Taoyuan agriculture office touts new rice varietiesDEVELOPMENT: The Taoyuan office said that, to stabilize rice production, it has cultivated new rice varieties that are more tolerant of diseases and droughtsBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporterThe Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station said it has developed three new rice cultivars that need less water and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions thanks to their tolerance of pests, diseases and extreme weather. High temperatures could cause more chalky rice grains in rice production, while water shortages often cause insufficient irrigation to fields and disrupted tillage in spring, it said. To stabilize rice production and ensure the quality, the station has cultivated new rice varieties that are more tolerant of diseases and droughts, with three important cultivars developed over the past few years, including “Taoyuan No. 3” — a variety that won many local rice competitions for its excellent quality, but became prone to rice blast diseases due to climate change, it said. 3, it successfully developed Taoyuan No.

Source: Taipei Times March 01, 2026 16:28 UTC