MALAYSIA TO PRODUCE HYBRID PADDY SEEDLING BY 2010

SERDANG, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is expected to produce hybrid paddy seedling by 2010, a move that will improve padi quality and bring good return to farmers.

Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (Mardi) chairman
Dr Zulkifli Idris said efforts to produce hybrid paddy seedling were being
undertaken with the cooperation of a local company and a Chinese
company.

"Research using hybrid paddy seedling from China is being done by Mardi
with cooperation of Puncak Kaji Sdn Bhd at five Mardi stations in Seberang Prai,
Kedah and Selangor.

"Of the six hybrid paddy types, two had been proven capable of increasing
production by 30 percent or by seven to nine tonnes per hectare," he told
reporters after signing a memorandum of agreement between Mardi, Puncak Kaji and
Hubei Provincial Seed Company of China here Thursday.

Puncak Kaji which was responsible for research and marketing was
represented by chairman Faudzi Naim Noh while Hubei Provincial Seed which was
responsible for consultancy and technology transfer was represented by chairman
Yuan Guaboa.

Dr Zulkifli said the Chinese company had been successful in increasing padi
production in China, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan with production of
7-15 tonnes per hectare.

He said although production of hybrid paddy was costly compared to normal
seedling, its limited use could increase production.

"Normal paddy seedling can only produce 3.9 tonnes per hectare while hybrid
seedlings can produce nine to ten tonnes per hectare," he added.
-- BERNAMA