www.irri.

org/irrc/

JanuaryFebruary 2007, Vol. 2, No. 1

April 2006, Vol. 1, No. 2

International Rice Research Institute

Irrigated Rice Research Consortium

Rice Research for Intensied Production and Prosperity in Lowland Ecosystems

RIPPLE is produced by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The IRRC promotes international links among scientists, managers, communicators, and farmers in lowland irrigated rice environments.

Fighting Asias postharvest problems

In this issue
Waves of action .............. 3
Weighing IRRCs impact in Asia IRRC Web site revamped

Research streams ............ 5 SSNM works in China New rice husk furnace takes off in Vietnam Ripples of change ........... 7 Weedy rice brochure unveiled! IRRC joins the 2nd International Rice Congress Going from the classroom to farmers elds Weed management becomes integrated in Myanmar IRRC outreach program kicks off in Vietnam Dr. Buresh receives medal of merit International spotlight on rodent managementa marriage of basic and applied research Profiles.................................13 Helping farmers in central Vietnam Development work is her middle name Publications and ............15 upcoming events

f youre a rice farmer anywhere in Asia, you are likely to experience high postharvest grain losses. Total losses from harvest to market can reach 3050% in value, which means that, conservatively, farmers are losing around US$30 per ton of rice harvested. For an average four-member farming family, an additional $30 can go a long way. Studies by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have found that postharvest losses occur mainly because of spoilage and wastage at the farm level, delay in drying, poor storage, poorly maintained or outdated rice mills, and losses to pests throughout the postharvest chain. These losses result in lower quality rice for consumption or sale, smaller returns to farmers, higher prices for consumers, and greater pressure on the environment as farmers try to compensate by growing more rice.

Women in Lao PDR manually threshing paddy. (Photo by G. Claessens)

the public and private sectors in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Now, with the IRRC in its third phase, the PPWG continues to pursue its objectives of increasing farmers incomes through improved postharvest management and technology, and building a network of trained postharvest researchers and extension workers, including stakeholders from the private sector. We showcase below some of the benets arising from these activities.

The PPWG

With the urgent need to solve postharvest problems in developing countries, the Postproduction Work Group (PPWG) was formed in 2003 under the Irrigated Rice Research Consortiums (IRRC) Phase II. By the end of the rst year, the PPWG established partnerships with stakeholders from

Safe seed storage with the Super Bag

Farmers in Battambang Province in Cambodia can attest that the Super Bag is an inanimate superhero in its own right. Typically, farmers store three bags of seeds with 70 kilograms (kg) each for their own elds. The hot,

humid conditions cause the germination ability of farmers seeds to drop quickly. When they nally use the seeds after 56 months of storage in their homes, often less than 50% germinate in the elds. By comparison, upon using the Super Bag for seed storage, farmers were able to maintain germination rates above 90% and reduce the amount of seeds required. The Super Bag allows cereal grains and other crops such as coffee to be stored safely for extended periods of 612 months. One farmer reported that he sold an additional 70 kg of seeds in the market, earning him an additional income of $9. A Super Bag costs only $1 and can be reused (as long as it is not punctured), cutting back on cost per harvest. The PPWG now focuses
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Fighting Asias postharvest ...from page 1

Lao PDR farmer shows seeds in a Super Bag inside the granary where he also stores his grains for consumption. (Photo by M. Gummert)

on evaluating hermetic storage systems with farmers (Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar) and rice millers/traders (Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia). Samples from farmers trials taken for milling and trials with rice millers have proven that hermetic storage also increases head rice recovery signicantly. Head rice recovery is the weight percentage of head rice (whole grains with at least 75% of the whole undamaged milled rice kernel) from a sample of paddy.

Better quality and price through mechanical dryers

One of the main culprits for quality deterioration of seeds is delayed or improper drying, especially when rice is spread in the open to dry under the sun. Mechanical dryers are the only way to assure high-quality products, especially in the wet season with frequent rains and high relative humidity. At Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the PPWG trained dryer manufacturers from Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia on manufacturing and performance testing of dryer components (see Postharvest information and technology exchange: lessons learned from Vietnam
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in RIPPLE, Vol. 1, No. 1). A manufacturer in Lao PDR who attended the training built low-cost, farm-level dryers that he plans to demonstrate and promote in key provinces throughout the country. In Cambodia and Vietnam, farmers groups and cooperatives are installing their own at-bed dryers. Another training participant from the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association (MRPTA) produced various dryer prototypes, a low-cost dryer with a 1-ton batch capacity for the farm level, and at-bed dryers with up to 4-ton batch capacity for the commercial sector. The Associationwhich has installed eight at-bed dryers at rice mills and ve others for farmer groupsnow visits different provinces in Myanmar to demonstrate the dryers to farmers and millers (see At a glance: postharvest activities in Myanmar in RIPPLE Vol. 1, No. 3). Mechanical dryers add cost to the drying process. To minimize drying cost, a new rice hull furnace was developed in Vietnam as an alternative to kerosene burners used in most rice dryers (see New rice husk furnace on page 6). The PPWG assists national partners in continuous adaptation of the drying systems to local conditions and farming systems to provide appropriate drying technology options for farmers, traders, and rice millers, and to help manufacturers produce commercially viable machines.

what quality grade to achieve to maximize their returns from rice harvests. Farmers knowledge on markets and paddy quality also puts them in a better negotiating position when they deal with local middlemen. In a project funded by the Asian Development Bank and the IRRC, extension workers in Vietnam and Cambodia collect market information in different villages and provincial and national capitals. In four pilot villages in Vietnam and eight in Cambodia, village market boards have been put up to keep farmers informed about market information. The PPWG also collects baseline and annual data on rice markets in Lao PDR, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

and Vietnam, and to partners in the national agricultural research and extension systems, where farmer groups can easily share them for their postharvest management decision making.

PPWG rides high into 2007

Debut of the low-cost moisture meter

Determining moisture content is the most critical aspect in maintaining rice grain quality. Unfortunately, most commercial moisture meters are priced steeply at more than $200. IRRI has developed a lowcost moisture meter that costs only $30 (Philippines) to $50 (Cambodia) (See Introducing the farmer-friendly moisture meter in RIPPLE, Vol. 1, No. 3). These moisture meters have been distributed by the PPWG to pilot villages in Cambodia

In addition to the PPWGs achievements, country-specic training programs have also been developed in 2006 and will continue in 2007 as the PPWG further strengthens its postharvest network to promote information exchange among countries. Training materials and postproduction e-learning courses will be translated for different countries, having started in 2006 with Vietnam and Cambodia. National outreach programs such as the Prima Tani program in Indonesia will be supported to include postproduction technologies and management options. Dissemination of market information through modern information communication technologies will be pilot-tested in some Cambodian villages. The year 2006 proved to be a successful one for the PPWG and the IRRC, with a promise of more triumphs in 2007.
Trina Leah T. Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org) and Martin Gummert (m.gummert@cgiar.org)

Decisions based on market information

Knowledge is power and, for farmers, knowledge on up-to-date market information can empower them in making informed decisions on what to produce, where to sell, and

Farmers in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia, get the latest market information via village market boards. (Photo by M. Gummert)

Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Waves of action

Weighing IRRCs impact in Asia

o tease out and document a single homogeneous picture of farmers practices in rice production is like building a sandcastle too close to the shore. It seems to be a futile effort since farmers practices are constantly changing and are widely varied. However, social scientists involved in technology adoption and impact research in the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) have to come up with a general understanding of farmers behaviors in relation to the technologies introduced. The IRRC has been conducting eld trials and setting up demonstration plots to identify appropriate approaches and technologies for rice-producing communities in several Asian countries. To measure the impact of introducing new technologies, credible baseline information must be collected, then compared with the same set of information a few years after IRRC activities have been in place. This is done by conducting focus group discussions (FGDs), key

informant interviews, and household surveys on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and input-output (IO) on rice production before and after the introduction of IRRC technologies. Initial interviews and FGDs are conducted to get a thorough idea of what will be included in the survey questionnaire. We identify the key questions relevant to the IRRC research technologies. We meet with farmers in their houses or villages so that they feel more comfortable in an open discussion setting, encouraging their various views and opinions to surface. The FGDs and initial interviews use a participatory approach that gets the farmers more involved in the study. The KAP survey is a structured method of assessing what farmers know, what they do, and how they perceive and feel about specic aspects of rice production that inuence their day-to-day practices. To an extent, it records their behavior on specic aspects of farming. Farmers current practices directly affect their farm expenses (costs of inputs and

An enumerator (left) interviews a farmer in Bohol on his inputs and production. (Photo by A. Malabayabas)

quantity used) and incomes (price of output and production per acre or hectare). This is also known as the input-output aspect of production. Data collected from an IO survey include farmers inputs (e.g., fertilizers, insecticides, fuel, and other costs incurred in rice production) and yield. We use KAP and IO surveys to measure the changes in practices and their related costs and incomes. We also conduct participant observation, which involves extended observations and interviews within the research area. This method is used to

gain insights into topics that cannot be covered by a survey questionnaire, or those that require some validation and context. In the Philippines, KAP and IO surveys have been conducted in Bulacan, Bohol, and Tarlac provinces. Surveys have also been conducted in the Ayeyarwaddy and West Bago divisions in Myanmar. In 2008, another round of these socioeconomic methods will be undertaken to assess the adoption and impact of IRRC technologies.
Rica Joy Flor (r.or@cgiar.org) and Arelene Julia Malabayabas (a.malabayabas@cgiar.org)

Training workshop on ecological pest management

A training workshop on Ecological management of pests (rodents, insects, weeds)biological, economic, and social dimensions will be held on 19-30 March 2007, at the International Rice Research Institute, Los Baos, Laguna, Philippines. The positions in the course will be allocated on a competitive basis. Your chances of being accepted in the course will depend on 1. Your current research/extension interests. 2. Whether you are able to obtain partial funding to attend the courseparticularly coverage of your airfare. For more information, visit www.training.irri.org/activities/ documents/2007/EMP-BioSocialFlyer2.pdf. We look forward to receiving your application for the course.
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IRRI researcher Rica Flor (center) leads a focus group discussion with farmers in Tarlac. (IRRI Social Sciences Division photo)

Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

IRRC Web site revamped

information on irrigated ricebased systems. What exactly is new at the IRRC site? Simply click on the sites link and youll be greeted (in bold red lines) by the IRRCs banner programImproving farmer livelihoods in Asia: knowledge-intensive crop management for irrigated rice. Here youll nd the IRRCs vision and goal, the four work groups that strive hard to get things done, and a sneak peek into the goals and strategies of IRRC staff members in upscaling technologies through IRRC country outreach programs (ICOPs). If you want to be updated about ICOPs, veer your attention to the right side of the homepage, where youll nd a list of stories on activities done in different countries in Asia. And, if youre craving for the latest news and events, weve got them all covered as well. Plus, nd out the impact of the IRRCs past and present activities in Outreach. Get to know more about our collaborators and partners in Our partners up close. Learn about their latest research in Research streams. Read and download issues of RIPPLE and the latest publications in Featured publications. If you want to get in touch with the IRRC coordinator or the work group leaders, look them up in Work with us. All these and more at the new IRRC Web site!
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

G T

ood news from the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC)! On 13 September 2006, the new and improved

IRRC Web site was ofcially up and running at www.irri. org/irrc. The newly structured IRRC Web site promises to serve as a better avenue for

IRRC staff updates

he IRRC wishes Ma. Theresa Ria Tenorio the best of luck as she took up a program representative position at the University of California-Davis, USA, in November 2006. Ria joined the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on 1 July 1983 as a research assistant. She started at the IRRC in 2001 as assistant manager for program coordination. Ria has been an energetic champion of the IRRC. Her organizational skills and vibrant personality will be greatly missed. Engr. Eugene Aquino has been with the Postproduction work group since its establishment. He joined a private company, GrainPro Inc., in Manila, Philippines. We wish
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Eugene well with his new career. Meanwhile, the IRRC welcomes two new additions to the team: Jenny Hernandez and Leo Ocampo. Jennifer Hernandez isnt new to IRRI; she was course secretary at the Training Center from April 2001 until August 2006 and also provided secretarial support to Dr. V. Balasubramanian and Dr. Monina Escalada. She started working as secretary for the IRRC Coordination Unit on 31 July 2006. Leo Angelo Ocampo, a BS statistics graduate from UP Los Baos, joined the IRRC on 14 August 2006 as data management specialist. Leo designs and manages the database of socioeconomic surveys, and conducts statistical and econometric analyses.
Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Research streams

SSNM works in China

eople say too much of a good thing is bad, and this saying holds true often enough, even in science. Take the case of rice farmers in China, who commonly use high rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, which is usually not efciently used by the crop. The excess amount of N fertilizer can actually do more harm than good. It could hurt the environment as it spreads into the atmosphere as greenhouse gas or as nitrate in water bodies. It increases the defenselessness of the crop to lodging and disease and favors survival and reproduction of insect pests, thus encouraging increased pesticide use.

(FFP), at the same time saving 30% or more N fertilizer in controlled eld experiments. However, the challenge they faced next was how to extend this technology to farmers who had signicantly different fertilizer practices.

In 2003 and 2004, the IRRI team, along with Dr. Ruifa Hu of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted farmer participatory research for on-farm testing of N fertilization using the standard and farmer-modied SSNM for irrigated rice in 2003 and 2004. The study was done in 14 villages in the four major riceproducing provinces of China: Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangsu. In each year, 1215 farmers The task at hand were randomly selected in each In a study initiated in 2001, Dr. study village for a rapid rural Shaobing Peng and Dr. Roland technology assessment. The Buresh of the International research team discussed with Rice Research Institute (IRRI) farmers their current fertiland their colizer practice, laborators in SSNM achieved comparable inputs and China found rice yields, at the same time outputs, market that site-speinfrastructure saving 30% of N fertilizer. cic nutrient for rice grain, management protability of (SSNM) achieved comparable rice production, cropping sysor slightly higher rice yields in tem, and the local practices and China than did the traditional conditions for rice production. farmers fertilizer practice Based on the assessment,

Farmers in China enthusiastically give SSNM the thumbs up.

SSNM VS. FFP. Compared with FFP, SSNM and modied SSNM raised rice yields slightly, using signicantly less fertilizer and no increase in labor. (Photo by S. Peng)

signicantly less N fertilizer and the research team developed a set of suggestions for modifying no increase in labor input. The rate of applied N fertilizer was the SSNM technology to t the reduced by an rice varieties Farmers preferred adopting average of 48 in the local kilograms per village. Dur- modified SSNM rather than hectare using ing an SSNM the standard SSNM. SSNM and 23 workshop, kilograms per researchhectare with modied SSNM. ers and farmers discussed the proposed modications and The study indicated that nalized the fertilizer application farmers are willing to adopt schemes. Farmers then decided a modied version of SSNM whether they were willing to to t their local rice varieties adopt the technologies and parneeds. This suggests that new ticipate in the eld experiments. crop management technologies would more likely be successResults are in ful if they could be modied by Among 514 farmers, 95% were farmers themselves according to willing to adopt the new techtheir specic eld conditions. nologies of SSNM or modied Dr. Pengs team sees a SSNM, while 76% were willhuge potential for the spread ing to conduct experiments us- of SSNM technologies, which ing either of the technologies. would lead to economic benMore than two-thirds of ets for farmers and a positive the farmers preferred adopting impact on the environment. the modied SSNM rather than The way they see it, everyone, the standard SSNM. Based on especially the experimenting farmers willingness, 144 farmfarmers (early adopters and ers were selected to conduct adapters), technicians, and experiments to compare SSNM scientists, has a large role to or modied SSNM with FFP. play in extending these innovaAs compared with FFP, tive crop management practices. SSNM and modied SSNM Shaobing Peng (s.peng@cgiar. increased rice yields slightly org) and Trina Mendoza by 0.2 ton per hectare using (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

New rice husk furnace takes off in Vietnam

Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) Postproduction Work Group and its collaborators in the Philippines and in Vietnam further improved this concept by producing commercial prototypes that can be tted into commonly used at-bed dryers with a 4-ton paddy capacity. The furnace (see diagram) uses a new ramdrive (g, h, i, j) to transfer the rice husk from the feed hopper (f) into the combustion chamber, where it is burned on top of a grate (d). The ash is then moved to the ash outlet (c) from new husk that is pushed into the combustion chamber by the ram. The combustion air enters at the primary air inlet (b) on top of the furnace chamber and is sucked through the burning rice husk bed by the blower of the dryer, which is positioned at the ue gas outlet (k). The small traces of ash that fall through the grate are separated in the furnace chamber by a series of bafes (i.e., sheets that block the air from owing directly) (l), which results in clean drying air. The feed rate is around 25
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Commercial furnace in operation installed in Long An Province with a 4-ton reversible airow paddy dryer (Photo by M. Gummert)

o maintain the quality of harvested paddy, mechanical dryers are needed, especially in the wet season when sun-drying is often not possible. However, conventional mechanical dryers need around 1015 liters of kerosene for each ton of paddy. Further, prices for kerosene are steadily increasing. Luckily, cheaper alternatives can be used, such as rice husk. Rice husk, a byproduct of the rice milling process, is available in abundance, is low in cost, and can be used in specially designed furnaces. Using rice husk is also more environment-friendly than kerosene because, when burned, it emits only carbon that was accumulated by the rice plant from the environment into the atmosphere and thus does not increase the atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide balance. Burning rice husk also poses less risks because it does not produce soot
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and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons or other hazardous substances, which are contained in the ue gas of kerosene (especially when burners are not maintained properly or are of simple design). When it comes to clean combustion, simple designs do not work properly, but more complex designs do. Due to its physical properties such as low bulk density, high abrasiveness, and low owability (e.g., how grains ow from a feed hopper into a machine), rice husk is difcult to handle and transport. Existing small-scale furnace designs are thus very labor-intensive, experience problems with uneven temperature, and often pollute the environment with ash, smoke, and carbon monoxide from incomplete and uneven combustion. In 1996, the International Rice Research Institute, in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Engineering in the Tropics and Subtrop-

ics of Hohenheim University, Germany, and the Center for Agricultural Energy and Machinery of Nong Lam University (NLU) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, developed the concept of a downdraft furnace with an automatic husk feeding and ash removal system that solves these problems. In 2005, the Irrigated

Schematic diagram of the automatic downdraft rice husk furnace.

Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

New rice husk...from page 6

kilograms of rice husk per hour for a dryer with a 4-ton capacity. It is adjusted by setting the interval between piston strokes using an electronic timer. A 4-ton seed dryer, a prototype of the furnace, was installed for evaluation at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), replacing an older furnace type that was due for reconstruction. Research farm laborers who tested the dryer became excited since the automatic feeding and ash disposal reduced their need to stir the husk and remove ash to a minimum in the hot, dirty work environment next to the furnace. In Vietnam, NLU devel-

oped and tested several prototypes of different sizes. By August 2006, three commercial furnaces had been installed two for 4-ton paddy dryers in Long An Province, and one for a peanut dryer in Tay-Ninh Province. The furnaces provide a stable drying air temperature of 45 C, and require feeding the hopper with new husk and emptying the ash container only every 30 minutes, compared with the 5-minute interval in rice husk furnaces commonly used in Vietnam. This type of furnace has an efciency (energy contained in the drying air as percentage of the total

energy content of the rice husk) of more than 60%, and costs between $200 and $300. Electricity is required for the drive and the electronic controller. A small generator attached to the shaft of the diesel engine (that drives the dryer fan) can provide electricity in areas without a grid connection. Dr. Phan Hieu Hien, head of the research team at NLU, says they plan to include long-term monitoring of the installed commercial furnaces to address potential durability issues and the upscaling of the furnace design to a rice husk capacity of 50 kilograms per

hour for use with 8-ton dryers. The team envisions technology transfer to other countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR, and possibly Indonesia in late 2007, after gaining sufcient experience with the commercial units in Vietnam. A high-capacity furnace for 8-ton dryers can also be an option in replacing kerosene burners in the popular recirculating batch dryers. This could signicantly reduce drying cost, and thus help promote mechanical drying to improve paddy quality.
Martin Gummert (m.gummert@cgiar.org) With contribution from Dr. Phan Hieu Hien (phhien@hcm.vnn.vn)

Ripples of change

Weedy rice brochure unveiled!

eedy rice is an important problem in rice, particularly in direct-seeded rice where its management poses a signicant challenge. The problem of weedy rice is recognized by many farmers in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, where large areas of direct-seeded rice are infested. However, in other countries in Asia, farmers or even researchers and technicians may not be aware of the potential problems caused by weedy rice. To increase awareness on weedy rice, the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) has been sharing information with researchers and farmers in Asia. Part of this information campaign is a brochure entitled Be aware of weedy rice in Asia, which was developed by Azmi bin Man of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute,

IRRC Myanmar collaborator Chit Thein (left) and Joel Janiya (second from left) discuss the brochure with farmers.

Malaysia, and David Johnson, IRRC Labor Productivity Work Group (LPWG) leader. The brochure describes weedy rices characteristics, the problems it causes, and its preventive measures and control. It is now being distributed widely in Asian countries. During the 2nd International Rice Congress (IRC) in October, 1,000 copies were taken by

participants (see IRRC joins 2nd IRC on page 8). Dr. Azmi also spoke on weedy rice during the IRC and at the Asian Pacic Weed Science Society Conference in Vietnam in November 2005. In the Philippines, copies of the brochure were handed out through the Philippine Rice Research Institute, led by program leader for Unfavorable Rice Environment, Dr. Madonna Casimero. In addition, LPWGs Joel Janiya gave out brochures to eld technicians and researchers in Iloilo Province (in the Western Visayas

region of the Philippines). He was also interviewed on a local television channel (Central Philippine University Alumni Channel, Agritalk Program) on 23 August 2006, introducing the brochure and discussing the problem of weedy rice and integrated weed management. In Myanmar, Joel Janiya, together with collaborator Chit Thein, visited Kyaiklat and Myaung Mya townships, where copies of the brochure were distributed and explained to farmers.
Joel Janiya (j.janiya@cgiar.org)
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

IRRC joins the 2nd International Rice Congress

ew Delhi, IndiaOn 9-13 October 2006, the 2nd International Rice Congress 2006 gathered 1,383 rice researchers, farmers, millers, traders, and agriculture ministers, including 400 delegates from 45 countries other than India, the largest assembly of rice workers yet. For about one week, various aspects of rice production, commerce, and international cooperation were discussed. Scientists from the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) participated in the event. In a session on processing, value addition, and storage, Postproduction Work Group leader Martin Gummert presented his paper on Hermetically sealed storage systems for farmers and millers. On the following day, Dr. Roland Buresh, leader of the Productivity and Sustainability Work Group, delivered his paper on Opportunities for increasing efciency of N, P, and K management for rice during a session on nutrient-use efciency. Marianne Samson presented a poster on Site-specic nutrient management for rice: principles, practices, tools, and web site. During the integrated pest management session, Dr. Grant Singleton, IRRC coordinator and rodent specialist, discussed his paper on Ecologically based management to reduce rodent damage to lowland rice crops. Dr. Azmi bin Man of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute and an IRRC collaborator with the Labor Productivity Work Group, delivered his paper on Weed ora landscapes and innovative management in direct-seeded culture. Over at the International Rice Research Institute exhibit booth, a large IRRC poster was put on display. IRRC brochures (500) and Be aware of weedy rice brochures (1,000) were also made available to congress participants and were gone in no time.
Text by Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org), photos by Grant Singleton (g.singleton @cgiar.org)

Almost 1,400 participants trooped to New Delhi, India, for the IRC, the largest gathering of rice workers ever.

IRRC coordinator Grant Singleton talks with farmer Bhavneet Singh at the IRRI booth. (Photo by Adam Barclay)

Brochures on weedy rice (left) and the IRRC (right) were gone in no time.

The IRRC poster (left) displayed at the IRRI booth, along with posters of the IRRI Training Center (middle) and the Rice Knowledge Bank (right).
8 Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Going from the classroom to farmers fields

n late November 2005, the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) sponsored three participants from Myanmar to attend a training workshop on Participatory Approaches to Agricultural Research and Extension (see IRRC sponsors PR&E participants, RIPPLE Vol. 1, No. 1). As part of the IRRCs continuing efforts in capacity building and development of new networks, another participant was sponsored to attend a training workshop on the Application of Participatory Approaches to Agricultural Research and Extension on 7-18 August 2006 at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Training Center. The IRRC sponsored Dr. Pratibha Singh, a home science extension ofcer and senior research ofcer from the College of Home Science at the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pantnagar, India. Led by Dr. Thelma Paris, a senior scientist in the IRRI Social Sciences Division, the training workshop aimed to enhance the participants knowledge and skills in effectively applying participatory research and extension (PR&E) to accelerate the adoption of appropriate and improved rice and rice-based technologies. Dr. Singh found the training very useful, interesting, and skill-enriching, as it dealt with different techniques in PR&E. It was purely based on the philosophy of extensionlearning by doing, says Dr. Singh. The training discussed topics such as needs assessment and identication, experimenting with technology options, dissemination and scaling up, participatory monitoring and

Dr. Pratibha Singh was one of the 26 participants at the IRRI PR&E training workshop. (Photo from A. Malabayabas) PR&E participants and farmers make the seasonal calendar of the village in one of their training workshop eld trips. ( IRRI Training Center photo)

evaluation and impact assessment, and project leadership and management. Dr. Singh gives credit to the experts who taught them during the training. She found focus group discussion (FGD), a practical tool in needs assessment and problem identication, most interesting. If we have to work with village people or a large audience, this method is most appropriate, explains Dr. Singh. FGD is a very useful method to get accurate feedback as it saves time and encourages participation from respondents. It is also more interactive and not monotonous, and farmers feel important as they are listened to by scientists, researchers, and their colleagues. Another highlight for Dr. Singh was their visit to Victoria, Laguna, where they conducted an FGD with farmers. Although most of the trainees were from foreign countries, they had no trouble talking with the Filipino farmers. Language was not a barrier. This proves another philosophy of extension that communication

can occur without uttering a word, Dr. Singh narrates. Twenty-six participants from national agricultural research, training, and extension institutions, universities, and collaborating nongovernment organizations from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the course. The participants were supported by different

funding agencies such as the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Asian Development Bank-Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (ADB-CURE), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF), IRRC, and IRRI.
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

Participants (among them Dr. Pratibha Singh, right) in a workshop session discuss their group presentation of outputs. (IRRI Training Center photo)
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Weed management becomes integrated in Myanmar

raining courses on integrated weed management in rice were held on 27-28 March and 16-19 October 2006, as part of the Myanmar outreach programs thrust on capacity building. A total of 48 participants from the Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS) and the private sector attended these courses. Topics discussed were rice crop establishment methods; introduction to weed management; chemical and nonchemical weed control, assessment of weed growth in the eld; weed collection, weed identication, and herbarium preparation; herbicide calculation and application; and yield loss assessment. The topic on planning and conducting weed control research in rice was added to the second training course in October. Participants gained hands-on experience in the eld and laboratory in weed sampling, weed identication, herbarium preparation, and sprayer calibration and herbicide calculation. They reported the results of their eld practical exercises to the whole group.
Text and photos by Joel Janiya (j.janiya @cgiar.org)

Weed collection

Weed pressing

Weed sampling with IRRC Labor Productivity Work Groups Joel Janiya (center, standing) Weed identication

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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

two-day planning dialogue on Bridging research and extension for better natural resource management in irrigated rice-based cropping systems was successfully held by Vietnam and the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), 24-25 August 2006 at the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) in Hanoi. This activity was co-sponsored by Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), headed by VAAS President Dr. Nguyen Van Bo, and the International Rice Research Institutes (IRRI) IRRC, headed by IRRC Coordinator Dr. Grant Singleton. The dialogue began with an opening address from MARD Vice Minister Dr. Bui Ba Bong. In line with the IRRCs country outreach programs, this dialogue was the initial activ-

ity for the outreach of IRRC technologies in Vietnam. Now in its third phase, one of IRRCs aims is to strengthen research and extension partnerships between national agricultural research and extension systems and IRRI, to help spread promising production principles and technologies, and thereby ensure wide-scale adoption of these technologies by the target usersrice farmers. The dialogue was a toplevel activity attended by 32 participants, mostly directors and deputy directors of the different agricultural research, extension, and policy institutions, as well as departments under MARD. In addition to Dr. Singleton, IRRC-IRRI was also represented by IRRC work group (WG) leaders Dr. Roland Buresh (Productivity and Sustainability WG) and Dr. David Johnson (Labor Productivity WG); Dr. To Phuc Tuong, Crop and Environmental Sciences Division head,

IRRC outreach program kicks off in Vietnam

The dialogue was attended by mostly top-level executives from MARD and other research, extension, and policy institutions.

Dr. Buresh receives medal of merit

n 23 August 2006, Dr. Roland Buresh, leader of the IRRC Productivity and Sustainability Work Group, was presented with a medal of merit by MARD Vice Minister Bui Ba Bong, in a ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Hanoi. He was recognized for his long-term efforts in support of Vietnamese agriculture and rural development. Dr. Buresh established collaborative Vietnam-IRRI research on nutrient and crop management beginning in 1988 with the National Institute for Soils and Fertilizer (NISF) in the Red River Delta and Cantho University in the Mekong Delta.

Dr. Roland Buresh receives a bouquet of owers from Prof. Nguyen Van Bo (VAAS President and IRRC Steering Committee member) in recognition of his medal of merit and his contribution to agricultural science in Vietnam.

(representing the Water-Saving WG); and Dr. Florencia Palis, IRRCs postdoctoral fellow. Presentations and discussions during the meeting were far reaching and covered research progress and future directions in natural resource management of rice, economic and market forces affecting rice production in Vietnam, and extension structures and processes. Issues that were discussed included the national directions and strategies for rice research in Vietnam; the challenges for rice production (it is more expensive to produce a crop, so farmers need easyto-use technologies that provide efciencies in production and/or increases in yield); factors inuencing the world rice export market and the possible effects on rice production and marketing when Vietnam becomes a member of the World Trade for rice, providing improved nutrient management practices that have been disseminated in Three Reductions and Three Gains, and through other initiatives of research and extension organizations in the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta.

Organization; requirements for technologies to be assessed by a scientic advisory council prior to obtaining an ofcial decree for promotion of that technology by national extension agencies; and possible frameworks for IRRC and MARD to work together to facilitate the research-extension interface. The meeting provided a forum for a highly successful dialogue between the IRRC and MARD. Many opportunities for future collaboration were identied. The workshop concluded with a strong commitment by both IRRI and MARD to progress the development of outreach activities to ensure that technologies developed from collaboration between the IRRC and its Vietnamese partners will have a strong impact in the rice-farming communities.
Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar.org)

This collaboration involved training for Vietnamese scientists at IRRI and collaborative eld research in northern and southern Vietnam. The research led to partnerships that included the development of site-specic nutrient management (SSNM)

Dr. Buresh is currently involved in helping establish a MARD-multiorganization partnership on developing and disseminating improved integrated crop management for rice-based systems with maize, soybeans, and peanut.
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

International spotlight on rodent management a marriage of basic and applied research

available for some regions. Jerry Wolff (USA) continued the plenary talks with an overview of the social biology of rodents, emphasizing the detailed understanding that has been achieved of how rodents use space, and how social interactions can affect population dynamics. Harry Andreassen (Norway) followed with a detailed evaluation of how enclosures can be used to investigate landscape ecological issues that affect demography in the root vole Microtus oeconomus. Nguyen Phu Tuan (Vietnam) in his plenary talk focused on the management of rodent damage to rice in Vietnam, a country in which rice provides 66% of the calories in the human diet. Damage to lowland irrigated rice has been increasing in Vietnam and village-level experiments with ecologically based management have been used effectively to reduce rat damage. Lyn Hinds (Australia) followed with an overview of fertility control methods for rodents. Methods to target female fertility have great theoretical promise but achieving control in practice has proved challenging. Virally-vectored immunocontraception has proven difcult to achieve because of low transmissibility of modied viruses in rodents. Other synthetic chemicals hold promise but none have been adequately tested in the eld. Fertility control could be an important tool in rodent pest management, but much more research is required to achieve this goal. Peter Taylor (South Africa) discussed how rodent-borne diseases could be managed in poor urban communities in Durban, South Africa, at minimum cost. Toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis were the main diseases of concern, and the main progress in reducing exposure of humans to these rodent-borne diseases has been achieved by a clever integration of social science work, rodent ecology, and rodent control with break-back traps. In the last plenary talk, Jens Jacob (Germany) discussed how knowledge of animal behavior could be used effectively in environmental management of rodents in Europe, Australia, and SE Asia. Predation risk has a strong impact on rodent habitat use and this understanding can help reduce damage to crops. Professor Krebs, in his wrap-up of the meeting, made the point that the clever use of rodenticides must remain an important tool in rodent management. In spite of a general desire of the public to reduce the use of poisons in pest control, in most instances we are not yet able to replace these agents and manage pest problems in a satisfactory manner, particularly in urban environments. Nevertheless, the progress with ecologically based rodent management in agricultural settings in Asia and Africa is truly impressive. If there is a general message, it is that we need a varied toolbox for rodent pest problems, and no silver-bullet exists for the control of rats and mice. Two best-paper awards for speakers from developing countries were given to Dr. Florencia Palis, IRRC postdoctoral fellow and sociocultural anthropologist, and Dr. Sudarmaji, a NARES partner with the IRRC from the Indonesian Center for Rice Research.
Grant Singleton (g.singleton) and Prof. Charles Krebs

(L-R) Dr. Lyn Hinds (Australia), Professor Zhibin Zhang (China), Dr. Singleton, Dr. Bui Ba Bong, Ambassador Tweddell, and Professor Charles Krebs (Canada) during the opening program. (Photo by F. Palis)

he 3rd International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management (ICRBM) was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, 28 August-1 September 2006. The conference was hosted by the National Institute of Plant Protection, under the chairmanship of Professor Nguyen Van Tuat. A total of 135 wildlife ecologists, behavioral biologists, natural resource managers, molecular biologists, toxicologists, and social scientists from 37 countries presented papers on rodents. These covered the management of pests and invasive species, life history strategies, conservation of endemic species, rodenthuman diseases, rodents as indicators of habitat integrity, and the molecular biology of rodenticide resistance. The conference was opened by Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Vice Minister Dr. Bui Ba Bong. Dr. Grant Singleton, rodent expert and Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) coordinator, presented three papers that covered ecologically based management of rodent pests in Indonesia and in Bangladesh, and the need for further research on rodent-borne human diseases in Southeast Asia. He also co-authored 10
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other papers and posters. A major highlight of the conference was the strong contribution by colleagues from developing countries: they presented 70 out of the total of 148 papers. Also of note was the impressive contribution by the next generation of rodent biologists. More than 25 oral and poster presentations were given by current students or those who had graduated in the past 2 years. This augurs well for the scientic future of rodent biology and management in Asia. Plenary talks formed the backbone of the conference. Steve Belmain (UK) opened the meeting with a discussion of how social science could work with ecologically based rodent management in controlling rodent pests and in reducing disease transmission in urban settings. This was an excellent presentation of one of the main messages of the conference, that rodent ecologists working on control problems must integrate with social scientists to be effective. Herwig Leirs (Belgium) followed with an insightful summary of our understanding of plague, a continuing public health problem around the globe. Progress in understanding the rodent-bacteriahuman nexus is impressive, and predictive models are

Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007 Ripple August 2006

Proles

Helping farmers in central Vietnam

magine being the program coordinator for a relatively new but dynamic approach to nutrient management called sitespecic nutrient management (SSNM). You organize provincial and regional workshops, and training for farmers, researchers, and extension specialists. Taking 6-hour train rides or bumpy motorbike trips to visit eld sites is a routine. You meet with local authorities to try to expand your program. And, perhaps the most difcult part is you teach farmers how to apply the technology, and encourage them enough so that they continue practicing it in the long haul. One lady scientist, Dr. Tran Thi Thu Ha, doesnt need to imagine; she has been doing all these things on a regular basis since 2005, as the program coordinator for SSNM activities in central Vietnam. Dr. Ha is a soil scientist and head of the Soil Science and Environment Department at the Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF) in Vietnam. Aside from research, she also teaches land evaluation, fertilization, and soil fertility to HUAF students. And she enjoys doing both. Since 2005, she has overseen the SSNM program in central Vietnam. I do not feel any difculty as an SSNM program coordinator because the farmers here are very happy beneting from the program, explains Dr. Ha. I understand that it is not easy to be a good coordinator, but I know that Dr. Roland Buresh and Ms. Marianne Samson (of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortiums Productivity and Sustainability Work Group) are always beside

Dr. Ha (right) and Dr. Buresh lead an SSNM workshop in October 2005 in Hue, central Vietnam. (Productivity and Sustainability WG photo)

me. I constantly receive help from them, which is why I am able to do my duties well. Ms. Samson reveals that Dr. Ha is exceptionally devoted to her work and has great rapport with the farmers. Shes very dedicated to helping central Vietnam farmers increase their rice yields, says Ms. Samson. She spends time working with farmer-leaders, visiting their sites, and patiently teaching them how to take measurements and do other activities. Starting with the rst ricecropping season of 2005, Dr. Ha introduced nutrient omission and addition techniques to a farmers cooperative in Huong Tra District, Thua Thien-Hue Province, teaching them to diagnose their own elds fertilizer needs. For the rst time, farmers became aware of their soils zinc deciencies and other nutrient needs. Soon, four more cooperatives became interested and, in 2006, formed a club where they shared information on nutrient and crop management for rice. Some farmers have even stopped using insecticide and fungicide

on plots that have been treated appropriately with nutrients because insect and disease occurrences have been reduced. SSNM recommendations for different soil types in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces were developed and evaluated in 2006. Likewise, SSNM activities expanded to Binh Dinh Province in 2006. Despite her demanding role, she takes it all in stride. After all, shes had enough training herself as a team leader. She was the program coordinator in central Vietnam of

the Balanced Fertilization for Better Crops, supported by the Potash and Phosphate Institute and the International Fertilizer Industry Association. In 2001-04, she headed a nongovernment organization-supported land evaluation program, advising local decisionmakers on sustainable land use in Da Nang. At home, she also leads her special team as mother to her 20- and 22-year-old sons, Huy and Hung. A typical nonworking day for Dr. Ha means cleaning the house in the morning and doing some gardening. Afterward, she goes to the market, then prepares lunch. In the afternoon, when all the housework is done, she listens to country or classical music, especially if its by her favorite pianist, Richard Clayderman. She also loves to read after a busy day. Try giving her her favorite Leo Tolstoy novel, Anna Karenina or War and Peace, and youll be surprised to know she can read the original version in Russian! This is because she spent 9 years at Krasnodar University in Russia working toward her BS and MS in soil science. She earned another masters degree in agronomy at Chiangmai University in Thailand and a PhD in agronomy and soil science at Hue University in Vietnam. As for the future, Dr. Ha says, I want to establish a network of farmers who are interested in soil fertility conservation and agriculture environment protection by using balanced fertilizer application, to ensure sustainable agricultural development in central Vietnam.
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Development work is her middle name

n sociology and economics, the poverty circle is described as a social phenomenon where the poor show a tendency to remain poor all their lives and, in most cases, across generations. Certainly, this is why they coined the term vicious circle of poverty. Combating poverty is no walk in the park, especially in countries such as Bangladesh, where, despite continuous local and international efforts to improve its economy, progress has been blocked by severe overpopulation, frequent cyclones and oods, and political troubles. The good news for Bangladesh is that growth has been a steady 5% for the past few years. And striving hard to contribute to this 5% is Ms. Veena Khaleque, the country director for Practical Action (formerly the Intermediate Technology Development Group, ITDG)Bangladesh, and steering committee member of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium. Development work may indeed be Ms. Khaleques middle name. Armed with two masters degrees in economics from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and Dhaka University, Bangladesh, and years of experience under her sleeve, her sincere devotion to help people make their lives better is truly remarkable. She has been Practical Action country director since 1997, but it was in 1994 when she rst realized her true calling. Joining a nongovernment organization called ActionAid, she managed an urban slum program, working directly with about 1,000 extremely poor women. The program provided the women with credit, health,
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and education services. This was an eye-opener for me, and I got rst-hand experience and understanding of what poverty, inequality, and deprivation really are, and how much more we need to be doing for the poor, says Ms. Khaleque. Since then, my mission has been to make a contribution to the development of Bangladesh. Her mission seems to be coming along quite well. Nine years ago, she joined the organization, which was still small in number and had little impact and visibility. Now, the program has grown and is making an important contribution to Bangladeshs progress. From a few small projects in 1997, they now have several large programs that reach thousands of poor people in the country. Practical Action

has trained more than 100 staff members. Field ofces have been established in different regions. The organization has also tested and demonstrated many technologies in the eld of agricultural production, food processing, light engineering, small enterprises, and energy and waste management. All these activities, she says, are now making an impact on increasing income and employment, with technology taking the lead role in bringing social, economic, and environmental changes. Practical Actions major beneciaries have been poor women producers, processors, and entrepreneurs. The plight of people, especially women in poverty, has always held a special place in Ms. Khaleques heart, and it pains her to hear about anything that is unjust and illegal. I am strongly moved by the gross inequalities existing in wealth and power, and information and knowledge between the rich and poor, she explains. I feel there should be more balance and equity in the world. I am strongly against corruption, especially when this happens within governments and by responsible people. Clearly, her long list of experiences shows how she works

hard to contribute to society. As the coordinator of the Canadian Resource Team in 1988-89, she coordinated a training program for landless men and women in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She developed programs for implementation by the United Nations Development Programme for the forestry, environmental, and land sectors of Bangladesh in 1990-91. As a World Bank consultant in 1991-93, she assisted in creating a databank of key economic and nancial indicators for Bangladesh. She says, though, that one of the highlights of her career, aside from being Practical Action country director for 9 years and joining the IRRC, has been as a working mother, which was something she never even imagined before. Outside of work, she enjoys discussing local and international politics, and she likes to cook for her family during her free time. Cooking gives her real satisfaction and is a way of relaxation and learning for her. This mother of two also enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with her children, Raihan and Marzan, ages 12 and 13. Given a chance to advise youth and her peers, heres what Ms. Khaleque has to say: In whatever we do, we must have a long-term goal and commitment. Very little can be achieved in the short run. Development is a long, complex, and challenging process, and we have to continuously strive for it. We must also have a practical approach and mindset to resolve the daunting problems of poverty and change the social, economic, and institutional systems.
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

Veena (center) and her colleagues from Practical Action visit a light engineering mechanics shop early this year.
Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Publications

International journals
Bouman BAM, Feng Liping, Tuong TP, Lu Guoan, Wang Huaqi, Feng Yuehua. 2006. Exploring options to grow rice under water-short conditions in northern China using a modelling approach. II: Quantifying yield, water balance components, and water productivity. Agricultural Water Management (in press).

Brown P, Nguyen Phu Tuan, Singleton GR, Phi Thi Thu Ha, Phung Thi Hoa, Dao Thi Hu, Tran Quang Tan, Nguyen Van Tuat, Jacob J, Muller WJ. 2006. Ecologically based management of rodents in the real world: applied to a mixed agroecosystem in Vietnam. Ecological Applications 16, 2000-2010. Choudhury BU, Bouman BAM, Singh AK. 2006. Yield and water productivity of rice-wheat on raised beds at New Delhi, India. Field Crops Research (in press).

Feng Liping, Bouman BAM, Tuong TP, Cabangon RJ, Li Yalong, Lu Guoan, Feng Yuehua. 2006. Exploring options to grow rice under water-short conditions in northern China using a modelling approach. I: Field experiments and model evaluation. Agricultural Water Management (in press). Sutherland DR, Singleton GR. 2006. Self-regulation within outbreak populations of feral house mice: a test of alternative models. Journal of Animal Ecology 75, 584-594.

Conference proceedings
Mazid MA, Riches CR, Mortimer AM, Wade LJ, Johnson DE. 2006. Improving rice-based cropping systems in north-west Bangladesh. In: Proceedings of the 15th Australian Weed Conference, Australian Weed Science Society, Adelaide, Australia, 25-28 September 2006. p 331-334.

Upcoming events (January-March 2007)

Conferences and Workshops
Philippines National Outreach Meeting, Jan 2007. Third International Conference on Crop Harvesting and Processing (ICCHP 07). In conjunction with the annual Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference (AETC), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 11-16 Feb 2007. observe collaborative activities on disseminating SSNM, March 2007. Water-Saving Work Group Visit Bulacan, Philippines, Jan 2007. Postproduction Work Group Visit Vietnam and Cambodia for the midterm review of the ADB- and IRRC-funded project Improving Poor Farmers Livelihoods through Improved Postharvest Management, Feb 2007. Labor Productivity Work Group Conduct eld visit in South Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb 2007. Conduct training on weed management in Nepal, March 2007.

Training Workshop
Training workshop on Ecological management of pests (rodents, insects, weeds) biological, economic, and social dimensions. International Rice Research Institute, Los Baos, Laguna, Philippines, 19-30 March 2007. For more information, visit www. training.irri.org/activities/documents/2007/EMP-BioSocialFlyer2.pdf, or contact Dr. Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar. org).

Country Visits

Productivity and Sustainability Work Group Visit by Roland Buresh to China to plan collaborative research for 2007, Feb 2007. Visit by Roland Buresh to India to follow up on collaborative SSNM activities with ICAR and universities, March 2007. Visit by Roland Buresh to Indonesia to discuss and

Team
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION TEAM: IRRC: Trina Leah Mendoza, Grant Singleton, Ma. Theresa Tenorio, Jennifer Hernandez CPS: Tess Rola, Bill Hardy, George Reyes, Boyet Lazaro, Adam Barclay CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Martin Gummert, Rica Flor, Arelene Malabayabas, Joel Janiya, Shaobing Peng, Phan Hieu Hien, Charles Krebs
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Ripple JanuaryFebruary 2007

Farmers in the town of Pilar in Bohol, Philippines, using a locally made pedal thresher. (Photo by T. Mendoza)

Credits: The authors kindly provided pictures for their articles. Copyright for pictures belongs to the authors. Please direct further correspondence, comments, and contributions to Dr. Grant Singleton IRRC Coordinator International Rice Research Institute DAPO Box 7777 Metro Manila, Philippines E-mail: g.singleton@cgiar.org www.irri.org/irrc/ This newsletter presents the personal views of individual authors and not necessarily those of IRRI, SDC, or collaborating organizations in the IRRC. Copyright IRRI 2007