[NYTr] Ecological Rice Growing Techniques Analyzed in Cuba

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Ecological Rice Growing Techniques Analyzed in Cuba

Pinar del Río, Nov 14 (acn) With the objective of facilitating 
exchanges on the most recent scientific achievements in the ecological 
growing of rice in Cuba, agricultural experts from all over the country 
are meeting in that nation's western province of Pinar del Río.

Around 120 delegates are participating in the two-day meeting named 
ECOARROZ 2007, during which they will be analyzing new rice varieties 
that have been obtained in Cuba.

Among the most important varieties is INCA LP-14, which is used in 
flowerbeds to make the growing period shorter. Even though the 
biotechnological technique has been widely used for other crops, this 
year was the first time it was used for rice.

The introduction of the technique in the cultivation of rice was 
promoted by a group of scientists led by Eng. Noraida Perez, with the 
Agro-Industrial Center Los Palacios, and the Experimental Station of 
Pinar del Rio, both organizing the meeting.

Other varieties developed by the agricultural centers are the LP-5 and 
7. These two are known for their excellent productive and cooking 
qualities. They also have high tolerance to salinity and are resistant 
to plagues and diseases such as the mite, which usually attacks rice 
crops.

Dr. Luis Aleman Manzarol, head of the national rice harvest program led 
by the Agricultural Ministry, will give a keynote lecture on the 
current state of this effort and future projects.

Other topics to be discussed in workshops and roundtables include those 
related to issues of environmental and sustainable development, vegetal 
protection, the genetic improvement of the rice.