With the introduction of dwarfing genes in the early sixties, the rice variety development programme made spectacular gains in productivity. Rice production increased many-fold, and several countries in South and Southeast Asia that were once net rice importers became major exporters. Although during this period, emphasis was on increased yield and re- sistance to diseases, insects and pests, some efforts were also made in the area of breeding resistant varieties against physical stresses, related mainly to soil and water. However, there was not much emphasis on improving aroma and rice grain qualities. Since most countries which produced and exported aromatic rices, were facing deficit in rice self-sufficiency, they were more concerned with increasing their rice production than dealing with complex issues such as aroma and grain quality improvement. There- fore, mostly local cultivars of aromatic rices are grown. These cultivars, although tall lodging-susceptible and low yielders, are preferred for their pleasant aroma, excellent grain qualities and taste. Of these, the long grain types are also exported. As an aftermath of the green revolution, Chapter 6 72 Aromatic Rices when yield increases were the main consideration, most of the once well- known aromatic rice cultivars are now fast disappearing. In fact, many of them are already lost. If some of them are still surviving, it is purely because of the personal preferences of the farmers; some grow these aromatic varieties for their own consumption. Some farmers grow certain specific varieties like Basmati 370, Taraori Basmati in India, Pak Basmati in Pakistan and Jasmine rices in Thailand mainly for export purposes
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