Bangladeshi agriculture scientists have invented 93 new varieties of paddy that could save about 33 to 50 percent water during cultivation.

The scientists of Rural Development Academy (RDA) in Bangladesh 's northwestern Bogra district and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute have jointly invented the water saving varieties recently under a yearlong project titled "Development and Dissemination of Water Saving Rice Technology in South Asia," The Daily Star reported Sunday.

International Rice Research Institute initiated the project assisted by the Asian Development Bank.

Project Coordinator AKM Zakaria, also RDA deputy director, said currently 5 tons of water is used to produce 1 kg of paddy. "The country will face water crisis in a few years if water is used at the current rate," Zakaria said.

He said Bangladesh uses five times the water India spends to produce 1 kg of paddy.

"We have found about 33 to 50 percent water could be saved for the newly invented varieties," he said.

He also said among the 93, there are a few varieties which could be harvested in 120 to 130 days. Normally it takes 150 days, said the RDA official.

Zakaria said five South Asian countries would also initiate cultivation of the new varieties innovated by the Bangladeshi scientists.

RDA Director General Mohammad Ferdous Alam hoped that apart from water, energy and power uses would also come down once cultivation of the newly innovated varieties starts.

"It would require a year more to initiate cultivation of the new varieties. By this time we will identify which varieties will be more beneficial for cultivation in which localities," he said.

Source: Xinhua