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International Rice Research Institute April-June 2006, Vol. 5, No. 2 a
Mekong special
Lao rice revolution
Linking rice and livestock
Opposites attract
Hunting genes for hardier rice
NEWS ......................................................................... 6
Iron-rich rice reduces malnutrition
Crop development efforts get major boost
Nutrient management online
Indian president visits IRRI
Open-source biotechnology alliance
Rice farming by SMS
Production shortfall looming
Water conservation boosted
African rice news
Zero tillage in India
Postharvest management to reduce burning
Making a ripple
PEOPLE ................................................................... 11
Achievements BACK TO THE FUTURE ............................................ 28 RICE FACTS .............................................................. 41
Smallholders who integrate rice farming with Drought perpetuates poverty
Keeping up with IRRI staff livestock are the mainstay of traditional
Gone ahead agriculture in the Greater Mekong Subregion—
and a model for sustainable development GRAIN OF TRUTH .................................................... 42
Work needed to weed out farmers’ problems
THE DIRECT APPROACH ......................................... 12
A return to the ways of their forefathers has OPPOSITES ATTRACT … ATTENTION .................... 34
seen Indian and Bangladeshi rice farmers Researchers zero in on two genes at opposite
reduce their need for water and address the ends of the rice genome that provide tolerance The cover photo shows
growing problem of labor shortages for a dreaded duo of widespread stresses, high Alya, a Bangladeshi
salinity and phosphorus deficiency farmer benefitting
from a different
SNAPSHOT .........................................................19-21 approach to planting
Claiming rice fields from wild rivers rice—see page 12.
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
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improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, Rice Today welcomes comments and suggestions from readers. Potential contributors
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Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used in this publication Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2006
DONORS CORNER
MOFA
I
n August 2003, the govern- policy in which Japan’s experience TAKESHI MIZOGUCHI is a deputy director of the
ment of Japan revised its Of- in economic and social development, Aid Planning Division of the Economic Cooperation
Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
ficial Development Assistance as well as in economic coopera-
(ODA) Charter for the first time tion, is used when assisting devel-
in 11 years. Since then, Japan has oping countries. This policy also largest contribution among bilateral
developed its ODA in line with the emphasizes the need to use Japan’s donors, accounting for nearly 40%
new charter, which puts forward advanced technologies, expertise, of total assistance. Japan’s three-
five basic policies outlined below. human resources, and institutions. pronged strategy on agricultural de-
Supporting self-help efforts of Partnership and collaboration velopment is, first, to support capacity
developing countries is the most with the international community building of farmers and the govern-
important philosophy of Japan’s are important if the international ment; second, to raise productivity
ODA. Accordingly, Japan respects community is to share common through infrastructure development
developing countries’ ownership of development goals and strategies and agricultural technologies; and
development strategies and priori- through the initiatives of interna- third, to link farmers to markets.
ties. Japan intends to provide sup- tional organizations. Japan will play The development of new agri-
port in fields such as human resource an active role in any international cultural technologies will play an
development; institution building, dialogues that feature Japanese as- increasingly important role in raising
including the development of legal sistance strategies and philosophies. both agricultural productivity and
systems; and economic and social In accordance with the basic poli- the nutritional value of food while
infrastructure building. These themes cies set out above, Japan is tackling at the same time placing a lighter
constitute the basis for development. four priority issues—poverty reduc- burden on land and water. To enable
To address direct threats to tion, sustainable growth, addressing progress in these areas, Japan has
people such as conflicts, disasters, global issues, and peace-building. attached high priority to coopera-
and infectious diseases, Japan at- In developing countries—where tion with the Consultative Group on
taches particular importance to the approximately 70% of the poor live International Agricultural Research
Perspective of human security, which in rural areas and depend on agricul- (CGIAR), including the International
focuses on individuals. tural production—agricul- Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Japan aims to implement tural and rural develop- The Japan-IRRI partner-
ODA that will strengthen ment allow the rural poor ship, which spans more than four
the capacity of local com- to generate income and so decades, is especially strong and
munities through human lead to sustainable eco- fruitful. Japan’s long involvement
resource development. nomic growth and poverty in rice research has yielded numer-
To ensure that human reduction. Agriculture can ous successes and had a lasting and
dignity is maintained at also contribute to the positive impact on the lives of count-
all stages, from conflict to United Nations Millen- less people. Many Japanese scientists
reconstruction and devel- nium Development Goals have worked at and collaborated with
opment, Japan’s goal is to by providing the poor, in IRRI on research that spans some of
help protect and empower individuals. both rural and urban areas, with the most crucial issues in the rice-
Assurance of fairness—in affordable food. And, through ap- growing and rice-consuming world.
the formulation and implementa- propriate management of land, water, Japan’s agricultural research insti-
tion of assistance—ensures that and wastes, agriculture can promote tutes have also cooperated closely
the outcome of ODA fairly benefits environmental sustainability. with IRRI in facing these challenges.
the people of recipient countries. Recognizing the importance of Japan looks forward to continu-
In this light, Japan emphasizes agricultural development for poverty ing to work with developing countries
environmental and social consider- reduction, Japan has consistently and the organizations—includ-
ations as well as gender equality. been a major supporter in this area. ing IRRI and the CGIAR—whose
The Utilization of Japan’s experi- In 2003, Japan’s ODA in agriculture goal is to reduce poverty through
ence and expertise is an important amounted to US$783 million—the agricultural development.
ARIEL JAVELLANA
from IRRI (pictured with an iron-rich rice micronutrients, they will improve the nutri-
panicle), oversaw a study in which religious tional status of people who consume them.
sisters in ten convents in the Philippines This has dramatic implications.”
included nutritionally enhanced rice in “In the past, we relied on supplements
their diets. After 9 months, the women had IR68144-3B-2-2-3) was developed and and fortification to overcome vitamin and
significantly higher levels of total body iron grown at IRRI. The research initiative was mineral deficiencies,” said Howarth Bouis,
in their blood. originally spearheaded and funded by the director of HarvestPlus. “Now we know that
The iron-dense variety of rice used Washington-based International Food biofortification also works, giving us an ad-
in the research (known technically as Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), with sup- ditional tool in this crucial battle.”
ARIEL JAVELLANA
the Indian presidential visit,” said IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler (left),
Director General Robert Zeigler. “What was Philippine International Trading Corp Chair
Robert Pagdanganan (second from right) and
especially impressive about his time at IRRI senior scientist Roland Buresh.
was how productive it was—we managed to
discuss a number of very important issues in dent Kalam said India had around 176 mil- “However,” he said, “India’s success
depth and to agree to move ahead in several lion hectares of land currently available for in raising rice productivity and reducing
key areas.” cultivation, which, he predicted, would be poverty has been limited to favorable envi-
Dr. Zeigler said the president was reduced to 100 million hectares by 2020. He ronments in the country’s north and south,
particularly interested in the development also warned of a looming water crisis and while sustaining high yields in irrigated
of nutritionally enhanced rice varieties and that the next generation of Indian farmers systems has become a major issue.”
connecting Indian farmers to the Internet. was losing interest in agriculture. Dr. Hossain also highlighted the prog-
“We also agreed to develop plans to send IRRI’s senior economist, Mahabub ress of an IRRI-India collaborative effort
50 Indian rice farmers on a special visit to Hossain, highlighted the impact of IRRI’s to develop drought-tolerant varieties that
IRRI so they can see the technologies being earlier work in India, which showed that are expected to have a substantial impact
developed,” Dr. Zeigler said. 48% of the rice varieties grown in India had on increasing productivity and reducing
In comments to IRRI scientists, Presi- some link to IRRI materials. poverty in eastern India.
tists,” said IRRI Director General Robert for new plant breeding methods such as
Zeigler. “Half the world depends on rice marker-assisted selection or true-breeding
as a staple food—but this also means that hybrid crop varieties that would allow farm-
half the world’s potential innovators could ers in developing countries to use hybrid
be brought to bear on the challenges of rice seed year after year.
global weather patterns are likely to keep research and extension systems (NARES) of
rice prices from falling. Mamadou Ciss, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan are
managing director of the Geneva-based shouldering $740,000 in the form of staff
global rice trading company Ascot Com- time, land, and research facilities.
Boost for reductions campaign areas lost two consecutive seasons of paddy commercialization taking place this year on
The Three Reductions, Three Gains—Ba production in 2005. The recovery process in 20,000 hectares.
Giam Ba Tang in Vietnamese—continues to Nias and Simeulue on the northwest coast of
receive support from the Vietnamese Minis- Sumatra has been slower than in Aceh. Rice malt genome sequenced
try of Agriculture and Rural Development. Japan’s Corporate News Network on 26
The ministry has allocated US$434,000 of Maize gene set to help rice December reported the completion of the
the country’s 2006 agricultural extension Kansas State University researchers, led by genome sequencing of rice malt, Aspergillus
budget to Ba Giam Ba Tang, a strong in- Bingyu Zhao, have discovered a maize gene oryzae, a fungus widely used in Japanese
dication that the Vietnamese government that, when transferred to rice, confers resis- fermented foods, including sake, bean paste,
has adopted the campaign’s principles of tance to bacterial streak, an important dis- and soy sauce. The research—by a team of
reducing farmers’ nitrogen-fertilizer rates, ease of rice in Asia. As any particular cereal scientists from the Institute for Biological
seed rates, and pesticide applications. species tends to be resistant to diseases of Resources and Functions, the Computation-
other grasses, these results—reported in the al Biology Research Center of the National
Tsunami rehabilitation 25 October 2005 issue of the Proceedings Institute of Advanced Industrial Science
The Food and Agriculture Organization of of the National Academy of Sciences of the and Technology, and the National Institute
the United Nations and the World Food USA—suggest that transferring resistance of Technology and Evaluation—showed
Program have released a 2005 report on genes from one cereal to another may be a that the A. oryzae genome has about 38
food supply and demand in Indonesia’s feasible strategy for controlling diseases. million base pairs and 12,000 genes. The
Aceh Province and Nias Island. The report sequencing is expected to aid development
stated that, of the 37,500 hectares of farm- Iranian biotech lead of applications for rice malt.
land damaged by the 26 December 2004 Iran made headlines recently by becoming
tsunami, some 29,000 hectares have been the first country to commercialize geneti- Infrared heat versus pesticides
rehabilitated. Surplus production of rice cally modified rice. According to a 23 Janu- Scientists from the University of Arkansas
in Aceh is expected to be around 200,000 ary report in the Washington Farm Report, Division of Agriculture are investigating
tons for the 2005-06 marketing year. In 500–1,000 Iranian farmers are believed the use of infrared energy to kill insects in
spite of this, farmers in the heavily affected to have grown the crop in 2005, with full stored rice, instead of pesticides. Northwest
WARDA
Ando, visiting professor at São Paulo Uni- The production
versity Agricultural Nuclear Power Center of rice is tedious.
in Brazil, who was recognized for “Develop- sentation before the National Assembly, It involves total commitment. Food secu-
ment and dissemination of plant breeding noted that the country’s total paddy rice rity is, however, a viable venture.”
by mutation induction.” production increased from 31,221 metric
tons in 2003-04 to 34,304 metric tons in Côte d’Ivoire stockpiles rice
Removing Gambian hurdles 2004-05, which indicated an increment Inter Press News Agency reported on 4
The Daily Observer reported on 22 De- of 10%. February that rice growers in Côte d’Ivoire,
cember significant progress made by the with GTZ assistance, have stockpiled bags
National Agricultural Research Institute Sierra Leone food security of rice at a depot in Korhogo, a town in
in searching for technologies to allevi- The Awareness Times quoted High Com- northern Côte d’Ivoire, to prevent famine
ate crop production constraints experi- missioner Alhaji Morikeh Fofana on 2 and counter a major reduction in rice
enced by farmers in Gambia. NARI, for February saying that, about 80% increases imports. Also, according to the Ivorian
example, did research on restoring soil were recorded in the production of paddy Bureau of Development Assistance Train-
fertility through agroforestry techniques, rice, millet, and sweet potato in Sierra ing, improvements to arable land produced
developing suitable drought-tolerant crop Leone. “The agricultural data on rice pro- 27,000 tons of irrigated rice twice a year in
varieties, and promoting the production of duction indicates that about 40,000 acres the north. The Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
NERICA (New Rice for Africa). Musa Bala of land for rice cultivation is now available. said that 8% of the Ivorian population grows
Gaye, Secretary of State for Finance and These are positive signs geared towards rice on an average plot of 0.8 hectare of ir-
Economic Affairs, in his 2006 budget pre- a clear-cut reduction in the importation rigated land.
Arkansas’ News Source reported that food land for shares in a joint-stock corporation, of global catastrophes like nuclear war or
science professor Terry Siebenmorgen and farmers are given a choice, too. They can opt natural disasters. The Global Crop Diversity
biological engineer Derek Schluterman, to stay put or leave a dead-end occupation Trust is organizing the seed collection.
working with Frank Arthur of the U.S. with the surety of having equity in the bank.”
Department of Agriculture, used infrared One of the first challenges is convincing First hydroponic rice
light to heat weevil-infested rice samples farmers that corporatization will make the A group of farmers in Tokyo has, accord-
to temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 degrees land more useful. ing to a report in The Times, cultivated the
Celsius. They then incubated the infested world’s first crop of hydroponically grown
rice, including an untreated control sample, The king of rice rice. According to the story, “The 60 kilo-
for 6–7 weeks to see if weevils hatched out Taiwan Headlines reported on 25 Janu- grams of Koshihikari rice reaped yesterday
of the rice. All weevils were killed at 70 de- ary that 2005 champion rice farmer, Hsu may fill only a single regulation-sized sack,
grees. The infrared treatment appeared to Pang-chun, 24, from Luyeh township in but its significance is huge. The rice has
have little effect on food quality or sensory Taidong, has been nicknamed Taiwan’s grown to maturity without natural light or
characteristics. “youngest king of rice” after winning third a paddy field.” If the process can be com-
place in a nationwide rice competition in mercialized, says the group, farmers could
Changes to Malaysia’s rice fields early January. Hsu began cultivating his grow up to four rice crops per year and avoid
A corporatization plan pilot project, involv- father’s rice paddies at the age of 13. the vagaries of the weather.
ing about 5,000 hectares of rice lands in
Kedah, Malaysia’s rice bowl, is scheduled to Doomsday seed bank Philippine hybrid rice benefits
begin in June 2006. A New Straits Times The Norwegian government plans to build a A 9 December article in CropBiotech Update
editorial on 12 February, Sowing the seeds “doomsday vault” inside a mountain on the stated that the Philippine government ben-
of change, pointed out the plan’s benefits: arctic island of Spitsbergen to hold a bank of efited from its hybrid rice commercialization
“Larger farms make more money, can around 2 million seed samples of the world’s program through savings of US$23.23 mil-
deploy assets for capital-intensive invest- crops, the Financial Times reported. The lion that would otherwise have been spent
ment, and are more disposed to innovation move is designed to forestall the destruction on rice importation. The report, quoting
and professional management. By trading of the planet’s sources of food in the event statistics from the Philippine Rice Research
MARTIN GUMMERT
Agricultural Technology)
search Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. program, advised farmers to grow Sesbania show trainees in Mulya
Sari village how to use
The Asian Pacific Centre for Agricultural along with rice to help prevent weeds. hermetically sealed grain
storage bags.
Making waves
I n Indonesia, the Irrigated Rice Research
Consortium Postproduction workgroup
has joined forces with the Assessment In-
stitute for Agricultural Technology in South
Sumatra and the South Sumatra Forest Fire
Management Project in an effort to reduce
agricultural research and extension systems clear uplands to grow more crops. A training
(NARES) and IRRI, and to raise the profile workshop on 27-28 February led by IRRI’s
of the IRRC in Asia and beyond. IRRC Agricultural Engineering Unit covered
Coordinator Grant Singleton encourages topics on understanding rice quality and
EXOTIC BLACK RICE, such as the pictured Lao contributions to the newsletter from anyone improving seeds. The 35 participants also
variety, is growing in popularity in Solano, Nueva working in the irrigated rice or favorable learned how to set up and operate hermetic
Viscaya, Philippines, according to a 25 January rainfed agricultural domain, particularly sealed storage systems for safe seed storage.
report in the Manila Standard Today. Black rice tends NARES partners and nongovernmental Such improvements help overall produc-
to be more aromatic and sticky than usual com- organizations. Ripple is available online at tion and reduce the pressure to extend rice
mercial varieties. www.irri.org/irrc. production to the uplands.
Institute research team, led by Flordeliza and pleasant eating qualities. “The contest Seeking salt-tolerant rice
Bordey, found that hybrid rice production was aimed at rice producers who are able Scientists at the Louisiana State University
was one of the best options for increasing to package organic polished white rice into Agricultural Center’s Rice Research Station
farm productivity by 8% to 14%. small amounts that can be sold at retail are seeking salt-tolerant rice as a result of
outlets,” the Liberty Times reported on 7 hurricane Rita, which ravaged Louisiana in
Hybrid rice lessons December 2005. August 2005. An Associated Press report
The Manila Times reported in January that said that researchers have started collecting
European countries Boznia-Herzegovina, Rice bran for healthier rats soil samples from 180 sites across south-
Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Slo- Eating rice bran—part of the outer layer of west Louisiana, where an estimated 200
vak Republic, and Yugoslavia have adopted rice removed in the milling process—helps thousand acres of rice land were affected
the Hybrid Rice Commercialization Pro- lower rats’ blood pressure, according to a by Rita’s surge.
gram of Tarlac Province, Philippines. Agri- study by researchers from Tohoku Univer-
culturists from the Western Corn Rootworm sity and the National Research Institute of Careless offerings?
Project in central and northern Europe Brewing, Japan. The findings were pub- Chandigarh Newsline reported on 3 Janu-
inspected the Tarlac rice program in 2002, lished in the March 8 issue of the Journal of ary that rats much bigger than usual are
with support from the Food and Agriculture Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Adding causing nightmares for Manimajra housing
Organization of the United Nations. rice bran to the diet of hypertensive, stroke- complex residents in Chandigarh, India.
prone rats lowered the animals’ systolic The rats are fed with rice and wheat at a
Best organic rice blood pressure by about 20%. More research nearby temple, which is visited by thou-
“Ta ti organic rice,” grown in Chihshang is needed to determine whether humans ex- sands of devotees every Saturday. Bhushan
Township of Taidong County, was named perience similar health benefits, or whether Makkar, head of the local area committee,
winner of Taiwan’s first national organic eating more brown rice, which retains some blames devotees’ “careless offerings to
rice-judging contest because of its luster of its bran, will have any effect. God.”
CSSA
Scientist Award for 2005 in recognition IRRI awarded Wageningen
of his research contribution to sustainable University visiting consul-
management of agriculture and natural The Philippine Association of Aca- tant Hendrika Hillegonda van Laar
resources. demic and Research Librarians named a plaque of appreciation for service to the
At the concurrent American Society of IRRI chief librarian Mila Ramos as 2005 institute over the last 20 years. Dr. van Laar
Agronomy meeting in Salt Lake City, retired Outstanding Academic/Research Librarian worked on various collaborative projects,
IRRI principal scientist Sant Virmani of the Year for her “remarkable contribution including Simulation and Systems Analysis
received the 2005 Monsanto Crop Science to the advancement of agricultural research for Rice Production, Systems Research Net-
Distinguished Career Award. He also re- librarianship as trainer, paper presenter, work for Ecoregional Land Use Planning in
ceived a plaque of appreciation from IRRI and facilitator in both local and interna- Tropical Asia, and Potential of Water-saving
for his 25-year contribution to hybrid rice tional conferences.” Technologies in Rice Production.
research and development in the tropics
during the 5th International Rice Genetics Keeping up with IRRI staff
Symposium in Manila, on 23 November. Ian Wallace, former director for
Dr. Peng was also a member of the IRRI
team that won the 2005 CGIAR Science
Award for Outstanding Scientific Article,
M angala Rai, secretary of the gov-
ernment of India’s Department of
Agricultural Research and Education and
administration and human resources, left
IRRI recently after 13 years of service. His
initiatives as head of the IRRI Library (1993-
Rice yields decline with higher night tem- director general of the Indian Council for 99) made the facility the world’s premiere
perature from global warming, during the Agricultural Research, has joined IRRI’s documentation center on rice.
December 2005 annual general meeting of Board of Trustees to complete the final two International Research Fellow David
the Consultative Group on International Ag- years (2006-07) of the unfinished second Shires is the new acting head of the IRRI
ricultural Research in Marrakech, Morocco. term of Kay Beese of Germany, who re- Training Center, while senior manager
Along with Dr. Peng, IRRI scientists John signed effective 8 November 2005. Elisa Panes is acting head of Human Re-
Sheehy, Rebecca C. Laza, Romeo M. Robert Hijmans recently joined the sources Services.
Visperas, Grace S. Centeno, and World Social Sciences Division (SSD) as geograph- Plant breeder Glenn Gregorio left for
Food Prize laureate and former IRRI prin- ic information systems specialist. Zenaida Ibadan, Nigeria, on 22 January as IRRI’s
cipal scientist Gurdev Khush comprised Huelgas joined SSD as associate scientist rice breeder for Africa, to work in collabo-
the team. Jianliang Huang (Huazhong after a 7-year work stint in New York City, ration with the West Africa Rice Develop-
Agricultural University, China), Xuhua USA. She was a former IRRI scholar (1988- ment Association (WARDA, the Africa Rice
Zhong (Guangdong Academy of Agricul- 89) and senior research assistant (1994-97) Center) and the International Institute for
tural Sciences, China), and Ken Cassman at SSD. Tropical Agriculture Substation.
(University of Nebraska) were co-authors.
The Proceedings of the National Academy
of Science of the United States of America
Gone ahead and director of the Sukarami Rice Research
published the paper on 6 July 2004. A. Syarifuddin Karama, former secre- Station in West Sumatra. His passing has
Dr. Khush also received an honoris tary general of the Indonesian Ministry of been described as a great loss not only to
causa (honorary degree) from the Ohio Agriculture, passed away on 19 February. his family but also to Indonesia.
State University on 19 March. Dr. Karama, who did his Ph.D. research at Orlando Santos, who retired as the
IRRI senior scientist Darshan Brar IRRI, was a widely respected scientist and head of the IRRI Central Research Farm in
was named Fellow of the National Academy admired advocate for rice research. His 1994, passed away on 26 January at age 76.
of Agricultural Sciences and Honorary Fel- past posts include head of the Center for Lao-IRRI project employee, Samien Lu-
low of the Punjab Academy of Sciences. Soil and Agroclimate Research in Bogor anglath, 46, passed away on 28 January.
approach
cropping system, the plains are the most productive
area in the country and vital to the food security of
India. Infrastructure, such as irrigation, is relatively well
developed and many farmers have access to mechanical
equipment including tractors and machine seeders.
Despite these advances, farmers here face problems,
such as deteriorating soil health, rising costs, and
declining productivity and labor availability. Without
workable solutions, things are likely to get worse.
As you move east along the plains into eastern
India and then northwestern Bangladesh and the High
Barind Tract, the farm sizes and level of development
A return to the ways of their
growing problem of labor shortages tend to diminish. In the Barind, farms average less
than 1 hectare in size, on which farmers do their
best to simply grow enough food for themselves and
their families. Rice farming here relies more heavily
on manual labor and simple tillage equipment.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ADAM BARCLAY Despite dramatic differences between farms at either
T
end of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, farmers along their
o understand the importance of rice farming length share several problems—two of which have grave
to Bangladesh, look at the numbers. This implications for rice production and, by extension, for the
densely populated country—more crowded welfare and food security of many millions of people.
than any other on Earth bar city-states First, as people who traditionally made their living
such as Singapore—has 146 million people. working on farms are uprooting and moving to the cities
Around 80 million of them rely on agriculture for their to find work in the developing urban and industrial
livelihood. Agriculture alone employs around two- sectors, the availability of farm labor is decreasing—
thirds of the labor force of almost 70 million and rice particularly during the peak periods of farm operations—
is the country’s most significant agricultural product, and, consequently, becoming more and more expensive.
accounting for more than three-quarters of total cropped Second, and perhaps even more pressing, are the
area. Add to this the fact that the average Bangladeshi issues of water availability and cost. Farmers the world
receives around three-quarters of his or her calories over are, of course, dependent on water. In Bangladesh,
from rice and you begin to understand the grain’s and on the least developed farms of the Indo-Gangetic
significance. Further, in India and Bangladesh, the Plains, farmers rely on monsoon rains. If the rains
poorest people spend up to half their income on rice. are too late or too little, farmers may not be able to
While India doesn’t rely on rice in the same way as its establish the crop and, even where they do, yields can be
northeastern neighbor, rice remains India’s single most decimated. At the other end of the plains, many farms
important agricultural product. Given India’s sheer BABUL, a farmer from Rashantapur pump groundwater when and as needed but unless
village in Rajshahi, Bangladesh,
numbers—its 1.1 billion people constitute almost one- something changes soon, this cannot continue. Water
describes his experiences with direct-
fifth of the world’s population—merely maintaining seeded rice. Two girls (above right) tables are falling and, as global fuel prices continue their
rice productivity is not enough; as the population take a break after harvesting rice in steep climb of the last few years, the cost of irrigation
rises, India must produce more rice on less land. the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. is becoming prohibitive to the point where farmers are
12 13
LEADING the direct seeding charge (four photos from
left to right): Dr. M.A. Mazid observes direct-seeded
rice fields in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, with field techni-
cian Md. Nazmul Hossain; Pantnagar farmer M.S. Gre-
wal (at left), who describes direct seeding as “very
foregoing the use of their irrigation beneficial,” and G.B. Pant University agronomist Dr. opportunities, and constraints of
systems and, like their Bangladeshi V.P. Singh discuss Mr. Grewal’s experiences; G.B. Pant direct seeding across the Indo-
counterparts, waiting for the rains. agronomist Dr. K.S. Shekhar describes how research- Gangetic Plains and the Barind.
So, what are the alternatives? ers are getting information to farmers; and Dr. Y. Although the idea of a rice farm
Singh, also from G.B. Pant, has played a key role in
One approach, which has emerged developing direct-seeding in northern India.
often evokes images of flooded
as a promising part of the solution paddies and bunded terraces, direct
across the Indo-Gangetic Plains, seeding is not a new approach.
is deceptively simple: rather than Until the early 1960s, most Indian
transplanting rice seedlings into Programme of the U.K. Department and Bangladeshi farmers direct-
flooded fields, sow rice seeds directly for International Development. seeded their crops. At that time, the
into an unflooded field. Such direct Through IRRI, the work is linked introduction of a more productive
seeding can offer relief in terms of with the Irrigated Rice Research model of rice production, which
both the water and labor problems Consortium and the Consortium for exploited high-yielding varieties and
and, since 1999, has been investigated Unfavorable Rice Environments. increased fertilizer use, triggered a
as part of two projects—Promotion With their in-country move to transplanting. In an ever-
of cost-effective weed practices collaborators—the Bangladesh changing production environment,
for lowland rice in Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and despite its advantages, there
and Promotion of integrated weed and, in India, G.B. Pant University is growing recognition that the
management for direct-seeded rice of Agriculture and Technology transplanting model isn’t ideal for
in the Gangetic Plains of India—with in Pantnagar, Narendra Deva every location and circumstance.
collaboration among the International University of Agriculture and There are a number of options
Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Technology in Faizabad, C.S. Azad for direct seeding, though the
the U.K.-based Natural Resources Agriculture University in Kanpur, and principles remain the same. Rice
Institute (NRI), and the University Rajendra Agriculture University in can be sown with either dry or wet
of Liverpool, with additional Patna—the projects have examined (pregerminated) seed, which is
funding from the Crop Protection the advantages, challenges, either placed in rows or broadcast.
A
sown in rows with an inexpensive bdul Basir and Shadat Hossain, rice farmers from Rajabari village in the Bangladeshi district of
plastic drum seeder, pulled by a Rajshahi, tried direct seeding for the first time in 2005, preparing their fields by furrowing the soil
single user (see Drumming up with a locally produced lithao, which they demonstrate with Dr. M.A. Mazid, below (Shadat at left).
“Previously,” says Shadat, “I needed a seedbed that required extra management like uprooting
success in Rice Today Vol. 4 No. 2,
seedlings and transplanting. If there was enough rain, I could transplant but, if there was no rain,
pages 22-27). Meanwhile, on many the seedlings became older and I had to wait—in some years, two months or more. If I transplanted
northeastern Indian farms, farmers older seedlings, the yield was very poor. In 2003, there was so little rain that we couldn’t transplant
use tractor-mounted mechanical at all.”
seeders that sow seeds at chosen rates “With direct seeding by lithao, we can go ahead, even with little water,” concurs the 45-year-
old Abdul, who supports a family of seven. “With direct seeding I expect that, whatever happens, I’ll
and simultaneously apply fertilizer.
harvest something. This gives me a good feeling. Before, we believed that if there was no more rain,
The specific advantages of there would be no crop. Now, we believe that even if there’s only a small amount of rain, the seed will
direct seeding vary with farmers’ germinate and we’ll get some rice.”
circumstances. David Johnson, an Both farmers have also been struck by the labor advantages of direct seeding, noting that labor
IRRI weed scientist and one of the requirements are less and more labor is available when it is needed.
“During transplanting time,” explains Abdul, “every farmer wants to transplant, so there’s a labor
project’s investigators, explains
shortage and labor prices go up. Direct-seeded rice requires 15 labor days per hectare; transplanting
the situation at the eastern end requires 30 labor days.”
of the Plains, in Bangladesh. When they transplanted, Abdul and Shadat generally grew only a wet-season rice crop each year.
“It takes about 500 mm of If there was enough soil moisture following rice harvest, they would plant a chickpea crop too, but in
cumulative rainfall for a farmer the past five years, Abdul managed to grow chickpeas only once. In 2005, both farmers reaped good
yields from their direct-seeded rice fields and consequently grew successful chickpea crops.
to be able to establish a rice crop
There has been keen
through transplanting,” says Dr. interest from surrounding
Johnson. “If farmers direct-seed, farmers not directly involved
they can establish the crop from in the project. Both Abdul and
about one-quarter of that.” Shadat invited their neighbors
to see their crop. About 50 local
By direct seeding, therefore,
farmers visited and, according
farmers can avoid the hardships to Abdul, were so impressed
of 2003, 2004, and 2005, when that they now plan to try direct
the monsoon rains arrived so late seeding themselves.
that many growers were unable “We should follow this in
the future,” concludes Shadat.
to establish a rice crop at all.
“We will continue to do this,
Further, even if there is sufficient even if the extension agents
rain for farmers to transplant on and the researchers have
time, they are still at the mercy gone.”
I
by Gene Hettel
DANIELE MARECHAL
Lao
Genuinely The story of the
project that
revolutionized rice
production in
Lao PDR
I
n 1990, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao
PDR) needed more food. The rice industry in par-
ticular and agriculture in general were ready for
change. It had been a long time since the country had
produced enough rice—from which the average Lao
person receives around two-thirds of his or her calories—to
feed everybody. Something needed to happen, and soon.
History tells us that change did arrive that year,
along with the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-
operation (SDC) and the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI). The Lao-IRRI Rice Research and Train-
ing Project aimed to completely revitalize the Lao rice
industry. The next 15 years would see an enormous
surge in Lao PDR’s research and training capacity as
well as the long, hard journey to rice self-sufficiency.
SAMJHANA SHRESTHA
DANIELE MARECHAL
22 Rice Today April-June 2006 Rice Today April-June 2006 23
102˚E 104˚E CHINA Tropic of Cancer
MYANMAR
C H I N A
John Schiller, the former IRRI LA
O
PD
scientist who led the project from its 22˚N
R
THAILAND
start in 1990 until 2001, recalls the
T NAM
Gulf
V
was almost no research aimed at Luang
developing technologies for im- Namtha South China Sea
g
no commercial fertilizer use, and Oudomxay
an
Houaphan Equator
ab
limited rice research expertise.” 20˚N
Pr
g
an
After Dr. Schiller left, Karl
Lu
Goeppert took over project manage- Xiengkhouang
ment in 2001-04, followed by IRRI
Xaysomboun
V
vin e
agronomist Bruce Linquist, who
Proentian
ce
ly
Special
IE
u
Zone
arrived in Lao PDR in 1997 and led
abo
Vi
T
Say
Bolikhamxay
the project in 2004-05. Dr. Linquist
N
points out that the country’s prob-
A
M
18˚N 18˚N
lems were compounded by a dearth Vientiane Prefecture Khammouane
of international aid before the project
began. “We were the only ones do-
ing rice research and we basically
started from scratch,” he says. T H A I L A N D
Savannakhet
IRRI entomologist
Gary Jahn, who took over
management of the 16˚N
Northern region
16˚N
14˚N 14˚N
102˚E 104˚E CA M B O D I A
24
DANIELE MARECHAL Rice Today April-June 2006
Ty Phommasack, the vice minister for Department at the Lao National Ag-
agriculture and forestry. “At the same ricultural Research Center, “Without
time, IRRI arrived with technolo- the Lao-IRRI Project, there would not
gies and know-how and SDC came have been national modern varieties
in with long-term financial support. to release. The project has created
The government’s support has been a ‘rice revolution’ in the country.”
a big factor from the very start, and At the same time, Lao farmers’
the impact it has had on the Lao rice traditional rice varieties are not be-
industry really is unprecedented.” ing sacrificed. The project has aimed
Dr. Schiller adds that the min- for a well-balanced development
ister for agriculture and forestry, of the country’s rice industry and,
Siene Saphangthong, who spent currently, around one-third of Lao
time at IRRI as a research scholar PDR’s rice-growing area is planted
and served on the institute’s board to Lao modern varieties, one-third
of trustees in 1996-2001, strongly to other modern varieties (developed
supported the project in its early in other countries and at IRRI), and
stages, when he was vice minister. one-third to traditional varieties.
“As a result,” he says, “we didn’t suf- While the impact of improved
25
Lao-IRRI-trained agronomist. When
he first visited Naoukhou in the late
1990s, it was a very poor village.
Now, largely thanks to his efforts,
they are self-sufficient in rice.”
As it happens, the rise of Naouk-
LAO farmer Mai Tamma of the village of Matahe, near
hou happened almost by accident, but
Luang Prabang, tells farmers and extension workers stands as an example of the project’s
at a December 2002 field day how hedgerows of stylo many unanticipated benefits.
National impact
with farmers this way compared “The capaci- Between 1990 and 2004, rice production increased from 1.5 million tons
with past methods. They told us, ty is there for the to 2.5 million tons.
The total investment of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
‘We used to have to look for farm- future,” agrees
in the Lao-IRRI Project was approximately $15 million. The benefit-cost
ers. Now farmers are coming to Dr. Linquist. ratio is 7:1—for every dollar invested in the project, the Lao economy
us and asking to work with us.’” “There are strong is reaping a benefit of $7.
The true success of the Lao- links established The estimated gain in production for 2004 directly attributable to the
IRRI Project—which is set to end between IRRI Lao-IRRI Project is 226,000 to 282,000 tons, corresponding to a value
of $26–32.4 million at the farm-gate price of $115 per ton.
in September 2006—will only be and the Lao na-
known years from now. But the tional partners. Institutional impact
impact so far has been impres- The big issue now During the early phases of the Lao-IRRI Project, in 1990-95, infrastructure
sive, with much of the country now is thinking of such as access roads, buildings, and laboratories, was constructed and
self-sufficient in rice. Work remains innovative ways research farms were established. Research and training facilities were
constructed in the Lao capital of Vientiane and in other regions.
to be done, though, with the less to continue the Lao-IRRI has established a network of research stations in all 17 provinces,
favorable areas of eastern Lao PDR research. But the forming part of a functional national rice research system.
still suffering from a rice deficit. capacity is there.” Lao PDR’s rice research and training capacity has been increased through
But the building blocks are in A fully more than 4,600 training opportunities, including higher degree training,
place. According to Dr. Monthathip, functional rice on-the-job training, and participation in international conferences.
The project has fostered collaboration between the national research system
the country now has the ability to research system
and a range of national and international organizations. Project alumni
continue improving on its own. is now a reality are now the main personnel collaborating with development agencies.
There is, she says, a confidence that in Lao PDR. This
simply didn’t exist 15 years ago. includes the es-
“The National Rice Research tablishment of a network of research “In just 15 years, Lao PDR has
Program is now sustainable,” says stations and a well-trained cadre progressed from subsistence rice
Dr. Monthathip. “Even if IRRI went of research scientists and manag- farming to more intensive production
home tomorrow, the rice industry ers. These people are now providing farming,” he says. “With sufficient
would be OK. But having IRRI in- scientific and management leadership support, the country will move to
volved has many benefits. It helps us to the country’s agricultural research the next level of development—com-
network with neighboring countries system, which has developed to a mercial farming and rice export. This
and international agencies, and it stage where it can fully participate stepwise approach to the development
gives us a broad overview that keeps in regional research initiatives and of rice-based economies has worked
things moving along smoothly.” networks. IRRI’s faith in Lao re- well for Vietnam and Thailand.
search capacity “The Lao-IRRI Project has
can be seen in effectively nurtured Lao PDR’s
the institute’s re- research system through its in-
quest to base its fancy. The system, which now has
Greater Mekong a critical mass of well-trained sci-
Regional Office entists and research managers,
in Lao PDR. Dr. has reached the point where it can
Jahn anticipates operate effectively on its own.”
PANY VANMANIVONG (right), who that Lao PDR This is a tremendous and last-
SAMJHANA SHRESTHA
works for the Lao Agricultural will play a pivotal ing contribution to national and
Research Organization, interviews
a farmer from northern Lao PDR role in regional institutional development that
for a survey on the impact of the agricultural will continue to pay handsome
Lao-IRRI Project.
challenges. dividends well into the future.
FUTURE
by Peter Fredenburg
T
THE MEKONG River, pictured here at
Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, is central
he Farming Systems Research Group to the lives of hundreds of millions
at Khon Kaen University, in Thailand’s of people. A boy carries rice straw
hardscrabble northeast, studies the (opposite) in the ethnic Khmer village
of Letri in An Giang Province, Vietnam.
evolution of local farming systems. In
collaboration with the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), it has focused particularly
on those that integrate rice farming with animal
husbandry. Suchint Simaraks, head of the research
group, recreates life on the farm in northeastern
Thailand as it was in the middle of the 20th century. almost entirely on buffalo power. Chemical fertilizer Times have changed in Thailand, were replaced by cash crops such as instituted in Thailand that gave
Most farmers, he says, grew their traditional varieties was unknown, so the manure shoveled off the corral even in the relatively traditional [fiber-producing] kenaf and cassava. emphasis to strengthening
of glutinous rice. It was eaten by hand or scrunched was the universal fertilizer. It nourished the mulberry and disadvantaged northeast. This, in turn, stimulated more exports, in particular agricultural
into a pocket, to be eaten during a moment’s shady rest trees that fed the silkworms that produced silk for the According to Dr. Suchint, integrated forest-clearing. At the same time, the exports,” Dr. Suchint says.
in the oppressive heat of the day. Rice was their major family to weave. It was used to fertilize tobacco crops, crop-animal systems started human population swelled, causing “These policies transformed
crop, planted with the first rains in May or June and was saved for the rice nursery before the rain, and getting squeezed in the 1970s as further acceleration of forest-clearing smallholdings from near subsistence
nurtured through the rainy season, which was equally was available for vegetable plots around the house. large tracts of forests disappeared, for settlements and more cash level to more commercialized
prone to flood or drought. If the weather was kind, In the dry season, the animals roamed freely leaving farmers short of grazing crops. The beasts could no longer and specialized systems.”
farmers had just enough rice to last through the year. But in the paddies, widely distributing their manure. areas for their cattle and buffalo. be allowed to wander free, and the Today, recovering prices for
the years without drought or flood were the occasional Farmers also threw manure into natural ponds to “Around 1961, more than half prices the livestock brought were not meat and growing demand for milk
ones, so farmers’ arts of survival were finely honed. feed the fish, crabs, and aquatic insects that would of the land in this area was covered high enough for farmers to continue have made livestock once again
Always wary of theft, they kept cattle and buffalo later feed humans. Nothing was wasted. Sometimes with forest,” he says. “When the raising them on their farms.” an attractive option for farmers.
under their houses at night. The animals were their farmers found personal nourishment in the manure government introduced timber Government policy accelerated Meanwhile, the Thai government
“money in the bank.” If an urgent need for cash arose, a itself: dung beetles for deep-frying, or the seeds of concessions, the forested area the trend. “During the past few actively encourages the revival of
beast was sold. Meanwhile, land preparation depended certain wild fruits to be shelled and eaten like nuts. declined sharply. The cleared forests decades, policy reforms were integrated crop-animal systems,
T
reports. “So, the traditional “Intensified development of he Mekong is a river of contrast and
farming system is recovering.” these systems is appealing as the transition. Springing clear and icy from the
Although large specialized farms major actors and beneficiaries rugged plateau of Tibet, it is most familiar
enjoy many commercial advantages are small farmers and landless worldwide as a maze of muddy channels threading
across the flat, steamy delta of southern Vietnam.
over more traditional smallholdings, families,” she adds. “However, In a journey of more than 4,000 kilometers,
Thailand’s experience shows the sustaining the complementarities NGUYEN DUY CAN (second from
the river traverses the southwestern Chinese
right), shown with diversified
danger of plunging headlong into between crop and animal activities province of Yunnan, slips along the easternmost
rice farmer Le Thanh Dang,
specialized agriculture without regard is a big challenge, especially in the observes that too few Viet-
tip of Myanmar, and drains almost all of Laos,
to its environmental, economic, rice areas of Southeast Asia.” Cambodia, and northeastern Thailand.
namese farmers fertilize their
Unlike many of the world’s major rivers, the
and social sustainability. As Thai Dr. Sombilla coordinated studies crops with manure, and that
Mekong has never been a unifier. In 1866-68, the
farmers rediscover the half-forgotten on integrated crop-animal systems pesticide overuse limits rice
French explorers Doudart de Lagrée and Francis
straw's use as livestock feed.
virtues of many of their traditional in the Greater Mekong countries of Garnier journeyed from colonial Saigon up the
integrated farm practices, less- Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam “great river,” as it was called in Vietnamese and
developed countries in the Greater (considering the Mekong and Red Khmer, to demonstrate that it was a “river road”
to China. They were wrong. Broken by rapids
Mekong Subregion can benefit from River deltas separately), as well as farming communities; and advise Cambodian Agricultural Research above the Khmer town of Kratie, and subject to
the Thai lesson—and from research in the Philippines and Indonesia. on how best to address the problems and Development Institute. “The extreme variations in seasonal flow, the Mekong to three-quarters of all workers in most areas
that aims to guide the evolution of The studies, published in the book that constrain their sustainable, great majority of the livestock has historically divided the peoples who live along of the subregion—accounting, in Cambodia,
integrated systems for the benefit Integrated Crop-Animal Systems in market-oriented development. are raised in integrated farming its shores and tributaries—a mélange of more Laos, and Myanmar, for more than half of all
of farmers and consumers alike. Southeast Asia: Current Status and “Livestock production in systems, most of which have rice than 70 distinct ethnic and linguistic groups. economic activity by value. In the Greater
Astonishingly, the first bridge across the Lower Mekong Subregion, agriculture means, first and
“Integrated crop-animal systems Prospects (available free at www. most parts of Cambodia is so as their major component.” Mekong, the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge near foremost, growing rice , largely at a subsistence
are popular because they maximize irri.org/livestock), describe these intimately related to rice production The recent difficulties faced Vientiane, did not open until April 1994. level. Rice occupies 60% or more of all farmland
the use of farm resources,” explains systems and track their evolution; that neither can be studied nor by Ing Chea, a rice farmer in Don Two years earlier, the Asian Development in the poorest areas.
Mercedita Sombilla, a former investigate their potential for poverty understood in isolation from the Keo District of Takeo Province, 80 Bank had encouraged Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, That rice and its cultivation are central
agricultural trade and development alleviation, food security, and other,” comments El Sotheary, kilometers south of Phnom Penh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan to join hands to the issues of poverty in the Greater Mekong
in a program of economic cooperation called Subregion holds true from all key perspectives:
specialist in IRRI’s Social Sciences livelihood improvement in rice- Dr. Sombilla’s collaborator at the demonstrates how critical the rice the Greater Mekong Subregion. The concept livelihood, nutrition, health, protecting the
component is. Chea, who once owned has facilitated infrastructure development environment and biological diversity, and
a herd of more than 10 cattle but and fostered international recognition of promoting equal opportunity. Rice is therefore
sold most of them in 1997 to pay for a new growth area, the indispensable
house construction and his daughter’s with the river serving Greater Mekong Subregion entry point by which
as a symbol of this agricultural scientists
wedding, now has four cows, a couple newborn spirit of and extensionists can
of pigs, and a dozen chickens. He has c o o p e ra t io n . T he work with farmers to
been unable to afford to rebuild his subregion’s 2.3 million ������������
improve their lives
herd. He uses manure as fertilizer for square kilometers are ����� and those of the poor
his two annual rice crops, and rice home to a combined urban residents who
population of 250 ������� ������� depend upon them for
straw to feed his cows. In a recent million, a total nearly affordable supplies of
season, though, he complained that equal to that of the
���
��� their daily rice.
he lost 90% of his grain to rice bugs, United States. Sharing Rice—
whose odor discouraged the cows With the arrival
��������
which offers snapshots
from eating the leaves and straw. of durable peace in the of rice research
1990s, Greater Mekong collaboration between
Sotheary points out that straw living standards have ��������
the International Rice
alone offers incomplete nutrition for improved. Yet per Research Institute and
cattle. Cambodian farmers rarely add capita gross domestic its local partners—
dietary supplements, though recently product in most of is dedicated “to
some have started treating the straw the region hovers the millions of rice
at the poverty line Boundaries are not farmers in the Greater
with urea. Pigs fare somewhat better of a dollar a day. necessarily authoritative Mekong Subregion who
on a diet that is about half rice bran. Persistent poverty continue to strive for
CAMBODIAN rice farmer “Rice bran is in itself a reasonable drives unsustainable agricultural practices that better lives for their families and to help feed a
Ing Chea (left) examines feed for pigs,” she says. “In fact, erode the public health and natural resources hungry world.”
his poorly filled rice grains upon which hope for a better future depends.
(inset) with Cambodian
raising pigs can be viewed as a
Rice pervades the Greater Mekong not just Adapted from the introduction of Sharing Rice, published
Agricultural Research and means of adding value to rice bran.” at mealtime. Agriculture employs two-thirds in 2006 by Sid Harta Publishers.
Development Instutute Farmers buy the bran from rice
agronomist Chea Chanthan. millers, who collect it as the milling
C
rop breeders have enjoyed remarkable success
in breeding plant varieties that resist pests
at opposite ends of the rice genome and diseases. As resistance is typically a
qualitative trait—meaning that it arises from
the effect of just one or a few genes—it is
a much more straightforward breeding target than
that provide tolerance for a dreaded tolerance of such abiotic stresses as drought, salinity,
acidity, aluminum toxicity, nutrient deficiency,
extreme temperature, or submergence. Abiotic stress
tolerance is almost always a quantitative trait, arising
duo of widespread stresses, high through the combined effects of several genes.
Yet, a few genes exist that, like resistance genes,
individually confer a degree of abiotic stress tolerance,
cracking open the door for researchers to breed these
salinity and phosphorus deficiency traits into popular cultivars. A collaboration led by the
where co-principal investigator grow long roots, but one with Pup1 the improved variety to farmers.
Matthias Wissuwa, who left IRRI in can. He is nevertheless careful not Molecular breeding develops the
2005, continues his work on Pup1. to oversell the gene he has been product 4–6 years more quickly
In fact, Pup1 has been following working for years to isolate. than conventional breeding, as well
Wissuwa around for years. Having “In an experimental background, as providing greater understanding
started the project as a European Pup1 triples the grain yield and of the gene and, as Wissuwa points
Union science and technology fellow dry weight,” he says, referring to a out, more options for its use. Finally,
at NIAS in 1999, Wissuwa continued standard measure of plant bulk. “But the clean and precise insertion of
working on it when he arrived of course we test with susceptible a single trait like those conferred
at IRRI in the Philippines as an varieties. We don’t know how much by Saltol and Pup1 saves additional
international research fellow in 2002. Pup1 will improve normal rice time following delivery of the new
“It’s good to be able to change cultivars because we don’t know if variety to national programs.
jobs and keep working on the same they already have it. If they don’t, it “Adding only one trait to
thing,” Wissuwa says. “What’s should double their grain yield on a familiar and popular variety
exciting about Pup1 is that it really severely phosphorus-deficient soils. accelerates its spread and adoption,”
does something positive in the “In any case, phosphorus uptake Ismail explains. “In some cases, you
field. We observed that plants with is an important trait for rainfed may not need to go through the full
Pup1 extract up to three times fields and uplands,” he continues. release process, which normally
as much naturally occurring soil “The risk of phosphorus deficiency is takes an additional 3 years after
phosphorus. These plants can higher there than in irrigated fields, delivery to national programs and
therefore fill a large portion of their and those farmers can rarely afford multiplication of seed. When farm
phosphorus requirement without fertilizer. Another thing makes this families are going hungry, or children
phosphorus fertilizers. This benefits research worthwhile — when you can’t go to school because their
the poorest rice farmers, who can’t actually have the gene, you can use it parents can’t pay the fees, any time
afford to buy enough fertilizer. in a very targeted way. You can even saved can make all the difference
“And Pup1 is one of the put it, for example, into maize.” in the world to those individuals.”
few cases where we’re close to After cloning, breeding a new
isolating the gene and have a clear gene into popular rice cultivars takes Adapted from Research Highlights 2005,
picture of its phenotypic effects,” 2 years, with another year required published by the Generation Challenge
Wissuwa adds. “Usually you have to multiply enough seed to deliver Program (www.generationcp.org).
one or the other, not both.”
As some traditional rice cultivars
take up 20 times more phosphorus
than other varieties, the project’s
mapping population descended from
a cross of the tolerant traditional
variety Kasalath with Nipponbare.
Pup1 is clearly associated with
vigorous root growth, but the cause-
and-effect question remains: Does
strong phosphorus uptake spur root
growth, or the other way around?
Either way, phosphorus
uptake is closely linked to drought
tolerance. As Wissuwa points out, Nipponbare NIL-C443 Kasalath
a plant lacking phosphorus cannot
Drought perpetuates
12,000
poverty 10,000
D
rought is a major constraint to largely account for the slow growth
6,000
rice production in Asia, where in rice production in Orissa over time,
at least 20% of the total rice and similar patterns are seen in other
area is drought prone. When rice is drought-prone areas in eastern India. 4,000
Poverty line
S
ince land was first cultivated to create a favorable environment farming practices. Repeated use of a single set of crop and weed
for crops, other less desirable plants have exploited the same management components will commonly result in the “deflection”
land more effectively. Control of weeds has been described of the weed composition to a single weed species. Further, in some
as humanity’s biggest single occupation, and while herbicides have rice growing areas weeds have evolved resistance to regularly
greatly reduced the effort needed to control weeds in some farming used herbicides, making them increasingly difficult to manage.
systems, in others, controlling them requires more labor than any To counter such problems, we need long-term weed management
other facet of crop production up to harvest. Weed control can also strategies that aim to prevent the buildup of problem weeds and
account for a significant portion of crop costs. to make the most of opportunities for cultural control.
Many lowland rice systems—ranging from highly developed In this light, knowledge of how the weed species react to
irrigated systems to hillside terraces—integrate several “cultural” different management practices over several seasons can be
weed control elements into crop management. Floodwater, on used to predict changes and avoid problems. Any change—such
puddled fields, to suppress weed growth as a move from transplanting to direct
is the most widespread. Another, the seeding or from f looded to dr yland
transplanting of rice seedlings, gives conditions—will tend to favor a new set
the seedlings a size advantage over Farmers need knowledge- of weeds, while species that thrived in
any germinating weeds and allows the previous conditions may decline in
farmers to maintain floodwater and avoid based crop and dominance. By anticipating changes in
draining the field, which stimulates weed weed composition, farmers can alter their
germination. A third approach, thorough crop management in response to emerging
land preparation, involves repeated
water management problems and implement more effective
cultivation, which kills existing weeds and weed management strategies. Further, by
depletes the soil’s “seed bank.” options to form the rotating through a series of management
In many areas, however, water and practices, farmers can limit the chance of
labor shortages are forcing farmers into cornerstones of future species becoming dominant.
new approaches. Direct seeding of rice, Crop management rotations have not
for example, requires less labor than yet played a role in many of the modern
transplanting and water shortages lead
weed control strategies rice systems, but these may have a greater
to reduced periods of flooding. Further, role in the future. Changing the timing
reduced tillage systems allow farmers to and depth of flooding, altering soil tillage
save energy costs, which have risen steeply in recent years. and crop establishment practices, direct seeding rather than
Any one field may be home to dozens of plant species other transplanting, alternating rice with other crops, and varying
than the crop itself, though only a few of these are likely to be herbicides are examples of management practices that can affect
important weeds. Prevailing growing conditions will usually the composition of weeds and prevent the build-up of individual
favor a small number of weeds, which may consequently cause species.
serious problems. If a farmer changes the field conditions—by Agronomists must better exploit knowledge of how different
direct seeding or reducing flooding, for example—other species weeds respond to varying ways of managing a crop. Farmers need
may become dominant. The composition of a field’s weeds and soil knowledge-based crop and water management rotations that can
seed bank reflect current and past crop management and farmers, form the cornerstones of future weed control strategies. Weed
particularly in traditional farming systems, often use certain management is an age-old problem but it remains as relevant
species as indicators of the system’s overall health. and challenging today as ever, and it is one that we ignore at
In the modern systems of intensive rice cultivation and our peril.
repetitive crop management, there may only be a very limited
number of species occurring—often annual grasses that have David Johnson is a senior weed scientist in IRRI’s Crop, Soil, and Water
similar growth habits to rice and are able to thrive under existing Sciences Division.
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39
40 Rice Today April-June 2006