Cuba to Present New Variety of Rice

Cuba will launch the first bio-fortified rice variety mid year after concluding a 6-year process of extension and evaluation in the island.

In 2003, a rice variety named IACuba-30 was developed from a crossing and genetic selection process at the Cuban Institute of Rice Research in the provinces of Camagüey and Havana. The new crop has high iron and zinc levels, which make it useful for people suffering anaemia.

The crop will be presented on June 19 in the central province of Camagüey, where the largest cultivated lands of rice are located.

Jesus Limia, director of the experimental station in Camaguey’s municipality of Vertientes affiliated to the scientific center, told ACN that IACuba-30 can be grown by non-specialized farmers, because it requires less consumables such as water and fertilizers.

Annually from 200 to 300 hectares of the new rice variety are planted in Camagüey with a yield of 5 to 7 tons per hectare, a rate that is considered good by experts.

Limia mentioned as another advantage of this type of rice is its resistance to pests and diseases that attack the crop. He also noted that it can be adapted to saline soils, with promising results expected in cultivations in the coastal municipalities of Nuevitas (north coast
of Camaguey) and Santa Cruz del Sur (south coast of Camaguey).

From the industrial point of view, Limia said that 65% of the processed rice is entire, which means that the grain doesn’t break easily. It can be cooked easily and tastes good, he added.

This rice variety responds to the Agrosalud international program implemented in Latin American and the Caribbean since 2006 financed by Canada, which seeks to encourage the growing of new varieties of rice, corn, sweet potato and beans that have components that are important for health.

According to Limia, another three bio-fortified varieties are being evaluated by at the station.

(Presentará Cuba nueva variedad de arroz biofortifica)