Heat-Tolerant Rice Varieties Promises Increased Yields in Bangladesh

New heat-tolerant rice varieties developed to combat high night temperatures could save Bangladesh millions in crop losses, ensuring food security and boosting farmer incomes to combat climate change.

Dhaka, Bangladesh (June 25, 2024) - IRRI, in collaboration with BRRI and funded by BMZ, has developed heat-tolerant rice varieties to address the severe impact of rising temperatures on rice production in Bangladesh.

Climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and increased frequency of extreme weather events, significantly impacts rice production and yields. High night temperatures disrupt the grain-filling process in rice plants, leading to reduced yields and lower grain quality. In Bangladesh, this results in substantial annual losses in rice production, threatening food security and farmer livelihoods. As temperatures continue to rise, the need for heat-tolerant rice varieties becomes increasingly critical to sustain rice production and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

Researchers at IRRI have identified genes responsible for improving rice yield in higher night (and day) temperatures and developed rice varieties that thrive in both high day and night temperatures. During the closing ceremony of the project titled " Heat Resilient Varieties with Reduced Impact of Combined High Day and High Night Temperatures on Rice Productivity with Added Premium Grain Quality for Improving Livelihoods in South and Southeast Asia " held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 25 June, around 60 stakeholders gathered to share the project's results and findings.

The project, led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) as a key partner funded by BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), addressed the crucial issue of significant yield losses in rice production due to rising day and night temperatures by developing and testing heat-resilient rice varieties, the initiative aimed to mitigate the adverse effects…