SL Agritech in talks to supply more rice seeds to Bangladesh

Hybrid rice seed company SL Agritech Corporation is currently in talks with Bangladesh's Ministry of Agriculture to supply the country with high-amylose rice seeds, the company announced over the weekend.

A Bangladeshi trade mission composed of local government officials led by Agricultural Minister Matia Chowdhury visited the company's research center in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on May 23.

Representatives from the Bangladesh-based Stress Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (Strasa) were also part of the delegation.

SL Agritech, which has cornered 20 percent of Bangladesh's hybrid rice seeds market, currently supplies it with SL-8H seeds, a variety that yields 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare.

High amylose rice is used in the making of parboiled rice, which is boiled in the husk before milling, raising the nutrition content of the grain.

The company is also studying the possibility of producing a new variety of hybrid rice in Bangladesh. — BM, GMA News