VOA科学技术2024--In Changing Climate, Scientists Develop Stronger Seeds for India

Unpredictable rains and increasing heat are making life more difficult for the people of Rayanpet, a village in southern India. The conditions are also damaging the rice crops grown there.

P. Ravinder Reddy, a former soldier, started farming on his family's land 16 years ago. He said, "We used to know when it would rain and for how long."

That meant they used to know when to plant. Now, he said, it is not so predictable. Sometimes there is too much rain. Sometimes there is no rain at all.

Agricultural research organizations in India have been working for years to engineer rice seeds that can survive in a changing climate. Reddy has been experimenting with new kinds of rice for the past five years. The new rice plants are producing more grain with less water. They are also more disease¹ resistant².

Reddy says he has planted them across part of his 10-hectare field. He still grows some of the older kinds because there is a demand for them. But he said, "I think in a few years, we will use only these tougher seeds."

India is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of wheat and rice. Research organizations in that country and around the world have worked for years to produce seeds that are better able to handle drought³, unseasonal rains, plant diseases⁴ and more.

Earlier this year, a United Nations report said more than 700 million people suffered from hunger last year. More than one-third of the worldwide population does not have the money to buy healthy foods.

Defending against climate shocks

India has nearly 120 million farmers. Most have less than two hectares of land. Unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures and increased pest problems all threaten their ability to grow food.

Experts say the dangers to rice include increasing salt content in groundwater, heavy rainfall over short periods, long periods of drought and increasing nighttime temperatures.

Some farmers are turning to methods of natural farming to deal with climate change. But that can mean reduced yields⁶. India's federal⁷ government is also urging the use of climate-resilient seeds that result in better yields.

Government research support

Ashok Kumar Singh is former director of New Delhi-based Indian Agriculture Research Institute. He has overseen⁸ the creation⁹ of many successful rice varieties that withstand¹⁰ pests and plant diseases. His organization has helped release¹¹ more than 2,000 climate-resilient kinds of seed in the last 10 years.

"We really need these seeds to deal with these multiple¹² issues created by global warming," Singh said.

Earlier this year, Indian Prime¹³ Minister Narendra Modi released¹⁴ 109 climate-resilient seeds for several different crops. India's federal government has announced plans to make sure at least 25 percent of rice-growing fields in the country will be planted with climate-resilient seeds in the coming winter crop season.

In Rayanpet village, Reddy is preparing to plant rice seeds for the winter season in a few weeks.

"It is good to keep trying new seeds, as after some time all of them will have some issue or the other," Reddy said. "If the government can also make sure we get good prices for our crops after harvest, that would help farmers like us a great deal."

Words in This Story

tough - adj. strong and not easily broken or damaged

consumer - n. a person who buys goods and services

drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

pest - n. an animal or insect that causes problems for people

yield⁵ - n. the amount of something that is produced by a plant, farm, or the like

issue - n. problem or concern

especially by damaging crops

resilient - adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

1 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

2 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

3 drought   

n.旱灾，干旱，久旱

参考例句：

• The plants are growing in again,despite the drought.尽管干旱，植物又长出来了。
• The ground is as hard as stone after the drought.长期干旱后土地硬得就像石头一样。

4 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

5 yield   

v.生产，出产；让步，屈服；n.产量，收获量

参考例句：

• A cow will yield several gallons of milk each day.一头母牛每天产几加仑的牛奶。
• We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。

6 yields   

n.产量( yield的名词复数 )；收益量；[财政学]投资实得率

参考例句：

• The yields on his shares have increased in this year. 今年他的股票红利增加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These high yields have been achieved largely through better methods of cultivation. 这样高的产量主要是通过改良耕作方法取得的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

8 overseen   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was overseen stealing the letters. 他被人撞见在偷信件。 来自辞典例句
• It will be overseen by ThomasLi, director of IBM China Research Laboratory. 该实验室由IBM中国研究院院长李实恭(ThomasLi)引导。 来自互联网

9 creation   

n.创造，创造的作品，产物，宇宙，天地万物

参考例句：

• Language is the most important mental creation of man.语言是人类头脑最重要的产物。
• The creation of new playgrounds will benefit the local children.新游戏场的建立将有益于当地的儿童。

10 withstand   

vt.经受，承受，抵住

参考例句：

• The walls can withstand high winds.这些墙能顶得住强风。
• This dress material will withstand repeated washings.这种衣料能经得住反复洗涤。

11 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

12 multiple   

adj.多个(或多项、多种)的；n.（数）倍数

参考例句：

• The number 8 is a multiple of 4.八是四的倍数。
• The most common multiple births are twins,two babies born at the same time.最常见的多胎是双胞胎，两个婴儿同时出生。

13 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

14 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。