RiceToday Vol. 6, No. 2
RiceToday Vol. 6, No. 2
RiceToday Vol. 6, No. 2
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International Rice Research Institute April-June 2007, Vol. 6, No. 2
River of rice
Building success around the Mekong
ISSN 1655-5422
contents
Vol. 6, No. 2
EDITORIAL ................................................................ 4
Rice and life along the Mekong River
NEWS ........................................................................ 5
Perpetual funding for IRRI genebank
Mekong branch office opens
Stocks falling, prices rising
Increased yields with elevated CO2?
More GM problems in U.S.
Human genes for pharmaceutical rice
PEOPLE ..................................................................... 8
Cambodia honors former IRRI leaders
Wolf Prize for Agriculture to IRRI Board member
Award winner to join IRRI
Lao Ministry recognized
Keeping up with IRRI staff
MORE CROP PER DROP ......................................... 10 BLACK SOIL, GREEN RICE ..................................... 26 BOOK REVIEW ........................................................ 36
Rice cultivation in the 21st century will need to feed An extraordinary type of soil from South America Innovations in rural extension
more people while reducing poverty and protecting has implications for both rice production and the
the environment. Success depends on how the rice environment in Asia
industry uses one of its most precious resources: RICE FACTS ............................................................. 37
water. A balancing act
THE RICE MAN OF AFRICA .................................... 28 How do we produce enough food to feed a growing
Growing up in Sierra Leone, rice researcher Monty population in the face of declining growth in cereal
RICE AND THE RIVER ............................................. 14 Jones was encouraged to become a priest. It’s lucky yields?
A new research and development initiative is set to for Africa he didn’t.
build on past successes and lay new foundations
for prosperity in the countries that depend on the GRAIN OF TRUTH ................................................... 38
Mekong River for their rice ACID WATER, HOT MUD, ....................................... 30 Rice revolutions in Latin America
AND DAMAGED RICE
Two volcanic disasters in Indonesia’s East Java Province
MAPS ...................................................................... 23 are destroying rice crops and making life tough, if
On the cover:
Poverty and elevation in the Greater Mekong not impossible, for thousands of people The Mekong River, the world’s
Subregion 13th longest (4,200 km) and 10th
largest by volume, winds through
NEW BOOKS ........................................................... 35 extreme northwestern Yunnan
LESS SALT, PLEASE ................................................ 24 Rice Genetics Collection CD Province, China, beginning its
Farmers hampered by salt-affected soils in Bangladesh Economic costs of drought and rice farmers’ 3,400-km journey to the South
are set for relief as researchers breed salinity coping mechanisms China Sea through the six countries
tolerance into locally popular rice varieties of the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Rice in Laos Learn about IRRI’s work here on
pages 14-22.
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 13 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 2007
NEWS http://ricenews.irri.org
GENE HETTEL
IRRI’s Genetic Resources Center (GRC), about funding has wreaked havoc participates in a
which houses more than 100,000 with effective conservation,” said Cary Lao Basi ceremony.
samples of rice, the biggest and most Fowler, the Trust’s executive secretary.
important collection in the world.
The agreement offers stable, long-
term support to a collection of genetic
“This agreement is probably unique
among funding contracts in having no
end date.”
T he Luang Prabang, Laos, Branch of
the IRRI-Greater Mekong Subregion
(GMS) Office was officially opened at a
diversity that is estimated to include Under the agreement, IRRI has ribbon-cutting ceremony on 7 February
at least 80,000 distinct rice varieties. pledged to generate $400,000 annually 2007. IRRI is expanding its activities in
The collection is kept in a special to be invested in the genebank, which the GMS, which comprises Cambodia,
earthquake- and fireproof facility that will unlock $200,000 from the Trust Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam,
is maintained at temperatures as low each year. The agreement allows for and China’s southern provinces of
as –19 degrees Celsius. inflationary increases and will remain Yunnan and Guangxi (see Rice and the
On t he same day, IR R I a lso in force “indefinitely.” Uses for the river on pages 14-22).
dedicated the GRC to Te-Tzu Chang, money will include acquiring any rice Bounthong Bouahom, director
the founder of the International varieties not currently in the repository general of the National Agriculture
Rice Germplasm Center—one of the and making sure the storage systems and Forestry Research Institute and
predecessors of the GRC. Dr. Chang, for long-term conservation are up to Gary Jahn, IRRI representative and
who passed away last year in Taiwan, international standards. coordinator for the GMS, cut the
China, was a world authority on rice “The rice genebank is not just a ribbon in front of 40 guests, including
scientific exercise in seed genetics representatives of Lao organizations
DEAN CHANG, eldest son of but a major hedge against disaster that work with IRRI. The ribbon cutting
T.T. Chang, shows a genebank that ensures that farmers throughout was followed by a traditional Lao Basi
rice sample to his children,
Nathan and Erica, as his the world will always have the rice ceremony, in which the community
mother, Nancy, looks on. varieties they need to maintain food joins together to welcome and offer
security,” said IRRI’s Director General good wishes to new ventures.
Robert Zeigler. “Rice diversity, like The office is staffed by agronomist
all crop diversity, is at risk for the B e nj a m i n S a m s on , a c c ou nt a nt
want of relatively small amounts of Ounheuane Phouthachit, and driver
Increased yields with elevated CO2? More GM problems in U.S. Human genes for pharmaceutical rice
grow th rates anticipated in high-
CO2 conditions—plants grown under
current CO2 conditions were more
A s Bayer CropScience continues
to face lawsuits from disgruntled
rice growers over contamination of
T he U.S. Department of Agriculture
has given preliminary approval
to the production of rice engineered
When Ventria Bioscience tried to
grow the crop in southeast Missouri,
Anheuser-Busch, maker of Budweiser
likely to lodge. However, under high commercial stocks by the company’s to contain human genes. California- beer and the largest domestic rice
CO2, part of the rice stem became LLRICE601 genetically modified (GM) based biotechnology company Ventria consumer in the U.S., threatened to
significantly shorter and thicker, rice, another contamination event has Bioscience wants to grow the rice in boycott all rice from the state if the
thereby protecting against lodging. unsettled the U.S. rice industry. Kansas, where officials have welcomed plan was allowed. However, because
In issue 100 of Field Crops Trace amounts of another Bayer the project. no commercial rice is grown in Kansas,
Research, Yang et al performed a GM rice, LLRICE62, were found in The rice would contain genes there is no threat of contaminating
FACE experiment to examine the Arkansas stocks of German company that produce human immune-system other rice crops.
effects of elevated CO2 on rice yields BASF’s Clearfield CL131 rice, which proteins—including antibacterial A Peruvian study, sponsored by
in Wuxi, China. The researchers found is not GM. The U.S. Department of compounds found in breast milk and Ventria Bioscience, concluded that
Early Chinese farming number of precancerous adenomas in districts. The high-yielding (4–6 tons DNA on the cheap since late 2004 on the AFET, which previous year. The fall is largely due to
Analysis of charred plant remains the stomach and large intestine of mice per hectare) variety is resistant to To aid marker-assisted breeding would trade only 40,000–60,000 an extreme shortage of irrigation water
collected from the Yiluo valley , northern was cut by half, on average, compared waterlogging, is fertilizer-responsive, programs in developing-countr y tons of the government’s 3-million- and severe drought conditions during
China, has revealed that modern to mice on the control diet. The effect and can be grown year-round. It also research institutes, IRRI has identified ton stockpile. The move is designed the crop cycle.
rice (Oryza sativa) was introduced was dependent on the fiber content of has a short field duration (around 90 s i mple a nd c he ap me t ho d s for to boost trading on the commodity
around 3000 BC, but at the time the bran, about 29% in this case. The days) so it can be grown two to three extracting DNA from rice seedlings. futures exchange, which has fallen Rice for East Timor
was not an important local crop. The results were published in the journal’s times a year under irrigated conditions. Six methods were evaluated for yield, due to the declining prices of several The Timorese gover nment, w ith
study, reported in the 16 January 9 January 2007 online edition. More The grain size is similar to that of purity, time required, cost, and ability key commodities, especially rubber. assistance from the United Nations,
2007 Proceedings of the National research is planned. basmati rice and preliminary taste, of the extracted DNA to be amplified received a 300-ton rice shipment
Academy of Sciences of the USA, texture, and scent tests were positive. to diagnostically useful quantities. The No futures for Indian rice in February 2007, following a rice
used radiocarbon dating to determine GM rice for the Philippines? best results were achieved by the so- Meanwhile, India has banned futures shortage and rising prices. Provided
historical agricultural trends. Typical T he Ph i l ippi ne D e p a r t me nt of Chinese GM rice on hold called NaOH-Tris method and an IRRI- trading in rice and wheat in an attempt by the World Food Program, the rice
northern China agriculture, which Agriculture is reviewing an application T he c om mer c i a l pr o duc t ion of developed method, but NaOH-Tris was to curb the fastest inflation seen for 2 was distributed and was set to be sold
emphasized dry crops (millets, wheat, for commercial production of the genetically modified (GM) rice in almost one-third the IRRI method’s years. Trading was due to stop once at US$2 per 5-kilogram bag. This
legumes) with some rice, appears to first genetically modified rice to be China has been put on hold again. A price. The researchers, publishing the existing contracts expired on the contrasts with recent prices as high
have been established at the latest by the grown in the country. The Bureau report by the Xinhua News Agency results in the journal Plant Breeding, nation’s three exchanges. Spiraling as $1 per kilogram. The shortage was
Early Shang period (1600–1300 BC). of Plant Industry is investigating quoted Lu Baorong, a member of therefore recommended the NaOH-Tris wheat, rice, sugar, and pulse prices, thought to have been driven by a later-
the technology, developed by Bayer the State Committee for the Safety method for use in many applications which put pressure on the government, than-usual harvest in rice-exporting
Rice bran cuts cancer in mice CropScience, to check that it is safe for of Agricultural Transgenic Living of marker-assisted selection or high- prompted the move. Vietnam.
The British Journal of Cancer has humans and the environment. Things, as saying that the application resolution mapping.
reported preclinical evidence that rice for commercialization was rejected in Australian rice doldrums Africa Rice presentations
bran has a positive effect on intestinal Rice boost for Brunei November 2006 “because some safety- The future of Thai rice The U.S. Department of Agriculture Presentations from the first Africa Rice
cancer. The study, conducted at the A rice variety derived from a breeding related data were missing.” However, a Government rice stocks were scheduled Grain Quarterly Update 2007 has Congress, held in Tanzania from 31 July
University of Leicester’s Department line developed at IR R I is set to variety of pest-resistant GM rice was to be traded for the first time via the forecast Australia’s 2007-08 rice to 4 August 2006, are now available
of Cancer Studies and Molecular contribute to Brunei’s rice production. approved for experimental production, Agricultural Futures Exchange of production at 126 million tons—a online at www.warda.cgiar.org/
Medicine, demonstrated that, by Brunei Darussalam Rice One achieved the last step before commercialization Thailand (AFET) in March 2007. Rice dramatic decline of around 90% from africa-rice-congress/presentations.
consuming a daily dose of rice bran, the good results in farm tests in four can be granted. futures contracts have been traded the 1,048 million tons estimated for the html.
F or their contributions
to the revival of rice
director general in 2000 when CARDI
officially opened, was instrumental in T he important role, and impact, of
women in rice research has been
A t the opening of IRRI’s new Greater Mekong Subregion
(GMS) Office on 12 January 2007, IRRI Director
General Robert Zeigler presented the current Lao Minister
research and development strengthening IRRI’s partnership with highlighted with the awarding of the
of Agriculture and Forestry Sitaheng
in Cambodia, Pr ime the fledgling institution. L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science
Rasphone (pictured, left) with a plaque
Minister Hun Sen (photo, awards for 2007 (UNESCO is the
recognizing Laos for its conservation of
right) recognized former United Nations Educational, Scientific,
15,000 unique indigenous rice varieties
IRRI directors general and Cultural Organization). One of
that will benefit future generations of
M.S. Swaminathan the women recognized—Gisella Cruz
farmers from Laos and beyond (See Rice
a nd R on a ld C a nt r e l l García, 29 (pictured), a Peruvian
and the river on pages 14-22).
by bestow ing on them scientist studying at Wageningen
L’ORÉAL-UNESCO
one of the driving forces in CARDI’s The award Conference on 15 March 2007. of collaborating with scientists from
inception when, back in 1987, he will enable Ms.
J erry Pat Crill, former IRRI plant Former IR R I Pr incipal Plant NARES and from developed countries
GENE HETTEL (2)
proposed establishing the project Cruz García pathologist, passed away on 17 Breeder and World Food Prize Laureate on drought-related research. Hector
design team to prepare a plan to set up to further her January 2007 at his home on his beloved Gurdev Khush has been appointed Hernandez has joined IRRI as director
CARDI. Dr. Cantrell, who was IRRI studies on how rice production in Little Manatee River, in Florida, USA. senior adviser at the biotechnology of human resources. Bhag irat h
the paddy fields of Kalasin Province, Dr. Crill headed IRRI’s plant pathology company Devgen. Announcing the Singh Chauhan, who will develop
Wolf Prize for Agriculture to IRRI Board member nor theastern Thailand, could be program for 4 years starting in 1978. appointment, Devgen Head of Research improved weed management options
improved, while protecting the value Mahabub Hossain, head of and Development Robert Ackerson for rice in rainfed and water-limited
prize jointly with Michel Georges of other associated plants used for food IRRI’s Social Sciences Division, has said, “We are honored to be able to environments, joined the Crop and
of the University of Liège, Belgium. and medicine by local residents. been recognized for his contribution to benefit from Dr. Khush’s guidance and Environmental Sciences Division. He
Both w inners, who w ill share an IRRI Director General Robert capacity enhancement in social science commitment.” Devgen is currently is also responsible for investigating
honorarium of US$100,000, were cited Zeigler said there were two ver y research at the Philippine Rice Research in the process of expanding its rice- the seed biology of important upland
for their “groundbreaking discoveries i mp or t a nt a sp e c t s to Ms. C r u z Institute (PhilRice). Dr. Hossain breeding activities. weeds. Joong-Hyuon Chin, who
in genetics and genomics, laying the García’s research. “She is one of the received a plaque of recognition from Arvind Kumar joins the Plant will work on developing breeding and
foundations for improvements in crop first researchers to try to quantify and Arthur Yap, secretary of the Philippine Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology genotyping systems as well as rice
and livestock breeding, and sparking model the plants—ranging from the Department of Agriculture, at PhilRice’s Division (PBGB), where he will develop tolerant of phosphorus-deficient soils,
important advances in plant and truly wild to the intensively managed— improved germplasm for drought- has joined PBGB. Ramil Mauleon,
animal sciences.” in any agroecosystem. This is despite prone rainfed lowland environments bioinformatics specialist, joins the
Dr. Phillips was the first person the fact that many of these resources and ef f icient screening systems Crop Research Informatics Laboratory
to generate whole maize plants from are common to agroecosystems not for drought tolerance and weed as a postdoctoral fellow.
cells grown in culture, which sparked only in Asia, but around the world.
the use of cell-culture methods to Second, her work will radically expand
genetically modify maize plants and
other cereals. Fundamental studies in
the modeling of agroecosystems and so
enhance what we can achieve with crop THE FLOWER
Did you know…
ARIEL JAVELLANA
of Oryza
Dr. Phillips’s laboratory have identified modeling for rice as well.”
T
barthii—also
cells and plants with increased levels “Little research has been done on wild rice, hat the product commonly along with several wild species
of essential amino acids and led to the characterization of biodiversity but the same marketed as “wild rice” possessing traits that IRRI
I
genus as cul-
RRI Board of Trustees member the development of an efficient DNA in paddy rice agroecosystems,” Ms. tivated rice, is not the same as the wild researchers have bred into
Ronald Phillips (pictured) has sequence mapping system used by Cruz García explained at the award O. sativa. r ic e t hat IR R I scient ist s popular varieties, is of the
been awarded the 2006-07 Wolf Prize plant scientists in genomics research. ceremony. “Because of this, one of conserve and study? It’s an genus Oryza. Although they
for Agriculture. Dr. Phillips, of the Dr. Phillips is also world-renowned for the main benefits of the research aquatic cereal grain of the belong to the same part of
ANA
University of Minnesota, has served his leadership and service in the field will be more realistic modeling of genus Zi zania, which has the grass family, Zizania and
ELL
on the IRRI Board since 2004 and of plant science within international such agroecosystems, with particular been harvested and eaten by Oryza are not related closely
L JAV
IE
is currently chair of the Program agricultural research communities and emphasis on aspects critical to human indigenous North Americans enough to be what we consider
AR
Committee and v ice-chair of the for his teaching and student training in welfare such as associated species used for centuries. Cultivated rice, “related genera.”
Executive Committee. He won the plant genetics. as foods and medicines.”
K
•
ey findings for rice production from the comprehensive assessment of water management
in agriculture include the following:
Keeping rice prices low, while reducing production costs, is crucial for poverty reduction
in rice-growing and -consuming areas.
• Rice systems provide both food and ecosystem services—such as flood mitigation,
on existing crop lands are the best groundwater recharge, erosion control, and habitats for birds, fish, and other animals—
option. This includes both irrigated which need to be recognized and protected.
and rainfed land, although most • To keep up with the food needs of the world’s increasing population, rice cultivation will
of the additional production will have to adapt to water scarcity, drought, flooding, salinity, and climate change. Greater
come from irrigated lowlands, which investment in research and extension is needed to meet these challenges.
• Solutions need to be tailored to the specific physical and socioeconomic context and
already supply 75% of the world’s rice. evaluated in terms of impacts on the environment and on the health, income, and food
In some major rice-producing security of poor rice growers—both men and women.
countries, such as Bangladesh, the • Because of the hydrological connectedness of rice fields and because of the unique role rice
Philippines, and Thailand, there is cultivation plays in many cultures, solutions need to be developed with communities.
still a large gap between actual and
Rice cultivation in the 21st century potential yield. In these countries,
water and crop management On the other hand, low prices the transplanting, changing to direct
will need to feed more people while technologies hold the most immediate can hurt poor rice growers. Most of seeding can mean either an additional
promise. In other countries—namely, the world’s rice farming takes place burden or a source of employment
reducing poverty and protecting the China, Japan, and Korea—the yield on small family-owned farms, with for women, depending on whether
gap is already closing, and further average sizes varying by country or not they are paid for their labor.
environment. Success depends on yield increases are likely to come from 0.5 to 4 hectares. And, in many Purely technical approaches
from genetic improvement. This areas, rice farming is the main source will not work. Any solutions need
how the rice industry uses one of its
T
Many poor people spend 20–40% land management technologies and
he challenge for rice they will not be successful. by 0.6–0.9% worldwide until 2050. of their income on rice alone. The practices need to take into account
cultivation in the next 50 Rice is currently the staple While the bulk of the world’s rice reduction in the price of rice—from possible impacts—positive and
years is to feed more people food of around 3 billion people, and is grown and consumed in Asia, US$1,000 per metric ton in 1960 negative—on the poor who depend on
while keeping prices low demand is expected to continue to changing dietary preferences are also to an average of around $250 over rice as a source of food and income.
to benefit poor rice consumers grow as population increases—by affecting rice consumption in other the past 5 years—may have done Interventions affect men and
and reducing production costs to 1% annually until 2025 in Asia and parts of the world. Rice demand is more to benefit Asia’s poor than women differently because the
benefit poor growers. At the same any other single factor. Keeping division of labor in rice cultivation
time, water scarcity, drought, MAJOR RICE-GROWING areas and some
rice prices low remains in the best is, in most countries, along gender
flooding, and salinity increasingly threats to productivity. interests of poverty reduction in lines. This means, for example, that
threaten the productivity of rice- areas where rice is the staple food. in areas where women do most of
based systems (see map, right).
How can we meet this challenge?
Some solutions exist; others require At your service
more investment in research. No
single solution will fit all situations.
Solutions need to be evaluated
D
•
epending on the method of cultivation and the physical characteristics of the landscape,
ecosystem services provided by rice fields can include
providing a habitat for birds, fish, and other animals, thus conserving biodiversity and
based on impacts on the poor, on supplying additional food sources
the environment, and on the often • recharging groundwater
• mitigating floods
unrecognized ecosystem services • controlling erosion
that rice landscapes provide (see • flushing salts from the soil
At your service, opposite). • providing water filtration
Rice systems are also social • sequestering carbon
systems. In many cases, they are • regulating temperature and climate
But rice cultivation can also have negative impacts on the environment—polluting
based on hundreds, even thousands, groundwater and surface water with agro-chemicals, raising water tables in areas with saline-
of years of tradition. Unless solutions or arsenic-contaminated groundwater, and releasing greenhouse gases (such as methane and FOR AN ESTIMATED 2,000 years, the rice terraces of
are designed and implemented with nitrous oxide) into the atmosphere. the Philippine Cordilleras have provided communities
Decisions increasing production and/or decreasing water requirements need to weigh both with food and cultural and ecosystem services, but
the active participation and support now they are under threat. In 2001, they were added
of the rice-growing communities, Based on FAOSTAT data; prepared by Charlotte de Fraiture, October 2006. ecosystem services and negative environmental impacts.
to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in danger.
to irrigate rice. million hectares—mostly in India, for water in irrigated rice systems
points rapidly escalating into a global pandemic of empty rivers, dry boreholes, and wrecked
wetlands as profound as, and often linked to, climate change. The water crisis has badly
needed its equivalent of the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. And
for the two-thirds of the world’s water that is used for agriculture, the Comprehensive Assess-
Pressure to but also in Bangladesh, Thailand, are perhaps the most pressing
Author of When The Rivers Run Dry and frequent contributor to NewScientist
“This assessment is critical. Not only because it concerns a critical life resource like water. But
comprehensive
because it involves an assessment that is comprehensive, analytical, and timely. The issue
must become the world’s obsession: growing and eating food that is water-prudent. I would
encourage, indeed urge, you to use this rich and rigorous assessment to make changes in
policy and practice.”
assessment of water
Director, Centre for Science and Environment
“A wake-up call to policymakers, bringing attention, understanding, and ultimately hope to the
crucial need for better agricultural water management in all its forms to feed future generations
and sustain thriving rural communities and ecosystems.”
Peter Lee
management in
A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture
from irrigated Salinity is a threat in deltas where sea overall production levels.
President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage
agriculture (edited
eliminate poverty, and reverse ecosystem degradation. This Comprehensive
agriculture water intrudes inland and in some There are various strategies for
Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, involving more than 700 lead-
ing specialists, evaluates current thinking on water and its interplay with agricul-
by David Molden;
This assessment describes key water-food-environment trends that influence
to cities and aerobic rice production systems. rice production—growing rice reducing the amount of water needed
our lives today and uses scenarios to explore the consequences of a range of
potential investments. It aims to inform investors and policymakers about water
published in 2007
and food choices in light of such crucial influences as poverty, ecosystems,
governance, and productivity. It covers rainfed agriculture, irrigation, ground-
industries is Some 11 million hectares of to grow rice, but all of these options
Ample tables, graphs, and references make this an invaluable work for practitio-
ners, academics, researchers, and policymakers in water management, agricul-
by Earthscan with
ture, conservation, and development.
the International
ISBN 978-1-84407-396-2
BAS BOUMAN
flood and erosion mitigation—and many parts of the is adapted to waterlogging, most production systems. For example, ecosystem services. Take alternate Institute; 688 pages).
perhaps scenic beauty, too. How do we manage finite water resources
world. This type varieties can survive complete in the North China Plain, water wetting and drying, for example.
to feed two billion extra people, eliminate
of transfer can be submergence for only 3 to 4 days. The tables are dropping by 1–3 meters Moderate regimes can reduce field poverty, and reverse ecosystem degradation?
communities, rice cultivation is at accomplished without a drop in rice recent development by researchers per year and in the northwest Indo- water application by 15–20% without This book brings together the work of over
the heart of social and religious life. productivity (see figure, below), but it at the International Rice Research Gangetic Plain they are dropping affecting yield, can reduce disease- 700 researchers in the most comprehensive
Over the coming decades, requires a combination of supportive Institute of submergence-tolerant by 0.5–0.7 meter per year. causing vectors, and produce less and authoritative assessment of water
resources ever written. Critically evaluating
farmers, policymakers, and policies and the introduction of rice, which can withstand 10–14 Declining water tables due to ammonia volatilization and fewer
current thinking on water and its interplay
researchers alike will need to adapt to improved practices and technologies. days of submergence with up to overpumping threaten not only methane emissions. But drawbacks with agriculture, the book charts the
several threats to rice productivity. Increasing water scarcity may three times the yield of nontolerant agricultural productivity but include fewer options for informal way forward with concrete actions from
In the next 25 years, 15–20 also force a shift in rice production varieties, offers hope to farmers also human health, since many reuse downstream; more weed management to policy across all countries
million hectares of irrigated rice to more water-abundant delta areas. in flood-prone areas (see From communities are dependent on growth and pests and a consequent and territories. After framing the main
issues and providing a comprehensive
are projected to suffer from some And, in water-short areas, aerobic genes to farmers’ fields on pages groundwater for their drinking need for more chemical applications
examination of trends and scenarios
degree of water scarcity—particularly rice production—growing rice 28-31 of Rice Today Vol. 5, No. 4). water. In Bangladesh and parts and/or labor; reduction in soil fertility in world water management, the book
wet-season irrigated rice in parts without a standing water layer—and In areas prone to drought, of India, falling water tables have over time and, eventually, greater critically examines the issues of water in
of China, India, and Pakistan. Even irrigation regimes of alternate salinity, and floods, the combination been linked to contamination need for fertilizer; higher nitrous poverty reduction, reforming institutions
in areas where water is abundant, wetting and drying may come to of improved varieties and specific of groundwater with naturally oxide emissions and nitrate leaching; for sustainable water management, avoiding
or mitigating ecosystem impacts, and
hotspots of water scarcity exist. predominate alongside a shift to management packages has the occurring arsenic and fluoride. and habitat loss for some species.
improving water productivity. Thematic
Economic water scarcity, where lack nonrice dryland crops such as maize. potential to increase on-farm yields Climate change may affect rice There is good scope to increase chapters follow, covering such key issues in
of financing prevents harnessing Droughts, flooding, and by 50–100% in the coming 10 years, productivity in several ways. It is water productivity by lessening water management as irrigation, groundwater
water resources for productive use, salinity are all current threats to provided that investment in research expected to increase the frequency necessary total water inputs per unit use, inland fisheries, rice cultivation, land
limits cultivation of the 22 million productivity, particularly in rainfed and extension is intensified. of droughts and flooding, and to of production—especially by reducing conservation, and river basin management
and development.
hectares of dry-season irrigated areas, and they may increase in Groundwater development— increase temperatures, which will seepage and percolation losses.
The Comprehensive assessment of water
rice in South and Southeast Asia. severity under climate change. most of it private and largely have a negative impact on yields. Currently, most breeding programs management in agriculture is a 5-year
Between a quarter and a third Frequent droughts afflict unregulated—has enabled small Simulations find that for every 1 focus on rice breeding under ponded initiative to analyze the benefits, costs,
of the world’s tapped freshwater approximately 25 million hectares rice growers in many areas to °C rise in mean temperature, there water conditions, but to address water and impacts of the past 50 years of water
of rainfed rice, primarily in eastern prosper, but unsustainable pumping is a corresponding 7% decline in scarcity and increasing competition development and management in agriculture,
to identify present and future challenges,
India, northeastern Thailand, Lao threatens the viability of these rice yield. Developing rice varieties for water, breeders need to start
and to evaluate possible solutions.
How thirsty is rice, really? that are less sensitive to higher looking at high-yielding varieties For purchasing information, visit
temperatures is the only way to under aerobic growing conditions and http://tinyurl.com/2qk2hl.
P erhaps not as thirsty as you might think. Water for irrigation Rice production (thousands
(millions of cubic meters) of metric tons)
cope with rising temperatures. alternate wetting and drying regimes.
At the field level, rice receives up to 2–3 The biggest water savings at the options for reuse of water and
times more water per hectare than any other 1,400 Water supplied for irrigation 700
crop, but not all of this water is “consumed” (5-year moving average) FLOODED RICE FIELDS serve as a habitat for the field level come from reducing for conjunctive use of surface water
many species. The Ramsar Convention on Wet- seepage, percolation, and surface and groundwater offer the best way
(evaporated from the field or taken up by the 1,200 600
lands recognizes flooded rice fields as human-
plants and transpired as water vapor). made wetlands. If such fields are converted drainage flows, but these may not forward to improve total water-use
Under flooded conditions, water 1,000 500
to dryland crops or aerobic rice cultivation result in savings at the irrigation efficiency at the system scale.
productivity for rice is almost the same due to water scarcity, the impact on wetland system or basin scales. Water-
800 400
as that of wheat, when measured by the biodiversity needs to be considered.
amount of water actually consumed through saving measures at the field
Sarah Carriger is a science writer and
evapotranspiration per unit of grain. 600
Rice production
300 level include land leveling, farm communications consultant. Domitille
Nonproductive outflows of water by
400
(5-year moving average)
200
channels, and good puddling and Vallée is an assessment facilitator at the
runoff, seepage, and percolation are about bund maintenance. Minimizing International Water Management Institute.
25–50% of all water applied in heavy soils 200 100 turnaround time between wet land This article is based on Rice: Feeding
with shallow water tables, and 50–80%
in coarse soils with deep water tables. preparation and transplanting the Billions (authors BAM Bouman, R
0 0
can also save water by reducing Barker, E Humphreys, and TP Tuong),
Though runoff, seepage, and percolation 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001
which is Chapter 14 of the book Water
are losses at the field level, they are often the time when no crop is present,
W
sacks destined for a local
market makes its way down
ars ripped apart the the Mekong River in Cantho
Province, Vietnam.
social fabric of the
Mekong basin in the
1960s and 1970s,
bringing suffering and
uncertainty to millions
of Southeast Asians. However, several
nations of the Greater Mekong page 4 and Research: Cambodia “Poor rural families growing
Subregion (GMS), one of Asia’s most ushers in new era on page 16). rainfed rice in unfavorable
important rice bowls, have made The GMS includes Cambodia, environments have not yet reaped
incredible steps toward recovering Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, the benefits of rice research,” says
from those terrible times—thanks in and China’s southern provinces Dr. Jahn. “These include farmers while in Vietnam, farmers watched and extension systems (NARES; “is coordinating between and
no small part to rice research. The of Yunnan and Guangxi (see map, growing rice in drought- or flood- helplessly as insects destroyed rice the institutions and organizations among various rice research and
International Rice Research Institute above right). IRRI’s success here, prone areas, in saline or other poor- worth millions of dollars in one of responsible for developing and development initiatives in the
(IRRI), with the enduring support while impressive, is incomplete and quality soils, or in unsustainable the worst pest outbreaks in recent disseminating rice technologies Subregion. Since IRRI, donors,
of concerned donors such as the some dreams are yet to be fulfilled, slash-and-burn systems.” history. Because these climate-related in IRRI’s partner countries) have and the national governments
Australian Agency for International according to Gary Jahn, IRRI’s In 2006, some of these age- events are predicted to continue well initiated many activities to improve have invested considerable capital
Development, the Swiss Agency representative and coordinator old problems of Asian rice farmers into the future, IRRI researchers are rice production, especially in and resources in conducting
for Development and Cooperation for the Institute’s new office in the were accentuated with floods, accelerating their efforts to overcome unfavorable areas, aimed at producing studies and designing projects,
(SDC), and the Asian Development GMS. With 25% of the Subregion’s drought, and pests that hit the GMS these problems by tailoring the economic and environmental benefits it is crucial that these efforts
Bank, has helped the people of the inhabitants (some 75 million poor particularly hard. In Thailand, rice plant, or the way it is grown, (see table on page 17 and People: be complementary, rather than
GMS regain their food security in the rice growers and consumers) still thousands of farmers saw their crops for these harsh environments. providing help on pages 18-19). contradictory or competitive.”
aftermath of the conflicts (see Rice below the poverty line, much inundated by record flooding that For example, IRRI and the GMS’s “The main challenge, in the The mechanism to meet this
and life along the Mekong River on work remains to be done. also affected Cambodia and Laos, six national agricultural research immediate future,” says Dr. Jahn, challenge became a reality on
ARIEL JAVELLANA
14 Rice Today April-June 2007 Rice Today April-June 2007 15
MEKONG SPECIAL
Research: Cambodia ushers in new era 12 January 2007 in Vientiane,
Laos, when a Memorandum of
geographically the
central GMS nation,
Understanding (MOU), which sharing a common
established a new IRRI office border with all of the
for the GMS, was signed and a other five countries.
ribbon-cutting ceremony marked As such, Laos is
the official opening. In signing the close to the Mekong
historic document, IRRI Director River Commission
General Robert Zeigler and Lao and other bodies
Minister for Agriculture and Forestry dealing with the
Sitaheng Rasphone (left and right, GMS. Further, there
respectively, in photo) confirmed is high potential
that IRRI’s framework for regional for the country to
cooperation logically complements contribute to and gain from having concluded in December 2006, was
the Institute’s continued strong a pivotal role in the GMS rice the longest running bilateral project
relationship with Laos. research networks, and capacity in IRRI’s history (see Genuinely
“This MOU gives full cognizance building in Laos needs to continue. Lao on pages 22-27 of Rice Today
to the existing commitment of IRRI The Lao-IRRI Rice Research Vol. 5, No. 2). Through the IRRI-
A CROWD of more than 4,000 to rice research in the GMS,” said and Training Project (known simply GMS Office, technical support will
attended the dedication Dr. Zeigler during the ceremony. as the Lao-IRRI Project), which continue for the research programs
ceremonies at the Cambodian
improving grain
has the greatest diversity of rice and quality
the largest collection of indigenous
rice accessions in the region. Laos is
Blast resistance
16 Rice Today April-June 2007 Rice Today April-June 2007 17
MEKONG SPECIAL
initiated in the Lao-IRRI Project. of the Lao National Agricultural and km route north from Vientiane to donor funding because of the ongoing present were representatives
With generous support from SDC, Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI). Luang Prabang can immediately see need for capacity building and more from SDC, the Lao Ministries
the Lao-IRRI Project has also been For example, IRRI is currently the consequences of the destructive investment in infrastructure in Laos. of Agriculture and Forestry and
one of IRRI’s most successful efforts working with the program to develop practice (see centerfold, pages 20-21). A few hours after the MOU Foreign Affairs, and numerous
for building national research landscape management systems for With the closing of the Lao- signing, Drs. Zeigler and Jahn (right nongovernmental organizations and
capacity, improving rice production, the sustainable production of rice in IRRI Project, the consensus is and left, respectively, in photo) international development agencies.
and preserving the diversity of rice the uplands as part of a stable crop that establishing the GMS regional cut the ribbon to formally open the “We’re very grateful to the
germplasm (rice seeds and tissues). diversification program to replace office in Vientiane will enable IRRI IRRI-GMS Office, witnessed by Lao government for agreeing to
As the IRRI-GMS Office also slash-and-burn agriculture. It takes and NAFRI to build on the close representatives from the embassies host the office and providing such
serves as the IRRI Country Office for years for vegetation to return hillsides working relationship developed of the five surrounding countries excellent cooperation and support,”
Laos, it provides technical advice and that have been slashed and burned. over the past 16 years. The office as well as Japan, the United States, Dr. Zeigler told those assembled.
support to the rice research program Airline passengers flying the 400- in Vientiane is expected to attract the Philippines, and India. Also continued on page 22
rice production. matures (something that is possible when been recruited to play a key role in PROVIDE’s select and brief farmer-participants; IRRI and
“It became very clear that there are strong diverse varieties are grown, and which are Tatrav activities. As a school teacher who also CARDI will draw up detailed protocols; and
links among education, labor, water, and food planted and harvested at different times). IRRI grows rice, he is an ideal candidate. Mr. Hom is CARDI will train Plan and extension staff,
PONG LEUT and Khloem Neut (left and right, respectively, in the foreground), along with other Tatrav villagers security,” says Dr. Jahn. “With an average farm and CARDI researchers think that they can help set to help with technology transfer, which will who will implement the project on-farm in
and their children, welcome efforts to increase local rice production. size of only 0.5 hectare, most farmers don’t by introducing faster maturing rice varieties—in involve teaching and training farmers. the coming season.
Rice Today April-June 2007, Vol. 6, No. 2 Flying over northern Laos, airline passengers see smoldering, patchy hillsides—the result of slash-and-burn agriculture.
MEKONG SPECIAL MAPS
“To meet the needs of the growing
GMS population, 20 years from
Technology: small machine solves big problem Welcome to the first of what will be a regular Rice it. While technologies developed at IRRI help
Today Maps page. Each issue, the magazine will farmers on the ground, the information gained
now, average irrigated rice yields
MARTIN GUMMERT
feature a map generated by IRRI’s geographers, through satellite images and geographic modeling
must increase by 60% and rainfed
who use geographic information systems (GIS) and can help us see the big picture and ensure that
yields by 100%. Although this will
other computer tools to analyze spatial variation research, funding, and policies focus on appropriate
be a major challenge, it is possible,
in rice production and the factors that influence technologies and strategies in the right places.
and IRRI has done it before—in
the 1970s, the Green Revolution
raised rice yields in India by 30%
and bought India the vital time to
curb its population growth without
suffering a recurrence of the
devastating famines of the 1940s.”
Poverty and elevation in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Working with the national
research programs of the GMS, IRRI
has developed a research strategy
to reduce crop losses from floods,
drought, and pests, while improving
the yield potential and management
efficiency of the most popular rice
varieties. According to Dr. Zeigler,
IRRI’s most recent success in this
area is the discovery of a gene that
enables rice to survive complete
O bservers at a recent training and field demonstration on using a new small-scale combine
harvester (pictured) were excited about what they saw. The demo, which took place in
front of farmers, machine operators, extension workers, manufacturers, machine service
submergence for 2 weeks (see From providers, local consultants, and government officials in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia, on
genes to farmers’ fields on pages 31 January–4 February 2007, is another indication of advances being made in the Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS).
28-31 of Rice Today Vol. 5, No. 4). The Postproduction Work Group of IRRI’s Irrigated Rice Research Consortium, through an
The gene is being incorporated Asian Development Bank-funded project, has teamed up with Nong Lam University in Ho
into several popular rice varieties, Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the Provincial Department of Agriculture in Prey Veng. They are
including a variety of Lao sticky rice. working to transfer the technology to farmers in Cambodia and neighboring Laos to help
“It’s estimated that such them minimize their rice harvest losses and costs.
According to Martin Gummert, IRRI postharvest development specialist, harvesting costs
innovations could save 20,000 to have increased recently in many provinces of Cambodia and Laos.
70,000 hectares of rice annually “Urbanization and attractive labor markets in neighboring Thailand are causing increasing
in Laos alone,” Dr. Zeigler added. labor shortages during the peak harvest season,” he says. “Farmers are competing with each
“Projects of this nature are in other for the same few available laborers from cutting and threshing to cleaning and hauling
the common interest of all GMS to their homes. The total cost for these activities is US$65–70 per hectare. The estimated
local operating cost for the mini combine is around $35 per hectare, leaving a good margin
nations, and by working together to provide profit to the operator and reduce the current high harvesting cost for farmers.”
we’ll achieve better results faster.” The demonstrations, conducted in three areas in Prey Veng, were met with positive
After the ribbon-cutting, the responses from Prey Veng Governor Ung Samy and officials from the Departments of Agricultural
guests joined a traditional Lao Engineering and Agricultural Extension, as well as potential operators and more than 150
ceremony called Basi, during villagers. Combine specialists from the Vietnamese manufacturer and Nong Lam University
provided training on maintenance and machine use, and helped the local Provincial Department
which white cotton strings are tied of Agriculture team demonstrate the combine. Data sources: Minot N, Baulch B. 2005. Spatial patterns of poverty in Vietnam and their implications for policy. Food Policy 30:461-475; Fujii T. 2004. Commune-level
to people’s wrists to symbolize In Vietnam and the Philippines—countries facing similar problems—mini combine estimation of poverty measures and its application in Cambodia. WIDER Research Paper 2004/48; van der Weide R. 2004. How poverty came on the map in Lao PDR.
World Bank; Healy AJ, Jitsuchon S, Vajaragupta Y. 2003. Spatially disaggregated estimates of poverty and inequality in Thailand. World Bank.
happiness and prosperity. harvesters are gaining popularity among farmers.
T
To further showcase the “The combine has a capacity of 1–1.5 hectares per day and costs less than $5,000,”
new IRRI-GMS Office in says Mr. Gummert. “It consists of a cutter-bar, a small axial-flow thresher, and a built-in o develop effective poverty is least poor, but its mountainous
cleaner that delivers threshed, pure grains straight into a sack. The machine, which needs
Vientiane, the Consortium for only three operators, is highly mobile, can be used in flooded fields, and can be serviced reduction strategies, we areas are poorer than its lowlands,
Unfavorable Rice Environments by local machine shops.” need to understand what the just like in Laos and Vietnam. It is
held its sixth annual meeting in “Farmers can benefit in two ways from the mini combine,” says Meas Pyseth, an IRRI geographic patterns of poverty remarkable how similar the situation
Vientiane on 21-22 February and consultant based in Cambodia. “First, they can get their crop harvested cheaper; second, they are, and what causes these patterns. is on each side of the Vietnam-Laos
the IRRI Board of Trustees is can sell more and better quality grain because they can reduce the shattering of overmature A first step is poverty mapping. border. In Cambodia, the situation
grain and maintain good quality through timely harvesting.”
planning to hold its September According to Mr. Gummert, this activity is an example of the integrated approach of IRRI’s Here, we show a detailed map of the is less clear, with poor areas in
2007 meeting there as well. postharvest group to provide rice farmers with options to maximize their profits. poverty ratio in four countries in some highlands but also in the large
A healthy rice industry is crucial “We work with the relevant international and national stakeholders from the private the Greater Mekong Subregion. The floodplain of the Tonlé Sap Lake.
to a prosperous GMS. Building on and public sectors to introduce appropriate technologies,” he explains. “We then arrange poverty ratio is the percentage of
the achievements that came before technology options and capacity building for farmer intermediaries. We also encourage support the population that has an income
for local small and medium enterprises that will ensure after-sales service to farmers. The
it, the IRRI-GMS Office is set to result is a sustainable improvement in farmers’ income.” (or level of consumption) below Text and map: Robert Hijmans,
help this vision become a reality. the national poverty line. Thailand IRRI Social Sciences Division.
please
to October, provided that there is no
drought. This is the traditional season
for rice cultivation in Bangladesh, A FIELD SITE in Uttar Pradesh, India, offers a glimpse of the
highly saline soils that confound farmers. Use of salt-tolerant
but the spread of tube wells in varieties together with proper management—which includes ap-
plants use to stay synchronized with The aim is to develop improved basins, including the Ganges. In
their natural growing season. Short- varieties that are identical to popular that project, the partners use the
S
duration high-yielding varieties farmers’ varieties in every way except newly developed lines that have
alt makes its way into the soil, percolates into paddies from molecular evaluation and selection of are preferred because of the high that they have the Saltol gene and the Saltol locus and also search for
rice paddies of coastal the brackish ponds of neighboring rice lines bred by the Bangladesh Rice cost of pumping irrigation water. so are able to provide a reasonably additional sources of saline tolerance.
Bangladesh every which shrimp farmers, and, during Research Institute (BRRI) to insert As the boro season coincides good yield under conditions of “Saltol and other genes
way. During the dry season, drought, rises as in the dry season. into popular farmers’ cultivars the with high river water salinity, which moderate to high salinity in which conferring tolerance at the
when the flow of fresh water “Nearly 1 million hectares along gene Saltol, short for “salt tolerance.” begins to rise in February and peaks salt accounts for 0.4–0.5% of the soil. seedling stage could be sufficient
out to the mouth of the Ganges is the Bangladesh coast are affected by Using marker-assisted selection, in April and May, rice grown in Dr. Seraj notes that the various for the wet season,” Dr. Ismail
weakest, saltwater rides inland on varying degrees of salinity,” reports which allows rapid screening of large this season must tolerate not only coastal soils of Bangladesh display observes. “However, for the boro
the tide and saline groundwater Zeba Islam Seraj, a professor of numbers of plants, the International moderate salinity during the seedling a range of mineral deficiencies season, additional genes for
rises and spreads laterally across biochemistry and molecular biology Rice Research Institute (IRRI) stage but also much worse salinity and toxicities. “Some are high in higher tolerance during flowering
the delta. Salinity is less prevalent at the University of Dhaka. “Salinity and its collaborators in the GCP during the critical period from calcium and magnesium, or low in and pollination are needed.”
during the monsoon but can still gradually declines as you go from project have mapped Saltol—which panicle initiation to flowering. As zinc, potassium, and phosphorus, It is no coincidence that Dr.
poison rice crops as it lingers in the west to east, from Satkhira, which accounts for 40–65% of the salt food security and farmers’ well-being or have toxically high levels of Salam—who was the 2006 recipient
is highly saline, through Khulna, tolerance observed—to a small in Bangladesh depend increasingly boron and sulfur,” she says. “We’ll of IRRI’s Senadhira Rice Research
Barisal, and Noakhali, where segment of rice chromosome 1. on boro rice, rice varieties that yield need to develop many different rice Award—will handle, through
salinity is moderate but widespread. Importantly, Saltol and the other well under high salinity stress are varieties that tolerate these specific farmer participatory varietal
Continuing further to the southeast identified loci confer salinity needed more urgently than ever. local stresses if we are to cover selection, the final testing of the
along the Chittagong coast, there are tolerance at the seedling stage. The GCP project aims to breed the coastal region as a whole.” GCP’s Saltol varieties in 2008.
some pockets that are highly saline.” “This is essential in the Saltol into at least one aman variety Salinity and other soil problems “The two projects actually
Dr. Seraj is a co-principal monsoon season, when salinity and one boro variety already popular in coastal Bangladesh have severely work closely together to maximize
investigator of a project in the tolerance is mainly needed during with farmers. M. Abdus Salam, the limited the introduction of modern the benefits,” explains Dr. Ismail.
Generation Challenge Program seedling transplantation and for chief scientific officer and head of high-yielding rice varieties, as few “The molecular markers for Saltol
(GCP)—an initiative to use molecular a few weeks thereafter, until the BRRI’s Plant Breeding Division, has are adapted to the difficult growing developed through the GCP will
biology to help boost agricultural monsoon rains have washed the salt crossed a derivative of the traditional conditions there. Along the severely help speed the breeding progress
production and, consequently, from the soil,” explains Abdelbagi variety Pokkali called FL378, which salt-affected southwest coast, where of the CPWF project, and the
the quality of life in developing Ismail, the IRRI senior plant has the Saltol gene, with popular rice cultivation is largely restricted material will be further tested
countries—that aims to revitalize physiologist who is the principal aman varieties, and these will be to the rainy season for lack of fresh and scaled out through CPWF
FAIZABAD (India) farmer Bismillah Khan shows marginal rice lands by discovering investigator of the GCP project. grown out at BRRI’s research campus water in the dry season, 16 of the 20 activities, as well as other networks.
the rice he obtained from the salt-tolerant variety and breeding into popular rice Rice is susceptible to salinity at Gazipur in July 2007. Initial most popular varieties are landraces Neither of the two projects could
he grew in an on-farm trial. His regular, nontoler- varieties genes for tolerating soils that during two periods of its growth crosses of FL378 and boro varieties (traditional farmers’ varieties), achieve this without the other.”
ant crop is in the field in which he stands. The
combination of salt stress and drought meant he are saline or deficient in phosphorus cycle. The first is the seedling stage are under way, and seeds will be despite offering very low yields
had to harvest his crop early and feed it to his (see Opposites attract … attention and the second begins a few days available in April 2007. As Dr. Salam of only 2–2.5 tons per hectare. Adapted from GCP 2006 Partner
cattle. The good performance of the new varieties on pages 34-36 of Rice Today Vol. 5, before panicle initiation and ends makes the crosses and backcrosses “The popular landraces of this and Product Highlights, published by
encouraged him to invest in supplementary
irrigation, which allows a good crop even under No. 2). As the focal collaborator in with flowering and pollination. As to advance the breeding material, region are well adapted to the the Generation Challenge Program
the prevailing harsh conditions. Bangladesh, she is responsible for the Dr. Ismail explains, salt tolerance at Dr. Seraj will collect leaf samples prevailing growing conditions, (www.generationcp.org).
I
international interest by including incorporation of (plant matter) per hectare would for a long time (mainly for seedbeds
n the 1870s, scientists exploring several pages on the “terra preta” organic matter need to be converted into biochar. and as a soil amendment for upland
Amazonia in South America (black soil) and “terra mulata” but its rapid To reach the 25-ton terra preta level, crops and orchards). Use of biochar
made an unusual discovery. (brown soil) in his influential decomposition in 138 tons of dry biomass is required. from rice husks as an additive to the
Working independently, James 1966 book on Amazon soils. the humid tropics In most Asian rice lands, culture medium of ornamental plants
Orton, Charles Hartt, and Herbert Several studies have since makes this a very the only feasible source for such and in vegetable gardens is common
Smith described patches of black confirmed that the dark color of terra labor-intensive large quantities of biomass is rice and several nongovernmental
or dark brown soils, varying in size preta and terra mulata is caused by and short-lived residue left over after harvest and organizations promote the use
from 5 to more than 300 hectares, the incorporation, by humans, of solution. milling. The total amount of rice of it in organic farming.
within a landscape otherwise black carbon (also called biochar)— Addition residue produced each year in Asia It appears that biochar can
typified by highly weathered incompletely burned organic matter of biochar to is estimated at 549 million tons of increase the “greenness” of rice-based
reddish or bleached soils. such as charcoal. The soils were soils has similar An extraordinary rice straw and 110 million tons of systems and that it can be integrated
A detailed report from Smith, a created by Amerindian populations positive effects—it rice husks. Rice residue is used for into existing rice production.
type of soil from
geologist, characterized these “dark 500–2,500 years ago and some increases nutrient several purposes (such as organic Especially on bad soils, it offers
earths in Amazonia” as having a of the carbon in terra preta soils availability, South America fertilizer, fuel, fodder, and building new opportunities to sustainably
top-layer of a fine, dark loam, up dates back to 450 B.C. Their high boosts nutrient- material), but its use is dwindling. improve system productivity and
to 60 centimeters thick. He also fertility compared to surrounding and moisture- has implications Today, it is often perceived as more of farmer livelihoods. Applied on a
described them as the best soils soils is attributed to the high holding capacity, a problem than a valuable resource. larger scale and beyond unfavorable
of the Amazon, producing much levels of soil organic matter (which and contributes for both rice Worse, the most convenient way to environments, it could also reduce
higher crop yields than surrounding includes biochar), higher nutrient plant-available eliminate rice residue, field burning, the negative effect of rice-based
soils, and speculated that they concentrations, high nutrient- and nutrients—and is production and is a waste of resources and causes systems on the global climate. And, if
owed their fertility “to the refuse moisture-holding capacity, and lower reported to last severe air pollution in some regions. the use of rice residues for energy and
of a thousand kitchens for maybe acidity. Amazingly, the soils have for centuries. the environment This leads to another question. biochar production is combined, rice
a thousand years.” That they were generally sustained this fertility If researchers Usually, biochar is the product producers, rice consumers, and the
in Asia
human-made was indicated by the to the present despite the tropical can confirm this of burning at low temperatures environment could all profit. Much re
abundance of fragments of Indian climate (in which soil organic much-delayed (280–500 °C) and restricted search remains to be done, but the
pottery that “cover the ground ... matter tends to rapidly degrade) and decomposition oxygen supply. Consequently, local possible prize seems worth the effort.
like shells on a surf-washed beach.” frequent or periodic cultivation. in modern biochar production by farmers in
Despite the unusual nature But what has all this to do with agricultural simple earthen mounds or pits Dr. Haefele is a senior agronomist
MARTIN GUMMERT
achieved good results with biochar
JOEL SIOPONGCO
they are—unfortunately up in soils (a process known as bio-fertilizers. A similar solution IRRI, produces biochar
applications equivalent to 8 tons of as a by-product of the
for farmers—depressingly carbon sequestration) instead of under development is the use of
carbon per hectare. The top 30 cm paddy drying process.
abundant. Such soils being returned to the atmosphere pyrolysis—decomposition caused
W
varieties’ dissemination. excitement he felt when he first saw He was happy that his legacy
ith his gentle smile Thanks to this remarkable Jones succeeded where all others During a recent ceremony that seven out of the 48 crosses continues to live on at WARDA,
and calm demeanor, achievement, Africa was catapulted before him had failed,” stated the organized by WARDA to honor he had made had produced a few where Dr. Moussa Sié, in close
Monty Jones doesn’t almost overnight from relative World Food Prize Committee. him, Dr. Jones spoke of some fertile plants. “Some even had partnership with national program
look like the proverbial obscurity among the international In his supporting letter to the turning points and memorable 98–100% fertility,” he recalls. scientists, has recently developed
wild-haired scientist. rice research and development World Food Prize Committee, Sir moments in his life, offering a From that time onward, Dr. NERICA varieties for lowlands.
But there is no community into the limelight. Gordon Conway, chief scientific glimpse of the man at work. Jones said he had several such To honor Dr. Jones, WARDA
doubt that the New Rice for Africa Dr. Jones made the NERICA adviser for the United Kingdom’s Reminiscing about his childhood “eureka” moments, as he noticed recently launched an annual “Dr.
(NERICA) breakthrough made by breakthrough during his tenure Department for International and his very religious upbringing in one by one the desirable characters Monty Jones Lecture” and presented
him, in partnership with national and as a senior scientist at the Africa Development, wrote, “Dr. Jones’ Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, of the two parents that had been him with a plaque recognizing
international scientists, has changed Rice Center (WARDA) from ability to combine cutting-edge with parents who had “white-collar transferred to the progenies. Several his “outstanding achievement
forever the way the world looks at 1991 to 2002. He is currently the science with on-farm work has jobs,” Dr. Jones said he had no contact international rice scientists could in rice research and exemplary
African rice and rice research. executive secretary of the Forum yielded significant benefits for with agriculture. But he dreamed of not believe it when he told them that dedicated service to Africa.”
Going boldly where few scientists for Agricultural Research in the many poor rice farmers helping to produce food that would a few NERICA lines had more than Paying homage to him,
had gone before, Dr. Jones and his Africa (FARA), based in Ghana. help feed the world. His 300 grains per panicle, compared WARDA Director General Papa
team succeeded for the first time For its NERICA achievement, FARMERS in Benin celebrate a bumper crop
mind made up, he decided with the Asian rice varieties that Abdoulaye Seck observes, “Dr.
in producing fertile progenies— WARDA received several awards, of NERICA rice. to pursue his studies have on average 100 grains. Monty Jones has demonstrated
later dubbed NERICA—from the including the Consultative Group in agricultural science Dr. Jones and his team continued by his remarkable contribution
crossing of Asian (Oryza sativa) on International Agricultural against the wishes of Irish to break new ground, as they learned that it is possible to reshape the
and African (O. glaberrima) Research (CGIAR) King Baudouin Fathers who urged him to use anther culture—a technique agricultural map of our continent
rice species. Crossing different Award in 2000 and the United to enter the priesthood. that allows breeders to obtain through the African creative genius.”
species is notoriously difficult Nations Award for South-South In the 1970s, Dr. Jones pure breeding lines without the Dr. Jones may not look like a
because of the high probability Triangular Partnership in 2006. received a fellowship from numerous cycles of inbreeding or stereotypical scientist, but perhaps
of sterility in the offspring. The NERICA breakthrough the Food and Agriculture “backcrossing” usually needed—to he possesses some of the eccentricity
The popular NERICA also earned Dr. Jones the World Organization of the United produce highly fertile lines in that seems to go hand in hand with
varieties outperform their parents, Food Prize in 2004—the first ever Nations, allowing him to around 2 years, one-third the time scientific greatness. At the WARDA
inheriting high yields from the won by an African. “Working move to the U.K. to study required for conventional selection. ceremony, he confessed that he
Asian parent and the ability to closely with colleagues at WARDA at Birmingham University. “There was often an element of used to speak to his NERICA plants,
thrive in harsh environments and the CGIAR system, through There, he received a luck in our research,” he says, praising them for their performance.
from the African parent. sheer personal tenacity, Monty master’s degree (1979) modestly referring to their success Whatever he did, it worked.
irrigation and drinking. No fish skim Vulcanologist Manfren van nearly US$800,000 has been
the waterways, no reeds whisper in Bergen from Utrecht University in the allocated to research on Kawah
the breeze. This is toxicity on a grand Netherlands says the Dutch started Ijen. Researchers sought solutions
scale. The long-term effects on the watching volcanoes seriously and at a workshop in the East Java
V
According to Indonesian 15,000 hectares
olcanoes are a double- continuous leaching of acid water from the land. The most important government vulcanologist and of good land.
edged sword for the rice from the Kawah Ijen volcanic cash crops are rice, sugar, and geochemist Sri Sumarti, the problem “After
farmers of East Java. In lake at the east end of Java. The tobacco, with fruits and vegetables was identified almost a century ago. Independence
many areas, volcanic ash pollution of downstream rivers grown on the cooler uplands.
helps create rich, fertile and wetlands has been known A chain of six volcanic ranges
DUTCH RESEARCHERS inspect a rice field
soils that allow farmers to plant for many decades but only now runs east to west, with some damaged by acid runoff from Kawah Ijen.
three crops per year. But just as has the impact been measured. peaks regularly belching smoke
easily as they can provide, so can The second crisis is more and ash. Along with the rich
volcanoes damage and destroy. recent, with the repercussions volcanic soils, heavy rains between
Two volcanic calamities in the yet to be fully understood. The October and May also make
Indonesian province of East Java eruption of subterranean hot mud East Java a farmer’s paradise.
are getting worse, with no speedy around an exploration gas rig is Paradise becomes lost, however,
solutions in sight. Together, the alleged to have been caused by in the land surrounding one of
disasters have dramatically affected flawed drilling procedures. the volcanoes, Kawah Ijen. The
the lives of thousands and destroyed East Java, just south of the volcano’s crater lake, one of the
large areas of productive land. equator, is home to around 38 million biggest in the world, holds about 36
It’s not possible to blame human people, with about 70% earning million cubic meters of hyper-acidic
error for the first problem—the their living directly and indirectly water saturated with a potent mix
THOM BOGAARD, UNIVERSITY UTRECHT, AND ANSJE LÖHR, OPEN UNIVERSITY NETHERLANDS (3)
capital of Surabaya in August 2006. was not distasteful—maybe because term answer simultaneously,” says
The meeting was also attended by it’s the only water the locals have Dr. Budi. “Access to safe water is THE STEAMING SITE
of the Sidoarjo mud
affected farmers and government ever known. Even families who critical. Any new wells must be eruption.
officials, many of whom offered bought drinking water or who free from future contamination.
obvious and imaginative proposals had an uncontaminated well Solutions for agriculture are more
to solve the acid-water problem. were still affected by swallowing complicated. The pollution is
A proposed big engineering water while bathing. causing more and more problems,
project never started. It would take “There are many unanswered economically, socially, and in people’s
at least 55 kilometers of piping to questions because there’s been little physical and mental health.”
drain the lake and send the water research,” says Dr. Lohr. “Cattle Dr. Budi forecast that in the
to the sea. The pipes would have to graze the area, so will bakso (a long run government subsidies
be made of acid-proof materials and meat ball soup) made from the would have to be paid if people
would be prohibitively expensive. beef be contaminated? And what were to stay in the area. These
Diluting the acid is also about vegetables and cereals could make up the difference
impossible. This would take grown with the acid water? We between profit from a rice crop and
mountains of limestone, and, don’t know. Most farmers depend a cane harvest so farmers would
according to environmental scientist on irrigated water. They want to concentrate on producing sugar.
Ansje Lohr from the Netherlands grow rice, but most of it dies. The But should the people remain?
Open University, even then the people are getting really poor.” If the risks to their well-being are
gasses would continue to percolate. The priority, according to soil acute, the impact on health unknown,
Dr. Lohr has worked on a survey technologist Budi Widianarko from and the chances of making a good
GREENPEACE/VINAI DITHAJOHN
of 23 villages in the area. This Soegijapranata Catholic University living remote, then maybe the
found only a “partial awareness” in Semarang, Central Java, is to get long-term solution is to relocate the
of the problem, despite the black clean drinking water to the villagers. farmers and abandon the land.
teeth and the sulfur-yellow water. “We can’t handle the two issues Could the water’s minerals
Surprisingly, many said the water of public health and finding a long- be extracted and sold? Utrecht
D
Though the wound in the air force dropping bombs. For a contraptions will force the mud However, agricultural research
rought is a major constraint and Thailand), document farmers’
earth is invisible, the location long time, the reality was nothing to flow around the chain-balls in general remains grossly
affecting rice production, risk-coping mechanisms in drought-
is obvious. It’s in the center of so dramatic, just long lines of and slow its flow. The scheme was underinvested in the developing
especially in rainfed areas prone rice-growing areas of Asia, and
the boiling black lake, where the trucks dumping dirt to form tens criticized by other engineers who countries of Asia. This is cause
across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. recommend suitable interventions,
bubbling mass is most dense and of kilometers of banks while 1,400 point out that the process could for concern, not only for drought
At least 23 million hectares of both technical and policy, for
the gray gas cloud is thickest. soldiers guarded against vandals. increase the subterranean pressure mitigation but also for promoting
rainfed rice area (20% of total rice effective drought management.
According to Sardiyoko, executive In mid-September, Indonesian and force the mud to find another overall agricultural development.
area) in Asia are estimated to be The book provides a general
director of the Indonesian Forum for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono path to the surface. However, in the
drought-prone. Even in traditionally discussion of the drought problem in
the Environment, the mud contains announced that a special team would absence of other quick, affordable
irrigated areas, which the rainfed rice production Rice in Laos
heavy metals and phenols that be employed to try and stop the ideas—this method, to be paid for by
account for almost 75% system in South and
will make the land unfit for future mudflow, but the word elsewhere Lapindo, costs only 4 billion rupiah Edited by J.M. Schiller, M.B.
of total rice production, Southeast Asia; presents a Chanphengxay, B. Linquist,
farming should the mud flow cease. is that the mud could keep flowing ($440,000)—the consensus seems
drought is becoming an literature review about the and S. Appa Rao; 457 pages;
Lapindo has tried to put a for years. The problem is being to be that the plan is worth a try.
increasing problem because definition, economic costs, developed countries US$33,
positive public relations spin on bounced between the national As uncertainties about the future developing countries $11.
of water scarcity resulting and coping mechanisms for
the tragedy. First, it claimed the government, which doesn’t want of the Sidoarjo eruption increase,
from rising demand for drought; and describes the
mud could be used for house bricks.
Then, it reportedly commissioned
to use taxpayers’ money, and the
company, which says it has budgeted
so do the ever-increasing piles of
mud. Meanwhile, as more and more
water for competing uses.
Drought imposes a serious
analytical methods used
for characterizing drought,
T his book documents the
long association of Laos
and its people with rice.
a TV soap opera showing how only $70 million to contain the mud buildings, streets, and rice fields are
economic burden on society estimating the aggregate Drawing on historical, cultural, and agricultural
people overcame their difficulties and compensate affected farmers. swallowed, the lives of Sidoarjo’s contexts, the book details some of the key
and has been historically and household-level impacts
when confronted by the mud. Two attempts to drill holes residents have been changed forever. advances in rice-related research since 1990.
associated with food shortages of of drought, and examining farmers’
But, in the real world, the and plug the damaged well have It is the result of a collaborative effort among
varying intensities, including those drought-coping mechanisms. international and Lao researchers, with the
farmers watch in horror and dismay failed. Plans to treat the effluent Duncan Graham is an Indonesia-
that have resulted in major famines Results of the three country studies support of Australian Centre for International
as their fields, crops, and livelihoods and pipe it 20 kilometers to based writer specializing in
in different parts of Asia and Africa. and a synthesis of findings and Agricultural Research and IRRI.
are smothered by the unstoppable the ocean have been met with multicultural issues in Indonesia.
���
Van Mele P, Salahuddin A, and Magor NP, eds. 2005. Innovations in Rural Extension: case studies from Bangladesh. Head, IRRI Social Sciences Division
CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, UK, and Cambridge, Mass., USA.
��� ��
T
his learning, negotiating, and facilitating, out. Among these, one that
How do we produce enough food to feed a growing
�����
inspiring as well as training of facilitators. stands out is the incompatibility
book We have here accounts of of logframe approaches with
population in the face of declining growth in cereal yields?
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shows how experiences and comparisons conditions of uncertainty and the
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far some have among a rich variety of extension fostering of creativity. This book
P
come from approaches. Innovations should be required reading opulation growth is the domi- that increase crop ����
the early days include integrated Required for all who fund agricultural nant determinant of the demand yield (productiv- Trends in international rice prices and stocks (end-period), 1985–2006.
of technology rice-duck farming and research and extension. for staple food. World popula- ity per unit of land Sources: Stocks data: Papanos RS. 2007. The Rice Report (28 February 2007 issue). The Rice
transfer. various aspects of seed reading for Paradigmatically, tion has more than doubled since the per season) and the Trader LLC. Houston, TX, USA. Price data: Development Policy Group. World Bank online.
For here systems—building a 1950s and has already surpassed 6.5 expansion of irriga-
are presented illustration after rice seed network, a agricultural has opened up as never before billion. It may increase another 3 bil- tion infrastructure
illustration of a participatory and value-chain approach the need and potential for lion before stabilizing in 2100. Over have been the dominant factors been growing at a slower rate than
pluralist paradigm so different for aromatic rice, and
research and methodological pluralism. the next quarter century, the world behind the increase in the supply of consumption, leading to depletion of
that it seems odd to apply the much more. These are extension It shows such a wide range population is projected to increase by staple food over the past 4 decades. stocks and an upward trend in rice
same label—extension—to both but some manifestations of complementary choices 1.95 billion, mostly in the developing However, the potential for in- prices in the world market (see figure,
the earlier monolithic mindsets of the diversity and originality of what to do, and it compares countries and in regions where pover- creased land productivity, like that above). In early 2007, the price of
and monocultures of methodology, that flowered with this project. their costs and effectiveness. For ty and hunger are widespread, such as initiated in the irrigated and favor- medium-quality rice was 75% higher
and the contrasting rich panoply PETRRA was pathbreaking. For too long, agricultural extension sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. able rainfed environments by the than in 2001. The rapidly growing
of approaches described here. many, it will be the final synthesis has been in the doldrums, Developed countries may not Green Revolution in the late 1960s, rice prices now pose a threat to food
Poverty Elimination Through that is most striking. There, the and agriculture a diminished need to increase cereal production has almost been exhausted. Since the security for poor consumers in many
Rice Research Assistance (PETRRA) editors confront and discuss the priority among aid agencies. any further as most now have a sta- late 1980s, there has been a drastic low-income countries in Asia, such as
was a 5-year (1999-2004) project issues of extension, complexity, The big practical question now is tionary population, with some experi- slowing of yield growth for all cereal Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India.
funded by the U.K. Department and poverty; of creativity and whether normal extension services, encing an absolute decline—although crops (see table, below). The growth These developments raise con-
for International Development. flexibility; and of motivation. They without special project support, can this situation may change if petro- in yield has decelerated from 2.4% to cern about the developing world’s
The project was managed by the point to the professional pride and adopt or adapt some of PETRRA’s leum prices continue to increase. 0.9% per year for rice, from 3.8% to ability to achieve and sustain food se-
International Rice Research Institute personal satisfaction of having rich repertoire of approaches. At least The demand for maize and cassava, 1.3% for wheat, and from 2.7% to 1.6% curity in the future. The Green Revo-
(IRRI) in close collaboration with the worked through a problem with those aid agencies that wish to help for example, may increase rapidly as for maize. For rice, yield growth has lution helped buy time in the continu-
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute farmers as a major motivation for poor farmers will now know that so they are used as raw materials in the decelerated substantially since 1990 ous struggle to provide food for grow-
(BRRI). Its philosophy and practice researchers and extensionists. much can be achieved with vision and fast-growing bio-fuel industry for in China, India, and Indonesia, which ing populations. But time is running
were learning by doing. During Perhaps the most important appropriate continuity of support, the production of the petroleum-sub- together account for nearly 60% of out. The most promising strategy
its life, it approved, managed, and section, which could have the facilitation, leadership, and staff. May stitute ethanol (see Food or fuel? on global rice production and consump- for sustaining food security in the
supported 45 subprojects—on pro- biggest impact, concerns donors PETRRA and this book inspire many page 42 of Rice Today Vol. 6, No. 1). tion. This slowing of yield growth is face of growing population pres-
poor policy (6), technologies (19), and and flexibility, projects, service others to follow and do likewise. Developing countries, on the due to technological progress reach- sure is increasing the productivity of
uptake and extension (20). It is these providers, and potential champions. And, if any donor agency other hand, continue to struggle to ing a plateau in the irrigated ecosys- increasingly scarce land and water.
latter that provide the experience Lessons and warnings are laid is looking for a cost-effective achieve and maintain food-popu- tem, limited expansion of irrigated For rice, research must deal with
and material for the book. This was investment, it would be hard to do lation balance. The potential for area due to the growing scarcity of several difficult problems: raising the
an exercise that set out to learn by better than to provide the means increasing the supply of food by water, and continuing low yields in yield ceilings of the current avail-
conducting research on a variety to make this book cheap and expanding the land frontier has long rainfed ecosystems due to the non- able rice varieties, protecting past
of approaches to extension itself. accessible, and to send a great many been exhausted, particularly in Asia, availability of technologies suitable yield gains in the irrigated ecosys-
This is a far cry from older copies with a covering letter to where 60% of the world’s population for unfavorable environments. tem, and—using recent advance-
orientations. The first major section, those concerned with agricultural lives. Land-saving technical advances Since 2000, rice production has ments made in genomics, genetics,
on gender, gives long overdue research and extension policy and biotechnology—developing
prominence to women in South and practice around the world. Growth (%) of cereal yield, area, and production, developing countries: 1970–90 and 1990–2005.
high-yielding varieties for rainfed
Asian agriculture. The book stands systems that are tolerant of drought,
1970–90 1990–2005
on its head the old linear or pipeline Robert Chambers is a research associate Cereals submergence, and problem soils.
Yield Area Production Yield Area Production
paradigm in which research innovates at the Institute of Development The speed and extent to which
and passes on innovations to Studies, Sussex, UK. He is a co-editor Rice 2.35 0.49 2.84 0.92 0.31 1.23 the rice research community can
extension for promotion and spread. of Farmer First (1989), which makes Wheat 3.75 0.88 4.62 1.27 –0.35 0.91 meet these challenges will depend
In the place of such old mindsets the case for a farmer-first mode to Maize 2.65 0.97 3.61 1.64 0.66 2.3 on the level of resources that can be
and methods are a range of practices complement conventional procedures All cereals 2.68 0.73 3.41 1.2 0.21 1.41 mobilized to support crop improve-
and approaches that stress listening, for research and transfer of technology. Source: Analysis of trend with FAO time series data. ment research in the public sector.
Rice revolutions
PETER JENNINGS
in Latin America
I
n 1962, scientists at the International Rice Research Institute Pulver. This began the identification of six regional agronomic
(IRRI) debated the cause of low and stagnant rice yields deficiencies: inappropriate seeding dates missing peaks of solar
in the tropics: was it variety or crop management? This radiation after panicle initiation; extremely heavy seeding
debate ended with the release of the semidwarf IR8 in 1966, densities causing lodging, disease, and pest attacks; repeated
initiating the Green Revolution. The same variety, in the same aerial spraying rather than seed treatment to control insects;
year, extended this revolution to Latin America, beginning in deficient weed control; poor fertilization practices including
Colombia and spreading rapidly through the tropics and later the application of urea into water; and late establishment of
to the temperate areas. permanent irrigation.
The Green Revolution in the Americas was genetic with little Solutions for each deficiency were packaged together
contribution from agronomy. Its impact was approximately two for on-farm demonstrations. After three years, results from
additional tons per hectare. On a national basis, this spectacular several hundred thousand hectares in several counties confirm
advance terminated within a few years when essentially all of the that an Agronomic Revolution is now in progress. This second
irrigated and favored upland ecologies converted to semidwarf revolution, devoid of any genetic contribution, has so far had an
varieties. From then on, yields did not increase. On individual impact equal to that of the Green Revolution, increasing farm
farms, the revolution ended after the first harvest. Replanting yield by roughly two tons on average.
with IR8, or any other semidwarf, did not result in higher yield. Well-managed farms, now yielding 8-11 tons per hectare,
It was a momentous, one-time contribution confirm that the yield constraint since the
followed by a persistent yield barrier lasting On individual farms, the introduction of modern varieties in the 1960s
some 30 years. has been poor crop management. The key to
During this period of stagnancy, national
Green Revolution ended Dr. Pulver’s approach lies in the simultaneous
yield averages in a few Latin American after the first harvest reduction of multiple farm constraints as
countries increased modestly, reflecting a contrasted with typical agronomy directed
shift from favored upland to irrigated cultivation. Neither higher toward individual problems.
yielding varieties nor improved crop management played a role. FLAR believes that once the Agronomic Revolution is
In tropical Asia, national averages slowly and steadily moved widely adopted, productivity will again become stagnant. We
upward after the Green Revolution. I suspect this reflects better contend that the new productivity constraint will revert to
water management and conversion from rainfed and other less varietal yield capacity, as it was pre-Green Revolution. Thus, the
productive ecologies to irrigated rice. present problem of poor crop management, now being resolved,
An inability to further increase yields engendered another will be succeeded by the need for more productive varieties.
round of debate. The majority view, contending that more FLAR has combined two underappreciated traits—delayed leaf
productive varieties were needed, led to massive investment senescence (ageing), or “stay-green,” and huge panicles—while
during the past 25 years in biotechnology and genetics and under- maintaining heavy tillering capacity. We expect the enhanced
investment in crop management. The implicit thought is that yield capacity of this new plant type will catalyze a second
greater yield capacity is required for higher farm productivity. genetic Green Revolution.
At the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), we hold Thus, we observe alternating yield constraints: firstly genetic
the minority view that the constraint today is agronomic, not (pre-Green Revolution), then agronomic (post-Green Revolution)
genetic. Our contention is based on two observations. followed by the need for a second genetic Green Revolution.
First, the release of nearly 400 semidwarf varieties over Many years separate these quantum leaps in productivity and
three decades did not increase farm yield. Further, we contend each advance is achieved with little contribution from the other
that none of the newer semidwarfs surpasses IR8, Jaya, or Bg- discipline. In part, this results from the failure of breeders and
90, the first modern varieties, in yield capacity. Second, every agronomists to develop strategy jointly. Further, the decades of
year, a few farms scattered around the hemisphere yield 9-11 tons little progress following the adoption of semidwarfs indicate a
per hectare or more—roughly double national averages and an misidentification of the yield constraint as institutions directed
indication that existing varieties have considerable unexploited resources inappropriately. Researchers, like generals, often fight
yield capacity. Thus, the problem is not yielding ability. new battles with strategies and tactics of previous wars.
To narrow this yield gap, FLAR, with support from the
Common Fund for Commodities, initiated a crop management Dr. Jennings, a principal scientist with FLAR, founded the breeding program at IRRI
program in 2003 under the leadership of agronomist Edward (1961-67), where he discovered the semidwarf gene and led the breeding of IR8.