This document provides information about the Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC) in Egypt. It discusses rice production in Egypt including area planted, productivity, and economic importance. It outlines the RRTC's vision to break yield plateaus through maximizing potential, stabilizing yields under varying conditions, and optimizing practices. The RRTC conducts research in breeding, agronomy, plant protection, and technology transfer to achieve objectives like developing high-yielding varieties resistant to stresses and optimizing recommendations. It has facilities for research, training, and hosting visitors that support achieving its goals.

1. Arab Republic of Egypt
Ministry of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Center
Field Crops Research Institute
Rice Research & Training Center
((RRTC
Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
Postal Code: 33717 Fax +2 0473225099
Tel: +2 0473223683 +2 0473223614
E-Mail: rrtc_egypt@yahoo.com

3. Rice in Egypt
Total area: ~ 600,000 hectares.
Productivity: ~ 10.00 t/ ha.

4. OUR VISION
Key Elements for Breaking Yield Plateau :
Maximization
of yield potentiality
Stabilization
for diverse environmental conditions
Optimization
of culture practeces

5. RICE RESEARCH & TRAINING CENTER
Breeding Plant Technology
Agronomy
& Protection Transfer
Seed
Production
Weed Entomology Plant
Science
Pathology

6. • The rice research concept was initiated in
1917.
• RRTC was dedicated in January 1987.
• RRTC is located at Kafr El-Sheikh city,
about 130 Km north of Cairo.

7. • Rice occupies about 25% of the
cultivated area in Egypt during the
summer season.
• Rice is one of the most important cereal
crops in Egypt, either for consumption
or for exporting.

8. • Rice cultivations help in reclaiming saline
soils near to the Mediterranean coast.
• Rice plays a paramount role in the
economy of Egypt, as the exports in 2008-
2009 were estimated as one pillion US$.
• Due to high population rate increase ( ~1.2
million yearly(, great efforts are needed to
maximize production.

9. Objectives 1
• Maximizing the yield potential per unit area and
water use effeciency.
• Developing new varieties tailored with high
yielding ability and resistance to biotic and abiotic
stresses.
• Deployment of new technologies ; hybrid rice,
biotechnology, biological control, organic rice…
etc.
• Increasing yield potential of saline areas.
• Improving cultural practices and updating the
package of recommendation to maximize the
productivity/unit area.

10. Objectives 2
• Transferring new rice technologies to the farmers.
• Increasing the certified seeds covering area at the
70% of national level.
• Increase the capabilities of young scientists in
different areas of research by attending conferences,
courses, workshops and training in or/and out the
country.
• Establish and sustain the co operation between Egypt
and International institutions.

11. Main Strategies
• Minimizing of in pot and maximizing of out pot.
• Spreading rice hybrids (12 t/ha(.
• Increase the productivity of poor quality soils.
• Developing low input rice varieties as well as
special rice's.
• Strengthening relationships among research,
extension and rice growers through
Technology Transfer Component.

12. Number of scientists currently conducting rice research
* and their areas of specialization
Head of
Senior Supporting
Specialization Research and
Researcher
Researcher
Staff
Consultant
Plant Breeding &
7 4 8 8
Biotechnology
Agronomy 6 5 8 10
Plant Pathology 2 2 2 2
Entomology 1 1 1 0
Weed
1 1 1 1
Management
Technology
1 0 0 4
Transfer
Economy 1 0 0 0
Total 19 13 20 25
* Excluding administrative and technical staff.

14. Future Research Needs
(i( Maximize yield / unit area (› 10t /ha( by developing
both inbred and hybrid varieties and its agronomy
practices.
(ii( Increase rice areas covered by certified seeds up to
70%.
(iii( Minimize mineral fertilizers use by increasing its use
efficiency and utilize it combined with organic and
bio fertilizers .
(iv( Develop drought, salinity and heat tolerance
varieties tailored with high daily production to face
the climate changes.
(v( Develop rice lines resistant to various types of plast
diseases.

15. Major constraints
Abiotic
Salt-affected soil in the coastal areas
.Difficulties in producing japonica hybrid rice
Limited area and water resources.
Suffering from Zn deficiency.

16. Major Constraints
Biotic
• High mutable rate of the blast fungus needs long
term plan to develop a variety with multiple
resistant genes.
• Occurrence of some newly diseases such as
Bakana, stem rot and Nematodes .
• Susceptibility of some varieties to LM and SB

17. Major Constraints
Socio-economic
• Difficulties in controlling rice prices as well as prices
of inputs including fertilizers, chemicals …. etc.
• High competition with the other summer crops
especially maize and cotton, in area and water share.
• Low available fund for rice research.
• Weakness of some farmers conviction to accept the
new technology.
• Portioning growing area by the farmers.

18. Giza 182
Giza 177 Giza 178
Sakha101 Egyptian Varieties Sakha103
Sakha102 Sakha 106 Sakha 105 Sakha 104
Yasmine Hybrid 1

22. WATER
MANAGEMENT SALINITY
PHYSIOLOGY
PROGRAM
Agronomy
Components
CULTURAL
NUTRITION PRACTICES
Mineral, Organic and Bio

23. Objectives of Agronomy Program
1- Develop and improve the package of
recommendation for different methods of rice
planting in normal and saline soils
. Utilize of rice residues to sustain soil fertility - 2
3- Estimate water requirements of cultivars and
use regimes to save irrigation water.
4- Rationalize the water use.
5- Increase the fertilizer efficiency under
different water regimes.
6- Study interactions among the different factors
to reach to maximize rice yield.

24. Methods of rice planting
in Egypt
Transplanting Direct Seeded rice
Manual Mechanical Drill Broadcasting

25. The package of recommendation for
transplanting Method
• Sowing date : 15th April – 15th May.
• Seeding rate ; 100 kg /ha.
• Seedling No 3- 5 /hill.
• Seedling age : 25 – 30 days
• Plant spacing : 20x20 cm
• N level : 144kg /ha.
• Time of N application: 2/3 as passel +1/3
at PI.

26. continue
• Zn Fertilizer rate :24 kg Zn sulfate /ha.
• Time of Zn applic. : after wet leveling.
• P rate : 125 kg /ha. Incorporated with soil.
• Weed control: 2L of Saturn (Thiopencarp).
• Water management : 4days on 6days off.
• Water regime: 15days after CF.
• Harvesting time : 30 days after CF.

33. RRTC
Activities

41. RRTC
Facilities

44. An auditorium, of 150m-2, can
accommodate 120
audiences.
It is fully air-conditioned and
fitted with audio visual
equipment.
Three meeting rooms

45. The guesthouse can accommodate
16 visitors at a time.
It has a well-equipped kitchen and a
restaurant for about 150 guests.

48. THANK YOU

49. Sakha 104

50. Main Objectives of Breeding Program
• Develop new varieties with high sustainable grain
yield > 10 t/ha, early maturing, multiple resistance
to pests and with superior grain quality.
• Develop varieties suited to adverse conditions.
• Develop rice hybrids suitable for normal and saline
soils.
• Developing special rices i.e. aromatic, waxy and
rice grain with high nutritional value.
• Evaluate, characterize, catalogue and maintain the
local genetic collections.
• Maintain the genetic purity of commercial
varieties, through an efficient system of seed
production.

51. Breeding Components
Inbred Rice Hybrid Rice
Varietal
Improvement Seed Production Biotechnology

52. Yield and Ancillary Traits of the New
Released Rice Varieties
Blast
Yield Duration Height Grain Milling
Variety
(T/ha) (day) (cm) L N Type (%)
Improved varieties:
Giza 177 10.7 125 100 2 R Sh 73
Giza 178 12.1 135 100 2 R Sh 71
Sakha 101 11.5 140 90 4 S Sh 72
Sakha 102 10.8 125 110 2 R Sh 72
Sakha 103 10.9 120 99 2 R Sh 72
Sakha 104 11.4 132 105 4 S Sh 71
Giza 182 11.7 129 94 2 R L 70
Egyptian Yasmine* 9.5 150 95 1 R L 65
Average 11.1 132 99.13 1-4 R Sh-L 65-73
Old varieties:
Giza 171 7.3 160 140 7 S Sh 72
Giza 176 8.7 150 100 5 S Sh 69
Giza 181 9.1 150 95 2 R L 68
Average 8.4 153 112 2-7 R-S Sh-L 68-72

54. Tissue
culture
protocols
(Anther
Culture &
mature
embryos(.

57. Some Components of Breeding Program

58. International Network for Genetic Evaluation
of Rice (INGER(

60. PLANT PROTECTION
Weed Science Entomology Plant Pathology

61. Objectives of Plant
Protection Program
This program aims to application of
integrated pest management “ IPM” for
protection of rice crop against diseases,
insects and weeds. It has a strong co-
operation with breeding program to
develop new rice varieties resistant to
diseases and insects

63. Objectives of Plant Pathology Program
 Develop and improve an integrated disease
management (IPM( system for major diseases, blast,
brown spot, false smut, bakanae and white tip
nematode diseases through:
 Host plant resistance,
 Cultural practice
 Biological and chemical control.
 Minimize using of fungicides.
 Minimize yield losses due to diseases,
 Increase grain yield and grain quality.

64. Leaf infection Panicle infection Seed infection
Pyricularia grisea
spores

65. Leaf infection
High infection severity
Seed discoloration
Helmenthosporium oryzae

66. Conido-spores on panicles Black galls
Infected Seed Healthy Seed

67. Seed infection
Fusarium moniliforme
spores
Infected Healthy
Field Symptoms Plants plants

68. Tilleto-spores
Grain infection Grain infection

69. Infected Leaves
Field Symptoms
Infected panicles

70. Rice Pathology Lab.
and Greenhouse

72. Major Insect Pests
Rice Stem Borer (RSB)
Rice leafminer
Rice Leafminer (RLM)
Bloodworms (BLW)

74. Stem Borers

75. y
10% yearl
t
are abou
Losses

76. Trichogramma: the next tool for rice
stem borer control
The parasite lays eggs The parasite examines the
egg host
Parasitized eggs
A card for release the
parasitoid

77. Natural Parasitism of Trichogramma on
RSB Egg-masses ( RRTC-Egypt )
100
80
Parasitism
60
40
%
20
0
18 26 7 19 30 2 9 16 23 28
Jul. Aug. Sept.
Sampling Date

79. Weeds can depress rice yield by 10-90 %
especially in direct-seeded rice. This depends
on infestation degree and rice cropping
.system
Overall objectives
Minimizing weed infestation and •
reduce competition and losses in rice
.yield
Maximizing rice crop yields •
.depending on efficient weed control

80. :Activities
The objectives can be achieved through the
:integrated weed management including
agricultural practices*
biological control*
.and efficient chemical weed control*

81. :Achievements
Employment of tillage, leveling, puddling and*
.water management to suppress weeds
Fungus
Continuous evaluation and selection of*
allelopathic rice entries for natural weed
.suppression
Detection of the role of some biological agents*
( fungus and algae ) in controlling weed in
.rice
Continuous evaluation and identification of*
effective chemical weed control treatments in
.direct-seeded and transplanted rice

82. :Success evidence
Increasing the area of direct-seeded rice by*
.about three folds through the last six years
The release of rice cultivar Yasmine which is*
.natural suppressive for grassy weeds
Allelopathic
effects
Identification of many rice lines as*
allelopathic active against weeds during the
. last five years

84. Technology Transfer component
The main objectives of Technology Transfer
Component are:
• To increase the national rice production through
transfer of research recommendations and new
technology to rice farmers.
• To identify problems and suggest suitable
solutions in the rice fields.
• To evaluate and disseminate research
information and update the package of
recommendations to rice farmers.
• To train the extension staff and farmers on the
new rice production technology.

85. Rice Productivity in Different Rice
Governorates 2007
12 t/ha
10
8
6
4
2
0
Kafr El- Dakahlia Beheira Sharkia Gharbia Damietta Fayoum Others
Sheikh

87. 300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
1984
750
1987
1988
1989
1000ha
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Years
1998
1999
2000
Rice Area (1984-2007)
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007

88. Gap in Rice Yield Between Demonstration
and Farmer Fields
100
%
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
87
89
91
93
95
99
03
07
97
01
05
19
19
19
19
20
20
19
19
19
20
20
Years

89. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1984
1987
Million ton
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Years
1998
1999
2000
Rice Production (1984-2007)
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007

90. 4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1984-1986
1987
1988 t/ha
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Years
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Average Grain Yield (1984-2007)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007

91. Rice Production & Export Egyptian
Year Production Export
Million tons Million tons
1983/1984 2.400 0.000
1991/1992 3.41 0.200
1995/1996 4.82 0.350
1999/2000 5.34 0.320
2000/2001 6.00 0.332
2001/2002 5.40 0.755
2002/2003 6.10 0.322
2003/2004 6.04 0.619
2004/2005 6.18 1.100
2005/2006 6.55 1.102
2006/2007 6.12 1.294
2007/2008 6.74 *0.750
*Up to 1ST April, 2008