Did you know annual farm equipment repair and maintenance costs are more expensive than buying new ones? This is why the IRRI Breeding Operations Unit, led by Engr. Princess Lilia Dela Cruz, has taken important steps to review existing farm equipment and resource utilization to match the research needs and improve the overall resource management efficiency.
Progressive men and women farmers, SPs, and representatives from non-government organizations from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana participated in a hands-on demonstration of mechanized direct-seeded rice. The objective was to allow stakeholders to observe and experience advanced agricultural practices.
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| Joint discussion and collaborations to initiate joint crossing block design activities at ANGRAU breeders in RARS, Maruteru, and ARS, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. |
Influential mega varieties, mainly SWARNA and BPT 5204, have long dominated the Indian rice sector, as the main staying varieties of Indian rice production since the 1980s. These cultivars provide a reliable and high-yielding option for farmers nationwide. With a goal to replace these market-demanded mega rice varieties with more upgraded rice (climate-resilient, more productive, and late-duration maturity), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) collaborated with the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) on a transformative journey to start joint breeding efforts. The partnership aimed to have a shared vision of replacing these established mega varieties with new, high-yielding, and improved genotypes.
Nam Dinh, Vietnam, August 20, 2024 - To promote the use of organic fertilizer and the mainstreaming of rice straw-based circular economy model, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) partnered with the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Nam Dinh province to organize a training workshop and field demonstration on mechanized rice straw-based composting.
Ms. Patricia Izabelle M. Lopez won the Best Paper Award-Upstream Category at the joint Crop Science Society of the Philippines and Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (CSSP-SABRAO) International Conference for Crop Science and Breeding.
Tanay, Rizal - July 29, 2024—Farmers and agriculture extension workers from Rizal Province collaborated with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) researchers to enhance agricultural practices and technology adoption among local farmers.
In a significant move to address widespread hidden hunger in Kenya, the Market Intelligence Initiative was invited to partake in the launch of the Millers for Nutrition Initiative in Kenya. Millers for Nutrition is a global initiative composed of 8 countries that aim to provide access to safe, nutritious food for all citizens.
Kenya, like many sub-Saharan African countries, faces a critical challenge with micronutrient deficiencies, often referred to as “hidden hunger.” UNICEF, the Kenyan demographic health survey, and WHO estimate that about 40% of women in their reproductive age (15-49 years) suffer from iron deficiency. Furthermore, around 26% of children under the age of five years are affected by iron deficiency anemia. In addition, about 30% of women and men are zinc deficient, and an additional 51% of children under the age of five suffer from zinc deficiency. Iron and zinc deficiencies result in stunted growth, wasting, and cognitive impairments. Vitamin A deficiency affects about 16% of women and men and 33% of children under 5 years.
Millers have been identified as a key group to help ease the burden of hidden hunger through fortification strategies of major staple crops such as maize, wheat, and edible oils. These consumer products are currently fortified in Kenya, with rice gaining greater attention through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, which highlighted the importance of safe, nutritious food through the improvement of fortification technology and standards. The rice fortification strategy for Kenya will be launched shortly.
Cereal fortification has been shown to be effective in addressing malnutrition, but the presenters highlighted that this is not always easy to achieve. Food safety issues like aflatoxin contamination often result in poor products. The Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI), an assessment tool developed to monitor and evaluate the progress and effectiveness of fortification programs in Kenya, was implemented through collaborative efforts involving the Kenyan government, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), milling companies, and non-governmental organizations.
