"Bt rice" is rice that has been modified, by of biotechnology, with genes from Bacillus thuringienis (Bt) to produce toxins for resistance to insects. Bt is a species of bacteria--one of the smallest forms of life--found in soil throughout much of the world.”

Two technological advances have been combined to greatly improve rice productivity—hybrid rice and a fusion Bt endotoxin gene. Hybrid rice, developed and commercialized in China in 1976, became popular because it has a 20% yield advantage over inbred varieties. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) has been used for more than 50 years as a biological insecticide. Cloning the insecticidal delta-endotoxin Bt gene into plants further enhanced its effectiveness. Ten years ago Monsanto showed that the fusion of two Bt genes could further improve plant protection against insects. In 1999, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based in Philippine, developed a promising tool for the use of Bt technology to improve hybrid rice. Subsequently, it developed commercial hybrid rice with a fusion hybrid Bt gene. This hybrid rice showed a 28% yield advantage in field conditions. The advancement of this product will considerably help to reduce pesticide use.

Millions of dollars are spent every year looking for new or more potent chemicals to combat insect damage, disease and nutrient deficiency in crops. Imagine the advantages of having plants that could protect themselves from insect attack, or from bacterial and viral infection, or of feed plants that could supply more of the nutrients needed by the animals who graze on them. Modern biotechnology is already helping to make these things possible.

The first rice plants containing Bt genes are now available for scientists to study. However, some improvements need to be made before Bt rice varieties will be ready for evaluation. For example, optimum toxin levels must be achieved and then verified to be consistent from generation to generation. In addition, in most countries many bio-safety regulations concerning the field use of transgenic crops remain to be developed. It is unlikely that Bt rice will become available to farmers in Pakistan before the year 2003.

History of Rice Cultivation

Rice has been cultivated in China since ancient times and was introduced to India before the time of the Greeks. Chinese records of rice cultivation go back 4,000 years. In classical Chinese the words for agriculture and for rice culture are synonymous, indicating that rice was already the staple crop at the time the language was taking form. Many ceremonies have arisen in connection with planting and harvesting rice, and the grain and the plant are traditional motifs in Oriental art. Thousands of rice strains are now known, both cultivated and escaped, and the original form is unknown. Rice cultivation has been carried into all regions having the necessary warmth and abundant moisture favorable to its growth, mainly subtropical rather than hot or cold. Modern culture makes use of irrigation, and a few varieties of rice may be grown with only a moderate supply of water. The world's leading rice-producing countries are China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Total annual world production is more than half a billion metric tons.

In 1961, there were about 29 countries and important territories in Asia and rice was grown in 28 of them. In 1997, there were 50 countries and important territories and rice was grown in about 29 of them. Hong Kong, East Timor, Saudi Arabia, and Syria were reported to grow some rice in 1961. However, in 1997, no rice cultivation was reported in these countries. The new rice producing countries of the Asian continent are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Of the 25 major rice-producing nations, 17 of them are located in Asia, extending in a rice arc from Pakistan to Japan.

Asia is the home of rice variety “O. sativa” and rice has been cultivated in this continent for several thousand years. Indica, Japonica, and Javanica (or Tropical Japonica) are the cultivated sub-species. Japonica is dominant in Japan, Korea, northern China, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; whereas Indica is dominant in the rest of Asia. Javanica is found in Indonesia.

From 1961 to 1990, the harvested rice area in the continent had increased by about 30%, due to a combination of the expansion in cultivated area and crop intensification. In tropical climate and at low altitude areas, two or more rice crops could be grown on the same area in a year with irrigation water. However, the growth in harvested rice area in the continent has remained more or less unchanged since 1990.

Most of the tall culms and long and droopy leaves varieties (or traditional varieties) have been replaced by the short culms and short and erect leaves varieties (or high yielding varieties) and hybrid rice varieties. In November 1966, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) released its first nitrogen responsive and high yielding variety, IR8, for tropical climate areas, whereas China, successfully developed and used hybrid rice in 1976.

The wide adoption of high yielding varieties in the continent and hybrid rice varieties in China coupled with the availability of irrigation water, and the intensive use of agro-chemicals, especially inorganic fertilizers have led to a rapid increase in rice yield during 1961-1990 (from about 462 tons/Acre or 11.55 maund/Acre in 1961 to about 892 tons/Acre or 22.30 maund/Acre in 1990). The growth rate in rice yield, however, has been considerably slowed down since 1990. Rice yields in the continent, however, still vary widely from country to country. In 1997, yields varied from more than 1,482.60 tons/Acre or 37.00 maund/Acre in China, Japan, and Korea to less than 494.20 tons/Acre or 12.35 maund/Acre in Taijakstan, Afghanistan, Cambodia, etc…

Hybrid rice lines have been observed to produce about 20% higher yields than inbred semidwarf varieties. Rice hybrids are now cultivated on about 55% of the rice-growing areas in China and contribute 66% of China's total rice production. During the past four years, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines have been using this technology successfully .

As a result of the increases in both yield and harvested area, rice production in Asia has nearly tripled during 1961 to 1997 (from 198.75 M tons of paddy in 1961 to about 522.84 M tons in 1997). The growth in rice production was very high during the period from 1961 to 1985

Consumption and Use of Rice

Rice is the staple food of the majority of Asian population, which has grown from about 1.70 billion in 1961 to about 3.52 billion in 1997. Rice ranked as the first major food consumed in Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Dem People's Rep of Korea, Republic of Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The total population of these countries in 1997 was 2.94 billion.

To most of Asians, rice cultivation and post-production activities provide not only food but also incomes and employment opportunities. It is estimated that these activities provide main sources of income to about 200 million families or more in rural poor areas of Asia. In addition, rice straw, husks, and bran are major sources of cooking fuel, feeds to livestock, and substrates for the cultivation of mushrooms, vegetable crops, etc…

In Pakistan 150,000 metric tons of 40-percent to 100-percent broken rice used in the poultry feed annually.

It has been estimated that half the world's population subsists wholly or partially on rice. Ninety percent of the world crop is grown and consumed in Asia. However Pakistani consume 18-20 kg per person annually, while American consumption is about 11 kg per person annually, as compared with 90–181 kg per person in different parts of Asia.

Rice is the only major cereal crop that is primarily consumed by humans directly as harvested, and only wheat and corn are produced in comparable quantity. Plant breeders at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, attempting to keep pace with demand from a burgeoning world population, have repeatedly developed improved varieties of “miracle rice” that allow farmers to increase crop yields substantially.

Brown rice has a greater food value than white, since the outer brown coatings contain the proteins and minerals; the white endosperm is chiefly carbohydrate. As a food rice is low in fat and (compared with other cereal grains) in protein. The miracle rices have grains richer in protein than the old varieties. Although rice is eaten with foods and sauces made from the soybean, which supply lacking elements and prevent deficiency diseases. Elsewhere, especially in the United States, rice processing techniques have produced breakfast and snack foods for retail markets. Deficient in gluten, rice cannot be used to make bread unless its flour is mixed with flour made from other grains.

Significant Need of High Yields Rice Crop

Every day, 250,000 people join us on our already crowded globe. Most of these people are born into poverty and live their entire lives in poverty, with only death allowing them to escape. According to the World Bank, 840 million people are going hungry today, two billion are malnourished, and 1.3 billion live in absolute poverty, existing on less than one dollar a day. For many, their lives are driven by a simple obsession: finding their next meal. What most of us do not realize is that 70 percent of these poor, hungry people live in Asia. South Asia alone is home to half the developing world’s poor. Together, Bangladesh and eastern India have as many poor as all of sub-Saharan Africa. While poverty and hunger in Ethiopia and Somalia have permanently scarred the world’s conscience, the longstanding suffering, hunger, and hopelessness of Asia’s 800 million desperately poor people are somehow routinely overlooked.

In Asia, where nearly all the world’s rice is grown and eaten, food means rice. Feeding the poor and helping them work their way out of poverty means starting with the basics; increasing rice production and improving access to rice. In Asia, plentiful, affordable rice has been the key to maintaining social stability, promoting economic growth, and reducing poverty. As Asia becomes increasingly urban during the next quarter century, growing enough rice for the urban poor—and finding the land, water, and people to do this—will most likely become hot political issues. The main concerns are: Can the world grow enough rice to feed Asia? And, do we have the means and determination to get this food to the people who need it and ensure that they have access to it?

World Rice Crop Growing Scenario

Worldwide, about 195.21 million acres of rice is grown under irrigated condition. Average yields vary from 741.3 to 2223.9 t/acre or 18.50 to 55.60 maund/acre. Generally, farmers of irrigated land use more purchased inputs than farmers of non-irrigated lands. More than 75% of the world's rice supply is produced in irrigated ricelands. Improved rice cultivars that have been developed for irrigated rice-lands are of short duration and Nitrogen responsive, and incorporate resistance to several biological stresses and some tolerance for adverse soils. East Asia, 93% of which is irrigated, accounts for about 43% of the world rice area. In the tropics of South and Southeast Asia, only 41% (80.04 millions acres) of the rice area is irrigated. However, Irrigated rice is grown in bunded, puddled fields with assured irrigation for one or more crops a year. Some areas are served only by supplementary irrigation in the wet season. Rainfall variability is the basis for subdividing the irrigated ecosystem into 1) irrigated wet season, and 2) irrigated dry season. In 1995, about 56 percent of the total harvested areas come from irrigated ecologies, 31.4% from rainfed lowland, 7.7 % from upland and 4.9% from other ecologies. Rice yields are much higher in irrigated ecologies.

Based on current national or regional yield averages, the irrigated rice ecosystem can be divided into high-yielding areas where yields are greater than 5 t/ha or more than 30 maund/acre, medium-yielding areas with yields of 4-5 t/ha or 29-23 maund/acre, and low-yielding areas that typically achieve yields of less than 4 t/ha or less than 23.5 maund/acre. China, Egypt, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Republic of Korea typify high-yielding areas. Medium-yielding areas include Bangladesh, northwestern and southern India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Cambodia, eastern India, Madagascar, Nepal, and Pakistan are representative of low-yielding areas of the irrigated rice ecosystem.

Production Constraints

Although production constraints in the low- and medium-yielding areas are generally the least site-specific, they vary in frequency and intensity. The main yield limiting factors are 1) Poor input management, 2) Yield and quality losses from pests, 3) Inadequate water supply, 4) Inefficient use of scarce irrigation water, 5) Inadequate drainage, leading to the buildup of salinity and alkalinity, 6) Environmental stresses, 7) Decline in investments for supporting rice production: Investments for the development of irrigation infrastructures in the continent have declined about 60 percent since the 1960s. Similarly, the growth rate in research expenditure in Asia declined from 7.4 percent in 1961 to about 4.6 percent during the 1980s, 8) High costs of rice production, and 9) Low Efficiency of Nitrogen Fertilizers: It is estimated that more than 50% of the applied nitrogen are not taken up by rice crop.

Substantial Application of Bt Rice

Each year, 50 million new people—mostly rice eaters—are added to Asia. To feed them, the world must increase its rice output between now and 2020 by one-third more than what is grown and eaten today. Unlike other industries, agriculture cannot simply build more "rice factories" and step up production. The fear of famine and penury in Asia in the 1950s propelled concerned people to create the International Rice Research Institute in 1960 in Philippine. The driving force was simple: making the biggest pile of rice possible.

In order to meet the needs of the projected world population by year 2025, 70 percent more rice must be produced from present level of six million tones, on less land, little water and with a small amount agricultural inputs. As available land for rice cultivation is expected to decrease because of erosion, desertification, salinization, and rapidly increasing urbanization. To meet future needs, it would be required to increase yield by 3-4 percent per year, which have never been achieved by any major conventional food crop. Therefore conventional breeding cannot tackle such looming issue of tomorrow; hence bio-engineered crops like Bt rice would become vital for survival of human.

To maintain an adequate supply of rice for the tremendous annual increase in population between now and 2025 and beyond is a formidable challenge to the scientific community. This increase must be achieved in the face of declining arable land and water supplies, and in a manner that protects the environment (soil, water, and biotic resource base) from which all food must come. The combination of genetic engineering with improved plant breeding offers a solution to the demand for food security. The total global area under cultivation with transgenic crops as of 1999 was 98 million acres, while this year (2001) it has been cultivated on 125 million acres (ISAAA). The commercialization of other Bt crops such as canola, cotton, and maize is in progress in several countries including Asian countries such as India and China.

Potential Advantages by Using Bt Rice

Bt rice will reduce yield losses caused by caterpillar pests, the most important of which are the yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas, in Pakistan and other parts of Asia and the striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, in temperate areas. Resistance to stem borers has been a goal of conventional plant breeding for many years, but only partial levels of resistance have been achieved. Average yield losses to stem borers in Asia are often estimated at 5%, and vary from region to region. In some areas, stem borers are among the major constraints on yield, while in others they occur at levels too low to cause yield loss. In many areas, individual farmers would not obtain large yield increases by growing Bt rice, but the cumulative area wide increase in rice production would be substantial. Five percent of Asia’s 1995 rice harvest would be equivalent to 25 million tons, or almost all of the 1995 rice harvest of Bangladesh, which provides food for 120 million people. Reducing losses due to stem borers and other pests may become increasingly important as the demand for rice increases and the amount of favorable rice-growing land decreases.

Similarly with the use of Bt technology, in Pakistan a bacterial disease “Blight” can be reduce in Basmati and other rice varieties, which causes economical loses about Rs. 1.5 billions annually.

A second potential benefit of Bt rice is that it may lead to a decrease in insecticide use by farmers, who often attempt to control stem borers with insecticides. If farmers are provided with demonstrations of the resistance of Bt rice to stem borers, perhaps by participating in on-farm research to learn for themselves, many may decide to eliminate sprays directed against these pests. However in Pakistan demonstration programs and information campaigns involving farmers, extension workers, and researchers will be necessary to achieve this goal. Caterpillars that feed on leaves, such as leaffolders, rarely cause yield loss (Way and Heong 1994) but appear threatening to farmers and are also frequent targets of insecticide sprays (Heong et al 1994). In IPM training programs, farmers learn that it is usually not necessary to spray for these insects.

However, it is difficult to estimate the farm-level effect of genetically engineered crops on yields because impacts vary with the crop and technology examined. Yields also depend on locational factors such as soil fertility, rainfall, and temperature, which can also influence the very presence of pests.

In Pakistan average yield of conventional rice per acre is around 30 – 45 maund or 1,235.00 – 1,852.00 Kg. By considering the above results from trials at IRRI. Bt Rice in Pakistan can increase per acre yield from 1,235.00 to 1,482.30 Kg and 1,852.00 to 2,223.24 Kg at 20% level, while at 28% it would increase per acre yield from 1,235.00 to 1,581.54 Kg and 1,852.00 to 2,372.15 Kg.

By the introduction of the Bt rice in Pakistan could result in a substantial reduction in insecticide use on rice. This would mean enormous benefit to rice growers and whole economy, apart from the favorable impact on the environment and increase in rice yield.

Reduction in Farmers Health Problems as a result of “Pesticide Poisoning”

Each year thousands of Pakistani farmers and field workers including children and women being affected by toxic effects of pesticides in crops lands. The effects of pesticides on the health of Pakistani farmers include:

Effects on Eye, many farmers reported that they felt some discomfort in their eyes when they applied pesticides. While headache, achy effects on skin, respiratory problems, effects in the function of liver, kidneys, neurological system, cardiovascular have been reported by number of farmers who have been involved in use of pesticide activities in crops lands. However, The effects of the pesticides on human health include not only acute diseases but also chronic diseases in both production and non-production related activities.

In China pesticide poisoning affected from 53,300 to more than 123,000 persons each year in China in the past decade (Huang, et al., 2000). About half of the poisoning cases were related to pesticide use in crop production. On the average, China had about 10,000 deaths due to pesticide poisoning every year, though the number had declined significantly since the late 1980s and reduced to less than 4,000 in 1996. There were about 300-500 deaths due to improper and over use of pesticide in crop production in normal years (Huang, et al., 2000).

Consequently, Bt Rice and other Bt crops will have good effects on the health and lives of Pakistani farmers by avoiding or reducing pesticide applications on the crops.

Prevail over the Concern Regarding the Spread of Bt Genes

Out-crossing between Bt rice and other rices cultivated rice:

Oryza sativa, is primarily a self-pollinating plant. This means that most of the ovaries on a plant are fertilized by pollen produced on the same plant. However, outcrossing; or cross-pollination, does occur at a low level under natural conditions, both among cultivated rice varieties and between cultivated rice and some wild species of rice. In Asia, cross-pollination can occur between cultivated rice and two species of wild rice, O. nivara and O. rufipogon. Some varieties of O. sativa also occur as weeds in rice-fields. Consequently, it is important to consider whether the spread of Bt genes into wild or weedy rices will change the ecology of these plants in natural habitats or farmers’ fields (Clegg et al 1993).

It is already clear that out-crossing between Bt rice and wild rices will not be a problem in some areas. In the Philippines, for example, O. nivara is not found and O. rufipogon has been reported only from two lake sites on Mount Apo in Mindanao. All other known wild rices of the Philippines, such as O. minuta and O. officinalis, do not cross with O. sativa in nature.

Pest Management in Bt Rice

Bt rice and integrated pest management Integrated pest management (IPM) refers to using the best possible combination of biological, physical, and chemical methods to achieve effective and sustainable control of pests. It is the guiding concept for IRRI’s work on pests and pest management (IRRI 1994). In most crops, including rice, use of an IPM program leads to a reduction of pesticide applications. Through the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, national agricultural research systems, IRRI, and other organizations, the adoption of IPM is spreading rapidly among rice farmers. Bt rice is a new management tactic for rice stem borers, and it is important to consider how it will interact with existing IPM practices in rice.

Water Scarcity & Impact on Rice Yield and Value of Land

Water is one of main input for rice crops. With the help of Bio engineering such a rice seeds can be develop which need less water as compare to conventional rice crop, more over Bio seed has tendency to tolerate effect of salinity.

1998-2000 was an ‘El Nino’ year, and the wet season rainfall and monsoon periods over much of the Pakistan and other parts of Asia was well below normal.

In 2000-2001, Pakistan has experienced its worst irrigation shortage since the completion of its irrigation system–the world’s largest contiguous irrigation network, which provides water for 3,706.50 million acres of cultivated land. Irrigation supplies were stored mainly in three large reservoirs (Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma) and 19 barrages during the summer for use mainly during the ‘Rabi’ or winter season. The primary short-term reasons for the acute irrigation shortage were two consecutive weak monsoons and inadequate glacier and snow melt due to below normal snowfall and cooler than normal temperatures. The longer-term cause for the irrigation shortage was a poor resource management and planning. Since the irrigation system was completed, demand has increased more than 50 percent while storage capacity has decreased by one-third due to silting, leaving per capita availability at a fraction of its original level. While the excessive use of well water in Thar, Kohistan and Baluchistan has lowered the water table and made wells saline. As a result, chronic irrigation shortfalls are expected to play an increasingly important part in Pakistan’s agricultural production.

The performance of the agricultural sector during for the year 2000-01 was adversely affected by the unprecedented drought, resulting in lower production of major crops such as cotton, rice, sugarcane and wheat compared to last year. The growth in agriculture registered a decline of 2.5 percent, compared to an impressive increase of 6.1 percent during 1999-2000. During 2000-01, fertilizer usage decreased marginally to 2.81 million nutrient tons mainly due to shortage of irrigation supplies.

For the February 2001, Pakistan rice production was forecast at 4.5 MMT–a decline of 200,000 MT from the January 2000 production of 4.7 MMT (based on final production figures from Punjab). Of the major varieties, IRRI production is forecast to decline to 2.4 MMT (down 150,000 MT from last year crop) and Basmati production is forecast to be 1.6 MMT (down about 100,000 MT from last year). The decrease in production is due to continued irrigation problems, which resulted in a decline in both area and yield.

The link between water and rice is crucial, especially since fresh water is a scarce resource that is getting scarcer. Currently, 31 countries are facing water shortages, a number that is expected to increase to 48 countries by 2025, peaking at 55 countries by mid-century, 2050. The growing water shortage means there is a pressing need to devise methods of growing rice with less water, without any penalty to production.

In 1998 dry season loomed in Philippine, competition for the meager reserves of water in and around Manila forced the Government to act. Water from the Angat aasim Rivers Irrigation System, which normally nourishes the Bernadinos farm, was diverted to the homes and factories of the sprawling Philippines capital. About 20,000 small farmers were forced to abandon their dry season crop. As a result 6,177,500.00 acres of land lay parched and fallow; about 125 M tons of precious high quality rice production was lost.

“It takes twice as much water to produce rice than any other cereal crop – more than 2,000 tons of water is used to grow one ton of rice,” says Ismail Serageldin, Chairman of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and World Bank Vice President for Special Programs. “With the projected growth of Asian cities and industries and their increased need for fresh water, rice farming must become more water efficient.” Mr. Serageldin adds that “despite the constraints of water scarcity, rice production must rise dramatically over the next generation to meet the food needs of Asia’s poor.”

The growing worldwide threat to water supplies for agriculture; a threat created by decreased water resource development and the lowering of ground water tables, salinization, pollution, and the demands of exploding city populations and water-hungry industries. Therefore land may no longer be the scarcest commodity. According to IRRI water-scientist Dr. Bas Bouman, rice farmers face not only an increasing scarcity of surface water, but also lower ground water tables and the threat of having to pay more for the water they use.

It has also been observed in many parts of Pakistan that on one side the value of agriculture land was declined during the drought period, as the farmer used tubewel to use under ground water for irrigation, which resulted in decline of ground water. While on the other side area for rice cultivation has also declined.

Based on information from the rice-growing areas of Punjab and Sindh, 2000-2001 rice cultivation area was 5,559,750.00 acres, while forecast was 7,116,480.00, which is down 1,556,730.00 acres from its earlier estimation. Basmati rice area is down about 7 percent and IRRI rice area is down 20 percent.

Dr. Bouman suggests that, in the future, Rice farmers should calculate their yields in grams of rice per kilogram of water used, Rather than in tons per hectare of land. If farmers are forced to save water, or if they must pay for the amount of water they use, then they’ll want to measure their efficiency in terms of water productivity.

Environmental Pollution and Water Wastage

In Pakistan although intensive pesticide has increased grain production in the area of Kamoki, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Sheikhupura But its use has several drawbacks. In addition to the direct costs of the pesticides, long-term and highly concentrated application of pesticides may contaminate the products of field crops, as well as pose a serious danger to the agro-ecosystem (e.g., the surrounding soil and water quality) and human health. Beside that farmers in Pakistan and other parts of Asia have little know about impact of pesticide on their health and environment. According o a survey conducted in China.

“Farmers' knowledge of pesticide residue. Farm pesticides are components artificially introduced into and generally incompatible with agricultural ecosystems. When applying pesticides, only about 20-30% of them are absorbed by the crops; the rest are left in the environment. However, many farmers did not have any knowledge of the pesticides' impact on the environment. Nearly one-third (31%) of the farmers did not realize that pesticide residues may remain in paddy grains. The more educated farmers were more aware of the pesticide residue problem. Most of the farmers (74%) who completed mid-school or higher education knew pesticide residues remain in rice paddy.”

Rice crops need enormous quantity of water, and when pest attack on crop farmers use spray on their standing rice crops in water which not only contaminate surface water and ground water but it also pollute rivers. Which has adverse effects on the production of fish and other water world.

Because on Bt Rice crops farmers do not have to spray intensively against pests attack, therefore, water used in Bt rice crops would be free from insecticidal toxic contamination.

It also been observed that the amount of water actually used by the rice plants is around 30 percent while 70 percent evaporates. Does it mean evaporated water is lost? No, actually it flows back in to the system and is used again downstream however water is really lost; where it is no longer downstream like in most part of Sindh and Southern Punjab. By the use of Biotechnology such a rice varieties can be developed which can be grown on a land with less water availability.

Impact of Methane Produce by Rice Paddy on Ozone

Methane is present at about only 1.8 parts per million in the atmosphere, but is a key player there, it is a greenhouse gas, it is central to atmospheric oxidation chemistry, and it is ultimately a source of stratospheric water vapor, which influences ozone depletion. Moreover, the concentration of methane is increasing rapidly. In the paper by Bodelier et al., (Bodelier, P. L. E., Roslev, P., Henckel, T. & Frenzel, P. Nature 403, 421-424, 1999), Which deals with methane emissions from rice paddies. Most of the methane in the Earth's atmosphere comes from biological processes, and rice paddies are one of the main sources. A large fraction of the methane produced in rice soils is consumed, however, being oxidized to carbon dioxide by methane oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) in the soil, and so never makes it to the atmosphere. In upland soils, ammonium, which is formed naturally but is also a major constituent of nitrogen fertilizers, can inhibit methane oxidation and methanotroph growth. So it comes as a surprise that Bodelier et al. find that, in rice-paddy soils, ammonium actually stimulates methane oxidation and methanotroph growth. This phenomenon may dominate the overall response of methane cycling to fertilization in rice-paddy ecosystems. According to current estimates, rice agriculture will expand by up to 70% over the next 25 years to support the growing human population. This will involve both increasing the area under cultivation (which mean increase in rice plantation land from 195.3 million acres to 329.62 million acres in the world and in Pakistan rice growing area need to expand from 5,559,750.00 acres to 3,891,825.00 acres by year 2025) and maximizing productivity by crop breeding and fertilizer management. Until now, it was thought that using nitrogen fertilizers on rice would increase trace-gas emissions. When nitrate-based fertilizers are used, much of the nitrate is denitrified, causing increased emissions of nitrous oxide, another potent greenhouse gas and ozone depleter. Ammonium fertilization also has the potential to increase methane emissions, not only does it increase plant growth and carbon flow to methane-producing bacteria (overleaf), but it can also inhibit methane oxidation.

Imperative Role of Hybrid Bt Rice in Pakistani Economy

Pakistan is a agriculture based country, it covers a total area of 19,671.63 million acres, of which 5,411.49 million acres are cultivated. The irrigation system to support this cultivation is one of the largest in the world. There are two principal seasons: the “Kharif” season, which starts in April-June and ends in October-December and the “Rabi” season, which starts in October-December and ends in April-May. The major “Kharif’ crops are rice, cotton and sugarcane and the main ‘Rabi’ crops are wheat, potatoes, rape seed and mustard. Minor crops include tobacco, pulses, potatoes, onion, chillies, and garlic.

Agriculture remains the dominant sector of the economy and accounts for about 24 percent of GDP, half the employed labor force, and a large share of foreign exchange earnings.

Pakistan grows number of rice varieties but the main are Basmati Rice (long grain rice) and IRR6/9 (sort grain rice). Basmati rice research in Pakistan is concentrated at the Rice Research Institute (RRI), Kala Shah Kaku, near Lahore. RRI has a long history of developing rice varieties with excellent grain quality and aroma in 1933 “Basmati-370” was developed; in 1968 “Basmati-Pak” in 1968 and later Basmati-185 and Basmati-385 were developed. Since 1990’s each year RRI have developed and marketed number of new rice varieties with many promises.

In year 2000-2001 rice was cultivated on area of 5,559,750 acres. Out of which Punjab rice growing area was 59%, Sindh 23.13%, N.W.F.P. 2.4% and Balochistan around 4.89%. The production of rice was 4,500,000.00 tones, out of which Basmati Rice (Long Grain) was 52% around 2,340,000.00 tones while IRRI Rice (Short Grain) was 40% around 1,800,000.00 tones, however Other Varieties were 8% around 360,000.00 tones.

Pakistan is a major rice exporter and annually exports about 2 million MT or about 10 percent of world trade. This year rice export target was about 75 percent of IRRI rice around 1,350,000.00 tones and 25 percent of Basmati around 585,000.00 tones. Rice is Pakistan’s second leading source of export earnings. However, Pakistan faces competition from Thailand and Vietnam in the export of coarse rice and from India in the Basmati rice trade but it has competitive advantages of low price and pleasant aroma of Basmati over other origin.

Which means on one hand Bt Rice will bring prosperity for Pakistani farmers on other it will boom all industries and business activities which are directly or indirectly associated with agriculture sector. Any shortfall in rice production could be a disaster for food security and economic prosperity

However, farmers growing Bt Rice have to make an agreement with seed suppliers stating that they would not keep seed for planting next year. Quick ELISA tests have been devised to test for Bt toxins in plant parts, to check the illegal spread of Bt Rice. A Significant socioeconomic issue that can arise from the introduction of Bt Rice into the Pakistani farming system is that the high priced seeds may benefits the prosperous and large farmers thus providing a negative externality on small and marginal farmers. On the other hand it can also argued that the developments from the application of biotechnology would be beneficial to low input farming practices wherein the cost of chemical inputs can be minimized. It is now only a matter of time before we experience the full social economic and environmental impact of Bt Rice in our country.

Current Bt Rice Products and Projects in the World

Research on Basmati Rice in Pakistan and India:

In genetic engineering, the technologies are spear headed towards the improvement of prized basmati rice, which unfortunately is vulnerable to many diseases. It is estimated that Bacterial blight alone cause economic losses which is US $ 30 million. It is only through genetic engineering that the "gene" for this disease; which is Xa21 has been isolated from wild rice cultivars. Its unique characteristic is its broad spectrum of resistance to various strains of "Xanthomonas" a bacterium, which causes this disease. This gene has been successfully integrated in japonica rice. In genetic engineering, scientists have developed a "binary vector" for Xa21 gene, which was transformed into agro-bacterium strains EHA101 setting the stage for transgenic plant production in basmati rice through agro-bacterium mediated formation.

This project has been carried out at Agriculture Biotechnology Institutes, which is funded by the Standing Committee on Science and Technology in the South (COMSTECH).

Within 2-3 years this transgenic line would become available to the farmers. This technology is cost effective in developing countries like Pakistan.

Program on Rice at NRCPB - India

Generation of insect-resistant, transgenic crop plants by expression of the insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) gene of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for crop improvement.

Larvae of yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas, a major lepidopteran insect pest of rice,cause massive losses of rice yield. Bt-transgenic lines with these ICP genes has been developed in three elite cultivars, IR64, Karnal Local and Pusa Basmati-1. Synthetic CryIA(c) gene was placed under control of the maize ubiquitin1 promoter, along with the first intron of the maize ubiquitin 1 gene, and the nos terminator. The gene construct was delivered to five day old embryos using the particle bombardment method as well as agro-bacterium-mediated approach. Molecular analyses of the lines revealed that the transferred synthetic CryIA(c) gene was expressed stably in the T2 generation of these lines and that the transgenic rice plants were highly toxic to YSB larvae and lessened the damage caused by their feeding. Progenies are being evaluated before going for field trials.

While other Products & Projects are:

Liberty-Link Herbicide Tolerant Rice (AgrEvo, Inc.). Approved for commercial sale by the USDA in 1999, this rice variety is tolerant to Phosphinothricin (PPT) herbicide, specifically glufosinate ammonium.
Metabolically Modified Rice (Nagoya University, National Institute of Agrobiological Resources, Japan). Researchers at these two institutions recently demonstrated that new rice strains could boost photosynthesis and grain yield by up to 35%. These researchers altered the normal C3 photosynthesis pathway in rice to a C4 photosynthesis pathway, similar to that in maize and sugarcane. This was done using an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system and independently introducing three maize genes encoding the C4 photosynthetic pathway enzymes. Preliminary field trials in China and Korea show a 10-30% and 30-35% increase in grain yield for two of the genes transformed in the rice plants, respectively.
High vitamin A and iron rice (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology's Institute for Plant Sciences, Rockefeller Foundation). In a major advance in global nutrition, researchers have recently created a strain of genetically altered rice to combat vitamin A deficiency, the world's leading cause of blindness and a malaise that affects as many as 250 million children. The new "golden rice" contains three transplanted genes that allow plants to produce rice kernels containing beta-carotene, a compound that is converted to vitamin A within the human body. The same research team is also completing work on another genetically modified rice strain with increased iron content. Iron deficiency-anemia, the world's worst nutrition disorder, affects nearly 2 billion people. By 2002 the first generation of genetically engineered rice plants that contain both the vitamin A and iron modifications will be grown. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is now working on putting these traits into commercially useful rice strains. Once researchers produce crops of viable seed rice, the institute will offer the new rice free to any nation that wants it.
Rice Yellow Mottle Virus resistance (Dr. M Koyama, John Innes Centre, UK). Transgenic rice for Africa with resistance to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) has been developed using the gene silencing approach. These plants have performed very well under containment testing in growth cabinets. Plans are underway for testing in screenhouses in Africa and eventually to field test them in Africa towards the end of the three years. Collaborating with WARDA. (DFID funding)
Nematode resistance in upland and lowland rice (Prof. H. Atkinson, University of Leeds, UK). In collaboration with IRRI and WARDA, this project aims to develop resistance to Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus and Hirschmanniella nematode species on upland and lowland rice. DFID Funded.
IMITMRice Seed (American Cyanamid). American Cyanamid is cooperating with universities and public and private seed companies to develop rice varieties tolerant to imidazolinone herbicides. Imidazolinone herbicides are flexible, environmentally friendly and provide superior contact and residual control of weeds. Availability estimated to be within 6 years.

In addition to research on insect resistance, various strategies are being investigated for virus resistance e.g. coat protein-mediated resistance is being investigated as a strategy for resistance to rice tungro virus. Herbicide tolerance is another major area of research, because direct seeding of rice can lead to serious competition with weeds. Fungal diseases are possibly the least researched area, but recently, transgenic rice has been obtained conferring resistance to the disease sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Plants are currently undergoing testing at IRRI.

Conclusion

It is not possible to predict how long Bt rice will remain effective, as insect pests will eventually develop resistance to Bt toxins. So the development of pest resistance to Bt toxins can be lingering by careful design of Bt rice plants and use of appropriate strategies for the deployment of these plants in farmers’ fields. Developing plant designs and deployment strategies to extend the useful lifetime of Bt rice varieties is a major focus of Bt research at IRRI.

It is critical that Bt remains a viable option for agriculture. After 30 years of successful use, Bt is considered one of the safest pesticides available. It is biodegradable and has no adverse effects on beneficial insects, other wildlife, and farm workers. Successful Bt crops including the first commercial Bt hybrid rice, have now been thoroughly evaluated in fields. In the future, the use of Bt crops within an adaptable Integrated Pest Management strategy may lead to durable and environmentally friendly plant protection. The successful expression of the Bt fusion gene in hybrid rice provides a good resource for management of rice pests in tropical Asian countries.

In addition to the use of biotechnology to combat biotic constraints, considerable research effort is focused on breeding for abiotic stress tolerance, particularly salt tolerance, and also tolerance of heavy metal ions and oxidative stress. Another research goal in rice and many other crops, is the development of varieties that are able to fix their own nitrogen. Transgenic varieties with these traits are still, however, many years from development. A recent high profile development has been the transformation of rice for nutritional enhancement with genes that enhance beta-carotene and iron production.

Hopefully one day with the expansion, good and encouraging results of Bt-technology we can over come our “Bio-Phobia” which is spread by number of institutes around the world. Though, biotechnology may be the only prominent source to avoid famine, poverty and environmental issues in this millennium.

Ijaz Ahmad Rao

Email: luckystarpk@yahoo.com

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