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| Asemi rice, a rice variety developed by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), is seen a in rice paddy in a desert area of the United Arab Emirates. / Courtesy of RDA |
By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea's Rural Development Administration (RDA) has succeeded in growing rice in a desert in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the state-run agricultural research institute said Wednesday.
The research institute started to grow Asemi rice on a 1,890-square-meter plot in the UAE's desert area of Sharjah in November 2019. It expects the crop will be ready for harvest May 5.
The rice farming experiment was launched after leaders of the two countries agreed to develop smart farming technology during a summit in the UAE in 2018.
"We sowed seeds Nov. 25. As of April 24, we expect we can harvest 763 kilograms of rice per 1,000 square meters. We increased the crop amount by 40 percent compared with when we harvest in the same rice variant in Korea," an RDA official said.
The increased crop productivity was possible as the rice growing area received more sunlight as well as appropriate nutrients.
Asemi rice was developed in 2013 by the RDA in an effort to make an export rice variant that could grow well even in non-tropical countries. The rice variety is a kind of japonica rice, which is mainly consumed in China, Korea and Japan because of its sticky and moist nature when cooked.
Once they finish harvesting the first crop, they will sow more Asemi seeds in August to see if double-cropping, which is raising two crops a year, is possible.
"In Korea, it takes about 160 days from sowing to harvesting on average. Given we are expecting to harvest the rice crop there May 5, we can say the cultivation period is similar to that in Korea," the RDA official said.
"As we have succeeded in growing rice, we will try to sow the Asemi rice in August to see whether double-cropping is possible. At present, we think the chances are good."
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| RDA officials pose with a UAE official taking part in a rice farming in the desert project. / Courtesy of RDA |
By conducting follow-up experiments, the RDA also aims to secure the profitability of rice farming in the desert, as currently it costs too much to supply desalinated water to the rice growing areas.
The agency said it costs about 20 million won ($16,419) per hectare to supply fresh water, while the product value in the same area is 5.65 million won.
"To solve the water supply issue, the RDA is currently reviewing several plans. First, we are considering using underground water instead of supplying fresh water made from seawater. Second, we may reduce the water use by 30 percent by applying new cultivation methods which combine furrow cultivation and drip irrigation," the RDA said.
The RDA said rice farming in the UAE was made possible thanks to support from government agencies of the two countries including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, the Embassy of the UAE in Korea, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UAE and Korea's agriculture, science and foreign ministries.
RDA administrator Kim Kyeong-kyu said the successful cultivation of rice has strengthened ties between the two countries.
"In such a difficult situation, we verified the possibility of rice farming in desert areas, utilizing our agricultural technology and experience. If we are able to secure the sustainability of rice farming there after conducting experiments, I hope it will contribute to strengthening bilateral ties," Kim said.
