World Bank-funded IRRI project launched in Assam, India to raise farmers’ productivity and income

The World Bank, together with the Government of Assam, launched the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (APART) project. It is a seven-year program that brings together technical knowledge of eight state departments and six renowned international organizations including the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

International Rice Informatics Consortium holds workshop to discuss new technological breakthroughs

The International Rice Informatics Consortium (IRIC) is an organization that aims to give stakeholders access to comprehensive information about rice, and facilitate collaboration in the rice community. Early this year, it conducted its annual workshop that aims to provide researchers who share a common vision and passion for rice informatics, a platform to exchange their ideas and innovations. The workshop also seeks to further the interest of stakeholders in the consortium.

IRRI accomplishments in Cambodia, highlighted during the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Intensification and Nutrition

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – more than 160 delegates were invited to the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invited collaborators from its funded projects in Asia and Africa to encourage stronger partnerships within the network and with other universities and international organizations.

IRRI, BASF develop herbicide-tolerant rice

Two farmers are inspecting crops with the Provisia gene planted to a field in Italy.
These plants have a herbicide-tolerance which allows farmers to efficiently manage weed growth in the field.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and BASF will develop cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and restorer lines with the non-GM Provisia™ trait for herbicide tolerance. The system was developed by BASF and is currently being introduced to IRRI parental lines through rapid generation advancement scheme.

In Asia, the high labor costs required in transplanting crops and problems in water scarcity  lead farmers to cultivate direct-seeded rice instead of transplanted rice. Direct-seeded crops require less labor, less water input, and tend to mature faster than transplanted crops. When direct seeding is adopted, plants are not subjected to the stresses caused by transplanting.

Philippine Department of Agriculture staff learn about laser leveling technology to improve farm outputs

Orientation on basic tractor operation and pre-maintenance check
as part of the hands-on exercises.

IRRI, in cooperation with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), conducted a training on basic tractor operation, maintenance and implementation of laser-assisted land leveling. This initiative is part of the work package output of the water-efficient and risk mitigation technologies for enhancing rice production in irrigated and rainfed environments or WateRice Project. It aims to teach Department of Agriculture (DA) extension agents about basic operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the laser leveling system, a farming technique that uses laser-assisted system and a drag bucket to make precise leveling of the field. This technology makes farming efficient by reducing water requirement during land preparation and labor requirement during weeding operation. It also improves rice crop establishment, uniformity and maturity.

Myanmar farmers gain knowledge on laser leveling operation and its benefits

IRRI postharvest engineer Yan Lin Aung being interviewed by
Myanmar local channel, DVB TV, during the demonstration.

Leveling rice fields reduces the amount of water used for land preparation and irrigation, improves the application of agronomic inputs such as fertilizers and herbicides, and increases grain yield and quality. According to research in Cambodia, land leveling has increased yield by 24% per hectare.