'Soft rice' ... helps solve hunger

Indian scientists have successfully bred new rice varieties, which could benefit hundreds of millions of people in the country. Because the rice of this particular rice variety does not need to be cooked, it is only necessary to soak it.

Experts at the National Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Orissa state have successfully hybridized ' soft rice ' varieties - rice grown mainly in Assam state in northeastern India. Rice of this type of rice does not need to be cooked, but only soaked in water is edible.

So far, this low-yielding rice variety has only been grown in northeastern India, but scientists at CRRI have successfully bred this variety with high-yielding varieties. Test results of a new hybrid rice variety, called Aghunibora, show very positive signals. If successful, this rice variety can be grown in different climates.

New rice varieties bring hope to millions of malnourished children in India.

" This is the first time that 'soft rice' rice varieties will be grown in any part of India, " said Dr. Adhya, Ph.D., director of the CRRI Institute. where the humidity, temperature is higher and more volatile than its new home, Assam state ".

In a country where nutritional impairment is still as serious as India, this new discovery by scientists can be seen as an effective weapon against famine. Currently, India still has the third highest rate of malnourished children in the world, although the country's economy has grown very rapidly in recent years.

A recent report by the UK Development Research Institute showed that while India's GDP increased by an average of 4% per year between 1980 and 2005. However, the proportion of children under 3 years old was malnourished. only decreased from 52% in 1980 to 46% in 2005.