SHS, Devgen got approval for new hybrid rice variety in Indonesia

Devgen nv, the agro-biotech company that shapes the field of hybrid rice in India and Southeast Asia and innovates in crop protection technologies, and PT Sang Hyang Seri (Persero) (SHS), the government owned seed company in Indonesia, announced that they have been granted registration for the commercial sale in Indonesia of DG 5 SHS, a new premium hybrid rice seed.

The new product is particularly well adapted to the subtropical climate prevailing in Indonesia. It generates exceptional yields compared to local inbred varieties and meets the needs of farmers by delivering the right grain quality and taste (locally known as “pulen”) as well as disease tolerance. The registration of DG 5 SHS therefore represents an important step in strengthening the offer of premium hybrid rice seeds to growers in Indonesia and supports the ambition of the Indonesian government to guarantee food security in the country.

The new seed will be distributed in Indonesia under both the Frontline brand of Devgen and the SHS brand. Sales of the product are scheduled to start from fourth quarter of 2012. Pilot seed production is currently ongoing in Indonesia.

Devgen and SHS already distribute two premium hybrid rice seeds that, since their first sales in 2010, have established a good track record with the Indonesian farmer. Both deliver substantial yield improvements in wet and dry seasons and have the taste profile desired by Indonesian consumers.

Bapak Eddy Budiono, President Director of SHS said: “PT Sang Hyang Seri is pleased to have brought, in collaboration with Devgen, high yielding, well adapted, pulen and aromatic hybrid rice seeds to the Indonesian farmers. We expect DG 5 SHS to build on this track record to the further financial benefit of the farmers and to support government policy to increase the country's rice production by 10 million tons in 2014.”

"The registration of DG 5 SHS is another important step forward and demonstrates Devgen’s and SHS joint commitment to apply their technology and expertise to deliver a portfolio of products adapted to growing conditions and farmer needs in Indonesia,” said Thierry Bogaert, CEO of Devgen.

Rice is the most important food crop in Indonesia, a country of around 245 million inhabitants. The crop is grown on a total of approximately 13.2 million hectares of which only 3 to 4% is planted with hybrid rice, compared to 60% in China. The total potential market volume if hybrid seed becomes widely adopted in Indonesia is over 100,000 tons of seed.