• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 12 / 2011

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Cienfuegos, Cuba, Sep 10 (Prensa Latina) Through a project called Semifort, developed by the National Grain Research Institute with the help of Japanese consultants, Cuba is working to improve its rice seeds.

Enrique Suarez, head of the institute's program for the genetic improvement of rice, told Prensa Latina that after several years of research, the objective was to improve the national rice seed production system.

Along with experts from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Cuba began a preliminary study in 2003 and then progressed to a production project that is now in its second phase and covers the islandâ?Ös five central provinces.

The program began by identifying leading producers among individual farmers and cooperatives in Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila and Camagüey, and finding out what kind of seeds they preferred, Suarez stated.

More than 100 seed growers have been trained and re-trained, and the goal is to double that number.

In addition, equipment was provided for drying areas, as well as technology for transplanting rice seedlings and protecting seeds, Suarez said.