Cambodian Rice More Resistant to Climate Change

Jasmine Flower is a new rice variety developed by the Cambodian Institute of Agricultural Research and Development that is more resistant to climate change.

The Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture has just released encouraging results from 14 years of research on a hybrid rice variety – Phka Mealdei – that has been shown to be more resilient to climate change and to produce significantly higher yields than conventional cultivars – a plant variety bred, usually by selection, for its unique characteristics.

According to Lor Bunna, director of the Cambodian Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (Cardi), as quoted by the Phnom Penh Post, Phka Mealdei is a medium-duration seasonal hybrid rice strain derived from a cross between Phka Romduol fragrant – serving as the female line – and Cambodian Rice 3 (CAR3) as the male line.

Asked what motivated the hybridization project, Lor Bunna said that the institute was willing to invest huge amounts of time if it would develop a robust new cultivar of the Asian staple with relatively high tolerance to water shortages and other stresses associated with climate change.

Large-scale adoption of Phka Mealdei could lead to a significant improvement in rice yields across the country, feeding Cambodia’s rapidly expanding population and improving rural livelihoods and quality of life.