Rice

Crop improvement section is mainly responsible for improving varieties of paddy rice, and research and promotion of cultivating techniques. In terms of breed improvement, we aim to select and cultivate excellent varieties of paddy rice, possessing features of high yield, excellent quality, resistance to diseases and pests, and for special application. In the past few years, we have successfully bred and cultivated Taikeng 4, Taikeng 6, Taikeng 10, Taikeng 16, Hualien 20, and so on. Taikeng 4 is an aromatic rice variety that its cooked rice has nice fragrance and special flavor. Taikeng 16 is a variety giving high yield, with strong stalk, nice taste, and resistance to brown planthopper. Its cultivating area has been as high as 29,000 hectares, which is 9.6% of country-wide rice cultivating area, and is very attractive to rice farmers and consumers. The rice variety Hualien 20 has excellent grain appearance, excellent rice eating quality, strong stalk and resistance to rice blast. Besides, we are responsible for examining properties of new varieties (strains) of rice such as preharvested panicle sprouting, and shattering. Annually, we examine about 190 varieties (strains) providing reference information for rice breeders.

Rice Taikeng 16

Raise ducks (AIGAMO, Japanese) in paddy farm for cultivating organic rice.

Regarding to cultivating techniques, we have studied and developed economized techniques for rice such as direct seeding and rice regeneration, aiming to lower production cost. To increase rice quality in this district, we have endeavored to improve rice grain appearance and study rice eating quality. In addition to develop and utilize the technique of near InfraRed (NIR) spectroscopy analyzing technique to determine rice ingredients and strengthen the ability of analyzing rice quality, we continuously carry out research in improvement of cultivating techniques regarding to soil and fertilizer etc. Moreover, we study the relationship between micro-climate environment and rice quality, providing reference for adjusting rice's cultivating model in farmland. We thereby expect to increase rice quality in this district.

Rice Hualien 20

Grain appearance of rice Hualien 20

The environment in Hualien district is naturally clean without industrial pollution, and that is very suitable for the development of organic rice. We have devoted to develop cultivated management of organic farming for organic rice, and established organic rice cultivated system. In addition, we assist cultivating organic rice in Hualien and Yilan areas, giving annual cultivating area over 653 hectares, which gives positive effects to increase farmers' income and improving agricultural ecological environment.

Demonstration of cultivated technique for growing Kwan-Fu aromatic rice on rice field.

Schematize appropriate areas to grow high quality rice.

Aboriginal villages hold in store of abundant native rice germplasm. We have collected and conserved native rice germplasm such as Kwan-Fu aromatic rice, up-land rice and so on. We thereafter carry out research in varietal purification and application, and assist farmers to improve their cultivating and management skills that can further utilize the bio-diversity of rice.