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International Rice Research Institute October-December 2004, Vol. 3 No. 4

4
Rice year updates
Scientific article awards
and Brazil full of beans

Summing up
Research with the giants
of rice, China and India

Quality time
Improving the nutrition
and palatability of rice

Reason to cheer
Thousands of farmers kick the pesticide habit
ISSN 1655-5422
i
Rice
Science
for a Better
W o rld
Wo
Drought, floods and problem

soils trap many rice growers

in poverty, so making

harvests more reliable means

more money for farmers

Rice is
Life I N T E R N AT I O N A L Y E A R O F R I C E 2 0 0 4
contents
Vol. 3, No. 4

INTRODUCING IRRI ............................................................... 4


Proud to lead the way
DONORS CORNER ................................................................... 5
Targeting human suffering: The Rockefeller Foun-
dation focuses on achieving lasting improvements
in the lives and livelihoods of poor people
NEWS ............................................................................................ 6
Genetic resources treaty comes into force
ASEAN agrees to formal relationship with IRRI

TIM VARLOW (TERRACED RICE PADDIES, LUCENA, PHILIPPINES. 28.04.04)


Bangladesh poverty elimination project winds up
Information technology to help rice farmers
RICE IN THE NEWS .................................................................. 9
Global warming has unexpectedly large effect on
rice yield
Continuing food imports worry Chinese leaders
India renews focus on agriculture
Agriculture ministers adopt joint initiative in Beijing
Digesting nutrition in rice
Philippine government set to ramp up hybrids
REASON TO CHEER ...............................................................12
Thousands of Bangladeshi rice farmers kick the
pesticide habit after proving to themselves
that doing so saves money and safeguards their
health and the environment
SUMMING UP .........................................................................18 SPECIFIC BENEFITS ..............................................................32
In the calculus of rice and global food security, Farmers earn more from their rice crop by
China and India equal the rest of the world scientifically optimizing fertilizer use
combined. The role of rice research in these Special section: .....................................................................34
countries is likewise great, as is the task of INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE
coordinating it for maximum benefit Arroz by another name: Celebrations in Latin America

ARIEL JAVELLANA
JOINT ACCOUNT WITH INTEREST .................................22 Wedding rice not thrown but sown: IRRN Best Article
An international rice network celebrates 30 years Award winners announced
of impressive returns from the exchange of
genetic assets Rice year reports from across Asia and more
QUALITY TIME ........................................................................26 PEOPLE ......................................................................................40
Rice scientists have long focused on helping Principal scientist retires after 29 years at rice institute
Asian farmers reap bountiful and reliable Keeping up with IRRI staff
harvests of affordable rice. Now they are taking Partners in progress
up the additional challenge of improving the
staple grain’s nutrition and palatability RICE FACTS ..............................................................................41
Saving labor
A HAPPENING LAB ...............................................................30 Boosting labor productivity on rice farms raises
A state-of-the-art gene-discovery facility in the living standards, even for landless workers
Philippines has emerged as the buzzing hub of
an inclusive community of cereal scientists and GRAIN OF TRUTH ..................................................................42
trainees Biopirates or pioneering conservationists?

EMBRAPA
Cover Ariel Javellana
International Rice Research Institute
publisher Duncan Macintosh
DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines
editor Peter Fredenburg
Web (IRRI): www.irri.org
art director Juan Lazaro IV
Web (Library): http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org
designer and production supervisor George Reyes
Web (Riceweb): www.riceweb.org
deputy editor Adam Barclay
Web (Rice Knowledge Bank): www.knowledgebank.irri.org
contributing editors Gene Hettel, Bill Hardy
photo researcher Aileen Del Rosario-Rondilla
photographer Ariel Javellana Rice Today editorial
circulation Al Benavente telephone (+63-2) 580-5600 or (+63-2) 844-3351 to 53, ext 2527;
printer Primex Printers, Inc. fax: (+63-2) 580-5699 or (+63-2) 845-0606; email: d.macintosh@cgiar.org
Rice Today is published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the world’s should not be construed as expressing IRRI policy or opinion on the legal status of any
leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with country, territory, city or area, or its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or
offices in 11 other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on boundaries.
improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, Rice Today welcomes comments and suggestions from readers. Potential contributors
particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of are encouraged to query first, rather than submit unsolicited materials. Rice Today
15 centers funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited submissions, which should
(CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. For more information, visit be accompanied by sufficient return postage.
the CGIAR Web site (www.cgiar.org).
Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used in this publication Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2004
INTRODUCING IRRI

Proud to lead
the way

T he world was a terrifying


place in 1952-53. The
period saw the first use of
“population explosion” in
Time magazine and — a cruel irony — the
first detonation, over the Pacific Ocean, of
a hydrogen bomb. It also brought across
the Pacific two senior Rockefeller Founda-
tion agriculturalists to study how to end
who depend on them for reliable, afford-
able supplies of their staple food. IRRI’s
work, on its research campus at Los Baños
and across Asia in collaboration with the
national partners it has nurtured, has
greatly contributed to the near doubling of
the Asian rice harvest since 1970.
Today, the institute combines rice-
biodiversity conservation, gene discovery
2 decades of stagnating rice yields in Asia. and plant breeding with natural resource
By 1960, the population explosion was a management, integrated pest manage-
cover story in Time, and the International ment, agricultural engineering and
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was estab- postharvest technologies, and social and
lished in the Philippines to shore up global policy studies to develop ecologically
food security in the face of exponential and economically sustainable strategies
population growth. to reverse a troubling new stagnation
Along with the other midwife of the in rice-yield improvement. This trend
Green Revolution, the Mexico-based occurs in the contexts of slowing popula-
International Maize and Wheat Improve- tion growth and Asian farmers enjoying
ment Center, IRRI was a prototype for a an average yield more than double that of
global network of research centers that, their parents and grandparents at IRRI’s
since 1971, have found common purpose founding. It nevertheless threatens to
within the Consultative Group on Interna- undermine the indispensable agricultural
tional Agricultural Research. With more foundation of development, thus sabotag-
than US$400 million in annual fund- ing the prospects of today’s 600 million
ing from its 63 cosponsors and member poor in rice-producing Asia and a large
states and organizations — in particular portion of the billions to be born in the
the World Bank and developed countries several decades before the global popula-
in North America, Europe and tion finally stabilizes.
the Asia-Pacific — the 15-center People at IRRI take pride in how
group represents the world’s they, their colleagues and their prede-
largest investment in mobiliz- cessors going back to the shell-shocked
ing science to generate public middle of the 20th century have helped
goods for poor farm com- to make the world a more prosper-
munities. ous, safe and hopeful place. But much
Since IRRI’s release in remains to be done to achieve the United
1966 of the first modern Nations Millennium Development Goals
rice variety, the insti- and so alleviate hunger, want, prevent-
tute has led the way in able disease, ignorance, inequality and
developing improved environmental degradation. With contin-
rice cultivars and other ued support, IRRI’s 1,000 scientists, ad-
agricultural technologies ministrators, support staff and contract
to benefit Asia’s 200 million rice workers will contribute much more than
farmers and the billions of rice consumers their share.
DONORS CORNER

Targeting human suffering


and need by G ar y H. Toenniessen

T
he Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation
focuses on achieving lasting
improvements in the lives and seeks to help small farmers in
livelihoods of poor people by working
with them to ensure that they are three ways: producing and dis-
included among the beneficiaries
of globalization. To this end, the tributing higher-yielding seeds;
foundation provides grants in four
main areas: helping to eradicate conserving and enriching soil
poverty and hunger, minimizing
the burden of disease, improving for more productive, sustainable

ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
employment opportunities and
increasing the availability and quality farming; and developing markets
of housing and schools in the U.S.,
and stimulating creativity and cultural where small farmers can earn
expression.
DR. TOENNIESSEN is the Rockefeller Foundation's
Since the foundation’s creation
more from surplus harvests director for food security.
by American businessman and
philanthropist John D. Rockefeller
in 1913, we have emphasized the
importance of generating new The Rockefeller Foundation seeks their surplus, store it safely, and
knowledge and harnessing existing to help small farmers in three ways: transport it in bulk to commercial
knowledge to address the complex and producing and distributing higher- centers for a competitive price.
difficult challenges confronting poor yielding and more resilient seeds; As the staple food of billions,
people. By using the tools of science, conserving and enriching soil for more rice has always been an important
technology, research and analysis, we productive, sustainable farming; and focus of our work. The foundation
are able to aim our efforts at the very developing markets where small farmers is proud to have been one of the
sources of human suffering and need. can earn more from surplus harvests. founders of the International
Our work to achieve food security Breeding better varieties of Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
for poor people starts with the crops, whether by traditional cross- in 1960. More recently, a nearly
realization that, of the more than 5 hybridization or cutting-edge 2-decade effort by the foundation
billion people living in developing biotechnology, has led to bigger and spanning much of the 1980s and
countries, nearly 1.3 billion live on more reliable harvests — the essential 90s produced a community of rice
less than US$1 a day. And, of these first step in combating poverty and biotechnology researchers that has
poorest of the world’s poor, the starvation. Soil conservation and created more prolific, robust and
majority live in rural areas, mostly on enrichment programs increasingly nutritious strains of this staple crop.
small farms where climate and soil involve farmers and community And much of our current funding
conditions are harsh and variable, organizations as well as scientists in aims to improve rice, maize and
and where years of hard labor often setting priorities and in spreading new other staples so that poor farmers
yield barely enough for survival. For practices to more and more farms. Some can grow food on land endowed
these families, the productivity of the of our recent work in East Africa has with less water, using less labor
farm and the success of any given focused on assembling the elementary and fewer chemical inputs. IRRI,
year’s harvest are the sole factors components of produce markets, which continues to be an important
separating household food security including a new network of community grantee, has been a key partner in
from starvation. cereal banks where farmers aggregate these efforts and many others.

Rice Today October-December 2004 5


NEWS
Genetic resources treaty comes into force

T he International Treaty on Plant Genetic


Resources for Food and Agriculture
came into force on 29 June following ratifi-
technology access
and transfer, and
capacity building.
cation by 55 countries. The treaty’s
“The treaty establishes an internation- Global Crop Di-
ally agreed framework that recognizes the versity Trust, set
rights of the farmers and countries that up by FAO and
have developed ancestral crop varieties, the International
and it implements an agreed mechanism for Plant Genetic Re-
sharing the benefits arising from the exploi- sources Institute

ARIEL JAVELLANA
tation of biodiversity,” said N.R. Sackville on behalf of the
Hamilton, head of IRRI’s Genetic Resources CGIAR centers,
Center (see Grain of Truth on page 42). will establish an
The Food and Agriculture Organiza- endowment fund
tion (FAO) of the United Nations, which to support gene-
developed the treaty, is optimistic about its bank conservation and capacity building on plant genetic resources can be seen in
success following qualified but widespread for developing countries. Approximately the case of a gene known as Xa21. Found in
international support across a wide range of US$45 million of the $260 million target the African wild rice species Oryza longis-
sectors, from the current U.S. administra- has already been pledged. taminata, Xa21 offers resistance to bacte-
tion to nongovernmental organizations. “The treaty brings countries, farmers rial blight. Research by public and private
Around 600,000 samples held in and plant breeders together and offers a organizations — including IRRI, Monsanto,
genebanks by the Consultative Group on In- multilateral approach for accessing genetic Pioneer and the University of California, Da-
ternational Agricultural Research (CGIAR) resources and sharing their benefits,” said vis — has been continuing since a sample of
will be put under the realm of the treaty, FAO Director General Jacques Diouf. “Hu- O. longistaminata was brought from Mali to
protecting germplasm that has already mankind needs to safeguard and further IRRI in the mid-1970s. Eight years ago, UC
averted multiple food crises caused by dis- develop the precious crop gene pool that Davis set up a Genetic Resources Recogni-
ease, pestilence and civil strife. is essential for agriculture. The agreement tion Fund to ensure that some of the benefits
The treaty’s provisions include the recognizes that farmers around the world, and profits from the discovery flowed back
Multilateral System for Access and Benefit particularly those in the South, have devel- to the plant’s traditional owners. But legal
Sharing, which is designed to ensure easy oped and conserved plant genetic resources wrangling and the dropping of Xa21 from
access and exchange of plant genetic re- over the millennia. It is now up to countries private companies’ research agendas have
sources, and the fair and equitable sharing to make the treaty fully operative.” meant that the people of Mali have yet to re-
of benefits incurred. The system includes 35 See also Joint Account with Interest ceive any benefits at all. Read about it in the
food crops and 29 forage crops of global im- on pages 22-25. Sacramento Bee (www.sacbee.com/static/
portance and covers information exchange, ● The urgent need for a workable treaty live/news/projects/biotech/c1_1.html).

Briefly Briefly Briefly


Rice tomorrow ture have discovered two strains of iron-rich rica. The French institutes agreed to help
This is the last of four special issues of Rice rice that could be developed to fight anemia train IRRI staff — particularly talented
Today for the International Year of Rice. among the poor. More than a quarter of nationally recruited staff — in France,
The publishing schedule for 2005 is under the country’s population is anemic. The while IRRI will help train young French
consideration. institute plans to continue its search for scientists. The next meeting was set for
iron-rich strains, use genetic engineering to 2006 in France.
Rice in Scotland further boost iron content, and determine
Mike Jackson, IRRI director for program the best growing and milling techniques to China and Nepal online
planning and coordination, spoke on 2 preserve iron in the rice. China and Nepal are the latest countries to
June in Edinburgh, Scotland, following an join IRRI’s Rice Knowledge Bank (www.
invitation from the Cross Party Interna- French ties knowledgebank.irri.org), the online reposi-
tional Development Group of the Scottish Senior officials and scientists of France’s tory of rice know-how. The bank’s country
Parliament. His address, Achieving the UN Agricultural Research Center for Inter- sites offer country-specific information and
Millennium Development Goals begins national Development and Institut de materials in local languages. Bangladesh
with rice research, was attended by mem- Recherche pour le Développement met has also launched its own site, which will
bers of the Scottish Parliament as well as with IRRI representatives in Bangkok, be mirrored on IRRI’s Rice Knowledge
representatives from Scottish business and Thailand, on 25-26 May to review and Bank server.
academic groups and nongovernmental improve current collaboration and identify
organizations. new opportunities. Participants called for Hands-on in Vietnam and India
further collaboration on several projects IRRI recently held its CD-based integrated
Iron-rich rice in Thailand including the Challenge Program on Water pest management training courses for
Researchers from the Rice Research Insti- and Food, the Consortium for Unfavorable research and extension personnel in Viet-
tute of Thailand’s Department of Agricul- Rice Environments and initiatives for Af- nam and India. Based on information in

6 Rice Today October-December 2004


Bangladesh poverty project winds up

T he project Poverty Elimination Through


Rice Research Assistance (PETRRA)
wound up after 5 years with a closing
als working with 47 local
and international devel-
opment organizations to
dialogue on “Agricultural technology and implement 45 sustain-
innovations for the poor” in Dhaka on 13 able rice-based poverty
July. PETRRA was managed by IRRI in reduction subprojects,
collaboration with the Bangladesh Rice which have helped over
Research Institute (BRRI) and funded to 11,000 farmers in more
the tune of £9.5 million (US$17 million) than 500 villages across

AILEEN DEL ROSARIO-RONDILLA


by the United Kingdom’s Department for the country. More than
International Development. 40% of the participants
The dialogue focused on sustaining the were women.
project’s innovations. Earlier, IRRI Repre- PETRRA broke new
sentative and PETRRA Project Manager ground for a large-scale
Noel Magor spoke on PETRRA technolo- development project by
gies, extension, innovations and impact calling on organizations
and IRRI Social Sciences Division Head to make competitive bids for the control of — technology identification and develop-
Mahabub Hossain presented PETRRA ap- subprojects, which ensured the most suit- ment, identification of improved uptake
proach and policy overview. able researchers for the job. The structure methods and pathways, and stimulation
In its 5 years, PETRRA has engaged over also drew together three important strands of policy dialogue for a pro-poor policy
700 scientists and development profession- that are normally considered separately environment.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations agrees to formal relationship with rice institute

T he Association of Southeast Asian


Nations (ASEAN) will establish formal re-
lations with IRRI, bringing together the larg-
arrived on 1 September, as Rice Today was
going to press.
“We look forward to collaboration
cially interested in working with ASEAN in
three particular areas: water, global warm-
ing and human resources. “These problems
est grouping of rice-producing nations and with ASEAN and its members and related are shared by ASEAN members, so common
the world’s leading rice research institute. organizations such as ASEAN Plus Three,” solutions make a lot of sense,” he said.
ASEAN senior officials for agriculture said Dr. Cantrell, referring to ASEAN’s link The decision follows a decade of wan-
and forestry agreed to the new ties at a meet- with China, Japan and South Korea. “Obvi- ing support from the developed Western
ing in Kuching, Malaysia, on 11-13 August, ously, IRRI already enjoys strong links with countries that are IRRI’s traditional donors.
following an approach from IRRI in 2003. a number of ASEAN member nations, but The institute’s funding plunged from US$45
A letter from ASEAN Secretary General this new status for the institute will build on million in 1993 to $26 million in 2003, as
Ong Keng Yong informing IRRI Director and strengthen these relationships.” many donors focused on other needs, such
General Ronald P. Cantrell of the decision Dr. Cantrell added that IRRI is espe- as assistance for Africa.

Briefly Briefly Briefly


IRRI’s Rice Knowledge Bank, this type of research and development, strengthened Blasting blast
training allows the institute to reach more partnership among stakeholders, and The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agri-
participants with fewer resources. Par- learned from farmers and researchers about cultural Research Service (ARS) is exploring
ticipants received hands-on experience in the successes, strengths and weaknesses of a promising new approach to control the
calculating yield losses caused by pest attack direct-seeding technology. devastating rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe
and discussed recent pest problems in their grisea, which causes rice yield losses of up to
respective countries. They also talked with Wild project launched 30% each year worldwide. ARS researchers
farmers about their knowledge of pests and An initiative to boost the conservation and are studying key genes from both the patho-
their existing management practices. use of the wild living relatives of some of gen and a resistant rice cultivar to determine
the world’s key crops was launched on how resistant plants defend themselves
Filipino friends 28 June in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Bringing from a blast attack. As rice plants and their
Philippines-based IRRI has coordinated together the biologically rich countries of blast pathogens have evolved together,
with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Armenia, Bolivia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka plants that possess a resistance gene that
(Commission on the Filipino Language) and Uzbekistan, “In situ conservation matches a related counter-resistance gene
to have five brochures translated into of crop wild relatives through enhanced in the fungus will launch a strong defense.
Filipino. management and field application” aims to The ARS aims to develop rice plants with
improve key features of traditional crops, such resistance genes.
Direct approach from their economic and nutritional value
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute to their ability to fight disease. Funded by Poverty on the map
held a “Review and planning workshop on the Global Environment Facility, project IRRI’s Social Sciences Division and the
direct-seeded rice using the drum seeder” partners include the International Plant Bangladesh Center for Policy Dialogue
in Dhaka on 19-20 June. Participants Genetic Resources Institute and the United held a discussion on rural poverty allevia-
identified and discussed future needs for Nations Environment Program. tion on 26 May in Dhaka. More than 100

Rice Today October-December 2004 7


NEWS
Information technology
to boost rice production

T he Asian Development Bank (ADB) ap-


proved in July a US$1 million grant to
help improve food security and livelihoods
for poor farmers in the Greater Mekong
Subregion using information and commu-
nications technology (ICT) with help from
IRRI’s Rice Knowledge Bank.
The grant, from the Japan Fund for
Information and Communications Tech-
nology, will help boost rice production in
Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam by provid-
ing better access to information on market
prices and improved production techniques
and global practices. Rice Knowledge Bank
material will be adapted to meet the needs of
local farmers. The bank will also serve local
agricultural extension workers, information

PPRI
facilitators, nongovernmental organizations PYONGYANG POWWOW: Posing in front of the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI) of the Academy
and other institutions. of Agricultural Sciences in the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of (North) Korea are (from left)
“ICT offers powerful new ways to cap- an unidentified PPRI scientist; Zhao Kaijun, IRRI liaison scientist for China; an unidentified scientist; Jojo
ture, present and disseminate the wealth of Lapitan, senior manager in IRRI’s International Programs Management Office; Ren Wang, IRRI deputy direc-
knowledge available,” said C.R. Rajendran, tor general for research; Ri Je-Ok, PPRI deputy director; an unidentified scientist; K.K. Jena, senior scien-
director of the Agriculture, Environment tist in IRRI’s Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biochemistry Division and IRRI representative to the Republic
and Natural Resources Division of ADB’s of (South) Korea; and Jon Dong-Gon, officer in the Department of International Science and Technical
Exchange of the North Korean Academy of Agricultural Sciences (AAS). The AAS invited IRRI scientists to
Mekong Department. “However, most poor
help assess the country’s rice research-and-development needs and explore opportunities for cooperation
and small-scale farmers are unable to access
at a 20-24 July meeting, where they identified as priority areas hybrid rice research and breeding for high-
such information available through ICT due yielding varieties with low water and nitrogen inputs. A follow-up meeting was agreed for 2005.
to language barriers, lack of tools and lack of
knowledge about existing information. Also, of global practices and little experience The grant complements the Japan
they may be overwhelmed and intimidated in applying ICT-based information at the Fund for Poverty Reduction grant for Im-
by ICT.” local level. “These countries need to build proving Poor Farmers’ Livelihoods through
Agricultural extension workers and and strengthen agricultural information Postharvest Technology approved earlier
organizations that work with and support networks to manage and apply information this year (see Rice Today Vol. 3, No. 3,
poor farmers often have limited knowledge to benefit farmers,” said Rajendran. page 8).

Briefly Briefly Briefly


people attended the event, which featured technology promotion and delivery systems Limthongkul as its next chairman and
a presentation by Division Head Mahabub using information and communication endorsed the appointment of IRRI Social
Hossain on IRRI’s collaborative study with technology.” Participants learned how to Sciences Division Head Mahabub Hossain
three Bangladeshi institutions on mapping best use information technology to aid as the new CURE coordinator, replacing
rural poverty to identify poverty hotspots agricultural extension. Tom Mew, who has retired. Indonesia will
and the socioeconomic and biophysical fac- host the next steering committee meeting
tors behind them (see Pinning Down Rural Dry discussions in June 2005. A seminar on “Sustainable
Poverty in Rice Today Vol. 3, No. 3, pages About 140 scientists from Asia, Africa and rice-based production systems in fragile rice
30-31). Chief guest Mushfiqur Rahman, Latin America met in Mexico on 24-28 May environments” and a workshop on “Innova-
chairman of the Parliamentary Standing to present their research on drought toler- tive research methods and strategies” were
Committee of the Finance Ministry, said he ance in plants and discuss ways forward. held concurrently with the meeting.
would take the findings of the study to the The meeting, supported by the Rockefeller
finance minister and expressed the need for Foundation and the International Maize and Rice reunion
better-managed anti-poverty programs. Wheat Improvement Center, looked mainly The IRRI reunion on 25-27 June attracted
at maize, rice and wheat, which account for about 100 former IRRI staff and family
Extending technology more than half the calories consumed by members to Michigan State University. At-
The Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka people in the developing world. tendees included former IRRI plant pa-
and IRRI conducted a joint training work- thologist Mike Bonman and retiring IRRI
shop on technology promotion and delivery Unfavorable advances Principal Scientist Tom Mew, as well as two
using cyber extension on 28 June-2 July in The Consortium for Unfavorable Rice founding staff members, Lloyd Johnson and
Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. The training course Environments (CURE) conducted its third Carolyn Moomaw Wilhelm. Rice breeder
marked the beginning of the collaborative annual steering committee meeting on Hank Beachell, the 1996 World Food Prize
project “Improving productivity of the 2-4 June in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. laureate who turned 98 years old in Septem-
Sri Lankan rice granary through effective The committee elected Thailand’s Suthep ber, participated via speakerphone.

8 Rice Today October-December 2004


RICE IN THE NEWS
Global warming has unexpectedly large effect on rice yield

E verybody has been talking about the


weather lately. ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN,
VOA, AP and Reuters were among the
threatens to erase the hard-won produc-
tivity gains that have kept the rice harvest
growing in step with population.
broadcasters and global news organiza- The study recorded that the mean
tions covering it at length. The Miami minimum nighttime temperature during
Herald, Washington Post, Philippine Daily the dry season at IRRI has risen since 1979
Inquirer, Philippine Star and Hindustan by 1.13ºC, or 3 times the 0.35ºC rise in
Times were among the newspapers that mean maximum daytime temperature. This
carried the item. difference is an expected consequence of
The reason? New research demon- increased greenhouse gas concentrations in
strates that, as AP put it, “Global warming the atmosphere, and IRRI’s climate records
could mean bad news for one of the world’s are consistent with warming trends found
LOVE IN A TIME OF PESTICIDES for Asian rice
most important crops, rice.” elsewhere in the Philippines and globally.
farmers was the headline of the 15 July issue
Field studies conducted at IRRI con- The news is that high nighttime mini- of Nature report on radio soap operas being
firmed predictions from theoretical studies mum temperatures clearly and strongly developed in Vietnam and Laos by IRRI and local
that global warming will make rice crops suppressed rice yields in the seasons in partners. The shows, it said, “merge tips on the
less productive. Combining a quarter cen- which they occurred, while high daytime frugal use of pesticides with drama based on
tury of climate data collected at IRRI with temperatures had no measurable effect. everyday tales of farming folk” — not unlike The
yield trends in adjacent fields over the past “Most studies of temperature and Archers, a U.K. program with a similar agricul-
dozen years, researchers further discovered global warming effects on crop growth and tural mandate. “Our research shows that 80% of
that simulation models underestimated the grain yield are based on daily mean air tem- pesticides are spread at the wrong time for the
problem by half because they overlooked perature, which assumes no difference in the wrong insect,” Nature quoted K.L. Heong, the
IRRI entomologist who initiated the project, as
the pernicious effect of higher minimum influence of day versus night temperature,”
saying. A US$300,000 grant from the Rockefeller
nighttime temperatures. wrote the nine-member research team from Foundation (see page 5) will support the devel-
The study, reported in the 6 July issue IRRI, China and the United States led by opment of two programs per week for a year.
of PNAS, the proceedings of the National IRRI crop physiologist Shaobing Peng. “This
Academy of Sciences of the United States report provides direct evidence of decreased by 10% for every 1ºC increase in seasonal
of America, found that rice yields at IRRI rice yields from increased night temperature mean minimum temperature. Because the
declined by 15% for every 1ºC increase in associated with global warming.” increase in night temperature was 3 times
mean daily temperature. Temperatures are Theoretical models had predicted a 7% greater than the increase in daytime tem-
projected to rise globally by 1.5-4.5ºC in the decline in rice yields for every 1ºC increase perature, rice yields declined by 15% for ev-
coming century — or 3 to 9 times more than in daily mean air temperature. However, ery 1ºC increase in daily mean temperature
in the past century. Global warming thus yields in the experimental fields actually fell — double the predicted 7% decline.

Continuing food imports worry Chinese leaders who lived through famine in the 1960s

C hina’s surging food imports have


received broad coverage both in China
and globally. In the 23 August Financial
men during the famine of the late 1950s
and 1960s. It is not only a strategic issue of
dependence on foreign markets for them,
China’s grain deficit. A report on the front
page noted that the rice harvest will likely
recover this year thanks to a 533,000 ha
Times newspaper, James Kynge reported it is also a very personal issue of food self- expansion of planted area over 2003.
that China’s becoming “a net importer of sufficiency.” “We can meet the target of producing
farm produce [is] raising concerns at the AFP, the French news agency, reported 455 million tons of grain this year, but we
highest levels of government about the secu- on 19 July, citing Chen, that “China’s pro- have no reason to feel relaxed because a
rity of the food supply for 1.3 billion people duction of wheat, corn, rice and other food deficit remains,” Chen reportedly said at
as land and water shortages put pressure on grains dipped from a record high of 512 the 17 July opening ceremony of the China
domestic grain production.” million tons in 1998 to some 435 million Food Security Research Center, a national
China’s imports of farm produce in the [by another account 431 million] tons in food security think tank in Beijing.
first half of 2004 rose 62.5% over the same 2003.” Last year’s deficit of 55 million tons “At the beginning of this year, the
period of 2003. “The biggest changes were prompted, the report said, “a dramatic government decided to spend a record 150
seen in grain imports as strategic stocks fell rise in imports … resulting in across-the- billion yuan (US$18 billion) to encourage
because of declining annual harvests every board grain price rises on international farmers to increase grain production, to
year since 1998,” Kynge wrote, adding that markets.” improve rural infrastructure and to ensure
Chen Xiwen, a senior state council official, The report added, “Chinese Premier the country’s food security this year,” the
said recently that China’s grain produc- Wen Jiabao this month said that developing report added.
tion-consumption deficit this year would agriculture was a major priority for the gov- A longer feature on page 5 (www.
be about 37.5 million tons. ernment and reiterated plans to strengthen chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-
“The leadership is very concerned China’s grain-production capacity by urging 07/19/content_349485.htm) reviewed
about food security,” reportedly said an local governments to subsidize producers.” the history of grain production in China,
academic who advised the government on On the same day as the AFP report, the looked forward for the next 3 decades, and
food security issues. “They were all young China Daily ran two prominent stories on continued on page 10

Rice Today October-December 2004 9


RICE IN THE NEWS
Digesting nutrition in rice Agriculture ministers adopt joint initiative in Beijing

T he Food and Agriculture Organization


(FAO) of the United Nations released
in June a paper entitled Nutritional con-
T he Chinese news service Xinhua (www.
chinaview.cn) reported on 23 May that
a 2-day Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
“a crucial role in the sustainable agricultural
development of the Asia-Pacific region.” The
release of the report coincided with FAO’s
tribution of rice and impact of biotechnol- workshop in Beijing had attracted agricul- annual Regional Conference for Asia and the
ogy and biodiversity in rice-consuming ture ministers or vice ministers from 20 Pacific, held in Beijing on 17-21 May.
countries. countries. Participants agreed to cooperate The report was not optimistic, however,
“Rice is the predominant staple food in in the areas of development policy, practical about the future of the international rice
at least 33 developing countries, providing technology, sustainable development, and trade, which it projected to increase at a
27% of dietary energy supply, 20% of dietary rural development and poverty alleviation. modest 1.5 % per year in the current decade
protein and 3% of dietary fat,” begins the Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture to 29.3 million tons in 2010, much below the
paper, adding that, in such rice-dependent Zhang Baowen reportedly promised that explosive growth of the 1990s.
countries as Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam, China will organize two follow-up activities: Xinhua said the report called for radical
Myanmar and Cambodia, rice supplies an ACD agricultural policy forum to discuss changes in rice-trade policy.
more than half of the dietary energy and development strategy and policy measures ● For an in-depth look at the question
protein and 17-27% of dietary fat. “Rice can and, to mark International Year of Rice, a “Where will demographics take the Asia-
contribute nutritionally significant amounts rice-development workshop and technology Pacific food system?” in Amber Waves,
of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and zinc exhibition. which is published monthly by the Eco-
to the diet, but smaller amounts of other Xinhua also covered, on 17 May, a nomic Research Service of the U.S. Depart-
micronutrients.” report from the Food and Agriculture Orga- ment of Agriculture, log on to www.ers.usda.
Looking into research to raise the nization (FAO) of the United Nations declar- gov/amberwaves/june04/features/
content of iron in rice is a report in the May- ing that rice plays and will continue to play WhereWillDemographics.htm.
June issue of ADB Review, published by the
Asian Development Bank. “Iron deficiency is Philippine government set to ramp up hybrids
the most common of all nutritional deficien-
cies,” writes health specialist Lisa Studdert,
who then describes ADB-supported re-
search, notably a feeding trial of more than
T he Manila Bulletin reported on 13 June
that the Philippine government is deter-
mined to plant more hybrid rice within the
and the Filipinos: The Last 100 Years, held
at the Bureau of Plant Industry in the Que-
zon City capital district of Metro Manila.
300 religious sisters in the Philippines. “The next 6 years to improve food security and The seminar was the first in a series of eight
trial concluded in September 2003 and, so livelihoods for its growing population. seminars jointly organized for International
far, the analysis of data indicates that the “Our ability to produce more rice trans- Year of Rice by the Philippine Rice Research
results have been positive.” lates to more livelihood opportunities and, Institute, Philippine Institute for Develop-
The complete FAO report is available ultimately, to an adequately fed population ment Studies, and several other research
in HTML format at www.fao.org/DO- — key elements in the eradication of poverty and educational institutions.
CREP/006/Y4751E/y4751e05.htm#bm05. and the attainment of economic develop- The paper reported that the 130,000
The ADB Review article is available at www. ment and lasting peace,” reportedly said Luis ha already planted to hybrid rice in the
adb.org/Documents/Periodicals/ADB_Re- Lorenzo, Jr., then agriculture secretary. Philippines could expand to 1 million ha
view/2004/vol36_3/rice_power.asp. He was speaking at a seminar on Rice in 2005.

China ... continued from page 9


one in 1995-96, as “rapid economic growth a comprehensive agricultural park in Laos
considered how the country, quoting an is leading to more jobs outside agriculture for Chinese enterprises to produce grain.”
old Chinese saying, can “repair the house and, thus, labor shortages in agriculture.” The $4.98 million, 5,000 ha agricultural
before it rains.” He further predicted that China will “man- park will include farmland, fisheries and
An earlier report, released on 8 June by age this in a way that doesn’t disrupt prices farm-produce processing.
Bloomberg News, pointed out that China’s too much.” “The project is not the first of its kind in
woes are a boon to Thailand, which more One approach the Chinese are taking, China,” the report said. In 1996, a company
than tripled its rice exports to China in the according to an article published in June by in northwest China’s Xinjiang Autonomous
first 4 months of 2004, raising rice export Nature, is to increase government funding Region invested $50,000 to develop 150 ha
earnings by 41% to $680 million. for research and field trials of rice geneti- in Cuba for growing rice, where a yield of 4.8
Citing IRRI economist David Dawe, cally modified for stress resistance. Funding t/ha set a record for the Caribbean island.
the report said that China has imported of GM rice programs stands at $120 million, In 1998, the Xinjiang firm bought 1,050 ha
more rice than it exported only 3 times in or 10% of China’s total biotech budget ($1.2 of rice land from the government of Mexico
the past 44 years: “China’s future need for billion for 2001-05, a 4-fold increase over for $3.2 million and achieved, after four
rice is ‘the million-dollar question,’ Dawe 1996-2000), said the report, adding that harvests, a yield of 5 t/ha, or 1.5 t/ha above
said. ‘It affects everybody who’s importing the budget for field trials at the China Na- the Mexican average.
and exporting rice around the world. […] tional Rice Research Institute in Hangzhou The day after the Xinhua report, the
The effects of even small price fluctuations enjoyed a 50% boost this year. private intelligence firm Stratfor (www.
on the welfare of producers and consumers, Another approach is to acquire farm- stratfor.com) reported, “The announcement
especially on the poor, can have political land abroad. The Chinese news agency Xin- of the Laotian deal follows a similar plan for
repercussions.’” hua announced on 24 May that the Chong- 3,000 Chinese laborers to move to Kazakh-
Dr. Dawe reportedly added that China’s qing Municipal government had inked a deal stan to work 700 square kilometers to grow
current grain shortfall mirrors an earlier in March with Laos “to cooperatively build soybeans and wheat and breed animals.”

10 Rice Today October-December 2004


India renews focus on agriculture

T his was the headline the International


Herald Tribune gave in its 12 July
edition to a Bloomberg News story by Sub-
agricultural research be at least 1% of agri-
culture GDP, or 113 billion rupees. Meeting
that goal in the current 5-year plan would
ramaniam Sharma. Sharma reported that require an additional allocation of 88.2 bil-
New Delhi’s “plans to increase spending lion rupees in the remaining 2 years.
on irrigation facilities in rural areas and Sharma had earlier, on 2 June, mooted
increase loans to farmers will spur growth the appointment of M.S. Swaminathan, 1987
and bolster demand for manufactured World Food Prize laureate (see World Food
products, according to company executives Reprise in Rice Today, Vol. 3, No. 3, pages
and investors.” 12-17) and former director general of IRRI
In his budget speech on 8 July, Finance (1982-88), as chairman of the newly consti-

MANDY NAVASERO
Minister P. Chidambaram earmarked 28 tuted National Commission on Farmers. He
billion rupees, or US$611 million, for irriga- quoted Krishan Bir Choudhary, chairman
tion projects and 26.1 billion rupees for rural of the Indian farmers’ organization Bharat
water-supply plans in the year ending on 31 Krishak Samaj, as saying that “the panel is MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Keepers of the Secrets of
March 2005. Another 22.47 billion rupees has intended for the farmers. The chairman of Rice was the headline for Linda Bolido’s profile of
been set aside for rural housing, and Chidam- this body should be a farmer and not a bu- Flora de Guzman (left), manager of the Interna-
baram repeated the government’s intention to reaucrat or a technocrat or a scientist.” tional Rice Genebank at IRRI, and Thelma Paris,
gender specialist in the institute’s Social Sciences
double agricultural credit in 3 years. Dr. Swaminathan was just then deliv-
Division. The article appeared in the 29 August
“About 58% of India’s more than 1 ering to the agriculture minister the report
edition of the Philippine Inquirer (http://news.
billion people depend on agriculture for a of a biotechnology task force he headed, inq7.net/sunday/index.php?index=1&story_
living,” said the report. “With agriculture which recommended setting up a regula- id=7567). “For the longest time, the only way
accounting for a fourth of the economy, tory authority to generate public confidence. women were ever associated with rice was when
improving irrigation in a country that relies Reuters quoted the report as saying: “The they were cooking and serving it,” lamented
largely on rain for watering crops will help bottom line of our national agricultural bio- Bolido, adding that these “two women scientists
raise yields and farm incomes” with knock- technology policy should be the economic are fast revising that image through their work on
on benefits for the rest of the economy. well-being of farm families, food and health rice research.”
However, Ashok B. Sharma, writing in security of the nation, health security of the
the 12 July Financial Express (www.finan- consumer, protection of the environment, Network (www.sunnetwork.org). “There
cialexpress.com), complained about gaps in and security of our national and international are also severe malnutrition cases among
the proposals, particularly regarding farm trade in farm commodities.” farmers in some areas of Maharashtra and
credit and agricultural research. “Sadly, there As chairman of the commission, Dr. Orissa. It was decided to study in depth
is no increase in the allocation for agriculture Swaminathan has initiated study of a recent the role of technology and public policy in
research and education,” he wrote. rash of farmer suicides. “There are incidents mitigating such suffering.”
Sharma reported that the Indian of farmers’ suicides in parts of Andhra Dr. Swaminathan was speaking at a
Council of Agricultural Research has long Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala,” he was 2-day seminar on Medicinal and Aromatic
demanded that the 5-year plan allocation to quoted as saying in late August by the Sun Rice of Kerala organized by the Kerala
Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi,
ALSO… • Rice was the cover story of the 16-22 July edition
(Vol. 24, No. 2) of nepalnews.com (www.nepalnews.
in connection with the celebrations of In-
com.np/contents/englishweekly/spotlight/2004/jul/ ternational Year of Rice.

T he prolific and opinionated Financial Express special jul16/coverstory.htm). Keshab Poudel explains how In another context, the Wall Street
correspondent Ashok B. Sharma, who in August weather, negligence and market conditions threaten Journal quoted Dr. Swaminathan in its 25
received the first-ever Prem Bhatia Memorial Award for the Himalayan kingdom’s rice biodiversity. Poudel also June edition under the headline An Indian
reporting on environmental and social affairs, wrote in interviews the Nepali agricultural scientist Dhruba
Narayan Manandhar, and headlines the sidebar with
Paradox: Bumper Harvests and Rising
June about “some healthy developments in the global
agricultural research system,” in particular “a good flow the quote, “Nepal can claim to be a country of origin of Hunger. “Increasing food production is
of funds from the member countries to the Consultative rice.” Finally, Sanjaya Dhakal details recent challenges great, but we have to think about the whole
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).” both drought and heavy rains have brought farmers. chain,” he reportedly said, explaining his
At the end of the article (www.financialexpress.com/ • Several stories by Mike Lee in the Sacramento Bee foundation’s advice to a struggling farmer
fe_full_story.php?content_id=60811) he concluded, “It in July and August traced the brewing of a November
is high time that India, which is a beneficiary of the ballot-box brawl over agriculture in California. Four that he should drive a taxi to help overcome
CGIAR system, adequately increase its contribution.” consumer and environmental groups sought to ban the “famine of jobs and livelihoods” that
• Karen von Hahn asked, in the 5 June edition of biotech crops. A particular target was rice developed by afflicts India today.
the Globe and Mail, “Is rice the new fine wine?” Sacramento-based Ventria Bioscience that produces two “It is virtually impossible to simply
She added that the “humble grain … appears poised common human proteins expected to be used to treat
severe dehydration. Rice industry leaders reportedly
hand out food surpluses to the hungry,
to take center stage as the next peasant food to get
the gourmet treatment” in the newspaper’s home feared that the initiative, if passed in Butte County, despite the fact that undernourishment
market of Toronto, Manhattan and beyond. “Even a would impede advances at the agricultural research sta- causes thousands of deaths a day, because
decade ago, people’s rice palates weren’t particularly tion at Biggs, which develops 90% of California’s rice. of the cost and complexity of distribution,”
sophisticated,” reportedly said Caryl Levine, founder • Asia-Pacific Perspectives: Japan Plus, published in wrote journalists Roger Thurow and Jay
of Lotus Foods, a California-based rice importer. Tokyo by Jiji Gaho Sha with support from the Cabinet
“Now, rice is the next pasta. It’s becoming the center Office of the Japanese government (www.jijigaho. Solomon. “It would also turn recipients into
of the plate.” Feast on it at www.theglobeandmail. or.jp/index01.html), ran in its June 2004 edition (Vol. permanent wards of the world. ‘I believe in
com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040605/ 2, No. 2) a 5-page profile of Keijiro Otsuka, chair of Gandhi’s strategy: Don’t turn people into
NOTICED05/TPEntertainment/Style. the IRRI Board of Trustees. beggars,’ says Dr. Swaminathan.’”

Rice Today October-December 2004 11


Reason to cheer A
n American leads 3,000 modern Bangladeshi history. If the their income by an average of US$17
Bangladeshi farmers in a Livelihood Improvement Through per year. That may not sound like
rising Thai victory chant: Ecology (LITE) project, led by the much to some, but where the average
“Chai yo! Chai YO! CHAI International Rice Research Institute annual farm income after expenses
YO!” The scene is rousing, (IRRI), continues as it has started, is around $100, this money helps put
by Adam Barclay, photography by Aileen del Rosario-Rondilla if odd, and the cheer is appropriate in less than a decade, most of children through school or buy grain
because these farmers in the district Bangladesh’s 11.8 million rice farmers to tide rice-deficit farm families over
of Comilla, 80 km southeast of — almost a 12th of the country’s to the next harvest.
the capital, Dhaka, have won an population of 141 million, according LITE — part of the IRRI-led
Thousands of Bangladeshi extraordinary victory. to the Bangladesh Rice Research project Poverty Elimination Through
They are the vanguard of what Institute (BRRI) — will have stopped Rice Research Assistance, funded for
could become one of the most using insecticides and optimized Bangladesh by the United Kingdom’s
beneficial rural movements in their fertilizer use, thereby increasing Department for International
rice farmers kick the pesticide
A GROUP OF RICE FARMERS, led by rural de-

habit after proving to velopment expert Jan Orsini (hidden), raises


an incongruous but rousing Thai victory
chant in Comilla, Bangladesh. Orsini (inset)
enthuses from the podium of the previous
day’s workshop for 3,000 farmers about
themselves that doing so saves the success of the Livelihood Improvement
Through Ecology (LITE) project.

money and safeguards their

health and the environment

12 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 13


If they don’t spray they lose nothing, successful than their neighbors, are success stories ranging from farmer
but they gain a lot — money, a safer trained to use the LCC and perform cooperatives in the Philippines to
environment and reduced risk to their the experiments that prove they don’t guitar manufacturing in Vietnam.
health.” need insecticides. They then train A major advantage of SCR is
LITE farmers also learn to reduce other farmers in their own village, its cost effectiveness, eliminating
and optimize their application of as well as successful farmers from the need for large numbers of paid
nitrogen fertilizer (urea). They do this surrounding villages, who become staff or expensive equipment and
by comparing the four panels of the the next lead farmers. The new lead infrastructure. “You don’t need a
leaf color chart (LCC) to the leaves farmers do the same, and the process training center,” explains Orsini. “All
of their rice crop, and then fertilizing repeats. The number of trained the training is hands-on. There’s no
the crop just enough for the leaves farmers grows exponentially each theoretical training at all. It doesn’t
Development — set out to discover to match the ideal color (see Chart rice season — like recipients of a matter if the successful person can’t
the exact cause of an expected drop in Hit for N Sync on page 33). The chain letter, but this time good things read or write. All he has to do is
rice yield when farmers stop spraying practice allows farmers to spend less actually happen. explain and show others how to do it.”
insecticide. The original aim, explains on fertilizer and so improves their With an average of more than
LITE principal investigator and IRRI efficiency and profitability. What’s Success stories 1,000 people per square kilometer
senior entomologist Gary C. Jahn, more, in the 2004 dry season, farmers The strategy can help improve the — compared with 30 in the United
was to identify safe alternatives to following the LITE strategy increased way people manage an enormous States and 250 in the Philippines
insecticides. their yields by an average of 400 kg range of enterprises, not just farming. — Bangladesh is more crowded than
“To my surprise,” reports Dr. per hectare — a significant boost for Jan Orsini, an IRRI consultant to Australia would be with every living
Jahn, “when people stopped spraying, struggling farm families. LITE and a former United Nations human squeezed into it. Historically,
yields didn’t drop — and this was The method used to expand the rural development officer, is the Bangladesh was relatively prosperous,
across 600 fields in two different scale of LITE from a few hundred SCR expert who led the Thai victory but political instability, war and
districts over four seasons. I’m farmers to several thousand — and chant (he lives with his Thai wife in overpopulation have reduced it in
convinced that the vast majority of potentially millions — is known as Bangkok). Orsini brims with passion modern times to one of the world’s
insecticides that rice farmers use are success case replication (SCR). Lead when he discusses SCR’s ability to poorest countries.
a complete waste of time and money. farmers, identified as being more improve people’s lives, describing Rice farming is a tough life,
and subsistence is as good as many
Bangladeshis can hope for. So when
LITE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Gary C. Jahn (below) at a workshop for 1,500 farmers in Rangpur. LITE farmer Kamrul Hasan and his wife Jannatol Ferdous (top) use their
savings to buy better food and clothes for their children. Thousands of women (opposite bottom) — most of them wives of LITE farmers — attend the farmer workshop
the government began doling out
in Comilla. While few women in Bangladesh tend rice fields, they often play an integral role in decision-making and help with crop management. Many farmers supple- free insecticides to rice farmers
ment their income by pedaling a rickshaw (opposite top), seen here passing a rice field in Comilla. in 1956, spraying rapidly gained a
firm foothold. Subsidies continued
— 100% until 1974, then 50%
— and the government conducted
campaigns encouraging farmers to
spray. Indiscriminant insecticide use
became so entrenched that the end
of government handouts in 1978 saw
farmers simply shoulder the whole
cost.

Natural enemies
Why doesn’t spraying help yield?

ADAM BARCLAY
First, many supposed insect pests
don’t attack the parts of the plant
that affect grain production, or the
grain itself, under farm conditions
— and so aren’t pests at all. Second, LITE’s in-country coordinator, points agricultural scientists themselves.
many farmers use poor equipment out that the mere presence of insects The two nongovernmental
to apply out-of-date or inappropriate on the crop can panic farmers into organizations working with LITE
insecticides at the wrong time. spraying. — AID-Comilla in Comilla and, 300
And third, insecticides can kill the But it is not enough for a scientist km northwest of Dhaka in Rangpur,
natural enemies of rice pests more to tell farmers, hey, don’t bother with Debi Chowdhurani Poribar Unnoon
effectively than the pests themselves, insecticides. An outsider, with all the Kendra (DCPUK) — taught lead
compromising natural pest control. best intentions in the world, won’t be farmers how to conduct a simple
Nazira Qureshi Kamal, the head of believed. And so it was that thousands experiment by partitioning their fields
BRRI’s Entomology Division and of Bangladeshi farmers became into quadrants receiving different

14 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 15


Double taka
FOUR WOMEN THRESH rice in the
village of Sullipara, Rangpur.
Farida Yasmin (left), a 17-year-

U
old from Ghilatoli, Comilla, ntil a couple years ago, 35-year-old Joinal Ahmad (pictured
shows an environmental award right) grew rice on a little over half a hectare in his village
she received for her role in the of Tatoipara, annually eking out a farm income of 2,800
LITE project. Many of the farmers’
Bangladeshi taka, or US$48. He and his wife of 18 years struggled to
wives and daughters helped to
look after their two toddler sons and put their two older daughters
run, and participated in, double-
blind taste and quality tests through school. In 2002, Ahmad was recruited by Livelihood
of rice grown under LITE’s four Improvement Through Ecology (LITE) to test the effect of ceasing to spray insecticides
crop management strategies. No on his rice crop. After establishing that spraying did not improve grain yield or quality,
differences were found. A Comilla he did away with insecticides. He also reduced his
farmer (below) bringing in the nitrogen fertilizer (urea) use by employing a leaf
sheaves. color chart to guide applications.
While LITE hasn’t made Ahmad wealthy, it has
helped him a great deal. With the money he saves,
he has been able to buy more land and boost his
planted area to almost two-thirds of a hectare. He
Insecticide No insecticide has cut his exposure to health- and environment-threatening chemicals. And he has almost
doubled his annual farm income to 4,800 taka.
No leaf color chart No leaf color chart
“I can grow rice at lower cost because I use less urea and no insecticide,” Ahmad
explains. “With the money I save, I help my family and pay for my children’s education.”
Insecticide No insecticide A few kilometers away in Ghilatoli, 20-year-old Mohammed Mashuk Miah (pictured
above, at right), who combines rice farming with his accounting studies, enthuses about
Leaf color chart Leaf color chart
the difference LITE has made to him. His savings have capitalized a rice-milling business
and helped him buy an ox. So keen is he to spread the good word, he has been teaching
LITE RICE FIELD: Lead farmers partitioned their
nonparticipating farmers on his own initiative.
fields into quadrants receiving four different
crop-management strategies.
“I tell other farmers to do the same thing,” he says. “I invited 10 of my friends and
trained them. They saw the faith I had in this method.”
When farmers stop spraying, they save not only the purchase price of the pesticide but
management strategies, with and also on hiring labor and renting equipment — and on often exorbitant interest rates for
without spraying and the LCC (see the short-term loans they once needed to cover these costs. Many farmers have used their
figure above). Other participating LITE-driven savings to buy more land or better-quality clothes and food for their families,
farmers bisected their fields, spraying and their newfound capital has allowed some to diversify into more profitable crops.
one half but not the other.
Each lead farmer helped
four other farmers carry out the AID-Comilla founder Abul to 55% — largely because of casual explains that the World Bank and time,” enthuses Orsini. “The longer farmers have a chance to participate.”
experiment and record their Kalam Azad stresses that the key contact with participating farmers. other funding agencies traditionally that farmers use the LITE regime, the The LITE team now has
insecticide and fertilizer costs for to LITE’s success is its simplicity. “Our initial goal was to have 10% consider projects worthwhile if they more they will save. After 5 years, say, 27 nongovernmental partners
each treatment in specially designed “A previous pest-management of farmers in the target villages reduce result in a 13% improvement in the ratio will be 1:20, which is truly implementing the project — at their
notebooks. Recording the data project I worked on was technically their insecticide use,” he adds. “The income. That is, for every dollar spent, exceptional.” own expense, as LITE funding has
themselves lent farmers a sense of complicated,” he explains. “It took 6 result is beyond our wildest dreams.” the project must generate, after a Dr. Jahn is confident that the finished — in 32 new villages in
ownership over the project, and months to train the farmers, and they LITE farmers’ optimism is certain number of years depending farmers will adhere to LITE practices Comilla and Rangpur, which means
their supervisory duties earned lead couldn’t remember everything. As palpable. The day after Orsini drew on its type, at least $1.13 of income. because, first, they saw the results that nearly 4,000 new farmers are
farmers self-confidence and the well as being poor, many farmers in a Thai victory chant from 3,000 LITE’s cost-benefit ratio is 1:4 — of their own experiments in their being trained to perform the no-spray
respect of the other farmers, who, Bangladesh are illiterate. They can’t participants — the Comilla region’s bringing a return of $4 for every dollar own fields and, second, LITE goes experiment. If additional funding
being social equals, were neither easily adopt complicated technologies. 120 original lead farmers plus the spent — in the first year alone, without straight to the bottom line. “Where comes through, each of these villages
intimidated nor distrustful. To ensure With LITE, the technology and the current round of newly recruited factoring in subsequent years’ savings. farmer field schools rely on the will provide lead farmers to train
the accuracy of the data, Dr. Jahn and message are very simple — LCC, no participants — Dr. Jahn met the “This will only get better with farmers learning and understanding new lead farmers in five neighboring
Orsini paid unannounced visits to insecticide.” leaders to thank them for their hard ecology,” he explains, “LITE relies on villages, for a total of 160 villages. The
randomly selected farmers to verify work. After another chorus of “chai understanding your wallet, which is new lead farmers in those 160 villages
their measurements. Wildest dreams yo,” a couple of farmers suggested almost innate.” will train the other farmers in their
Augmenting the farmers’ data, “We quickly realized,” says Dr. Jahn, the organizers reciprocate with an The project’s simplicity and village, then new farmers in five more
BRRI technicians collected insects “the most important thing to focus on “American farm song.” So it was direct appeal to farmers’ interests neighboring villages, and the number
from the LITE fields to determine was scaling LITE up. We’ve already that an IRRI senior scientist, a are cited by the executive directors of villages practicing LITE will leap to
how neighboring crops and trained 2,000 farmers. We’ve reduced former UN scale-up expert and an of both participating NGOs, AID- 800. And so on.
insecticide and urea applications insecticide use among participating Australian reporter (yours truly) Comilla’s Rokeya Begum Shafali and Given continued support,
affect the diversity of rice pests and farmers by 99%, and by 90% among found themselves moo-moo-mooing a DCPUK’s Nurul Islam Dulu, as strong LITE and its benefits will ripple
their natural enemies. Insecticides nonparticipating farmers in the same hastily arranged but surprisingly well- arguments for more funding. “The last and radiate across Bangladesh’s
caused the greatest loss of overall villages. Even in the control villages, received rendition of Old Macdonald 2 years’ results have been very good,” rice fields. Perhaps someday soon,
biodiversity, perversely reducing the where no farmers conducted the Had a Farm. says Shafali. “Now we need to explain an incongruous but inspiring Thai
diversity of natural enemies more experiments, the proportion of farmers In terms of cost-benefit, LITE the project, its aims and its mission victory cry will ring out all over rural
than that of pests. using insecticide dropped from 80% is extremely successful. Orsini to donors so that all Bangladeshi Bangladesh.

16 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 17


Summing up by Peter Fredenburg

In the calculus of rice and global food security, China and India equal the
rest of the world combined. The role of rice research in these countries is
likewise great, as is the task of coordinating it for maximum benefit

C
hina and India together set up as needed and loosely linked
accounted in 1999 for 38% to IRRI’s Training and Technology
of world population and Transfer Department and its deputy
55% of all rice consumption. director general for outreach. The
In 2000, their rice fields comprised project offices — notably in India,
48% of global area planted to rice and Indonesia, Thailand and, starting in
produced 54% of the harvest. the mid-1980s, Vietnam, Cambodia
In the past year, responsibility and Laos — depended heavily on
for representing the International personal ties at IRRI headquarters in
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has the Philippines to energize support for
changed hands in both countries. In their activities.
September 2003, Tang Shengxiang
completed 6 years of service as Upgraded presence
IRRI’s first liaison scientist for China, Glenn Denning, head of technology
replaced by Zhao Kaijun. Last June transfer, drew on his experience in
saw R.K. Singh complete 9 years as Indochina to champion systematizing
IRRI liaison scientist for India, where the institute’s in-country contacts
his responsibilities were assumed by by establishing permanent country
J.K. Ladha as IRRI representative. offices. January 1990 saw the
Transition in the two giants of reorganization of the Training and
the world of rice is an opportunity to Technology Transfer Department
celebrate the careers of the outgoing into the Training Center under Dan
liaison scientists and to welcome their Minnick and the new International
replacements in Programs Management Office under
these two crucial Dr. Denning.
IRRI country Existing project offices became
offices — after country offices that year, but signif-
first recalling icant upgrading of IRRI’s presence
how the country- in-country often depended on local WOMEN NEAR Hefei, in the Chinese
office system initiative, as illustrated by R.K. Singh’s province of Anhui, fertilize aerobic
came to be. start as liaison scientist in 1995. rice, a water-saving crop undergo-
For its “The first thing I did was shift the ing on-farm trials. Tang Shengxiang
(opposite top, at left), IRRI’s outgoing
first 3 decades, IRRI-India Office, which was then liaison scientist for China, checks a
IRRI made do located in a back house of a residential greenhouse trial with William Padolina
without ongoing premises, to a more decent premises in (right), IRRI deputy director general
country offices. Friends Colony, New Delhi,” reported for partnerships, and Chen Zonglong,
The institute Dr. Singh (it has since moved to the vice president of the Yunnan Academy
of Agricultural Sciences. R.K. Singh
supported in- National Agriculture Science Center (opposite bottom, holding water

ARIEL JAVELLANA
country research near other Indian and international bottle), outgoing liaison scientist for
with project agricultural institutions). “At the India, shares a light moment with
offices that were same time, we upgraded our office farmers.

18 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 19


varietal trials and technology delivery. Aromatic Rices (2000) and A before Dr. Tang’s departure.
Strengthened ties with the media Treatise on the Scented Rices of India His career with IRRI had begun
ensured routine press coverage of (2003). One other book published in 1980, barely half a dozen years
IRRI’s activities in India. by Dr. Singh, Genetics and Plant after the first tentative contacts
Drawing on a decade’s work Breeding, is a manual and source between the institute and China,
from 1985 as director of research book for postgraduate students. and only 4 years after the end of the
at Narendra Deva University of A fellow of the Indian National Cultural Revolution. The rice scholar
Agriculture and Technology in Academy of Agricultural Sciences, studied frequently at IRRI during
Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Singh Dr. Singh has additionally published the 1980s. In 1990, a year after
was particularly active in several dozens of papers, notes and abstracts becoming head of the Germplasm
projects focused on eastern India, in refereed journals, international Department of the China National

MADELYN LAPITAN
including research on mixed proceedings and other venues. Today, Rice Research Institute in Hangzhou,
farming systems based on rice in he continues working to alleviate rural Dr. Tang became the China national
rainfed lowlands and efforts to build poverty with the nongovernmental coordinator of the IRRI-sponsored
R.K. SINGH (right) with Ren Wang, IRRI deputy partnerships with farmers through organization Nand Educational International Network for Genetic TAKING A BREAK during a meeting in Beijing are (from left) Mark Bell, head of the International Programs
director general for research, and N.V. Krishnaiah, Management Office (IPMO); Margaret Ann Jingco, IPMO administrative coordinator; Tang Shengxiang, outgoing
participatory varietal selection (see Foundation for Rural Development. Evaluation of Rice (INGER, see Joint
principal scientist in the Entomology Department of liaison scientist for China; Jojo Lapitan, IPMO senior manager; and Wang Zhongqiu, IRRI-China administrative
the Directorate of Rice Research in Hyderabad, India. Taking Part in Rice Today, Vol. 3, Account with Interest on next page).
coordinator. The covers of five books (below) that contain rice research by R.K. Singh.
No. 2, pages 22-26). He published Memorable events Following a stint as an IRRI con-
equipment and sent local staff for research results in the books “Some memorable events during sultant in 1996-97, Dr. Tang accepted
training to enhance their knowledge Physiology of Stress Tolerance my tenure included India becoming appointment as liaison scientist for The IRRI-China Office has been recognizing his own research on the
and skills with regard to modern tools, in Rice (1996), Rice-growing signatory to the international status China — which, surprisingly, did not a 2-way conduit of rice information, origin and evolution of rice.
equipment and office protocol.” Environments of Eastern India: An of IRRI in 1996 and the IRRI- yet have an IRRI country office. A with Dr. Tang writing about IRRI in Dr. Tang is continuing to serve as
IRRI-India was thus prepared Agro-climatic Atlas (1999), Rainfed India dialogue in 1998,” Dr. Singh frantic month’s preparation led in the Chinese media and publishing the Hangzhou-based INGER national
to expand its list of projects from Rice: A Sourcebook of Best Practices reminisced. “A highlight of the latter November 1997 to an IRRI-China many scientific papers in both coordinator and will complete his
“only a handful,” according to Dr. and Strategies in Eastern India event was the luncheon meeting dialogue in Beijing, at which 45 rice Chinese and English, and the office 2002-05 term as China regional
Singh, to the current “44 research (2000), and Boro Rice (2003). hosted for the IRRI director general scientists set priorities for a more annually shipping some 200 issues secretary of the Society for the
projects implemented with 53 “During my tenure, I have also and scientists by our prime minister formal program of collaboration. of 18 Chinese rice-related scientific Advancement of Breeding Researches
participating institutions involving devoted some time to improving along with his cabinet colleagues.” From its newly established journals to the IRRI Library. In in Asia and Oceania.
more than 270 Indian scientists indigenous scented rices in India,” Similarly, a highlight of Tang premises in the Beijing compound of 2002, Dr. Tang was instrumental Today, IRRI maintains country
directly and many more indirectly” Dr. Singh recalled. “My efforts in this Shengxiang’s tenure as liaison the Chinese Academy of Agricultural in arranging publication, with the offices in Bangladesh, Cambodia,
— all coordinated through regular regard have helped identify a number scientist for China was President Sciences, the IRRI-China Office financial support of the Fujian Science China, India, Indonesia, South
IRRI-India planning and review of improved lines, which are now Jiang Zemin’s formal opening of the initiated several collaborative and Technology Publishing House Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand
meetings. Improved links with the being tested in state and all-India first International Rice Congress. projects on molecular breeding, in Fuzhou, of the Chinese-language and Vietnam, with the central
private sector and nongovernmental coordinated trials. Some have been The event — which attracted more hybrid rice development and use, version of the 3rd edition of Rice International Programs Management
organizations supported work in released by state and central varietal than 1,000 scientists from around the aerobic rice breeding, rice functional Almanac, for which he also served as Office serving as the Philippine
promoting traditional aromatic rice release committees.” world and garnered extensive press genomics and shuttle breeding. Joint one of the two chief translators. country office — and will soon open
and organically grown and hybrid Dr. Singh co-edited two coverage in China — took place in studies on nitrogen-use efficiency a country office in Nepal. Staff
rice, as well as facilitating on-farm comprehensive books on the topic: Beijing in September 2002, just a year came under the project Reaching Timely inputs consolidation brought restructuring
Toward Optimum Productivity. Among the many Chinese awards full circle as the central office and the
Who’s new Collaborative research on exploiting received by IRRI scientists on Dr. Training Center recombined in 2002

C
crop biodiversity for sustainable Tang’s watch was a 1999 first prize under the leadership of Mark Bell.
hange came with continuity on 18 June when J.K. Ladha started Dr. Ladha was posted to India as an internationally recruited staff
as the International Rice Research Institute representative for member, his new job title is IRRI representative, not liaison scientist
rice-disease management developed from the Ministry of Education “IRRI’s success depends on
India. As IRRI coordinator of the Rice-Wheat Consortium for the as when the post is filled locally. a suite of techniques that Chinese effective sharing of improved tech-
Indo-Gangetic Plains since 1999, Dr. Ladha, an Indian national, has A fellow of the Indian National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, farmers now apply on more than 1.2 nologies with stakeholders — and on
been a frequent traveler to his homeland during his 22 years at IRRI American Society of Agronomy, and Soil Science Society of America, Dr. million ha in the provinces of Yunnan, timely inputs from national partners
headquarters in the Philippines. Ladha brings a wealth of research experience to the IRRI-India Office. Sichuang and Jiangxi. to help set research priorities,” said
“I was the youngest IRS when I joined IRRI in 1982,” recalled the “This will be a challenge,” he said as he prepared for the move. “I’m “We now have 18 ongoing bilateral Dr. Bell. “We have helped our country
energetic 52-year-old internationally recruited staff scientist. Because a scientist, and I’ll continue to look after my research. At the same collaborative projects that engage 160 offices facilitate these exchanges by
time, the job involves a lot of administration.” Chinese scientists in 38 participating standardizing operating procedures,
Zhao Kaijun J.K. Ladha
In China, Zhao Kaijun came to the position of liaison scientist institutions,” reported Dr. Tang. but local leadership still counts for a
in October 2003 from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in The scientist noted that INGER lot. We’ve been fortunate to enjoy the
Beijing. Having obtained his doctorate in plant genetics and breeding in
germplasm has figured in 37 conven- services of such distinguished liaison
1990 from the academy’s graduate school, he taught rice biotechnology
in its Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation and was deputy director
tional rice varieties and 28 commercial scientists as Dr. Singh and Dr. Tang.
of its Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Breeding under the Ministry hybrids released to Chinese farmers. As we adapt to changing needs in
of Agriculture. “In the past 6 years, we arranged the country offices across Asia, I hope and
ARIEL JAVELLANA

The 42-year-old Dr. Zhao is co-holder of a U.S. provisional patent delivery of more than 220 Chinese expect that we will continue to attract
on plants resistant to fungal disease and the process of genetic rice varieties to the International Rice the dedicated liaison scientists we
modification that created them. Genebank at IRRI,” he added. need.”
IRRI

20 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 21


An international rice network celebrates best rice varieties and advanced
breeding lines developed by
NARES, IRRI and three of its
and now by WARDA, establishes
specific nurseries for Africa. INGER
Latin America and Caribbean, at CIAT,

30 years of impressive returns from


sister centers in the Consultative has looked after the particular needs
Group on International Agricul- of that region, in cooperation with
tural Research (CGIAR): the Fondo Latinoamericano para Arroz de
West Africa Rice Development Riego, a public-private partnership for

the exchange of genetic assets Association (WARDA) – the


Africa Rice Center; the Inter-
national Center for Tropical
international research on rice.

Global perspective
THE REARVIEW MIRROR of a motorcycle looks back on 1975,
Agriculture (CIAT by its Spanish INGER owes its success partly to
the foundation year of the International Network for Genetic acronym); and, until it discontinued its ability to work regionally while
Evaluation of Rice (INGER), and two International Rice its rice-breeding program in the mid- maintaining its global perspective. It
Research Institute staffers reading up on the International 1990s, the International Institute for has also enjoyed generous support
Rice Testing Network, as it was then known. A rice nursery Tropical Agriculture (IITA). from donors, notably the United
package is laid out for final contents check (below) before
being strapped shut (bottom) in 1978. Today, the INGER
Researchers multiply germplasm Nations Development Program
Information Service (above) enhances a 30-year tradition of materials and organize them into (1975-96), World Bank (1991-96),
partnership with modern communication technology. nurseries, each of which undergoes Swiss Agency for Development and
evaluation under a particular target Cooperation (1995), and Federal
environment. Some nurseries target Ministry for Economic Cooperation
a particular ecosystem (irrigated and Development/German Agency
lowland, rainfed lowland, upland or for Technical Cooperation (1995-
deepwater) and others a particular 97). Today, IRRI, WARDA and CIAT
agronomic stress (tungro virus, blast, support their INGER activities in
bacterial blight, gall midge, stem borer, their respective regions.
brown planthopper, low temperature NARES rightly place a high
or various problem soils). Researchers priority on broadening the germplasm
create new types of nurseries base of their national breeding

Joint account
as the need arises. programs, and INGER continues to
The INGER program at be an integral component of NARES’

interest
IRRI assembles nurseries testing programs. From its inception,
both for global use and to INGER has relied on a technical
meet the special needs of advisory committee of representative

with
Asian countries. INGER scientists from participating countries
Africa, led by IITA from the to ensure that it meets the needs of
by Edwin L. Javier mid-1980s to the mid-1990s NARES in line with their priorities
and Maria Concepcion Toledo

A
certain cooperative bank rice germplasm — seeds and the whose insensitivity to the time of
generates resources for genetic material they contain — across year — and corresponding length
agricultural development by Asia and the rest of the world. Called of day — meant that they would
pooling its member countries’ the International Rice Testing grow normally whenever they were
assets. The countries deposit these Network when it was launched in 1975 planted. Unlike traditional varieties, both to extend directly to farmers as
assets without taking them out of by the International Rice Research which could produce only one crop cultivars and as parental material that
circulation at home. India, the largest Institute (IRRI) and its national per year, modern varieties allowed national programs could use to breed
depositor, has withdrawn 10 times agricultural research and extension two or even three crops annually new varieties to meet the burgeoning
as much as it has deposited. Many system (NARES) partners, INGER has on a single plot of land. Breeders demand for rice.
countries, most recently Cambodia and served as the recruiting office of the created these modern varieties by The main role of INGER over
East Timor, have made withdrawals Green Revolution. hybridizing varieties from different the years has been to assemble and
without first making a deposit. Between the late 1960s and the countries, then selecting improved distribute rice germplasm and to
This marvelous “bank” is the mid-1970s, IRRI developed the first progeny over the years to achieve a analyze, interpret and disseminate
International Network for Genetic modern rice varieties, whose short, genetically stable, inbred cultivar. the results of varietal evaluation and
Evaluation of Rice (INGER), soon to sturdy straw could bear high yields Demand for these improved varieties use, both as breeding material and in

IRRI (4)
celebrate 3 decades of sharing elite without lodging (falling over), and came from various parts of the world, farmers’ fields. INGER receives the

22 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 23


Liberia, 1983 Demo plot at IRRI, Philippines

and capacities. The role of NARES germplasm pool many materials


was further strengthened when the that have become farmers’ varieties.
Council for Partnership on Rice East Timor suffered crippling civil
Research in Asia (CORRA), composed disturbances after its 1999 vote for
of senior officials of selected Asian independence. Now, with support from
NARES, became INGER’s steering the Australian Center for International
committee in 1999. Agricultural Research, INGER’s
Janice Bautista, INGER database newest member has started searching
administrator, reports that India for materials adapted to East Timor’s
has made the most contributions rice-growing environments (see
to INGER, offering 1,400 varieties Precious Cargo in Rice Today, Vol. 2
Myanmar, 1980
between 1985 and 2004 and receiving No. 2, pages 20-23).
some 14,000 unique materials in the Yet, for all its success, INGER
same period. In all, more than 23,000 faces many challenges. Members
unique elite varieties and breeding of the World Trade Organization Guatemala, 1980
lines have been contributed to INGER — that is, most countries — are
by the four CGIAR and 79 NARES required to have laws on intellectual
participants. property rights and plant variety
protection. Many NARES became
Genetic diversity reluctant to share their germplasm,
Many of these entries have under- fearing that their materials may be
gone evaluation in more than one misappropriated, and so undermining
nursery. In its 3 decades, INGER has the INGER tradition of unrestricted
distributed more than 48,000 test flow of rice germplasm. Variety A WORLD MAP drawn in 1975 links IRRI headquarters in the Philippines with the
entries to 74 countries around the contributions to INGER started to 40 or so national programs then participating in the new rice evaluation network.
world. Over the years, 62 countries decline in the mid-1990s.
have evaluated three to 6,345 In response to this changing Panama, 1980
selections in local yield trials. The environment, IRRI has sponsored The International Network
INGER germplasm pool has directly meetings and workshops to raise
supplied 667 varietal releases around NARES’ awareness of intellectual
the world, each saving local breeders property rights issues. CORRA now for Genetic Evaluation of Rice
4-5 years’ work. A study in 1997 requires that all seeds received
calculated the annual value of each and distributed by INGER have owes its success to its ability
directly released INGER variety at material transfer agreements
US$2.5 million. Without INGER, barring recipients from claiming
the number of rice varieties released any form of intellectual property to work regionally while main-
worldwide would fall by a quarter. protection on the material or related
INGER nurseries have also served information. These measures have taining a global perspective
as a major source of parents for been effective, and INGER started

IRRI (8)
Seed file at IRRI, Philippines Thailand, 1985
breeding. Since INGER's inception, to receive more contributions from
51 countries generated at least 17,000 NARES in 2003. Further upgrading
crosses using INGER materials from of the International Rice Information simple procedures for submission private sector and those working with — all, of course, subject to the plant- “INGER is a beautiful illustration
68 countries as parents. Like direct System, which houses INGER to the Plant Disease Committee advanced research institutions or quarantine and biosafety regulations of humanity working together for
INGER releases, the resulting new genealogical and evaluation data, of the International Seed Testing projects with available funds. of the importing countries. our common future in a world filled
varieties using INGER parents have will package all intellectual property Association. To understand how plant with social conflicts, tribal wars and
improved farmers’ income by offering information associated with INGER Meanwhile, growing demand A program about people genotypes and their environment fierce competition over the control of
high yields that are stable because germplasm. for INGER materials is straining the In its 30-year history, INGER has interact, the program will start natural resources,” comments Gelia
the cultivars tolerate environmental Changing plant-quarantine program’s limited budget. This year, distributed 2.6 million seed packets of characterizing sites with the modern Castillo, an eminent social scientist
stresses. They have reduced depen- regulations in many countries also its technical advisory committee elite germplasm. Today, however, the tools of geographic information and IRRI consultant. “We must
dence on pesticides because they affect the global movement of rice identified innovations to help cope. program’s NARES partners require systems. Researchers will also use continue to share these agricultural
have multiple resistance to pests and germplasm. For example, some The program will prioritize nursery different types of germplasm and “probe” varieties, which react in treasures, even as countries declare
diseases. INGER has also broadened countries require a phytosanitary types and testing sites and identify information. In response, INGER different ways to specific stresses, to national sovereignty over plant
genetic diversity in farmers’ fields. certificate guaranteeing that seeds are in-country multiplication sites for envisions facilitating the exchange, learn what stresses are present in a genetic resources. After all, rice is
Less-developed countries have free of certain bacterial pathogens. INGER materials to allow more not just of elite germplasm, but of all particular area. life.”
benefited the most from INGER. This presents a big challenge, as requests for germplasm to be handled types of genetic material including In the final analysis, INGER is
Cambodia, which missed the Green there are no standard international without crossing national borders. hybrids, genetic stocks, genetic more than a network for germplasm Dr. Javier is a plant breeder at IRRI and
Revolution in the 1970s because of tests for those pathogens. The Seed INGER will also start charging mapping populations, segregating exchange and evaluation. At its heart, coordinator of INGER. Ms. Toledo is an
civil strife, has drawn from the INGER Health Unit at IRRI is developing for seed orders from clients in the populations and transgenics the program is about people. assistant scientist in INGER.

24 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 25


Quality
time
by Peter Fredenburg

Rice scientists have long focused


on helping Asian farmers reap
bountiful and reliable harvests
of affordable rice. Now they are
taking up the additional challenge
of improving the staple grain’s
nutrition and palatability

G
ary Atlin recalls a meeting in 2001 of rice
breeders in Delhi, India, that aimed to save
the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) and its national partners from wasting
resources on promoting improved rice cultivars that
farmers would not accept.
MELISSA FITZGERALD (center) and the first staff
“There are lots of requirements to fill,” explains
assigned to the new Grain Quality and Nutrition the Canadian rice breeder, who had started at IRRI
Research Center at IRRI, (from left) Teody Atienza, only the year before. “You need your agronomic traits
Juanny Alzona, Puring Sandoval and Dory Resurrec- like high yield potential, disease and pest resistance,
cion, pose before some of the new equipment. Work and tolerance of problem soils, flooding and drought.
began in temporary quarters as renovations contin-
And you need your grain quality traits, which vary

AILEEN DEL ROSARIO-RONDILLA


ued on the US$1.2 million, 500-square-meter lab.
from place to place, but generally include taste, aroma
and texture. But in India we heard repeatedly about
farmers who rejected a rice variety because they didn’t
like it the day after they cooked it. I thought, ‘Man!
This is just too hard.’”

26 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 27


Grain quality is thus a vital
health issue, especially for poor rice
farmers and consumers. It is also key
to adding value to the crop and so
alleviating rural poverty. That the job
of running IRRI’s Grain Quality and
Nutrition Research Center should go
to Prof. Graham’s fellow Australian
is no surprise, as that country’s small
but strongly export-oriented rice
industry has built its solid market
presence on a foundation of high
INSPECTING RICE at IRRI in 1999 are (from left) Howarth Bouis, director of the Harvest Plus biofortification
quality.
challenge program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research; Glenn Gregorio, the plant
“When I took over our quality- breeder leading IRRI’s work on high-iron rice; and Robin Graham, scientific coordinator of what was then the
evaluation program in Australia CGIAR Micronutrients Project. Prof. Graham championed setting up the lab to improve the health and well-
from Tony Blakeny, I continued being of poor rice consumers like the girl pictured below. Rice starch (opposite) magnified.
developing objective, instrumental
means of evaluation to replace Starting with physical traits, she higher the amylose content, the firmer
subjective means,” says the youthful demonstrates a $45,000 Danish- the rice. So you would expect the
Dr. Fitzgerald, whose dynamic made grain inspector that is “so new same cooking quality in two samples
career has included work as a cereal it’s not yet released.” The machine with the same amylose content,
chemist and research scientist at swallows a handful of grain and but the cooking processes of other
the New South Wales Department starts spitting out measurements: components of the grain can be very
of Agriculture’s Yanco Agricultural percentages of whole grains and different. In other words, there are
Institute. “I also set up the research broken, percentage of chalk, average plenty of exceptions to the rule. So we
program there to understand quality, grain length and its standard look at other things. Protein accounts
so we’d know just what it is we’re deviation, and average grain width for 5-9% of rice and can absorb a lot of
evaluating. Here at IRRI, I’m setting and its standard deviation. Then it water, so that’s a factor. And we study
up both programs at once, building returns the whole sample unharmed. the architecture of the starch. Small
on the foundation of Tony’s vision differences in amylopectin’s molecular
and continuing my research. It’s a Cooking quality structure can lead to big differences in
great opportunity.” “Nondestructive testing is valuable how the water is absorbed.
The startup cost for the 500- because it allows us to do our cooking “And starch is interesting in
square-meter center is US$1.2 million. test with the same sample,” Dr. terms of nutritional value, leaving
IRRI’s million-dollar stake, drawn Fitzgerald explains. “Sometimes aside protein and micronutrients,”
from unrestricted core funds, is evenly breeders can spare us only a few she adds. “We look at the rate starch
split between building renovations grams of a new breeding line. And is digested. Slowly digestible starch
and equipment purchases. A further high-throughput is important because remains in the gut longer, so you
$200,000 from the Monsanto Fund they give us so many to test.” feel full longer. What is the amount
is earmarked for equipment. On Dr. A machine for testing cooking of resistant starch? How much of
Fitzgerald’s staff will be six Philippine quality measures the changing the stuff gets all the way through
scientists. Using temporary facilities, viscosity of a slurry of rice flour and your small intestine without being
the team started performing quality water as it is heated from 50ºC to absorbed? Resistant starch is good for
evaluations in 95º and then cooled again to 50º. bowel health.”
June on what Two factors that affect cooking time Dr. Fitzgerald reports that her
breeders call “the and grain softness are gelatinization Australian experience in quality
12 mega varieties” temperature (when heat causes the evaluation will be directly applicable
most widely starch granules to swell irreversibly) to her work at IRRI, as will much
grown in Asia. and amylose content — both of which of her own research there on
“These can be measured separately and protein, resistant starch and chalk.
were bred for automatically. Meanwhile, the married mother
agronomic traits “Amylose accounts for up to 30% of three clearly relishes her new
and to improve of the starch in rice, and amylopectin horizons in the Philippines and the
quality,” Dr. for the rest,” Dr. Fitzgerald explains. chance to round out her research
Fitzgerald says. “Waxy or glutinous rice — which is experience.
“But we need to popular in Japan and in northeast “In Australia the rice is all
understand what Thailand and Laos — has little or no japonica, but here it’s almost all
to look for.” amylose. The rule of thumb is that the indica,” she smiles. “That’s nice.”
IRRI

Rice Today October-December 2004 29


A state-of-the-art

gene-discovery facility

in the Philippines has

emerged as the buzzing

hub of an inclusive
MARICHU BERNARDO prepares the
microarray robotic printer as (opposite)
community of cereal young users of the Gene Array and
Molecular Marker Application lab pose
for a group photo. A portion of a micro-
scientists and trainees array image lurks behind the headline.
MARK NAS

A happening lab
by Hei Leung and Marichu Bernardo

R
ebecca Nelson, a plant a central place where people can rest comes from a plant that shows
pathologist at the converge to learn new techniques and susceptibility when exposed and is
International Rice share ideas as they conduct research labeled green. Researchers introduce
Research Institute (IRRI) is stronger than ever. the mixture to the slide, where the
in 1989-96, recognized Since 2002, the Gene Array genes hybridize with the printed
the need more than a decade ago. The and Molecular Marker Application genes in proportion to how strongly
institute, she said, needed a better (GAMMA) lab at IRRI’s research they were expressed in one or the
mechanism for sharing with national campus in the Philippines has played other of the two plants.
agricultural research system (NARS) that central role. It provides, in the
partners access to the expanding spirit of ARBN, more than 375 square Close scrutiny
knowledge and tools of biotechnology meters of well-equipped research In the resulting gene array for this
— both concepts and hands-on skills. and training facilities for advanced example, a red dot at a particular
With the help of the Asian molecular-genomics techniques. location indicates relatively higher
Development Bank, the Asian Rice GAMMA lets scientists analyze expression of that fixed gene in the
Biotechnology Network (ARBN) genes by the thousand, making resistant plant, and a green dot
was born in 1993 to fill that need. A discovery of gene function vastly indicates relatively higher expression
centerpiece of ARBN is its Training more efficient than in the “old days” in the susceptible plant. The intensity
and Shuttle Research Laboratory of a few years ago, when genes could of the red or green color shows how
designed for NARS researchers be analyzed only one at a time. In strongly the gene was expressed (a
working on problems that require the lab, researchers use robotics to yellow dot, the result of adding red
techniques or equipment not available “print” thousands of plant genes to light to green, indicates a similar
at home. As the technical capacity of fixed, carefully recorded locations level of expression in both susceptible
IRRI’s NARS partners has evolved on a glass slide. Separately, they and resistant plants). Genes that are
over the years, so have their technical- prepare a mixture of genetic material highly expressed in a resistant plant
support needs. However, because reflecting two different conditions. in response to disease, and minimally
the precision instruments required Some of it may be taken from a plant expressed in susceptible plants, likely
to study thousands of genes at one that shows resistance when exposed encode the disease-resistance trait.
time are beyond the means of most to disease and is labeled with red These genes therefore merit closer
laboratories, the logic of establishing fluorescence, for example, while the scrutiny.

30 Rice Today October-December 2004


GAMMA also has equipment for Hittalmani from Bangalore, India. on how her ARBN brainchild has
high-throughput DNA fingerprinting “It has nourished and polished our matured. “It’s a joy to see how far
of rice varieties and breeding lines knowledge to help build a strong the ARBN team has come,” she said.
to improve the speed and efficiency scientific culture through rigorous, “The dedicated staff and the facilities
of marker-assisted selection (see hands-on training and continuous now accessible through ARBN are a
On your mark, get set, select! in interaction with other NARS wonderful asset for rice researchers
Rice Today, Vol. 3, No. 3, pages scientists.” everywhere. The shuttle research
28-29). Providing technical support facilities are available not only to
and genotyping services to IRRI Resources and tools rice scientists but also to other cereal
researchers and breeders, the lab can An additional benefit is that the researchers who can gain from the
process over 8,000 samples per day GAMMA lab has become a receptacle rice-genomics platform. It’s exciting
— and is poised to gear up capacity for resources and tools from partners to see scientists working on rice,
as more breeding projects start to at advanced research institutions. maize, wheat, sorghum, finger millet
use marker-assisted selection. Over GAMMA helped make IRRI attractive and teff [an African grain] using the
time, high-throughput fingerprinting to the Beijing Genomics Institute as a GAMMA facilities.”
adds value to the thousands of partner for testing its whole-genome “The GAMMA lab is an excellent
traditional and wild rice varieties gene chips. The University of Nagoya model of how international centers
conserved in the International Rice scientist Tetsuko Takabe has used the can provide their constituents with
Genebank at IRRI by progressively facility to study salinity tolerance in expertise, training and facilities
mapping at the molecular level this barley and rice. Olivier Panaud of the in state-of-the-art technologies,”
largely unexplored panorama of rice University of Perpignan and other commented Jan Leach, professor
biodiversity. French collaborators have applied of plant pathology at Kansas State
But GAMMA is much more than a high-throughput genotyping to study University, who has participated in
genomics instrument room. It is a hub the progeny of wide crosses between GAMMA training workshops and used
of community research and training wild and cultivated rice species. Rod microarrays printed by the lab. “This
for scientists from both IRRI and Wing of the University of Arizona is an excellent example of a great idea
outside the institute. The mixing of and other researchers from the U.S. that actually works!”
expertise brought by researchers from have used GAMMA to prepare gene
near and far, their mutual learning libraries of all representative wild Dr. Leung is a senior plant pathologist in
experience, and their camaraderie are rices and to make them publicly IRRI’s Entomology and Plant Pathology
in fact what make it such a vibrant available. The International Division. Ms. Bernardo, of IRRI’s Plant
place, humming with activity. On Maize and Wheat Improvement Breeding, Genetics and Biochemistry
any given day, about 20 researchers, Center, IRRI’s sister center in the Division, is manager of the GAMMA lab.
scholars and trainees mill around the Consultative Group
facility, busy with different tasks. Since on International
its inception, it has been a classroom Agricultural
for more than 275 people receiving Research, has used
various types of training (more than it to identify maize
half of them from NARS partners) and genes.
the focus of three ARBN workshops Such collab-
on microarray and high-throughput oration will flourish
technologies. Through these activities, as IRRI continues to
students and researchers have leverage GAMMA to
enjoyed the chance to rub elbows with stay abreast of the
renowned scientists. latest gene-discovery
“The GAMMA lab has provided technologies.
NARS scientists with a modern facility Dr. Nelson,
for genomics studies, as well as an who is now director
opportunity to learn from, and work of the McKnight
together with, our partners from IRRI Foundation
and other countries,” said Renando Collaborative Crop
Solis, a Philippine Rice Research Research Program at
Institute scientist who has attended Cornell University,
several workshops. participated in IRRI’s
“The GAMMA lab is a ‘master’ second Microarray
learning laboratory for many and Bioinformatics
JAYSON TALAG

upcoming, and already established, Training Workshop


NARS scientists,” added Shailaja in 2002 and reflected

Rice Today October-December 2004 31


Specific benefits
by Roland J. Buresh

Farmers earn more from their rice crop


by scientifically optimizing fertilizer use

T
he nutrients a rice plant panicles (grain bunches), at panicle approach, farmers monitor the rice
requires for growth and initiation stage to increase spikelet leaves and apply N fertilizer whenever
sustenance come mainly (flower) number per panicle, and they become more yellowish green
from soil, crop residues during the ripening phase to enhance than the critical value indicated on the
and irrigation water. However, these grain filling. chart. In the “fixed-time/adjustable-
naturally occurring, indigenous SSNM provides two approaches dose” approach, the time for N fertil-
nutrients are typically insufficient for improved N management using ization is pre-set at a critical growth
to meet the needs of rice grown a leaf color chart (see Chart Hit for stage, and farmers adjust the dose of
for high yield, which must receive N Sync opposite). In the “real-time” N up or down based on leaf color.
additional nutrients to fill the deficit.
Site-specific nutrient management
(SSNM) provides farmers with an
effective approach for “feeding”
these supplements to rice.
Nitrogen (N), phos-
phorus (P) and potassium
(K) are the nutrients rice
requires in the largest
quantities. The SSNM
approach enables farmers

Feed
to apply these nutrients
optimally, as and when the
crop needs them. It does not

the
specifically aim to either reduce
or increase fertilizer use. Rather,
applying supplemental nutrients at
optimal rates and times achieves
maximum use of the nutrients by the
rice, and so maximizes the cash value
plant's
of the harvest per unit of fertilizer
invested.
Because the supply of N from
need!
soil and organic sources is seldom
sufficient for high yield, supplemental
N is typically essential for higher
profit from irrigated rice fields. For
the best effect, farmers should apply
N in several doses to ensure that the
supply of N matches the crop need at
critical growth stages. Effective and
profitable N use requires the supply of
JUAN LAZARO IV

N to be sufficient to meet crop needs


at early and mid-tillering (branching)
stages to maximize the number of

32 Rice Today October-December 2004


Rice yields and the effectiveness
of N use are often comparable for Chart hit for N sync
by V. Balasubramanian
the two approaches. The fixed-time/
adjustable-dose approach saves time
and so is preferred by farmers who F armers have long used leaf color as a
subjective indicator of their rice crops’

AILEEN DEL ROSARIO-RONDILLA


have gainful alternative activities, as nitrogen (N) status. In 1994-95, IRRI and
often is the case in China and southern the Philippine Rice Research Institute
Vietnam. The real-time approach is developed, from a Japanese prototype, a
generally preferred when farmers leaf color chart (LCC) to help farmers in
lack sufficient understanding of the tropical and subtropical Asia monitor crop N
critical stages for optimal timing status objectively, and so better synchronize
of N fertilizer. In Bangladesh, net N applications to field-to-field variation in N need. Simple, easy to use and, at less than
return with real-time N management, US$1 per chart, inexpensive, the LCC is an excellent tool for crop N management in
remote areas where no facilities are available for soil analysis.
compared to that of farmers’ practice,
The robustness and utility of the LCC technology is now well established, with many
was on average US$41-65/ha better
national universities and government departments of agriculture promoting it in Asia.
per season across five seasons. As of June 2004, more than half a million charts had been distributed to farmers in six
This approach is being promoted key Asian countries, with a smaller number distributed in 21 other countries in Asia,
through the planned distribution Africa and Latin America.
of about 60,000 leaf color charts to Two types of LCC circulate among farmers. The six-panel LCC depicts six shades
Bangladeshi farmers in 2004. from yellowish green to dark green; the four-panel version, introduced this year, drops
the two panels at either extreme. In both versions, the color panels are textured with
Optimal rate veins to reflect light as rice leaves do, and the background is a neutral gray. Pasted on
Researchers, extension workers the back is a simple instruction sheet in the local language.
and farmers determine the P and K
Dr. Balasubramanian is a senior agronomist in IRRI’s International Programs Management Office.
fertilizer requirements for a given soil
type or rice-growing area with the
nutrient-omission technique. They evaluated it from 1997 to 2000 on soil types, and these are now
grow one plot of rice with abundant about 200 irrigated rice farms at eight undergoing on-farm evaluation and
fertilizer supplements and use the sites in Asia. Since 2001, the on-farm demonstration across the delta. In
yield thus achieved to calculate the evaluation and promotion of SSNM China, SSNM research demonstrated
full demand of rice for P and K. They have markedly increased. In 2003-04, that hybrid rice needs more K
simultaneously grow two other plots, SSNM was evaluated and promoted fertilizer than conventional inbred
one without added P fertilizer and the with farmers at about 20 locations in rice to achieve its higher attainable
other without added K, and use those tropical and subtropical Asia, each yields.
rice yields to estimate the indigenous representing an area of intensive Experiences from on-farm
supply of each nutrient. Subtract rice farming on more than 100,000 evaluation of SSNM across Asia
the indigenous supply of a nutrient ha with similar soils and cropping indicate that many farmers of
from the total crop demand, and the systems. The countries involved were irrigated rice apply excess N during
remainder is the site-specific deficit. Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, early crop growth, when crop
The optimal rate of supplementation Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines and demand for N is small, and then
fills this deficit and includes sufficient Vietnam. insufficient N at later growth stages
P and K to prevent depletion of soil such as panicle initiation, when crop
fertility arising from their long-term Benefits multiply demand for N is large. In addition,
removal in grain and straw. The benefits of SSNM multiply when some rice farmers do not supply
With SSNM, farmers apply improved management of several sufficient K fertilizer. Excess early
all P fertilizer within 14 days after nutrients is considered. On light- N and insufficient K fertilizer can
transplanting, or 21 days after sowing, textured soils in the New Cauvery worsen the susceptibility of rice to
because P is vital for early rice growth. Delta of southern India, the approach diseases and insect pests. More and
Potassium, on the other hand, is results in increased K fertilizer use, more, improved management of N
needed later to improve grain filling and corresponding increases in rice and K fertilizer through SSNM is now
and resistance to diseases and lodging. yield and profitability, compared to reducing disease and insect damage
Therefore, with SSNM, farmers often both farmers’ fertilizer practice and in Asia, thereby reducing the need for
apply K fertilizer in two doses, the the fertilizer recommendation of the pesticide.
first half, like P, within 14 days after local extension service. In the Red
transplanting and the other half River Delta of northern Vietnam, Dr. Buresh is a senior soil scientist in
delayed until early panicle initiation. SSNM guided the development of IRRI’s Crop, Soil and Water Sciences
Researchers developed the SSNM specific P and K fertilizer manage- Division and the institute’s program
approach in the mid-1990s and ment practices for each of the major leader for favorable environments.

Rice Today October-December 2004 33


Special section: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE

WHEN LATIN AMERICANS CELEBRATE RICE YEAR, IT'S A CARNAVAL FULL OF BEANS

Arroz by another name … and aromatic, too


L S
atin Americans, especially including the private sector, and cented rice caused a stir last
Brazilians, have been busy facilitate germplasm exchange, May at the Science for Life
celebrating International technical training and fundraising. All fair in Brazil. BRS Aroma, a
Year of Rice 2004. Ano participants supported the strategy as newly developed rice cultivar
Internacional do Arroz, as it is known a way to fill the gap left by the recent that produces grain with an aroma
in Portuguese, got into full swing inactivation of the International described as similar to that of jasmine
earlier this year with a conference and Network for Genetic Evaluation of or fine herbs, proved to be one of
workshop on “Rice breeding in Latin Rice, Latin America and Caribbean. the most popular exhibits at the
America and the Caribbean: Review, National rice-breeding programs fair. Aromatic rice was new to most
current status and perspectives,” held in Latin America and the Caribbean Brazilians attending the fair — but
on 15-19 March in Goiania, Brazil. have developed similar priorities. only one of many exhibits with a focus
The Brazilian Agricultural Every country represented at the on International Year of Rice.
Research Corporation (Embrapa) conference has aimed to improve rice The
promoted the event in partnership yield, grain quality and resistance to biennial
CROWDS WATCH as the Agronomica, Brazil, rice har- AT THE SCIENCE FOR LIFE FAIR, Beatriz Pinheiro, director general of Embrapa Rice and
with the Colombia-based International major diseases like blast and grain fair at the
vest officially begins at a 12 March ceremony. Beans, hands a newly released publication to Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Roberto
Center for Tropical Agriculture spot. Thanks to the release of many headquarters Rodrigues, while Minister of Environment Marina Silva and Embrapa Director General
(CIAT), France’s International Center new cultivars, the national programs of the Clayton Campanhola look on.
for Cooperation in Agricultural have significantly contributed to A number of presentations Brazilian
Research for Development (CIRAD), yield increases and lower prices for highlighted recent research advances Agricultural the release of several new publications which is generally non-
and the Food and Agriculture consumers. Breeders have generated that will soon produce practical Research from Embrapa Rice and Beans. The allergenic and an excellent
Organization of the United Nations. new cultivars through both traditional results. These include new cultivars Corporation 40-page booklet Arrozito e Feijó na source of complex carbohydrates
Attendees included scientists from crossbreeding and induced mutations, from wide crosses from CIAT, (Embrapa), Festa do AIA (Rice and Beans in the free of gluten or cholesterol. The
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and they have also made good progress molecular-marker-assisted selection in the International Year of Rice Festival) publication points out that the grain’s
Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, in developing high-yielding hybrids. of breeding populations at Embrapa, COOKBOOK EDITOR Marina Apare- national describes various rice cropping nutritional value is enhanced when
Dominican Republic, Peru and The private sector breeds rice regional breeding projects that team cida Oliveira autographs a copy. capital of systems and processing procedures. consumed as brown rice, parboiled
Venezuela, as well as private-sector in all countries represented at the CIRAD and CIAT, and a biosafety Brasilia, was It emphasizes the importance of rice or — a very Brazilian approach
representatives. conference except Cuba, though project at CIAT. held this year on 18-23 May. Embrapa in such nutrition programs as the — combined with beans.
The conference covered the biotechnology supports breeding The simultaneous Workshop on Rice and Beans naturally played a Brazilian government’s Zero Hunger Utilização do Farelo de Arroz
impact of national rice-breeding programs in only 40% of them. Breeding Selection organized field lead role in organizing it. initiative. Aimed at children and (Rice Bran Utilization) presents the
programs in Latin America and the All countries present agreed trips to upland and irrigated rice- The fair saw scientists present teenagers, the publication offers case for rice bran as an excellent
Caribbean, the status of the region’s that working together to integrate growing areas, where participants had the latest innovations in rice and coloring activities, educational comic supplement to a diet designed to
ongoing breeding programs, and national programs and take advantage the opportunity to select lines from beans, including BRS Aroma, which strips, crosswords and other puzzles. prevent malnutrition in infants and
an open discussion on the future of each other’s strengths was the the Embrapa breeding program. was displayed in a special Rice House Another publication aimed at pregnant women. Bran, a low-cost
direction of breeding strategies. way forward. Active participation Beatriz Pinheiro, who was full of children’s exhibits. Cartoons young people is a 36-page booklet milling byproduct, is easy to prepare,
Conference delegates endorsed in the Challenge Programs of the recently appointed director general illustrated the importance of rice in that outlines in simple language and but humans consume only a small
a proposal to create a Rice Consultative Group on International of Embrapa Rice and Beans and was Brazil and worldwide. The elementary beautiful illustrations how scientists fraction of the 1 million tons produced
Improvement Network for Latin Agricultural Research was cited as one of the prime movers behind the school winners of rice-related develop genetically modified plants. each year in Brazil. The rest is used as
America and the Caribbean. The a way to capitalize on international event, expressed her thanks to all computer games received prizes of Other publications targeted animal feed or simply thrown away.
network would promote broad agricultural research centers’ capacity attendees for helping to bring about an Asian-style rice noodles made in consumers and industry. O Arroz O Arroz na Indústria (Rice
cooperation in rice production, to help solve regional problems. auspicious beginning in her new role. Brazil. na Alimentação (Rice in Our Diet) Industrial Uses) lists a variety of rice-
The fair was also the venue for discusses the health benefits of rice, based products, including toothpaste,
noodles, animal feed, cosmetics,
EMBRAPA (6)

Participants at the margarine and thermal insulation for


conference and work- buildings. The brochure discusses the
shop on rice breeding
in Latin America and
potential of rice products to generate
the Caribbean, held income and improve the Brazilian
on 15-19 March in economy.
Goiania, Brazil. Finally, Embrapa Rice and Beans
released at the Science for Life fair a
cookbook entitled Arroz com o Quê?
LAURO TOLEDO DOS SANTOS (center), president of Sindarroz – Santa ADELOR VIEIRA, coordinator of the
34 Rice Today October-December 2004 Catarina (Santa Catarina State Rice Union), launches International Santa Catarina Parliamentary Forum, 35
Year of Rice at a 13 January ceremony in Florianopolis, Brazil. discusses the celebrations on 7 May.
Wedding rice not thrown but sown of the Meteorology Department at
Arba Minch University in Ethiopia,
collaborated on the paper with former
nutrition of crops, the chief soil
scientist at Pakistan’s National
Agricultural Research Center is on
colleagues at the Central Research the editorial board of the European

M
arrying well is what some ethnic village remained stable.” Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Journal of Agronomy and has won
Karen farmers in the northern “One of the project’s central Hyderabad, India. several coveted awards and honors.
Thai village of Tee Cha do in 29.2/2004 findings is that in areas outside The paper presents a model that
an unexpected way. According to International Rice Research Notes Thailand’s main rice-production estimates, using monthly rainfall Multidisciplinary research
an award-winning scientific paper, regions — totaling some one-fifth data and the Southern Oscillation “As rice soils in Pakistan are calcareous
families with marriage ties outside which International Rice Research of the country’s rice land — rice Index (indicating El Niño-La Niña [high in calcium carbonate, or lime] and
of the village grow rice crops that Notes, now in its 29th year of genetic diversity and the success of fluctuations), India’s total annual rice low in organic matter, we suspected that
are better because they are more publication by the International Rice rice farming are closely linked,” said production 6-8 months before the boron deficiency might be a cause of low
genetically diverse. Research Institute (IRRI), is marking Anothai. “Genetic variation in the harvest. “These advance estimates rice yields,” Dr. Rashid explained. “Our
“This finding points toward the International Year of Rice 2004. Its first local rice germplasm is not static, are very useful for the national research established that rice grown in
importance of kinship as a pathway for author, Anothai Sirabanchongkran, but is continuously being renewed government and planners as they the low-boron, calcareous soils of the
seed exchange,” wrote the authors of a researcher in the Faculty of Agricul- and enhanced by farmers’ seed make policy decisions about food major rice-growing areas of Pakistan not
Varietal turnover and seed exchange: ture at Chiang Mai University in management, with seed exchanges security and the export and import of only suffers severe yield losses, but its
Implications for conservation of rice Thailand, will receive US$500, as will among farmers within and between rice,” explained Dr. Rao. grain quality is also impaired. We found Anothai Sirabanchongkran.
genetic diversity on-farm. “Not only the first authors of the other winning villages identified as one key process. The author of several publications that applying boron in such situations
are marriage relations important papers. Papers that have not yet been This has led us to investigate more on various aspects of meteorology, improves yield, cooking quality and moderately resistant or resistant
routes of exchange, but many norms published in IRRN will appear in the closely the dynamics of varietal Dr. Rao received the Young Scientist farmers’ income — substantially. This group of rice cultivars, and moderately
of exchange are deeply embedded in December 2004 issue (29.2/2004), turnover, seed exchange networks and Award from the Indian government’s significant accomplishment was made resistant varieties became resistant.”
cultural practice. For example, Tee as will abstracts of the previously the relevant social processes.” Department of Science and Technology possible by a multidisciplinary research The prize in the Crop Management
Cha villagers cite a rule that requires published papers. for his work on long-range forecasting team including soil fertility specialists, a and Physiology category went to a
children to maintain a specific family “Many ‘on-farm’ conservation Shuttle breeding of monsoon rainfall and water plant physiologist and an agronomist.” paper by a group funded by the Indian
variety after their parents’ death. projects focus on encouraging continued Winning the award in the Molecular resources in the Godavari basin. The award for Pest Science and Council of Agricultural Research at
These findings are important because planting of local varieties, and much and Cell Biology category was Another widely published scientist Management went to the paper the Central Rice Research Institute in
conservation initiatives that attempt effort is placed on stopping farmers Development of TGMS lines and two- will receive the $500 award for the Pseudomonas strain GRP3 induces Cuttack, Orissa.
to increase varietal exchange without from abandoning these varieties,” stated line rice hybrids through a shuttle paper Boron deficiency in calcareous systemic resistance against sheath “The group has been working
understanding local practices might the Thai and U.S. collaborators, who breeding program between IRRI and soils reduces paddy yield and impairs blight in rice caused by Rhizoctonia on developing a suitable technique
actually undermine the local systems were funded by the Collaborative Crop China. First author Mou Tongmin, grain quality, which won in the Soil, solani. First author Ashutosh to screen rice varieties exhibiting
of exchange that are crucial to the Research Program of the McKnight professor of plant breeding at the Plant Nutrient and Water Management Pathak is a microbiologist now submergence tolerance,” explained
maintenance of diversity.” Foundation. “But it was found that Science and Technology College of category. First author Abdul working for a water purification firm Ramani Kumar Sarkar,
The paper won the IRRN Best the rate of abandonment or ‘variety Huazhong Agricultural University in Rashid’s 200 publications include in the Indian state of Uttaranchal senior scientist and first author of
Article Award in the Genetic Resources turnover’ was high, even when the Wuhan, has been researching genetics the only soil science book produced in while serving as a faculty member Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters
category, one of seven awards with number of local varieties grown in the and hybrid rice breeding for 17 years, Pakistan. Internationally recognized and adviser in food technology at as indicators of submergence
including a stint in 2002 as a research for his expertise in micronutrient Allahabad University. tolerance in rice. “The traditional
IRRN Best Article Award winners’ circle
fellow at IRRI under tropical hybrid “This study started in 2000, when technique of submerging rice plants
Genetic Resources: Varietal turnover and seed Resources Research Program, National Agricultural
exchange: Implications for conservation of rice genetic Research Center (NARC); M. Ashraf, Crop Sciences
pioneer Sant Virmani. Mou Tongmin, (continuing clockwise) Prof. Johri had gone through all the and then looking for survivors has
diversity on-farm. A. Sirabanchongkran, N. Yimyam, Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council; His research team developed G. Nageswara Rao, Abdul Rashid, Ashutosh details of sheath blight occurrence and helped in identifying submergence
W. Boonma and K. Rerkasem, Faculty of Agriculture, and R.A. Mann, Rice Research Program, NARC, the first indica thermosensitive genic Pathak and Ramani Kumar Sarkar. losses due to this disease,” recalled tolerance, but it results in the loss of
Chiang Mai University, Thailand; K. Coffey and M. Islamabad, Pakistan male sterile line and the first japonica Dr. Pathak, referring to Bhavdish valuable materials during screening.
Pinedo-Vasquez, Department of Ecology, Evolution Pest Science and Management: Pseudomonas photoperiod-sensitive genic male N. Johri, the coauthor under whom So we tried a nondestructive technique
and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, strain GRP3 induces systemic resistance against sheath
USA; and C. Padoch, Institute of Economic Botany, blight in rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani. A. Pathak,
sterile line. The resulting japonica two- he received his doctorate from G.B. based on chlorophyll fluorescence
New York Botanical Garden, USA A. Sharma and B.N. Johri, Department of Microbiology, line hybrid rice was introduced in the Pant University of Agriculture and parameters to differentiate between
Molecular and Cell Biology: Development College of Basic Sciences and Humanities; and A.K. Chinese province of Hubei in 1990 and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttaranchal. tolerant and susceptible genotypes.”
of TGMS lines and two-line rice hybrids through a Sharma, Department of Agroforestry, College of now covers a planted area of 33,000 “He assigned to me this work in Finally, the winner in the Plant
shuttle breeding program between IRRI and China. Agricultural Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture ha. In 2002-03, the resulting indica integrated pest management.” Breeding category was Santosh
Tongmin Mou, Chunhai Li and Junying Xu, National and Technology, Pantnagar, India
Key Laboratory for Crop Genetic Improvement, Crop Management and Physiology: Chlorophyll
two-line hybrid was certified for use in Dr. Pathak and his colleagues — A high-yielding variety for
Huazhong Agricultural University, China; S.S. fluorescence parameters as indicators of submergence Hubei, where it now covers 10,000 ha. at G.B. Pant screened several rainfed lowland developed through
Virmani and D.L. Sanchez, IRRI tolerance in rice. R.K. Sarkar, D. Panda, D.N. Rao Indian meteorologist G. Nages- bacterial cultures and found that the participatory breeding for Bihar,
Socioeconomics: Advance estimation of and S.G. Sharma, Central Rice Research Institute, wara Rao was the first author of Pseudomonas fluorescence strain India. The first author of the paper
rice production in India from weather indices. G. Cuttack, India the Socioeconomics category winner, GRP3 exhibited both biocontrol and was R. Thakur, who collaborated
Nageswara Rao, Y.S. Ramakrishna, A.V.R. Kesava Plant Breeding: Santosh — A high-yielding
Rao and G.G.S.N. Rao, Central Research Institute variety for rainfed lowland developed through
Advance estimation of rice production plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria with four of his colleagues at Rajendra
for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, India participatory breeding for Bihar, India. R. Thakur, in India from weather indices. Dr. properties. “We carried this study Agricultural University, in the Indian
Soil, Nutrient and Water Management: Boron N.K. Singh, S.B. Mishra, A.K. Singh and K.K. Singh, Rao, who currently works under the out on susceptible and moderately state of Bihar, and with R.K. Singh, the
deficiency in calcareous soils reduces paddy yield and Rajendra Agricultural University, Samastipur; and United Nations Development Program resistant varieties,” he explained. recently retired IRRI liaison scientist
impairs grain quality. A. Rashid and M. Yasin, Land R.K. Singh, IRRI-India Office, New Delhi, India as an assistant professor and head “Susceptible varieties shifted to the for India (see Summing Up on page 18).

36 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 37


French mount rice exhibit in Philippines China and Korea
already toured
host meetings
several other
Asian nations,
including
T he “International symposium on
science and technology in agricul-
ture: Current and future” was jointly
Thailand and held in Beijing by the Chinese Acad-
Myanmar. After emy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
a week in the A WINNING POSTER by fourth grader Rinnah Rhyza D. and World Food Prize Foundation on
Philippines, it Guevarra from the Jehovah Shammah Christian Com- 10-12 July. Topics discussed included
went to Vietnam. munity School in Paciano Rizal, Bay, Laguna. China and world agriculture in the
The French 21st century, agricultural policy,
Agropolis
Museum has
IRRI celebrates international agricultural science
and technology development and
information in with its neighbors cooperation, issues of agricultural

ARIEL JAVELLANA
BANGLADESH RELEASED on 21 June a first-day cover and postage stamp commemorating the International
French on the biotechnology, and hybrid rice. Year of Rice. The next day, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council held a seminar on “International Year

A
Internet about n International Year of Rice CAAS and the Chinese Ministry of Rice 2004: Meeting the challenge for tomorrow” chaired by A.S.M. Abdul Halim, secretary of the Ministry
the exhibit mobile exhibit created by of Agriculture are supporting of Agriculture. Minister of Agriculture M.K. Anwar was the chief guest and M. Sayeduzzaman, former finance
GELIA CASTILLO, Philippine National Scientist and IRRI consultant, tucks into minister, was the special guest. On 29 April, a seminar at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute considered
some treats at the opening of the Rice Feeds the World exhibit. (http://museum. IRRI visited 23 schools in Bay and an “International conference on A brief outline of 100 years of chronological development of rice research in Bangladesh, presented by S.M.H.
agropolis.fr/ Los Baños, the institute’s home sustainable rice production” on Zaman, former director general of the institute.

S
ixty officials and guests of the pages/animations/air2004/index. municipalities, between March 15-17 October in Hangzhou to mark
Philippine government, French htm). and August. The exhibit presented International Year of Rice and World
embassy and France’s Agricul-
tural Research Center for Interna-
The bricks-and-mortar Agropolis
Museum in Montpellier, France, was
information on rice and its cultural,
environmental, nutritional and
Food Day (www.chinariceinfo.com/
rice2004/notice_1.htm).
British publication focuses on rice
tional Development (CIRAD), Philip-

Foundation, and IRRI witnessed the


scheduled to hold on 29 September
pine Rice Research Institute, Asia Rice a conference at which Guy Trébuil,
CIRAD agricultural systems
economic significance, and the
schools held essay, poster and cooking
contests (see picture above).
The celebration of International
Year of Rice in Korea was scheduled
to culminate with the International
N ew Agriculturalist has put online
a focus on rice that explores
“some of the triumphs and tribula-
Bhutanese that very little is available
for export.”
The golden future of rice?
opening of the Rice Feeds the World agronomist seconded to IRRI, would On 4 August, the Los Baños Rice Science Conference in Seoul tions of breeding, producing and “Golden Rice has been hailed by
exhibit on 21 June in two shopping present the book Le Riz: Enjeux Science Community sponsored a on 13-15 September. The theme was communicating about rice,” says the researchers as a new miracle rice that
malls in the Philippine capital. Ecologiques et Economiques (Rice: National Science and Technology “Rice science for human welfare in the introduction at www.new-agri.co.uk/ could solve vitamin A deficiency in
Renee Veyret, French ambassador Ecological and Economic Challenges), Week event at IRRI. The day-long 21st century.” 04-4/focuson.html. The topics are: afflicted countries.”
to the Philippines, and Arthur Yap, which Belin Editions launched in program included a symposium in All hyped up for hybrid rice?
then Department of Agriculture
undersecretary (now secretary) and
Paris in July. The National Center for
School Documentation of the French
the morning that attracted about
100 science community members
Celebration in “More than half the total rice area in
China is currently planted to hybrid
head of the National Food Authority,
opened the exhibit. Developed in
Ministry of Education will publish a
10-page summary of the book in the
and local dignitaries. Approximately
100 people, including 80 farmers,
Tamil Nadu, India rice.”
Rice — learning from the past?
France and brought to the Philippines 1 October issue of its series Texts and
for the International Year of Rice,
the interactive exhibition had
Documents for the Classroom, which
is distributed in 21,000 schools.
participated in an afternoon farmers’
forum.
The Philippine Network for
I nternational Year of Rice was
celebrated at the Tamil Nadu Rice
Research Institute in Aduthurai
“In ancient times, the economy of
the great city of Angkor, located in
present-day Cambodia, was based
Ecotourism Development is planning on 25 June. B. Chandrasekaran, on rice…. What cautionary tales
INDONESIA HELD its second a national youth camp for the director of the institute, welcomed the from this once-mighty city can be
National Rice Week at the Indo- sustainable development of rice on gathering of eminent rice scientists, communicated to the modern world?”
nesian Institute for Rice Research 25-28 October at the University of the joint directors of agriculture of the How rice farmers benefit from
(IIRR) in Sukamandi on 15-19 Philippines, Los Baños. Participants districts of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur ICT. “Imagine walking into an
July. The celebration featured
will also tour IRRI’s Experiment and Nagapattinam, officers of soil and Internet cafe and watching youngsters
seminars, a rice walk, exhibitions
and various contests for students Station and Riceworld Museum and pesticide testing laboratories, and — bubbling with enthusiasm — taking
and farmers. The event was at- Learning Center. farmers. delight in demonstrating the basics of
tended by thousands of farmers, ● The United Nations Information C. Ramasamy, vice chancellor of computer use to their parents.” IN CELEBRATION of the International Year of Rice,
hundreds of whom had a chance Center-Tokyo opened on 17 July its Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Eureka for NERICA! “Since the Lao Vice Minister of Agriculture Ty Phommasak
to meet President Megawati Su- launched in Vientiane on 22 July a soap opera
annual summer exhibition at UN lit the lamp that inaugurated the 1960s, imports of rice to West Africa
karnoputri, as well as the minister series promoting integrated pest management
of agriculture and the minister of House in Shibuya. The exhibit featured function. Dr. Ramasamy spoke on the have increased 8-fold, costing the
principles and practices to rice farmers. A team
industry and trade. The president various displays on rice, including need for research to add value to rice region almost US$1 billion a year. But of scientists spent 18 months studying farming
and her group saw how rice is the recently published Japanese crops for export. He also released two … Africa may once again become self- communities to develop characters and themes
crossed to breed new varieties. The translation of IRRI’s own children’s books, Paddy Cultivation – Questions sufficient in rice.” for the drama’s 104 episodes. “We can use the
photo shows President Megawati drama to highlight the locally unappreciated
book Graindell. Keijiro Otsuka, chair and Answers and Microbes for Rice Red rice for self-reliance!
(left) with Mahyuddin Syam, IRRI dangers of pesticides,” said IRRI entomologist
representative for Indonesia. of IRRI’s Board of Trustees, visited the Production, as well as the folder “Bhutan’s rice is red and so highly
K.L. Heong, who initiated the project in 2002.
exhibit on 9 August. Pepper Cultivation. favored, even revered, by the

38 Rice Today October-December 2004 Rice Today October-December 2004 39


PEOPLE
Keeping up with IRRI staff Principal scientist retires after 29 years at rice institute

G lenn Gregorio, former IRRI interna-


tional research fellow in Plant Breed-
ing, Genetics and Biochemistry (PBGB), was
named by the Philippine National Academy
of Science and Technology as this year’s
Outstanding Young Scientist in the field
of genetics. The award recognizes Filipino
scientists up to the age of 40 who have
made significant contributions to science

AILEEN DEL ROSARIO-RONDILLA


and technology.
M.S. Swaminathan, 1987 World
Food Prize laureate and former IRRI director
general (1982-88), has been appointed chair
of India’s National Commission on Farmers.
The commission was created in February to
look into ways of improving farmers’ liveli-
hoods (see Rice in the News on page 11).
Hubert G. Zandstra, director general
of the Peru-based International Potato Cen-
T om Mew, former IRRI principal scien-
tist and Entomology and Plant Pathology
Division (EPPD) head, retired on 5 August
Today Vol. 3, No.2, pages 16-21).
At a 30 May ceremony in Dhaka, the
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
ter and former IRRI deputy director general after 29 years at the institute. EPPD honored recognized Dr. Mew’s outstanding contribu-
for research (1989-91), was honored in May Dr. Mew with a symposium on sustainable tions to improving rice farmers’ seed-health
with Peru’s Great Cross for Distinguished crop and disease management, which pre- practices for pest management and crop
Service. Dr. Zandstra was recognized for sented highlights of his research on seed production in Bangladesh. BRRI also lauded
his contribution to research on the potato, health, bacterial blight, exploiting biodiver- his instrumental role in establishing its Seed
sweet potato, and lesser known Andean sity for disease management, and biological Pathology and Molecular Laboratory and
roots and tubers. control of rice diseases. Speakers discussed strengthening institute partnerships with
Shaobing Peng, crop physiologist in how Dr. Mew’s research has improved the government institutions, nongovernmental
Crop, Soil and Water Sciences (CSWS), was well-being of millions of poor rice farmers organizations and farming communities
elected in June as a fellow of the American and consumers. IRRI consultant Gelia by promoting clean-seed technology in the
Society of Agronomy. J.K. Ladha, a soil Castillo, who presented the keynote ad- country.
scientist in CSWS, was elected as a fellow dress, described Dr. Mew as a dreamer and Dr. Mew will continue at IRRI as a
of the Soil Science Society of America. Both positive thinker (see The Tao of Tom, in Rice consultant.
will receive their honors at combined annual
meetings in early November in Seattle. Takuhito Nozoe, an agronomist in Partners in progress
Hung-Goo Hwang recently joined CSWS, is leaving IRRI after 5 years’ service.
PBGB as a senior scientist. Dr. Hwang
studies germplasm utilization for value
addition, supervises the off-season Korean
Dr. Nozoe identified important soil-related
factors that suppress the growth of rice in R uben G. Echeverría has been named
the new executive director of the Sci-
ence Council of the Consultative Group
irrigated soil, as well as the physiological ac-
Seed Multiplication project, and acts as a tivities of roots in relation to iron tolerance. on International Agricultural Research.
liaison between IRRI and South Korea’s Yoshimichi Fukuta, a breeder in Jacques Diouf, director general of the
Rural Development Administration. PBGB who researched the genetic basis of Food and Agriculture Organization of the
Thomas Metz recently joined the resistance to blast disease and performed United Nations, announced the Uruguay-
Biometrics and Bioinformatics Unit as an pioneering studies of quantitative trait loci in an’s appointment, which was due to begin
international research fellow. Dr. Metz, rice, is leaving IRRI after 6 years’ service. on 1 September.
formerly a senior scientist at the Interna- Seiji Yanagihara, a breeder in PBGB Yuan Longping, winner of this year’s
tional Plant Genetics Resources Institute, for flood-prone environments and improved World Food Prize, received the Wolf Prize
is integrating all sources of germplasm levels of tolerance for abiotic stresses, is in Agriculture in Jerusalem on 9 May.
information into a single International Rice leaving IRRI after 5 years’ service. Prof. Yuan, director of the China National
Information System. Guy F. Trébuil and Francois Bous- Hybrid Rice Research and Development
Naga Chirravuri recently joined PBGB quet, French Agricultural Research Center Center and considered the father of hybrid
as a postdoctoral fellow to do marker-assisted for International Development scientists, rice, is “one of the scientific giants in the
selection for submergence tolerance. completed in June their 3-year secondment history of modern agricultural research,”
Ramaiah Venuprasad recently to SSD. Based in Thailand, Dr. Trébuil, an according to the Wolf Prize jury. He shared
joined PBGB as a postdoctoral fellow to agricultural systems agronomist, and Dr. the prize with Cornell University’s Steven
detect alleles conferring reproductive-stage Bousquet, a modeler-ecologist-economist, Tanksley, who was recognized for his in-
drought tolerance. developed participatory approaches to novative development of hybrid rice and
Stephen Zolvinski, who recently natural resources management. discovery of the genetic basis of heterosis
joined the Social Sciences Division (SSD) James Mullaney, former acting in this food staple.
as a postdoctoral fellow, is the assistant director for administration (1991) and Cao Duc Phat became on 25 June
network coordinator for the Consortium for consultant/adviser in the director general’s acting minister of the Vietnamese Ministry
Unfavorable Rice Environments. office (1991-92), passed away in July. of Agriculture and Rural Development.

40 Rice Today October-December 2004


RICE FACTS

Saving labor

PETER FREDENBURG
by DAVID DAWE
Economist %
100
Boosting labor productivity 90

on rice farms raises living standards, 80


70
even for landless workers
60
50

L
iving standards can rise only as such as fertilizer and 40

workers become steadily more pesticide, the poten- 30


productive. For rice farming, tial savings are com- 20
improving productivity means adopt- mensurately great.
10
ing such labor-saving innovations as Among seven
broadcast seeding and mechanization, of Asia’s major rice 0
Red River Delta, West Java, Tamil Nadu, Mekong Delta, Central Luzon, Zhejiang, Central Plain,
especially in the absence of break- bowls, Thailand’s Vietnam Indonesia India Vietnam Philippines China Thailand

throughs that lead to higher rice yields. Central Plain is the Labor cost as a percentage of total rice production cost (excluding land
rent) for seven rice bowls in Asia.
Some would prefer to keep rice only one where labor Source of raw data: Moya PF, Dawe D, Pabale D, Tiongco M, Chien NV,
farming labor-intensive to preserve cost is less than half Devarajan S, Djatiharti A, Lai NX, Niyomvit L, Ping HX, Redondo G, Wardana
P. 2004. The economics of intensively irrigated rice in Asia. In: Dobermann
rural jobs, no matter how dead-end. of total non-land A, Witt C, Dawe D (editors). Increasing the productivity of intensive rice
The problem is that stagnant farm- production cost systems through site-specific nutrient management. Enfield, N.H., and
Los Baños, Philippines: Science Publishers, Inc., and International Rice
labor productivity props up the retail (albeit still the most Research Institute. p 29-58.
price of rice and so undermines important item).
an essential foundation of living- Not coincidentally,
standard improvement: household the Central Plain has the lowest market prices brought about by re-
food security, or the ability of families production cost — not from high duced production cost. Furthermore,
to afford enough food to support a yields but from reductions in labor most of these laborers have diversi-
healthy, active life for all. input achieved during the past 20 fied sources of income off rice farms.
Most of the food-insecure in years. Broadcast seeding has replaced Research is limited on how much
South and Southeast Asia are land- transplanting, and harvesting and agricultural wages adjust to changes
less rural laborers, farmers who grow threshing have been mechanized with in rice prices, but the best-known
crops other than rice, and urban combines. studies on this question (both done in
slum-dwellers — in other words, poor In China, transplanting is disap- Bangladesh) suggest that lower rice
people who buy their daily rice, not pearing in many areas, and despite prices help more than lower wages
grow it on their own land. Thus, an small parcel sizes, combines are being hurt1 or that lower rice prices do not
important component of household rapidly adopted, as they are in Punjab lead to lower wages,2 presumably be-
food security is lower retail rice prices. and Malaysia. While mechanization cause demand is substantial for labor
These are sustainable only when is not cost-effective now in areas outside of the rice sector.
the cost of production per ton drops. with the lowest farm wages, reducing Growth in the industrial and
By far the main costs in rice farming labor input is a major challenge facing service sectors is nevertheless critical
are land and labor, so the key to lower Asian countries that wish to become to ensuring that agricultural laborers
production cost is using less land or more competitive in rice production. can find new — and perhaps better
labor or both. Higher yield with little To be sure, saving labor in rice — jobs to replace those lost in rice cul-
additional input is one way to lower cultivation has a price because many tivation. This is something that both
production cost because it reduces the poor laborers receive a substantial Thailand and China have successfully
land needed to grow a ton of grain. portion of their income from avail- achieved.
The other option is to reduce the able work in rice fields, and lower rice
labor input, which occupies by far the prices may force wages down. In the 1Ravallion M. 1990. Rural welfare effects of food price chang-

es under induced wage responses: Theory and evidence for


largest share of non-land production short run, laborers will have difficulty Bangladesh. Oxford Econ. Papers 42:574-585.
cost across Asia (see figure above). finding new jobs. However, because 2Rashid S. 2002. Dynamics of agricultural wage and rice

price in Bangladesh: A re-examination. Markets and Struc-


As labor’s share of production cost these laborers are rice consumers, tural Studies Division Discussion Paper No. 44. Washington,
exceeds that of other inputs, they will also benefit from the lower D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute. 40 p.

Rice Today October-December 2004 41


grain of truth

Biopirates or pioneering
conservationists?
N.R. SACKVILLE HAMILTON
Head, Genetic Resources Center at IRRI

T
he genebanks of the Consultative Group on International Biological Diversity declared that nations have sovereign
Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are often portrayed in rights but did not define the rights of farmers or a mechanism
the popular press as villains, the archetypical biopirates for fair exploitation of biodiversity. Each country needs to
who steal huge amounts of biodiversity from their rightful work out its own answers, through whatever consultation
owners and ride roughshod over the rights of poor farmers. process its government uses.
At the same time the genebanks are often portrayed as heroes, Then there must be a process of intergovernmental
the saviors of biodiversity that would otherwise have been discussion and negotiation to develop internationally agreed
lost. Can we reconcile the two views? The truth resides in a standards. The relevant intergovernmental body is the
newly implemented treaty. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture,
Without the tiniest shadow of a doubt, CGIAR genebanks which was formed in 1983 specifically to address these issues.
have prevented the wholesale destruction of the huge wealth Its 164 member countries together dictate how CGIAR
of crop biodiversity created by farmers genebanks manage, share and exploit
over millennia since the dawn of their vast collections.
agriculture. Make no mistake — the Through these countries, a
The new International Treaty
crop diversity we collected from the momentous new treaty — the
1960s to the 1980s was considered International Treaty on Plant Genetic
on Plant Genetic Resources
at that time by many farmers and Resources for Food and Agriculture —
extension officers to be inferior. They came into force on 29 June 2004 (see
for Food and Agriculture
wanted the new miracle varieties that page 6). This treaty establishes, for
gave farmers the higher yields they the first time ever, an internationally
implements, for the first time
needed to live without hunger. They agreed framework that recognizes the
stopped using their old low-yielding rights of the farmers and countries
ever, an agreed mechanism
varieties. Without the foresight of our that developed the old varieties on
predecessors, much of this age-old which modern sustainable agriculture
for sharing the benefits arising
biodiversity would now be extinct. is based, and it implements an agreed
By conserving the old varieties, mechanism for sharing the benefits
from the exploitation
the CGIAR genebanks have done arising from the exploitation of
more than anyone else to ensure the biodiversity.
of biodiversity
sustainability of modern agriculture. As we have done regarding
New challenges confront us all the previous decisions of the commission,
time: emerging strains of pests and the CGIAR genebanks will adopt the
diseases, modern concepts of breeding for nutrition and policies and mechanisms of the new treaty. That is the only
eating quality, and innovative technologies to make farming way we can be sure of following internationally agreed and
more efficient and environmentally benign. The genes acceptable standards.
required to meet these new challenges are largely found in If you disagree with these standards — if you think they
the old varieties. If we had lost them, sustainable progress cloak biopiracy in a mantle of respectability — what should
in agriculture would have become impossible. you do? Well, don’t complain about the CGIAR genebanks.
Maintaining the sustainability of modern agriculture There is nothing we can do about the standards because we
— and thereby alleviating poverty and banishing the specter do not decide national policies or international agreements.
of mass famine — requires us to exploit the old varieties. But We merely implement them. Instead, lobby your relevant
this raises daunting questions. How can we exploit them governmental department. Get it to consider alternatives.
fairly, with due respect for the rights of the farmers and others If it is not a member of the commission, get it to join. If it
in the countries from which they came? Indeed, what are the is not a party to the new international treaty, get it to join
rights of those farmers and countries? the governing body. That way, you and your government
These are hugely difficult and sensitive questions, beyond can contribute to new decisions that will affect and improve
the authority of the CGIAR itself to answer. They are national how we honor farmers’ and countries’ rights to share in the
and transnational political issues. The 1993 Convention on benefits of sustainable improvement in agriculture.

42 Rice Today October-December 2004


Rice Today October-December 2004 43

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