Nuclear Malaysia, the country’s nuclear agency, has developed a high-yielding rice variety using nuclear technology to induce changes in the plant genetic make-up.
Known as NMR152, the newly developed variety is drought-tolerant and resistant to rice blast disease. It has been shown to produce nine to ten tons of rice per hectare compared to six tons per hectare produced by other varieties.
NMR152 is part of a holistic approach, which includes the use of fertilizer and plant growth promoter, to help Malaysia’s rice farmers cope with low soil fertility and changing climatic conditions.
Read the full story at IAEA.
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