“Besalohy,” meaning “the one with many panicles,” is designed to provide a high grain yield upon harvest. According to the National Center for Applied Research in Rural Development (Fofifa), a new rice variety capable of reaching a yield of 4 tons per hectare is set to be distributed to producers starting from the 2027-2028 agricultural season. Named Besalohy, or Fofifa X265-MP3, it was officially presented on Tuesday in Antaninarenina.
Resulting from five years of joint research between Fofifa and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), the Besalohy variety was developed to improve rice productivity, particularly on less fertile land, while being adapted to local cultivation conditions.
The new variety has a growth cycle of approximately three months. Its seeds can be reused for subsequent seasons, allowing producers to save a portion of their harvest for future planting.
Fofifa specifies that Besalohy was obtained through a cross between the Malagasy variety X265 and the Japanese variety Koshihikari. Researchers also integrated the MP3 (More Panicles 3) gene, associated with the development of tillers and panicles, to boost production under conditions of limited fertility.
The variety has passed the required evaluation stages, including tests for distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DHS), and has received approval from the Official Seed and Agricultural Material Control Service (SOC).
Fofifa also notes that Besalohy shows resistance to diseases and water stress, characteristics that will be evaluated on a larger scale as it is distributed to farmers.
The official presentation was attended by Prime Minister Mamitiana Rajaonarison, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Gaëtan Ramindo, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Professor Ndaohialy Manda-Vy Ravonimantsoa, the Japanese Ambassador to Madagascar, and other public officials.
The Prime Minister emphasized the role of scientific research in improving agricultural production, noting that the government intends to strengthen support for research and promote the application of findings by Malagasy researchers.
The distribution of Besalohy is scheduled for the 2027-2028 agricultural season, which will allow for the assessment of its performance in real-world farming conditions and its impact on local rice production, a key pillar for the government’s food sovereignty strategy.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-02 14:23:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/production-rizicole-fofifa-presente-une-nouvelle-variete-de-riz-pouvant-avoir-un-rendement-jusqua-4-tonnes-par-hectare/