News

New head of research at IRRI

atthew Morellwas recently appointed as deputy director general for research atthe International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). As the research leader, Dr. Morell provides strategic leadership and oversight for IRRIs research and outreach programs ongenetic diversity and gene discovery,varietal improvement, genetics, biotechnology,crop and environmental sciences, crop management, grain quality, postharvest and mechanization, targeting andpolicy, andtraining. He has extensive experience in identifying, protecting, and managing intellectual property, as well as establishing a means for strong compliance with the requirements of gene technology regulations, genetic modification stewardship, and occupational health and safety legislation. The Australian native brings to IRRI years of experience, including 16 as theme leader at the Commonwealth

Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. He is driven by a passion for scientific excellence, an understanding of private-public partnerships, a sound capacity for stakeholder engagement, a tested
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understanding of identifiable patent outcomes and protection of intellectual property, and people engagement and leadership skills. Source: IRRI

STRASA project to tackle new challenges into 2019

he Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project is soaring to new heights with the start of its phase 3 for a five-year period, as approved on 4 March 2014 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). In announcing the extension, Gary Atlin, BMGF senior program officer, congratulated the STRASA teams in Asia and Africa on their success and thanked the projects leadership for its perseverance. Abdelbagi Ismail, overall STRASA project leader, said, I am sure the next five years will be even more exciting with even greater success and impact. Starting in late 2007, STRASA, coordinated by the International Rice Research Institute in Asia and the Africa Rice Center in Africa, was

created to develop and deliver rice varieties tolerant of flood, drought, and other abiotic stresses to at least 20 million farmers in the unfavorable rice-growing environments in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Read
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about STRASAs success in Asia on pages 10-12 and in Africa on pages 30-31. Source: strasa.irri.org

Rice Today April-June 2014

Prominent rice breeder tells Punjabi farmers to grow more vegetables and fruits
ith the underground water table declining, international rice breeder Gurdev Khush recently askedPunjabi farmers in India to consider cutting down on the area they plant to water-guzzling rice and switch over to other cash crops.Punjab-born Khush, who has won several awards for his rice breeding work, including the 1996 World Food Prize, said, We cannot completely get out of rice, but we should reduce some of the area grown to the crop. We have to diversify into crops such as vegetables and fruits, which are suitable for planting in Punjab. There is a great demand for vegetables in the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere, so farmers should consider planting them. Indeed, even in India itself, an ever-growing middle class is demanding access to more vegetables and fruits (see Grain of Truth on page 43). Dr. Khush pointed out that, even though researchers are working with farmers to reduce water consumption, overexploitation of underground water by Punjabi farmers to grow their rice is resulting in a critically low level of the water table in several blocks of Punjab.

44 new rice varieties in Asia and Africa

During his 35-year career at the International Rice Research Institute, Dr. Khush spearheaded the development of high-yielding disease- and insect-resistant rice varieties, which ushered in the Green Revolution.More than 300 rice varieties developed under his leadership have been released in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Source: Business Standard

he International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners released 44 new and improved rice varieties in 2013. Of these, 21 were in the Philippines, six in Bangladesh, five in Myanmar, three in Nigeria, two in Tanzania, two in India, and one each in Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Rwanda. We are excited over these varieties, especially those released in Nigeria, saidDr. Glenn Gregorio, senior rice breeder at IRRI. "These are the fruits of many years of collaboration that I have personally been a part of during my posting at the Africa Rice Center station in Nigeria. IRRI worked hard and closely with national breeding programs, and we know that this will lead to more collaboration as demand for rice increases in sub-Saharan Africa. The new varieties represent IRRIs continuing decades-long mission of using rice science to reduce hunger. Overall, IRRI has released around a thousand improved rice varieties across 78 countries since its establishment in 1960, saidDr. Eero Nissila, head of IRRIs breeding division. These are considered global public goods. Hence, our partners are free to release these for farmers use or for more breeding work to suit local needs in their countries. Source: IRRI strategy, there is cause for concern about the feasibility of dramatically increasing rice production because of a lack of water and/or arable land in many countries of the region. But rice could play an important role in ensuring food security by reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Thats a strong incentive leading to developments in science and technology to increase rice productivity in a sustainable way, add nutritive value to rice, reduce losses from drought and flood, and reduce the environmental footprint of rice production. Source: FAO

Regional rice strategy set to boost production and livelihood of farmers

aced with growing threats to rice production, countries in Asia and the Pacific are engaging in a regional rice strategy, initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last year at the request of member states. The strategys vision for the rice sector is that of food-secure, better-nourished, and prosperous rice farmers and consumers in the Asia-Pacific region who benefit equitably from a vibrant, innovative, and transformed rice sector
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that is more productive, efficient, and environmentally sustainable by 2030. The strategy aims to provide evidence-based strategic guidelines and options for FAO member states in the region to help them develop and adjust their own national rice policy strategies in the light of broader regional and global trends as well as national priorities, according to Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO assistant director general. According to the regional rice
Rice Today April-June 2014

Women farmers in sub-Saharan Africa receive support

omen produce up to 80% of the foodstuffs for household consumption and sale in local markets in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a report by the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization. For crops such as rice, wheat, and maize, which make up about 90% of the food consumed by rural dwellers, it is women who mostly sow the seeds, do the weeding, cultivate and harvest the crops, and sell surpluses. Despite the role and impact of women in African agriculture, theres still an unsettling disparity in the support they receive compared with men and they have remained largely in the background, receiving little help. Fortunately, the future is bright for women farmers. They are benefiting from more training opportunities, incentives, and other programs designed to equip small-scale women farmers with information, skills, and other inputs to improve crop quality and quantity. In Tanzania, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing women farmers with training that tackles gender-related norms and
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attitudes that discourage women from engaging in coffee production. These farmers learn how to improve coffee quality and quantity, which in turn increases their income. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa has teamed up with Tanzanias agriculture ministry to launch the Integrated Soil Fertility Management

program to promote improved soil health through intercropping cereals with legumes. Under this program, women receive information on soil fertility through community radios, mobile phones, and agricultural extension workers. Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com

Womens farm roles key to food suciency in Burundi

on. Ir. Odette Kayitesi underscored the crucial role of women in farming and the increasing demand for rice in her country during a visit to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Women play a valuable role in the fields, Minister Kayitesi said. With improved farming practice, rice can help address the challenge of food security in Burundi. The minister commended IRRI for its dynamic work and important role in changing the lives of excombatant women who are now fighting a different battlefood insecurity in Burundi. Rice is one of the governments priority crops, seen to contribute greatly to food

security in the country. Minister Kayitesi said that the government strongly supports building further on the collaboration between IRRI and Burundi, improving the regions rice production, and supporting the fight against poverty and hunger. In anticipation of a stronger collaboration, new laboratories will be built and new scientists trained in agronomy, social sciences, plant pathology, and corporate services to strengthen rice research and production in the region. In January 2013, Burundis Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation Hon. Laurent Kavakure signed
Rice Today April-June 2014

an agreement with IRRI Director GeneralRobert Zeigler to further promote and accelerate rice research and rice-based cropping systems. This led to the opening of IRRIs East and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Office in Bujumbura in October 2013 that now serves as a regional rice research hub that will help support the development of the rice sector in Africa, and strengthen national and regional rice research and production programs. The government granted IRRI the use of a 10-hectare plot of land in Gihanga for rice research. Source: IRRI
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Tackling youth unemployment through agriculture

any experts have expressed alarm over Africas growing youth unemployment. Ibrahim Mayaki, chief executive officer of the New Partnership for Africas Development, calls youth unemployment a time bomb. SubSaharan Africas youth population is increasing rapidly, with the 15- to 24-year-old age group at 200 million, a figure that is expected to double by 2045, according to population experts. But agriculture could potentially provide enough food and jobs. Marco Wopereis, Africa Rice Center deputy director general, says that innovations in agriculture could unlock vast employment opportunities. The rice sector alone has the potential to employ many of the 17 million young people who enter the job market in sub-Saharan Africa each year. With financial
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Rokupr Rice Research Center re-emerges as a center of excellence

he Rokupr Agriculture Research Center in Kambia, established in 1934 as an institute to do research on mangrove rice seed multiplication, received US$10 million in funding from the government of Japan, through the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program and the Rural and Private Sector Development Program. During the last season, the center focused on carrying out core research programs focusing on mangrove rice. The center promotes improved seedlings and advises farmers on the use of the variety of rice seeds available on-site. Feedback from farmers indicates that the centers research activities have greatly improved their production and yield.

support and training programs, young rice farmers could boost rice production and add value to it, indicated Dr. Wopereis: With so many people without a job, the rice sector in Africa is a golden opportunity to provide jobs. Source: http://allafrica.com

Source: http://awoko.org
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SELECTED TR AINING COURSES AT IRRI

Course title SNP Data Analysis Rice: Research to Production Research Data Management Basics of Rice Production: Rice Camp for Teachers Regional Group Fellowship on Phenotyping and Integrated Plant Mutation Breeding with Best Fit Soil and Water Management Practices for Climate Change Adaptation Rice Production Techniques for Research Technicians (Targeted for African participants) Research Data Management Molecular Breeding Course Rice: Postproduction to Market (Second oering) Research Data Management Basics of Rice Production (Second oering) Date 5-9 May 19 May 6 June 20-22 May 25-27June 1-28 July 28 July15 August 26-28 August 22 September3 October 13-24 October 21-23 October 28-30 October Venue IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines IRRI, Philippines

For inquiries, contact IRRITraining@irri.org, m.maghuyop@irri.org, or a.aquino@irri.org. Phone: (63-2) 580-5600 ext 2538 or +639178639317; fax: (63-2) 580-5699, 891-1292, or845-0606; mailing address: The IRRI Training Center, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines (Attention: TC Course Coordinator); Web site: www.training.irri.org. Note: Fees and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

Rice Today April-June 2014