saving water will help to ease water conflicts in many countries, especially in remote and impoverished areas, which are always scarce.

There have been 1.2 billion people without access to clean and hygienic water. WWF is focusing on sustainable agricultural development for cotton, sugar and rice. These are the most consumed crops, but if different techniques are applied, they can yield high yields and save water.

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