China’s most renowned agricultural scientist has described as “120 per cent fake” claims that farmers in Bihar harvested a world record 22.4 tonnes of rice from one hectare of land without using herbicides or genetically modified (GM) seeds last year. A national icon, Yuan Longping is known here as “the father of hybrid rice” for developing varieties that enabled China to transform its grain output. His rice varieties were subsequently introduced widely in the world, and marked a record yield of 19.4 tonnes a hectare.
Confirmed by India
According to reports from Bihar — confirmed subsequently by the Indian government — farmers in Nalanda district had bested that world record using a herbicide-free, GM-free and chemical-free method called System of Rice Intensification (SRI) — a feat that some researchers have said could transform rice farming across the world.
Dr. Yuan, however, has cast doubt on the claim. “I introduced the [SRI] intensification method in China myself,” he said. “It could increase yields by 10 to 15 per cent in low-yield fields, but it’s not possible in fields that are already producing relatively high yields.”
Dr. Yuan noted that the farmer who claimed to have broken the record, Sumant Kumar, had said “they had lots of rain and little sunshine last year,” but high yields would be impossible without adequate sunshine.
From photographs, the harvested plants “appeared short and couldn’t possibly produce high yields,” the scientist was quoted as saying by South China Morning Post.
Dr. Yuan also expressed scepticism of the Indian government’s statement that it had verified the record. “How could the Indian government have confirmed the number after the harvesting was already done?” he asked.
“If Mr. Kumar is able to repeat his success next year, I will be glad to examine the results in the field personally.”
Keywords: Bihar rice record, fake rice record, Chinese scientist, Yuan Longping, Bihar rice production, genetically modified rice
The Bihar model appears to be organic which has advantages and
attributes other than high yield. The China man is more realistic,
experienced and practical. If you have pictures of the Bihar crop
please put them up. It is possible to make rough estimates of yield by
looking at the plant carrying the paddy.
Dr. Yuan has asked a very pertinent question: how could the numbers
be confirmed after the harvesting had been done? That is the correct
scientific approach. Any claim of this type should be able to
withstand scientific scrutiny; only then can we try and use these
methods extensively.
What do our own agricultural scientists have to say about such
fantastic yields?
You know Mr Longpin, i don't blame you for your disbelief in the
official certification- you are a Chinese after all. You are judging
India's claim because you know that half of the Chinese ones are
concocted lies. But here is a news for you. We are a
loud,argumentative democracy with little official capability to pull
such types of tricks. In here every claim by the government is met
with howling protests by the opposition. That's their first reaction.
And trust me Bihar has some of the most Machiavellian politicians who
have poked holes into a claim by the incumbent. It pains to have your
record broken, please accept my sympathies.
Yes. It is in our interest too to verify the veracity of this claim. If it's true, then we'd
have conclusively proved to the world our potential in agriculture. If it's false, then the
persons responsible for this falsification should be brought to the book. Science is
science, whether in India or in China.
The Chinese scientist needs to learn to observe. Just making blanket statements
without visiting the site, and verifying the facts is unscientific.
I have witnessed bumper crops of various kinds grown and harvested without
artificial fertilizers and pesticides, but with natural manure.
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