Philippines: Agriculture dept to release new rice varieties

Philippines Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who chairs the National Seed Industry Council, is set to approve the release of seven high-yielding rice varieties for commercial production.

The new lines are known by coded names: PR27843, IR71137, PR30138, PR31561, C6824, IR77186, and PR30536.

The letters indicate the research agency responsible for breeding the line: P for PhilRice; C for University of Philippines College of Agriculture in Los Baños, Laguna; and IR for International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).