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International Rice Research Institute October-December 2007, Vol. 6, No. 4
Rice in China
Feeding the world’s most populous country
ISSN 1655-5422
contents
Vol. 6, No. 4
Rice Today is published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the world’s Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used in this publication
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NEWS http://ricenews.irri.org
I
US$/ton
nternational rice prices continue to edition of India’s Economic Times 480
rise, maintaining an upward trend newspaper noted that India’s rice
since March, according to the Food and production is struggling to meet
Agriculture Organization’s Rice Market domestic demand. India was 430
Monitor. Prices of aromatic rice, in consistently exporting 5 million tons US$2/4%
particular, have continued to surge, due of rice every year, but, “Instead of Thai 100% B
to low export availability. Record-low keeping pace with demand, this kharif 380 Viet 5%
Pak Irri-25%
rice reserves, extreme weather events, [the summer, or monsoon, season],
Thai A1 Super
fickle monsoon rains, pest and disease production has been stagnant at 80
330
outbreaks, and a weakening U.S. dollar million tons, according to the first
are some of the key factors that have advance crop estimates … With wheat
combined to push up prices. harvests already whimsical, the last 280
A recent page-one story in the 28 thing India needs is unpredictable rice
September edition of the Wall Street production. We managed to tide over
Journal said that, “Rising prices and the wheat shortage only by pushing 230
surging demand for the crops that more rice into ration shops. If rice
supply half of the world’s calories are itself is scarce, India would be in the
producing the biggest changes in global proverbial hot soup.” 180
May-07
Nov-06
Mar-07
Sep-06
Sep-07
Jan-07
food markets in 30 years, altering the In the face of the rising prices,
Jul-07
economic landscape for everyone from Vietnam has banned further exports
consumers and farmers to corporate until 2008. The September decision, Source: FAO Rice Price Update October 2007
giants and the world’s poor.” The story by the agriculture ministry, is designed
quoted Dan Basse, president of Chicago- to ensure domestic food security. weather and pest infestations may
based commodity forecasting company Vietnam’s 2007 export target of 4 lower production, which, in September,
AgResource Co., as saying that, “The million tons has already been reached. was down 200,000 tons compared to
days of cheap grain are gone.” There are also concerns that extreme the same period in 2006.
Certification for IRRI farm of rice technology supporting food Papa Abdoulaye Seck said that a crisis
IR R I’s E x per iment Station (ES) security. could be averted if African governments
Env ironmental Management focus on boosting regional production
System was ISO 14001 certified in China joins rice body and avoid dependence on imports.
August. According to ES manager China has become a member of the Dr. Seck predicted the trend would
A r nold Manza, ISO 14001 is an International Rice Commission (IRC). continue due to rising demand in the
internationally recognized standard Founded in 1949 by the The Food and growing populations of Asia coupled
for env ironmenta lly sustainable Agriculture Organization of the United with a reduction in land under rice.
systems, and as such demonstrates Nations, the IRC—currently with
IRRI’s commitment to environmental more than 60 member countries and Thailand, IRRI sign rice pact
sustainability. The award required regions—promotes cooperation among Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture
strict environmental policies to be members in rice production, storage, and Cooperatives and IRR I have
planned, implemented, and monitored distribution, and consumption. The signed an agreement to expand their
for compliance. One example of the Commission also discusses rice-related existing bilateral cooperation in rice
environmental progress on the ES is science and technology and economic development to increase the value of
the 95% reduction in pesticide use since issues, and encourages and coordinates Thai rice, according to Thai Agriculture
the station was first created. research cooperation. and Cooperatives Minister Thira
Sutabutr. The agreement was signed by
Indonesian award Africa rice shortage? Mr. Thira and IRRI Director General
Indonesia’s 2007 Achmad Bakrie Diminishing imports from Asia are Robert Zeigler in Thailand on 27 June.
Award, presented for outstanding threatening a rice shortage in Kenya— Under the terms of the agreement,
achievement by a person or institution, and possibly all of Africa—according cooperation between Thailand and
has gone to the Indonesian Center for to agricultural experts there. However, IRRI would be upgraded from the
Rice Research for its development Africa Rice Center Director General department level to the ministry level.
T
the position. IRRI’s independent 15-
he International variety after the September
member Board of Trustees meets twice board meeting.
R ic e Re se a rch
a year to set the Institute’s policies and
Institute (IR R I)
review its research agenda.
has announced the
The Board met on 19-21 September
appointment of
2007 in Vientiane, Laos, to confirm the
leading Australian
Queensland DPI
Keeping up with IRRI staff Crop and Env ironmenta l recognition of their contributions to
Sciences Division (CESD) Head T.P. rice research in Vietnam. The awardees
E ntomolo g i s t G a r y C . Ja h n
(pictured, right), IRRI coordinator
for the Greater Mekong Subregion,
will receive an International Plant
Protection Award of Distinction from
the International Association for the
Plant Protection Sciences. Dr. Jahn,
who was scheduled to receive the award
on 15 October at the International
Plant Protection Congress in Glasgow,
Aileen Rondilla
Scotland, was honored for major
contributions to the promotion of
global plant protection.
IRRI Board of Trustees member Physiology, and Functional Genomics, Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Borlaug
Ralph Anthony (“Tony”) Fischer which discussed the past successes was honored for his work that spurred
(pictured, left) was included in the of Australian wheat breeding and the the Green Revolution of the 1960s,
2007 Queen’s Birthday Honors List challenges of the future. for which he is credited with saving
announcements when he was named Former IRRI Deputy Director more than one billion lives. The Medal
as a member of the Order of Australia General for Research Ren Wang was was presented on 17 July in the U.S.
(AM). He is recognized for his “service awarded an honorary professorship Capitol Rotunda by President George
to agricultural science in Australia and by China’s Huazhong Agricultural W. Bush and Speaker of the House
developing countries, particularly wheat University. Dr. Wang, now director of Nancy Pelosi.
research in the areas of grain yield and the Consultative Group on International David Mackill, program leader
crop cultivation and management.” Dr. Agricultural Research, was recognized for rainfed environments, has been
Fischer was also awarded the 2007 for his contributions to agricultural elected as a Fellow of the American
Farrer Memorial Medal, which honors research and capacity building of Society of Agronomy (ASA) for 2007.
distinguished service in Australian national agricultural research and He is scheduled to receive his award
agricultural science. He received the extension systems. during the ASA annual meeting on
award on 14 August at a ceremony in Nobel Pe ac e P r i z e L au re ate 4-8 November in New Orleans, USA.
Australia’s capital, Canberra, at which Norman E. Borlaug received the IRRI consultant Gelia Castillo was
he gave the 2007 Farrer Oration, highest honor that the U.S. Congress named this year’s Most Distinguished
Improvement in Wheat Yield: Farrer, can bestow upon a civ ilian—the University of the Philippines (UP)
Alumna during the UP General Alumni-
Faculty Homecoming and Reunion at
UP’s Diliman campus in Manila on
23 June.
Zakaria L. Kanyeka has joined
IRRI as regional plant breeder for
East and Southern A frica (ESA),
based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
He will work with IRRI staff and the
national rice programs to develop a
regional rice breeding plan and rice
seed multiplication guidelines for ESA
countries. Achim Dobermann has
returned to IRRI as leader, Program 2
(Sustaining productivity in intensive
Claessens personal Collection
T
he land around Pang plant rice, maize, tea, cassava, that’s thrown at it—from seeds
Cang village of Suoi soybeans, peanuts, and more. There to arduous, spirit-crushing
Giang Commune in is no irrigation for these sloping labor—and offers little in return.
Vietnam’s northern uplands; farmers rely solely on the “Who would do that if they had
province of Yen Bai is wet-season rains that (they hope) other options?” asks Sushil Pandey,
steep. To give you an idea of just how begin in May or June. And these senior agricultural economist at the
steep, when the locals cycle down slopes are not farmed for their International Rice Research Institute
to Van Chan, 12 kilometers away, high yields. In some cases, 100 (IRRI). Dr Pandey, leader of IRRI’s
some of them hook a tree branch to kilograms of seed produces a mere Rice policy support and impact
the back of their bike to act as an 800 kilograms of rice at harvest. assessment research program, is
extra brake. Some don’t even bother The answer, then, is that nobody leading two projects in Vietnam and
keeping a chain on their bikes—you would want to farm here—they do Laos, as well as India and Nepal (see
either roll downhill or walk up. it because they have no choice. Who, what, and where on page 15).
Riding uphill is not an option. Not far away, in the agriculturally The research team is investigating
Seeing this terrain for the first and climatically similar uplands ways of improving food security,
time, one can’t help but ask: why of northern Laos, the situation reducing poverty, and minimizing
on earth would anybody want to is the same. Through a lack of environmental degradation in the
farm this land? On hills that most alternatives, families are forced to uplands. His question is rhetorical.
people would refuse to hike, people farm land that sucks in everything The point is that most people here
Sushil Pandey
Laos and Vietnam their distinctive constant problems and weed (IFAD) and the Consultative Group on
green-brown-black patchwork look. management requires intensive International Agricultural Research
The endemic poverty in these labor (manually weeding flat fields (CGIAR) Challenge Program on Water
areas means that farmers either is a thankless task in itself; imagine and Food (CPWF)—aim to develop,
can’t afford or are unwilling to buy doing it in the scorching, humid validate, and deliver technologies for
basic inputs such as fertilizer. Living summer on muddy, 45-degree slopes). poverty reduction through improved
conditions are as austere as they Compounding the problem of management of rice landscapes
come. Many people live in small huts poor productivity is inadequate while also improving the way water
with a few basic possessions—little access to markets. Even if farmers is used in poor farming areas.
more than some cooking pots and a do manage to grow a cash crop or a The “rice landscapes” approach
few utensils. This tenuous day-to-day rice surplus, many farms are several calls for intensification of food
existence means that farmers in these hours along narrow mountain production in favorable pockets of the
unfavorable areas are risk-averse and footpaths from the nearest place uplands so that pressure to intensify
either unable or reluctant to invest in where they can sell their produce. production in the less favorable, more
technologies that may help them later. The research, which represents fragile areas can be reduced. These
The harsh weather—long, IRRI’s strategic efforts to reduce favorable pockets include productive
dry, cold winters and very wet, poverty and improve environmental wetland paddies in valley bottoms
hot summers—is another major sustainability in uplands, focuses and terraced fields (or “upland
constraint. Pests and weeds are on managing rice landscapes in paddies”) where irrigated rice can be
marginal uplands. The projects— grown. They also include dry terraces
partly funded by the International and fields with lower slopes that are
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Fund for Agricultural Development better able to retain moisture and
nutrients than the steeply sloping
����������� areas. Dr. Pandey emphasizes
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����������� ��������������� that, rather than being limited
�������������
to the management of rice fields
��������
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alone, these projects are about rice
������������������
������������ landscape management as a whole.
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����������������������
���������������� By increasing rice
productivity, farmers
can free up land
The virtuous circle paves ������������ and labor for cash
the way to sustainable rice ������������
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production and does away �����������
����������������� crops or other
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with the vicious circle, which income-generating
perpetuates food insecurity, �������������
���������� activities. If a family
poverty, and environmental ������
degradation. is assured enough rice to
feed itself each year, farmers
������������������� �������������� can consider other components
�����������
���������������� of agriculture that may be more
���������� appropriate for these steeply sloping
areas, such as animal husbandry, tree
plantations, or forestry production. “The basic motto of our work is start the process of income growth.”
There are other flow-on ‘income growth with household food There have been attempts in the
effects that stem from increased security,’” says Dr. Pandey. “Often past to encourage upland farmers
rice productivity. Ultimately, it these are seen as competing goals. to reduce the amount of land they
will mean that the amount of What we are saying is that you can plant to rice and grow crops that can
land used for shifting cultivation, have income growth built on the be sold on the external market, thus
which encroaches on forests and foundation of food security. If you raising income and allowing people
contributes to environmental can use fewer resources to grow food, to buy the extra rice they need to
degradation, will decrease. you free up resources so that you can feed themselves. IRRI social scientist
O
ffering farmers appropriate
technologies can help them
shift from the vicious to the
virtuous circle. Such technologies
include
• New and improved seeds. These
are improved aerobic varieties suited
to upland conditions that produce
higher yields than the varieties
currently being grown (suitable Randy Ritzema monitors water
activity at a research site in
aerobic varieties can achieve 1–1.5
Luang Prabang, Laos.
tons per hectare more than the 1–1.2
tons per hectare yield of traditional varieties).
• New breeding lines. Through the International Network for Genetic Evaluation of
Rice, Lao and Vietnamese national research institutes have received breeding lines that
are being used to identify improved rice varieties adapted to both paddy (irrigated) and
upland (nonirrigated) conditions.
• Purification of seed stocks of traditional rice varieties. Most farmers in the sloping
uplands plant from a mixed seed stock. Identifying the best traditional varieties for the
prevailing conditions and management practices, and using pure stocks of these, result in
better yields. Local agricultural agencies will have the responsibility of training farmers to
maintain pure seed stocks. In Laos, where NAFReC has done most of the seed purification
and multiplication work, there is interest in setting up a community-based seed production
system to meet local seed requirements.
• Best-practice management of rice cropping systems. For example, the addition of short-
duration legume crops such as soybean or mungbean, or direct seeding of rice in rainfed
lowlands, may allow farmers to harvest earlier and grow a second rice crop in one year.
• Alternative cropping systems. These are crop combinations with upland rice and
improved fallow rotations that reduce soil erosion and weed infestation, enhance soil
fertility, and generate income. These systems include rice-based rotations with leguminous
Hari Gurung cautions that these
cash crops such as pigeon pea and paper mulberry, and rice-beans. Besides grain production,
pigeon pea may also serve as a host for the insects that secrete sticlac, which is used strategies are often perilous, though.
as an industrial resin and fetches a good market price. After several years of harvesting “One option might be to
sticlac, pigeon pea can be incorporated into the soil as a green manure in preparation for encourage upland farmers to stop
a return to rice or other crops. growing rice and grow cash crops
• Restoration of weed-infested areas. For example, this involves combining appropriate
such as tea, coffee, or rubber—but
herbicide use to control the perennial grass Imperata, which commonly invades land
under short fallow rotations, and subsequently establishing pigeon pea to prevent that can be socioeconomically
reinfestation. disastrous,” says Dr. Gurung. “The
• Technologies for soil fertility maintenance. In combination with fertilizers, rice crops subsistence-oriented highland
can be interspersed with crops that add nitrogen to the soil and/or deep-rooted species communities are already vulnerable;
that enhance nutrient cycling.
rapid exposure to markets and
• Technologies for improved water use. “Aerobic” rice varieties, which require less water
than irrigated varieties, are an example of an important technology for increasing water fluctuating market forces can increase
productivity. Rice irrigation regimes, such as alternative wetting-and-drying similarly can their vulnerability. If the market
increase water productivity by enabling farmers to plant a larger area of irrigated rice than collapses, not only will people be left
would be possible otherwise. with nothing to eat, but they will also
lose the basis of their livelihoods.”
Rice terraces near Pang Cang Strategies to improve rice
village, Suoi Giang Commune,
Vietnam, allow a second yearly production in the sloping uplands
rice crop. (see Appropriate technologies, left)
include the introduction of superior
seeds (either higher-yielding modern
varieties or pure seed stocks of
high-quality traditional varieties)
and improved management options
that maintain or rejuvenate soil
fertility. This approach includes
better fallow systems in which
legumes, for example, are planted
and later incorporated into the soil.
Although the projects are still
in their early stages, people in some
“S
cientists are basically insect resistance to drought tolerance. says. “These students have made a
storytellers; we have At the same time, he has mentored major contribution to the work of my
to tell convincing Ph.D. students, sung as a member of group, although they would be the
stories. Musical the IRRI choir, and acted in plays and first to say that the Philippine staff
and theater performers are musicals with his IRRI colleagues. here has made a major contribution
storytellers too. I enjoy the task Dr. Bennett finds all of these to their work. It is very nice that
of converting a written word into very fulfilling, but mentions that we can have students come to IRRI
an entertaining experience.” sharing his expertise through and find a team of people willing to
His own words best encapsulate teaching is perhaps the source help them, the Philippine staff—who
who John Bennett is and what he of greatest satisfaction. also learn a lot from the students.”
does. Since 1992, as senior scientist “One joy for me is working Listening to his many
at the International Rice Research with students from the Philippines stories about his life at IRRI, Dr.
Institute (IRRI), he has been using and other countries, including Bennett’s passion for teaching
IRRI
it would be nice to have me come cell division, cell elongation, or both, ENHANCING INSECT RESISTANCE: Dr. Bennett, in his
paper coveralls, inspects a new transgenic plant.
to IRRI. Working in India for 3 and which varieties are better than
years was very, very exciting but others at this process under stress.
it was very attractive to be able to “As far as heat stress is no plans for an idle retirement.
come to a place which conducts rice concerned, we know that plants are “Molecular biology is a very rapidly
research across the whole board, vulnerable to heat when they open developing field,” he says. “Young
from social sciences to genetics to their flowers. I was fascinated to people coming into the field have
natural resource management. And see that the heat-sensitive variety to learn a lot of molecular biology,
not to forget things like the library Moroberekan opened its flowers both practical techniques and
and historical records of rice, and the between 10 a.m. and noon, when the theory underlying it, but we
wonderful tradition—it seemed like temperatures are high, whereas the are falling behind a little bit in
an opportunity not to be missed.” more heat-tolerant variety IR64 linking this molecular biology with
Thus began his career at IRRI, opened its flowers between 8 a.m. other sorts of biology, particularly
which is highlighted by an impressive and 10 a.m. We are looking at the physiology. In my retirement, I want
list of research achievements. From genetic basis of this difference in to explore systems biology, where
1992 to 2000, Dr. Bennett’s work on opening time to see if it explains different levels are integrated.”
insect resistance allowed his team the difference in heat sensitivity.” Dr. Bennett grew up in Sydney,
to map rice genes for resistance After IRRI, Dr. Bennett has Australia, and will divide his
to Asian rice gall midge. Through time between Sydney and his
marker-aided selection, the genes wife’s hometown of Colombo, Sri
were used to develop varieties with Lanka, after he finishes at IRRI
enhanced gall midge resistance in December. But his home for
in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, the past 15 years, Los Baños,
and Tamil Nadu (India), and Philippines, will not be forgotten.
Guangzhou (China). His research “Life has been very nice here.
on disease has resulted in rice We’ve really enjoyed being with the
with increased resistance to sheath Filipino people; it was a brilliant
blight fungus and bacterial blight. idea to put IRRI in the Philippines.”
One of Dr. Bennett’s most Like a child promised a reward
challenging, and potentially after hard work, Dr. Bennett looks
rewarding, areas of research has forward to the day when he can
been his work on apomixis—a trait, sit back and look after the three
seen in other cereals but not rice, “mothers” in his life—his wife,
that allows seed formation without his mother, and his mother-in-
fertilization. Achieving apomixis in law. He recites the question he
high-yielding hybrid rice varieties will delight in: “Would you like
would allow farmers to reuse hybrid a book to be read to you?”
seed rather than purchase new seed It is, of course, a question that
Crissan Zeigler
each season, thereby decreasing the will be met with a resounding “yes!”
cost and increasing the flexibility With a big smile, Dr. Bennett
of hybrid rice production. says that “Reading to someone, be
More recently, Dr. Bennett has Theatrical Flair: Dr. Bennett (right) and IRRI it science or art, is a way of sharing.
turned his attention to unraveling Director for Program Planning and Communications When you’re reading a book to
Mike Jackson, then head of the Institute’s Genetic
the secrets of why rice plants are Resources Center, as, respectively, King Richard the yourself, you don’t immediately share
susceptible to drought and heat, two Lionhearted and Prince John in a 1997 IRRI produc- it; if you’re reading to someone else,
environmental stresses that devastate tion of Robin Hood. you share it with them immediately.”
by Adam Barclay yields are higher than those of most each flower contains both male and
A
of its neighboring countries. There female organs, allowing the plant
country that is home to are many reasons for this, but one in to reproduce itself through self-
around one-fifth of the particular is the way that the country pollination (inbreeding). Hybrid
entire planet’s population has not only embraced hybrid rice rice seeds, however, are produced
faces some serious but also become the world leader from crossing two genetically
challenges. Perhaps the most in its research and development. different parents. This results in the
fundamental of these is the question In conventional rice varieties, phenomenon of heterosis—commonly
of how it feeds itself. Ensuring known as hybrid vigor—and the
enough food for 1.3 billion stomachs The flowers consequent higher yields.
of a modern
is, to say the least, extraordinarily rice plant
Hybrid vigor is expressed
difficult. But it is something that, (Oryza sativa). during the plant’s early vegetative
over the past few decades, China and reproductive growth stages.
has done remarkably well. Young hybrid seedlings have faster
One of the reasons for China’s root and leaf-area development and
recent food-security success is its better canopy development; the
impressively high rice yields. In the mature plant has increased total
midst of much hunger and starvation dry matter, larger panicles (the
in the 1960s, it was clear the country terminal shoots of a rice plant that
needed to boost its agricultural produce grain), more spikelets (units
Rowena Oane
output. Now, at an average of more of the rice flower) per unit area,
than 6 tons per hectare, China’s increased total weight of grains,
B
etween 1979 and 2005, rice and eat less rice. Other rice lands 0.03 ºC per year.2 Warming has
area in China decreased from have been used for construction. been strongest at high latitudes, and
32.4 to 28.8 million hectares. The decline in rice area in minimum temperature has increased
At the same time, average yields went the relatively poor southwestern more than maximum temperature.
up from 4.2 tons per hectare in 1979 provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan Warming in northeast China has
to about 6.3 tons per hectare in 1997 has been much less than that of been particularly strong (Map 3).
and thereafter. Because other southern provinces. The average minimum temperature
of these opposite trends, “Stable rice production However, economic in Heilongjiang is now about 2.5 ºC
annual Chinese rice conceals major shifts development does not seem higher than it was in the early 1960s!
production has been in the location and to explain the increase A yield decline associated with
fairly stable at 170–190 cropping patterns
in rice production in increasing minimum temperatures
million tons since the northeast. The main has been observed in long-term
1983.1 But this apparent of rice in China” income gradient in China trials at the International Rice
stability conceals (Map 2) is from east to Research Institute in the Philippines.3
major shifts in the location and west and not from north to south. But, in relatively cool areas such
cropping patterns of rice in China. The increase in rice area in the as Heilongjiang, warming may
Rice cultivation in China is north may be related to an increased have contributed to higher yields
moving northward (see Map 1). demand for japonica-type rice, through a longer growing season
From 1979 to 2005, the southern which is better adapted to temperate and reduced cold stress.
province of Guangdong lost half climates, or to an expansion of Only a few studies have analyzed
its rice area, a decrease of 85,000 irrigation infrastructure. Another the influence of past climate change
hectares per year. Over the same factor that may have contributed on crop production.4 A challenge in
period, the northeastern province
of Heilongjiang gained 64,000
hectares per year. Together, the four 1
northern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin,
Nei Mongol, and Heilongjiang had
2.7% of the Chinese rice area in 1979
and 11.5% in 2005. These provinces
have also seen relatively strong
increases in yield. In Heilongjiang,
for example, yields have gone up
150 kilograms per hectare per
year—almost twice the annual
yield gain for the whole of China.
Economic development has
strongly contributed to the decrease
in rice area in the south. Because of
an increased demand for off-farm
labor, double cropping of rice—only
possible in southern China—is
being replaced by a more labor-
efficient single rice crop. Some of
the land and labor that were used
for rice production are now used to
1
Data available in the World Rice Statistics database at www.irri.org/science/ricestat.
2
Global average, only considering temperatures over land, excluding Antarctica. Estimate based on data
by Mitchell and Jones (2005), International Journal of Climatology 25:693-712.
3
Peng et al (2004). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 101:9971-9975. www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/101/27/9971.
4
Examples of such work include You et al (2005), Environment and Production Technology Discussion Paper 143, IFPRI. www.ifpri.org/divs/eptd/dp/papers/
eptdp143.pdf, and Lobell and Field (2007), Environmental Research Letters 2:014002. www.iop.org/EJ/article/1748-9326/2/1/014002/erl7_1_014002.html.
High and
Story and photos by
Adam Barclay
O
n a steaming hot Beijing China. The push to establish a large- into the car to head back to
day in August 2007, a scale aerobic rice production system, the university campus, Huaqi
group of researchers which achieves high yields using a Wang—the breeder responsible for
from China Agricultural fraction of the water required for the several aerobic rice varieties
University (CAU) visited flood-irrigated rice (known simply as we’d inspected—turned to us.
their experimental station on the lowland rice), is gaining momentum. “Before we return, I want
edge of the gigantic city. Several There are wrinkles to be ironed to show you something,” said
hectares of what has come to be out, but the potential, in the face Prof. Wang, director of CAU’s
known as aerobic rice—grown of widespread and ever-worsening Upland Rice Research Center.
like any other nonrice crop, in water availability, is enormous. Without any explanation, we
unflooded fields—stood oblivious On this day, though, it wasn’t drove to another rice field, a few
to the brutal, unforgiving sun. the aerobic rice that grabbed kilometers away. This half-hectare of
This is why Rice Today was in our attention. As we climbed healthy looking rice, belonging to a
Ariel Javellana
Making a point including very dry climates, poor
about aerobic rice: soils, and often sloping land. What
IRRI water scientist
Bas Bouman. if the sturdiness of upland rice
could be combined with the high-
yielding traits of lowland rice?
Yang, who researches water-saving So, in 2000, Dr. Bouman
agricultural technologies, says started asking agronomists and
that the water situation, especially plant physiologists about the idea.
in northern China, has become “The answer I always got,” he
desperate. “In Beijing,” she says, “the says, “was, ‘It’s just not possible—rice
groundwater depth is very low—at is not like that, rice is different.’
least 20 meters below the surface So I parked the idea for a while,
and dropping further every year.” until I learned about the work
Beijing, in China’s north, is to improve upland rice in more
home to more wheat and maize favorable environments. There were
than rice, but the field in front of us people at IRRI with basically the
symbolized not only a dying practice same idea, but not in the irrigated
dry
but also the promise of water-saving lowland environment. They were
technologies like aerobic rice. working in the sloping uplands,
Perhaps, we lamented, it should be trying to improve upland rice.”
preserved as a museum exhibit. Like most good ideas, aerobic rice
According to Prof. Yang, as was, in theory, fundamentally simple.
recently as 10 years ago, a lot of It also turned out that it wasn’t the
lowland rice was grown in Beijing. first time somebody had thought
“Now,” she says,” apart from this field, of it. The IRRI upland researchers
there’s none. But people here want introduced Dr. Bouman to Prof.
rice—therefore, we need aerobic rice.” Wang, who, at that time, had been
When water is scarce, rice
is inevitably the worst-affected
crop. Compared with the world’s
other major staples, wheat and
maize, rice uses around twice as
much water—roughly 2,000 liters
to produce a single kilogram.
Plant nutritionist Shan Lin, from
local farmer, represented something CAU’s Department of Plant Nutrition,
truly momentous. It was the last points out just how thirsty lowland
remaining plot of commercial lowland rice is. “In China, 70% of water is used
rice in the municipality of Beijing. in agriculture; 70% of that is used in
With a wry laugh, Prof. Wang rice production,” he says. “In terms of
told us that soon it would be gone too, rainfall or irrigation water, lowland
muscled out by a still rapidly growing rice needs approximately 1,000–
population and fast-encroaching 1,500 millimeters. Aerobic rice needs
urban and industrial works, whose around 600 millimeters. Aerobic
prodigious hunger for land and thirst rice can really help us save water.”
for water mean that there simply isn’t Bas Bouman, senior water
enough of either for lowland rice. scientist and aerobic rice work-group Anhui Province farmer Guangyun Dai
CAU water expert Xiaoguang leader at the Philippines-based shows off one of his aerobic rice plants.
may plant 150 mu (10 hectares) in 2008. aerobic rice—it costs much less than lowland
Aerobic rice farmers (from In July and August of 2007, the maize rice. If everything goes well, our village can
left) Chunjian Wang, Chunguo crops were again hammered by heavy rain grow more than 200 mu [13.3 hectares] of
Wang, and Chunqiao Wang.
and floods; the farmers expect yields 40–50% aerobic rice.”
County. In 2007, the figure stands at by lowland rice, and was planted growing aerobic rice in 2007.”
about 16,000 hectares, about 20% of in water-scarce areas side by side Despite 2006’s poor yields, many
which are planted to aerobic rice. with dryland crops such as maize farmers have persisted with aerobic
In a 2005 survey among farmers and soybean. Despite the lower rice. In Shuanghu village, Mengcheng,
in Kaifeng County, Hunan Province, yield, profits returned from growing of the five farm families who grew
and Fengtai County, Anhui Province, aerobic rice, at around $330 per aerobic rice in 2006, two quit and
IRRI economist Pie Moya found that hectare per season, were the same three are continuing. Xianming Wu,
aerobic rice farmers achieved average as obtained from growing maize. a 60-year-old farmer who grows rice,
yields of 4.2 tons per hectare, versus Aerobic rice is still very much maize, and soybeans on 5 mu (15 mu
5.8 tons per hectare for lowland an emerging technology, though, are equal to 1 hectare), is an aerobic
rice. However, aerobic rice received and it must be improved if it is to rice believer. In 2006, he grew aerobic
only 2–3 irrigations, versus 10–13 achieve its potential. Prof. Xie is rice on 1.5 mu, achieving a total
working with farmers in Mengcheng harvest of 450 kilograms (equivalent
County, Anhui, to develop aerobic to 4.5 tons per
rice crop management systems. hectare)—more
A Fengtai farmer in
Prof. Xie, who first examined than his his freshly planted
aerobic rice in Mengcheng in 2005, neighbors but aerobic rice field.
says the farmers were initially very lower than he
interested. The following year, had hoped.
many farmers tried aerobic rice, So, why did
and, with only a month left before he persevere with
harvest, the crops looked excellent. aerobic rice in
“We believed they would yield 2007? Unable to
more than 6 tons per hectare,” obtain enough
recalls Prof. Xie. “But, in the last water for lowland
month, pests and perhaps drought production, Mr.
Aerobic rice can withstand heavy rains and flood-
ing that will badly damage dryland crops such as
caused poor grain filling and the Wu says that it’s
maize or soybean. This field in Mengcheng was hit by yield ended up very low. As a result, very important to
severe rains in July and August 2007. many of the farmers have stopped him that he can
grow and eat his own rice. Around caused the temporary relocation of Mengcheng, was not hit with a
20 years ago, he grew lowland rice, 160,000 people and the loss of huge major pest outbreak recently. This,
but the nearby river that irrigated his numbers of crops, for which the says Dr. Peng, helps explain the
fields ceased to provide enough water. government paid compensation. apparent aerobic rice boom.
Mr. Wu keeps all the aerobic rice Shuanghu village residents “It’s like a battle between aerobic
he grows for himself and his family, did not need relocation, but their rice and maize, as a summer crop,”
but if things go well he’d like to start dryland crops, maize and soybean, he explains. “The excessive rain in
selling some. As a bonus, he and his were devastated. Mr. Wu expects Funan has helped aerobic rice win
family prefer the taste and texture that his 2007 maize and soybean that battle. In other counties, the
of aerobic rice to those of the hybrid yields will be less than half his conditions might favor maize for
rice planted in most flooded fields. 2006 yields. His aerobic rice, on the one season, and farmers don’t want
In 2007, things are looking good. other hand, was not damaged by to risk trying aerobic rice. If we
Barring another pest outbreak, Mr. the rains and in the baking August improve aerobic rice varieties and
Wu predicts 400–450 kilograms per sun still looked strong and healthy. crop management systems, the battle
mu (6–6.75 tons per hectare). It’s Shuanghu farmers Yanfang Ding may swing in aerobic rice’s favor.”
not only the expectation of a good and her husband Jianjun Wu (Mr. Dr. Bouman says that if this
harvest that has him smiling, though. Wu’s nephew) were not so lucky. They new production system reaches
In July and August 2007, Anhui chose not to replant aerobic rice in the point where farmers can
Province was hit by extreme rainfall 2007 and now wish they had. “I’ll easily achieve yields of 5–6 tons
that caused widespread flooding. keep an eye on my uncle’s crop,” says per hectare, aerobic rice will be a
This situation forced the national Jianjun Wu. “If his yield is good, we’ll major weapon in the fight against
government to open the Wangjiaba grow aerobic rice again next year.” water scarcity and poverty in the
dam to relieve flood pressure from In Funan County, a different scorching North China Plain.
the swelling Huai River on urban but equally encouraging story is “This scenario is very possible,”
areas. The resultant flooding emerging. Here, aerobic rice has Prof. Wang says. “As we keep working
exploded in with farmers, we need to develop new
2007. As we varieties and management systems
Aerobic rice is grown drove through that include effective weed control,
like wheat or maize, in the county, IRRI irrigation and fertilizer management,
unflooded fields.
crop physiologist and crop establishment.”
Shaobing Peng Standing at the forefront of
was moved to aerobic rice development, the farmers
proclaim that of Anhui confirm the scientists’ belief
he’d “never seen that they are on the right track.
so much aerobic
rice anywhere!” IRRI’s and CAU’s aerobic rice research
Funan also in northern China is part of the Irrigated
suffered heavy Rice Research Consortium and the
rains in July Consultative Group on International
and August Agricultural Research Challenge
2007 but, unlike Program on Water and Food.
Bas Bouman Bas Bouman
R. Raman (3)
T
he signs are ominous countries have taken hasty measures and Thai rice have gone up by
across West Africa. The to bring down the price of rice. 15% and 22%, respectively.
price of rice is rising For instance, in Senegal, the The article also reported that
and, consequently, a second biggest importer of rice in rice wholesalers in Abidjan attributed
groundswell of anger is Africa after Nigeria, the government this sudden price hike to the fall
building in several countries in was forced to reduce the price by in world rice supply. “This has
the region where rice is a staple. 20–25 FCFA (US$0.04–0.05) per led to price speculations that are
First in Guinea, then in Senegal, kilo in July 2007, after consumers’ benefiting only the multinationals,”
Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire, people have associations in the capital Dakar wholesalers were quoted as saying.
taken to the streets to protest against held two major protest marches. Economists at the Africa Rice
the rising price of rice. In Burkina In Côte d’Ivoire, the 8 August Center (WARDA) have long been
Faso, Benin, and Nigeria, housewives, 2007 edition of Abidjan’s Nord-Sud worried that Africa would find itself
restaurant owners, and tradesmen newspaper reported that the price engulfed in a major rice crisis if its
have started to express their of rice had risen by 7–22%. A 25- rice importation policy were not
discontent. In Guinea-Bissau, people kilogram bag of “Uncle Sam” rice urgently reviewed. Participants at
are directly trading goods for rice. imported from the United States the June 2007 Third Annual Meeting
Alarmed by the protests and sold for 6,000 FCFA ($12.50) a of the Africa Policy Research and
the sudden increase in newspaper month ago and is now selling for Advocacy Group at WARDA, Cotonou,
reports on the price hike, the 7,000 FCFA ($14.50)—an increase of Benin, also expressed deep concern
governments of some of these about 7%. The prices of Vietnamese about the current world rice situation
than one
of global reserves could unleash and collaboration with national
widespread food riots in Africa. agricultural research and extension
Referring to the recent measures systems (NARES). SARC will also
taken by some African governments provide a united front for promoting
against the price hike, WARDA rice and rice research in SSA and
Director General Papa Abdoulaye a common conduit for channeling
Seck said, “It is not possible to technology and information from
and its implications for Africa. continue reducing the price of international research to NARES
According to the US Department rice artificially without increasing and farmers in the region.
of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural domestic rice production in SSA. “To me, this is the best way to
Service, world rice reserves, Relying on heavy rice imports is reach a consensus on rice research in
estimated at 80.6 million tons less and less a solution for Africa.” Africa,” said Dr. Seck. “However, this
in 2005-06, are at their lowest In this context, the recent does not mean that excellent research
level since 1983-84. These stocks announcement by three international is enough to change Africa’s rice
represent less than 2 months of centers to combine their activities sector,” he cautioned, emphasizing
consumption and half of the stocks in Africa and so create a powerful that research can have high impact
are being held by China alone. new force focused on boosting only if the African countries have
African rice production has come adequate infrastructure and a
as a ray of hope for the rice- suitable environment in addition
consuming nations of SSA. to appropriate technologies.
The three centers—all of whom The joint declaration on SARC
are supported by the Consultative was made on the basis of the
Group on International Agricultural recommendations of the WARDA-
Research (CGIAR)—are WARDA, IRRI-CIAT Programmatic Alignment
the International Center for Planning Meeting, held in June
Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) based 2007 at WARDA. At the meeting,
in Colombia, and the International CGIAR Director Ren Wang (formerly
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) IRRI’s deputy director general for
based in the Philippines. research) hailed the joint initiative
Imported rice ready In a joint declaration announcing as a mark of “concrete progress of
for sale in Cotonou,
Benin.
a major programmatic alignment, the CGIAR centers in moving toward
the three centers affirmed their more integration and synergy.”
RECIPE
Sticky rice, prawn, and water chestnut dumplings
Source: Gourmet Traveller, modified by Melissa Preparation
Fitzgerald, head of IRRI’s Grain Quality, Drain rice, spread out on absorbent paper,
Nutrition, and Postharvest Center. and let stand for 1 hour or until dry.
Meanwhile, coarsely chop prawns with a
Makes about 20 dumplings knife or in a food processor, then transfer
them to a large bowl, add pork, and combine
Ingredients well. Using a mortar and pestle or food
250 g white glutinous rice, soaked in cold processor, make a coarse paste from the
water for 4 hours water chestnuts, ginger, coriander, and
300 g medium green prawns, peeled and green onions. Transfer this paste to the
cleaned prawn and pork mixture, add chilies, kecap
200 g pork mince manis, spices, and 1 teaspoon salt, and
220 g can water chestnuts, drained stir until well combined. Next, add rice
3 cm piece ginger, peeled and chopped flour mixture and egg to bind. Cover and
½ cup coriander (cilantro) leaves refrigerate for 1 hour.
4 spring onions, chopped After refrigeration, use damp hands to
2 teaspoons kecap manis (a sweetened roll prawn and pork mixture into 20 balls of 2
Indonesian soy sauce) cm diameter, then roll each ball in glutinous
1 pinch each of ground cloves and rice to coat. Transfer dumplings to large
cinnamon baking paper-lined bamboo steamers and
1 tablespoon rice flour combined with 1½ steam over boiling water for 15 minutes or
Ariel Javellana
700
400
S
300
everal factors are combining
to slow the growth in demand 200
Normal price
for rice. Rapid urbanization 100
and increases in per capita income,
0
particularly in the middle- and 1976 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2007
high-income countries of Asia Year
and Latin America, are prompting
Trend in nominal and real prices (adjusted for inflation) of rice in the world market, 1976-2007. Source: www.WorldBank.org.
people to diversify their diets,
and successful population control
has reduced population growth
rates in countries such as China, The major increase in demand thus helped to reduce poverty in Asia.
Thailand, and Malaysia. for rice will come from countries in Two contrasting developments
Although growth in demand West Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and may substantially affect the rice
for rice is likely to continue to South America. In many countries in economy in the future. First,
decline, it may be offset by increased these regions, per capita consumption as prosperous rice-growing
rice consumption due to poverty has been increasing rapidly with countries move toward free trade
reduction among low-income rural-urban migration that leads to a in agricultural production, they
households. Growth in production change in food habit from diets based may increasingly find it difficult
may also slow because of the growing on maize or root crops to rice-based to sustain producers’ interest in
scarcity of land, labor, and water. diets. Also, the population continues rice farming. Economic pressure is
Assuming annual population growth to grow quickly, particularly in Africa. likely to move land, water, and labor
of 1–1.5% per year, demand for rice in The international trade in rice away from rice to other activities.
Asia may increase a total 10–15% over has remained limited. About 7% Second, the potential for increased
the next decade. In addition, demand of the world’s rice production is productivity for the irrigated
for rice could increase at 3–4% traded internationally, in contrast ecosystem, created by the dramatic
per year in regions outside Asia. to nearly 18% for wheat and 12% genetic enhancement of seeds in the
An important implication of for coarse grains. The global rice 1960s, has almost been exploited.
growing urbanization is that some market has expanded rapidly, The rainfed ecosystem, which
fertile rice lands must be diverted however, over the past three accounts for about 45% of global
to meet the demand for housing, decades. Average yearly imports rice area, will have to bear the
factories, and roads. Also, as of rice increased from 8.0 million major burden of a future increase
food habits change, markets for tons (4.0% of production) in 1968- in rice production. The potential
vegetables, fruits, and livestock 70 to 27 million tons in 2004-06. for increasing yield in the rainfed
products will grow stronger. After adjusting for inflation, the ecosystem is vast, as yield is now
Thus, there will be economic real price of rice in the world market only 1.5–2.5 tons per hectare.
pressure to reduce the area under in 2006 was about 25% lower than Adequate investment for
rice cultivation to accommodate in 1985 (see figure). The long-term development, validation, and
agricultural diversification in favor decline in the real price of rice has dissemination of appropriate
of higher-value crops. Further, Asia’s contributed to the achievement of technologies, particularly for
expansion of the nonfarm sector and food security, particularly in low- rainfed ecosystems, will be needed
subsequent increased rural-urban income, food-deficit countries in to support farmers’ efforts to
migration are leading to rural labor South and Southeast Asia, where increase rice supplies to match the
shortages and higher rural labor many households spend over half growing demand emanating mostly
wage rates, further discouraging their income on rice. The continuous from the increase in population
labor-intensive rice farming. decline in the real price of rice has in low-income countries.
R
ice is the staple food for around two-thirds of the Breakdown of irrigation infrastructure. China’s
Chinese people. China ranks first in annual total irrigation infrastructure was established mainly in the 1970s.
rice production (about 185 million tons) and second, Since then, maintenance of existing irrigation systems and
after India, in annual total planting area (29 million building of new facilities have been very limited. Coupled
hectares). The country produces 35% of the world’s rice with with declining freshwater resources, this problem may greatly
20% of the planting area. reduce the area planted to flood-irrigated rice in China.
Rice production in China has more than tripled in the Oversimplified crop management. Because of labor
past five decades mainly due to increased grain yield rather migration and increases in labor wages, decreased labor
than increased planting area. This increase has come from input for rice production has resulted in compromised crop
the development of high-yielding varieties (including hybrid management that may contribute to reduced yields.
varieties) and improved crop management practices such as Weak extension system. Because of insufficient financial
nitrogen fertilization and irrigation. The national average support, many extension workers earn part of their salary
rice yield is about 6.25 tons per hectare compared with the by selling agrochemicals to farmers, which may promote
world average of 3.75 tons per hectare. overuse of fertilizers and pesticides. Furthermore, the
As its population rises, China will need to produce weakness of the system means that improved technologies
about 20% more rice by 2030 to meet may not reach farmers.
domestic needs if rice consumption per Despite t he cha llenges, good
capita stays at the current level. This is
Several problems constrain research strategies can drive increased
not easy—several trends and problems a sustainable increase in r ice produc t ion in China. These
in the Chinese rice production system include
constrain a sustainable increase in total Chinese rice production Increasing yield potential. China
rice production. These include a decline has been at the forefront in attempting
in arable land, increasing water scarcity, climate change, to develop high-yielding semidwarf, hybrid, and new plant
labor shortages, and increasing consumer demand for high- type varieties. Further progress in increasing rice yield
quality rice (often from low-yielding varieties). potential is possible when new breeding techniques, such
The major problems confronting rice production in as marker-aided selection and genetic engineering, are
China are as follows: combined with conventional breeding.
Narrow genetic background. Low genetic diversity in Drought and heat tolerance. Drought and heat stress are
commercially grown rice cultivars has led to vulnerability increasingly important constraints to rice production in China,
to biotic stresses (pests and diseases) and abiotic stresses mostly due to variation in rainfall patterns from year to year,
(such as drought and salinity). The situation is particularly uneven distribution of rainfall in the rice-growing season, and
troublesome in China because 50% of the rice-planting area higher temperatures resulting from climate change. Chinese
is occupied by hybrid rice, which is developed using only a scientists have identified and mapped genes for drought and
few varieties as the female parent. heat tolerance, and are developing new varieties.
Overfertilization. In 2002, the average rate of nitrogen Disease and insect resistance. Huge yield losses occur
(N) fertilizer application for rice production in China was because of biotic stresses every year. Chinese scientists have
180 kilograms per hectare, about 75% higher than the world isolated and cloned from cultivated and wild rice species
average. Only 20–30% of this N is taken up by the rice plant, many genes that contribute to disease and insect resistance,
with a large proportion lost to the environment. In some and have transferred these into local varieties.
cases, overapplication of N fertilizer may actually decrease Integrated crop management. New crop management
grain yield by increasing the plant’s susceptibility to lodging technologies need to be developed using whole-system
(falling over) and damage from pests and diseases. approaches. Synergy among fertilizer, water, and pest
Overuse of pesticides. On average, Chinese rice farmers— management can maximize the overall efficiency of the
who tend to grossly overestimate crop losses caused by pests— production system. Sustainability of the rice production system
are overusing pesticides by more than 40%. In many cases, can be maintained only when the natural resource base is
overuse of pesticides actually contributes to pest outbreaks protected and the health of the rice ecosystem is maximized.
because it reduces the biodiversity of rice ecosystems, killing
natural predators of pests as well as the pests themselves. Dr. Peng is a senior crop physiologist at IRRI.