Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute (EARI) has developed a new variety of rice that can yield 104 quintals per hectare, The Ethiopian Herald reported.

Dr. Endale Gebre, Institute Crop Research Deputy Director, told Ethiopian News Agency varieties found in the country can only yield up to 50 quintals per hectare in a normal rainy season. However, he added, the new variety of rice grants a high yield which means the finding will pave the way to meet the growing demand of rice.

According to Endale, the finding makes a major contribution to the nation’s struggle of attaining food self sufficiency. He added it is possible to get a higher yield by using irrigation.

Endale further noted the new variety will yield more rice than the rice producing countries.

Rice is cultivated in different parts of Ethiopia. It is produced in some parts of Tigray State, Benshangul-Gumuz State, Oromia State, Somalia State and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples State.

Endale has insisted for research scholars to speed up the familiarization of new variety to farmers.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald