[Agriculture] Rice Developed Specially for the Elderly Unveiled

[Agriculture] Rice Developed Specially for the Elderly Unveiled (Chinese Version)

The China Post (2012/08/22) & CNA - Focus Taiwan (2012/08/21) The first crop of a new variety of rice that was developed with the elderly in mind was harvested recently, a researcher said on August 21.

The "Miaoli 2" rice is suitable for the elderly because it cooks softer, said Su-jein CHANG, a researcher at the Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station.

The new variety is also good for making dishes such as rice balls, sushi, rice cakes and rice bread, CHANG said.

It was developed over a 10-year period by crossbreeding a domestic and a Japanese variety, she said. The "Miaoli 2" variety that was chosen was the one closest in taste to the popular Taikeng 9 rice, she added.

The yield of the "Miaoli 2" in the first stage of the trial culture was 3.2 percent higher than the Taikeng 9, and in the second stage it was 18.8 percent higher, she said. Moreover, the Miaoli 2 has a shorter stalk than the Taikeng 9 and is therefore less vulnerable to wind, she added.

It is expected to hit the market in 2013 and enter mass production within five years, yielding about 6,000 kilograms per hectare, she said.


Further Information:
CNA - Focus Taiwan 2012/08/22
The China Post 2012/08/21

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National Science Council International Cooperation Sci-Tech Newsbrief
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