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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
in poverty, so making
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
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 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.
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).
Association of Southeast Asian Nations agrees to formal relationship with rice institute
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).
Continuing food imports worry Chinese leaders who lived through famine in the 1960s
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.’”
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
gene-discovery facility
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.
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
WHEN LATIN AMERICANS CELEBRATE RICE YEAR, IT'S A CARNAVAL FULL OF BEANS
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).
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-
Saving labor
PETER FREDENBURG
by DAVID DAWE
Economist %
100
Boosting labor productivity 90
L
iving standards can rise only as such as fertilizer and 40
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-
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.