January 2006, Vol. 1, No. 1 www.irri.org/irrc/

Rice Research for Intensied Production and Prosperity in Lowland EcosystemsIrrigated Rice Research ConsortiumRIPPLE is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The consortium aims to promote international links among scientists, managers, communicators, and farmers in lowland irrigated and favorable rainfed rice environments.

In this issueWaves of action ....................4 Ripples of change .................6 Research streams ..................8 Proles .............................. 10 Publications and ................. 11 upcoming events

IRRC launches newsletterWelcome to the maiden issue of the RIPPLE

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ice Research for Intensied Production and Prosperity in Lowland Ecosystems (RIPPLE)this acronym has a water connotation, has a soothing nature to it, and captures the stage of maturity of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). The marketing of the IRRCs new technologies will, we hope, lead to a new wave of innovations that will ripple through rural communities. RIPPLE is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and

Cooperation (SDC). The Consortium strives to ensure that rice farmers benet from technologies developed from research. The newsletter is designed to improve communication between national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and to raise the prole of the IRRC in the wider agricultural community in Asia (and elsewhere). Our target audiences are research and extension people working in the lowland ir-

rigated and favorable rainfed environments, private industry with an interest in this agricultural system (rice millers, fertilizer companies, large agricultural cooperatives), farmer cooperatives, government ofcials involved in policy on agricultural research and extension, and donors. We encourage contributions to our newsletter from any person working in the irrigated > continued on page 3

IRRC begins new phase in Myanmar

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he Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) held a successful series of activities and meetings in Myanmar, 27 September-2 October. The week-long event included the rst Steering Committee (SC) meeting of phase III of the IRRC, a national planning meeting that identied major constraints to rice production in Myanmar, and workshops on post-production technologies, labor and weed management, site-specic nutrient management (SSNM), and water management. The week began with a 2-day (27-28 September) in-country train-

ing on Implementing component technologies of seed processing, crop establishment, weed management, and SSNM at the Central Agricultural Research and Training Center in Hlegu Township. About 42 NARES staff members from the Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS), the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), and a private-sector organization, the Myanma Rice and Paddy Traders Association (MRPTA), were trained to implement collaborative research during the next dry season (2005-06) in key rice production areas. > continued on page 2Ripple January 2006

Participants identify constraints to and priorities in rice production in Myanmar during the planning meeting. (Photo by M. Gummert)

IRRC begins new phase... from page 1 The trainees were given practical hands-on experience in implementing component technologies associated with the production of quality seed and grain, crop establishment, weed management, and SSNM; and an orientation on research approaches and experimental protocols for integrated evaluation of the component technologies. A national planning meeting on constraints to and challenges in rice production in Myanmar was held in the Sedona Hotel, Yangon, on 29 September. This meeting provided a forum for the discussion of the next phase of IRRC activities in Myanmar. About 35 senior planners and staff members of MAS, DAR, the Irrigation Technology Center (ITC), MRPTA, and Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading (MAPT) gathered for the rst time to discuss constraints to rice production, identify options to overcome these constraints, identify research

needs and priorities, and outline desirable integration of technologies and partnerships required at the regional and national scale. The IRRC staff, led by David Johnson, facilitated the meeting. The outputs of the day included a description of needs and priorities and the identication of potential partners. The outputs of this planning meeting were presented to the SC members of the IRRC on 1 October. From 30 September to 1 October, the inaugural meeting of the SC was held to provide guidance and plan activities for the coming years of the Consortium. U Ohn Myint, vice minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, formally opened the SC meeting. In his opening remarks, he praised IRRIs collaboration with Myanmar. About 75 distinguished guests from Yezin Agricultural University (YAU), the Myanma Academy of Agricultural Sciences (MAAS), MAS, and invited participants from IRRI and Vietnam graced

How important is irrigated rice? Rice is the staple food of more than 70% of Asians. Nearly 90% of the worlds rice is produced and consumed in Asia. About 2.2 billion Asian rice farmers and consumers depend on the sustainable productivity of the irrigated rice ecosystem for their supply of food. Irrigated rice accounts for about 50% of the global rice area and about 75% of the total world rice production, and is cultivated on about 135 million hectares of harvested rice area. Irrigated rice yields more than 530 million tons every year. Increased rice production must come primarily from higher yields on existing land in the irrigated and favorable rainfed lowland ecosystems because opportunity is limited to increase the area of land under rice production and scope is limited for achieving higher rice yields in the less favorable agricultural environments. Therefore, progress in the delivery of technologies to improve the production of irrigated rice in a sustainable manner can potentially have major impacts on the livelihoods of people living in Asia.

the opening ceremony in the Grand Ballroom of Sedona Hotel. Donor representatives Carmen Thnnissen (for SDC) and Christian Witt (for IFA, PPI-PPIC-IPI) were excited to see new developments

in the IRRC phase III. SC members Veena Khaleque (Bangladesh), Gautam Kalloo (India), Hasil Sembiring (Indonesia), U Than Aye (Myanmar), Karen Barroga (Philippines), Nguyen Van Bo (represent-

Martin Gummert (center), international research fellow in IRRIs Agricultural Engineering Unit, guides trainees on how to use a moisture meter. (Photo by M. Tenorio)

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Dr. Gelia Castillo (second from right) shares her insights on the activities of the week in Myanmar. (Photo by M. Gummert)

ing Vietnamese vice minister for agriculture Bui Ba Bong), and Ren Wang (IRRI deputy director general) were also at the meeting. The rst day included plenary presentations from Professor Vo Tong Xuan (Building partnerships

among countries in the region for effective technology out-scaling and information exchange), Dr. Mahabub Hossain (Rice supply and demand in Asia: implications for technology development), and Dr. Thelma Paris (The roles of farmers

in technology development and dissemination). These presentations set the stage for the meeting, introducing the IRRC and putting it in the global context. This was followed by a review of what was achieved in phase II and what is being planned for phase III. The second day was devoted to a report of the SC chair, presentations about Myanmars rice production and planned collaborations with IRRI, and concluding remarks from Dr. Gelia Castillo, a highly respected Filipino scientist and IRRI consultant. Dr. Castillo observed that the greatest challenge facing the SC is the organization and development of ICOPs, and that cross-country communication and sharing of success stories is a must for this

phase of the IRRC to succeed. The eminent scientist said, In a world which is not a very harmonious one, the IRRC is not just about rice; it is as much about people and communities. We seek not just a common overview but our common good in an ethos of exchange and sharing relationships, where no country is too poor to give and no country is too rich to receive. There is humanity, but rice is the tie that binds us all. On 2 October, the participants went on a eld tour to the Ma-Lit farmers eld school in Mingalardon Township near Yangon, and visited a seed storage facility. Ma. Theresa Tenorio (m.tenorio@cgiar.org)

IRRC launches... from page 1rice or favorable rainfed agricultural domain, particularly from our NARES partners and NGOs. Our quarterly newsletter is distributed via e-mail and surface mail and posted on the IRRC Web page (www.irri.org/irrc/). Please advise us if you know of people or organizations that did not receive this newsletter. We are happy to put them on our mailing list.

The Consortium aims to strengthen NARES-driven interdisciplinary research, enhance linkages between research and extension, facilitate rice farmers uptake of technological innovations, and enable environmentally sound rice production to expand to feed growing populations. Established in 1997 with support from the SDC, the IRRC has developed partnerships between several NARES and IRRI and operates in 10 countries. Thus far, the IRRC has helped identify and address regional research needs in irrigated rice, resulting in the development, and verication of efcacy

in farmers elds, of technologies to meet these needs. With a strong multi-stakeholder partnership, the IRRC is contributing to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) through more efcient use of resources such as land, labor, water, fertilizer, and other inputs in a sustainable manner (ecological, environmental, and biological diversity). The SDC continued its strong support of the IRRC by funding its third phase until December 2008. The target is to help farmers in irrigated rice-based systems to achieve increased protability, food security, and environmental sustainability. There continues to be a strong emphasis on innovative research directed at developing and testing technologies aimed at increasing production. This is being achieved through four problem-solving work groups (WGs) established on themes that link directly to the MDG: Achieving productivity and environmental sustainability (Productivity and Sustainability Work Group) Increasing productivity under water-scarce conditions (Water-Saving Work Group) Improving labor productivity (Labor Productivity Work Group) Improving post-production tech-

New high-prole positions for members of the IRRC Steering CommitteeIRRC congratulates Professor Nguyen Van Bo and Dr. Hasil Sembiring for their recent promotion to high-prole positions in Vietnam and Indonesia, respectively. Prof. Nguyen Van Bo was recently appointed as the rst vice president of the newly established Vietnamese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS). In December 2005, he relinquished his position as director general of the Department of Science and Technology of MARD. Dr. Hasil Sembiring was recently appointed director of the Indonesian Institute for Rice Research (IIRR). He took up this important position on 14 November 2005 and is now based at Sukamandi in West Java. He was formerly director of the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology in North Sumatra.

niques and diverse rice markets (Post-Production Work Group) These WGs work closely to develop, validate, and deliver integrated packages of technologies and best-practice production principles to farmers. Through the support and participation of the WGs, the delivery of outputs will be led by

NARES organizations. In future issues of the newsletter, we will spotlight progress in this NARES-led dissemination of proven technologies through the IRRC Country Outreach Programs (ICOPs). Grant Singleton, IRRC coordinator (g.singleton@cgiar.org)3

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Waves of action

Feeding the crops needs: feeding poor farmers in AsiaRice is the staple food in Asia, where 90% of the worlds rice is grown and consumed. To produce sufcient rice to meet the calorie requirements of the poor, farmers must apply nutrients in the form of fertilizer. However, poor farmers do not know the most effective way to manage nutrient inputs for rice. Research led to the development and dissemination of simple technologies to enable poor rice farmers in Asia to increase their production and thereby their prots through a more efcient use of fertilizer. Site-specic nutrient management (SSNM), as developed in Asian rice-producing countries through partnerships within the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), provides an approach for feeding rice with nutrients as and when needed. It aims to develop and disseminate ecologically and socially acceptable rice production techniques in Asia through the use of nutrient, pest, and crop management practices to increase the protability of intensive irrigated (or favorable rainfed) rice systems while ensuring a sufcient supply of affordable rice for the urban poor. The concept of SSNM for rice was developed in the mid-1990s and then evaluated from 1997 to 2000 in six Asian countries (200 irrigated rice farms at eight sites). Since 2001, through partnerships with national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES), the initial SSNM concept has been transformed into an inclusive, simplied framework for dynamic management based on plant needs for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The simplied SSNM approach expanded in 2003-04 to about 20 locations in tropical and4

subtropical Asia, each representing large areas of intensive rice farming under irrigated or favorable rainfed conditions. Research and extension activities have been conducted in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

SSNM through the years: achieving the goalMany of the nutrients required by a rice plant for its growth come from the soil, but this supply is insufcient to produce the high yields required to feed Asias growing population. Nutrients in the form of fertilizer must be applied to supply the additional need of the rice plant. Farmers typically lack knowledge of the most effective use of fertilizer for their elds, and their injudicious fertilizer use results in diseases of the rice plant, damage to the environment, and low prots from farming. Research funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) was conducted in the elds of rice farmers throughout Asia to develop an improved nutrient management approach for rice. A pre-project survey in Vietnam indicated the extent of the problem: 33% of the farmers were not using enough fertilizer, 33% were using the right amount, and 33% were using too much.

Positive resultsEffective timing and rates of application of fertilizer result in larger increases in yield compared with traditional farmers practices. For example, in northern Vietnam, yield increased by as much as 15% during the high-yielding season and by as much as 8% in the low-yielding season. Farmers realized a net benet of US$150 per hectare per year for two crops. In Bangladesh,

yield increases from improved N management alone increased net returns by about $50 per hectare per season, and net returns increased by as much as $150 per hectare per season when management of other nutrients was also improved. Improved nutrient management for rice results in more sustainable and environmentally benign cropping systems. The more efcient use of N fertilizer reduces the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, thereby lowering the global warming potential per unit of rice produced. The improved nutrient management scheme reduced the susceptibility of the rice plant to diseases and insect pests and led to a reduced need for pesticides.

Tools for successRecommendations were given to guide farmers when to apply N, P, and K fertilizers and at what rate. A schedule of fertilizer applications is made for each location, depending on climate, rice cultivar, and soil nutrient status. Fertilizer rates were also adjusted to enable farmers to buy affordable fertilizer.

Leaf color chart. Photo provided by IRRI and PPI-PPIC.

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A simple, low-cost leaf color chart (LCC) with a standardized color formulation was developed and distributed to rice farmers in Asia. It enables farmers to determine the need for fertilizer N application by checking the color of a rice leaf against four color panels (see photo). Farmers can then apply N-based fertilizer as and when needed by the plant. Extension materials on the use of the LCC and local recommendations on the timing of fertilizer use have been produced in local dialects. During 2004 and 2005, more than 200,000 LCCs were distributed to farmers in Asia.

Training and extensionFrom 2001 to 2004, more than 250 training courses for local extension ofcers and about 450 training courses for farmers have been conducted in Asia. An estimated 35,000 farmers, extension workers, and government ofcials have participated in eld days and eld visits in Asia.

Adoption and policy impactAnnual net benets to farmers have been assessed in three countries. In southern India, farmers who Dr. Mira Pampolino (second from left), IRRI scientist, observes how trainees followed the recommended practices increased use the LCC. (Photo provided by their annual income by $168 (47% increase in Productivity and Sustainability WG) income); in the Philippines, farmers got an extra $140 (13% increase); and, in southern Vietnam, farmers got an extra $34 (4% increase). The national integrated pest management Annual net benets from using recommended nutrient manage(IPM) program in Vietnam has incorporated ment (SSNM) and traditional practices as determined through focusnutrient management based on the SSNM group discussions (two rice crops, 2002-03). approach into the curriculum for farmer eld Annual net benet a (US$ per ha per year) schools, and 50,000 LCCs have been distributed Country Recommended through these schools to groups of farmers Traditional use Dierence nutrient management in Vietnam. Through this approach, more Southern India 520 352 168 than 50,000 farmers will be exposed to and trained in improved nutrient management. Philippines 1,218 1,078 140 Mr. Le Van Lai, a leader of a farmer coSouth Vietnam 834 800 34 operative in Hue, Vietnam, said, I had heard a about the potential of good fertilizer use, but Net benet = gross revenue total input cost. until scientists from IRRI and Hue University began working in our elds, we did not appreciate how, are very much interested in this participatory for a small investment, we could get so much more rice. approach. We learn by doing. My family is very He also commented enthusiastically that, The people happy because we use the extra money to pay for the university education of my children. In Bangladesh, the national extension system already distributed more than 50,000 LCCs in 2004 and 2005 to poor rice farmers with guidelines on improved nutrient management for rice. The extension system plans to reach more farmers and to enhance training for extension workers and farmers in 2006. The SSNM approach for rice has also been evaluated and demonstrated in ve provinces in China that represent 40% of the total rice-growing land. In 2005, the local governments in these provinces began promoting improved SSNM technology for rice asRipple January 2006

part of local extension initiatives. In Hunan Province, a major rice-growing area in China, the local extension system in about 50% of the counties (local government units) in the province started promoting and demonstrating the technology to rice farmers in 2005. Fertilizer companies in Asia have also started adopting the new SSNM approach in their promotion and activities. One company in the Philippines, for example, is distributing 5,000 LCCs to rice farmers, together with related literature and training materials on improved nutrient management for rice.

Reduced impact of pests and diseasesFarmers current rice cultivation practices, particularly their use of N fertilizer, often create a favorable environment for the spread of insects and diseases. Improved N management in North Vietnam has led to a 50% reduction in sheath blight, a fungal disease that reduces yield by around 10% in tropical Asia. The evaluation and promotion of SSNM for rice will continue throughout Asia from 2005 to 2008 through the Productivity and Sustainability Work Group of the IRRC. Roland J. Buresh (r.buresh@cgiar. org) and Joan Abes (j.abes@cgiar.org)5

Ripples of change

STAR combats water scarcity

Participants in the STAR workshop and planning meeting, IRRI, Philippines, November 2005. (Photo by A. Javellana)

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two-day mini-workshop and planning meeting to understand the progress of aerobic rice research in solving water scarcity problems in the tropics was successfully held at the IRRI Harrar Hall Seminar Room, 3-4 November 2005. The System of Temperate and Tropical Aerobic Rice (STAR) is a collaborative research activity of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) Water-Saving Work Group and the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF).

The workshop reviewed the results achieved in aerobic rice research, identied the main bottlenecks and priority areas for research, revisited target domain characterization of aerobic rice systems, and planned the 2006 activities of STAR-CPWF and the IRRC. The Philippines-based IRRC Water-Saving WG partners from PhilRice, National Irrigation Administration, Bulacan Agricultural State College, Central Luzon State University, and Bureau of Soils and Water Management, and IRRI scientists attended the workshop.

Progress through researchIrrigated lowland rice is Asias most important rice system. It is estimated that, by 2025, 2 million ha of Asias irrigated dry-season rice and 13 million ha of its irrigated wet-season rice may experience physical water scarcity and most of the approximately 22 million ha of irrigated dry-season rice in South and Southeast Asia may suffer economic water scarcity (Tuong and Bouman 2003). Thus, Asias food security is challenged by the increasing food demand and threatened by the declining water availability. The fundamental approach to reduce water inputs in rice isAerobic rice at tillering stage. (Photo by B. Bouman)

to grow the crop like an irrigated upland crop such as wheat or maize. High-yielding rice is grown in nonpuddled, aerobic soils under irrigation and high external inputs (Bouman et al 2005). Instead of trying to reduce water input in lowland elds, the concept of having the eld ooded or saturated is abandoned altogether. Because of its low water use, aerobic rice can be produced in areas where lowland rice can no longer be grown. Aerobic rice is commercially grown in Brazil and is being pioneered by farmers in northern China. Innovative farmers in the heart of the rice-wheat belt in India (Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh), on the other hand, have begun to grow rice aerobically under furrow irrigation in raised-bed systems. In the Philippines, research on aerobic rice started in 2000 through breeding appropriate germplasm and developing an integrated crop management system (water, weeds, and nutrients) that is suitable for tropical conditions. In 2005, activ-

ity focused on a continuous aerobic rice trial, eld experiments at four different sites, and farmer participatory research and development in the provinces of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan. Varieties were bred that can potentially yield 4 t ha1 under aerobic conditions in farmers elds, and draft recommendations for appropriate crop management practices were developed.

systems. These are being conducted in tandem with farmer participatory activities to evaluate aerobic rice performance in farmers elds, study farmers preferences, and establish the potential of this technology for extensive adoption. Partner institutions have agreed that future research activities shall focus primarily on nding solutions to possible long-term yield declines. ReferencesBouman BAM, Peng S, Castaeda AR, Visperas RM. 2005. Yield and water use of irrigated tropical aerobic rice systems. Agric. Water Manage. 74: 87-105. Tuong TP, Bouman BAM. 2003. Rice production in water-scarce environments. In: Kijne JW, Barker R, Molden D, eds. Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement. UK: CABI Publishing. p 53-67. Ruben Lampayan (r.lampayan@cgiar. org), Ruvicyn Bayot (r.bayot), and Joan Abes (j.abes@cgiar.org)

Plans for 2006 and beyondThe development of high-yielding aerobic rice is in its infancy and germplasm still needs to be improved. Experiments are conducted under controlled conditions on research farms to understand which factors are important in aerobic rice

Armilito Lactaoen of NIA inspects aerobic rice at ripening stage. (Photo by R. Lampayan)

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Postharvest information and technology exchange: lessons learned from Vietnam

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ountries like Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia can learn a lot from the successes and failures in technology adoption in Vietnam; we dont need to reinvent the wheel in each country, said Martin Gummert, IRRC Post-Production WG leader. Mr. Gummert helped organize and conduct a hands-on training workshop on grain-drying systems and dryer fabrication with Dr. Phan Hieu Hien, director of the Center for Agricultural Energy and Machinery, at Nong Lam University (NLU) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 10-22 October 2005. Seven participants from Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam were taught the importance of grain drying in reducing paddy losses and maintaining seed and grain quality. They learned to identify suitable dryer types for their countries, undertake cost-benet analysis of drying, manufacture critical components such as fans and rice hull furnaces, and conduct fan and dryer testing and evaluation. Dr. Hiens team has played an important role in facilitating the adoption and commercialization of grain-drying systems in Vietnam. Farmers and the commercial sector in the Mekong Delta now commonly use mechanical dryers to maintain grain quality, especially in the wet season. To learn from the Vietnam experience, participants were given the opportunity to assess dryers in local villages and rice mills, and to visit a trade fair displaying Vietnamese agricultural machinery in Ho Chi Minh City. The participants included manufacturers of agricultural equipment and extension agents who are now planning to apply the skills they learned in initiating the introduction of appropriate drying systems in their home countries and extend the same technologies to their

Participants from Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam were taught the importance of grain drying in reducing paddy losses and maintaining seed and grain quality. (Photo by M. Gummert)

farmers and agricultural agencies. Mr. Gummert served as a resource person in the workshop. The curriculum developed for the training can also be adapted for similar localized national training workshops, he added. The 2-week training course was conducted to continue the activities initiated by the PostProduction WG of IRRC phase II with support from the IRRI Training Center, IRRI-Lao Project, and SDC.

Aiming highThe core focus of the Post-Production WG is to establish and extend relationships with post-production stakeholders in partner countries, establish baseline data about local rice markets and rice mill perform-

ance, assess potential for improvements of the postharvest system (especially in storage), conduct initial research to verify promising technologies in the laboratory and at the farm level, provide training to NARES partners, and initiate a regional postharvest network. Smaller landholder farmers have limited access to information on appropriate technologies for drying, storage, and milling. By increasing the farmers and millers knowledge of rice-milling processes, better milling yields of higher quality grain will result and the value of the crop will be enhanced.

(MRPTA) and U Tin Oo, a manufacturer of dryers in Myanmar, have begun making two units of low-cost dryers for use at the farm level. These will be used with a at-bed dryer manufactured earlier for demonstration purposes. Presentations on postharvest losses, grain storage, and milling will be given. Meanwhile, Van Thy, a manufacturer from Battambang, Cambodia, also has started making at-bed dryers. In 2006, NLU scientists will make follow-up visits to other countries to provide further assistance to local manufacturers in ne-tuning and adapting the dryers. Martin Gummert (m.gummert@cgiar.org) and Joan Abes (j.abes@cgiar.org)7

Next stepsDr. Myo Aung Kyaw of the Myanma Rice and Paddy Traders Association

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Ripples of change

IRRC sponsors PR&E participants The Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) sponsored three participants to enable them to attend a 2-week workshop on Participatory Approaches to Agricultural Research and Extension (PR&E) held at the IRRI Training Center, 21 November to 2 December 2005. Ms. Aye Aye Myint (assistant manager, Project Planning, Management, and Evaluation, MAS) and U Win Swe (deputy supervisor, Procurement and Distribution, MAS), and Ms. Khin Nilar Thein from MRPTA attended the workshop. The course was directed at enhancing knowledge and skills in the effective application of participatory research and extension to accelerate the adoption of appropriate and improved rice and rice-based technologies. An important focus was the development of capacities for PR&E planning, implementation, and evaluation. Dr. Ruben Lampayan, an IRRC researcher, and Ms. Karen Barroga, member of the IRRC SC, were among the experts who assisted in the presentation of the course. This course was timely, given that the current phase of the IRRC places strong emphasis on farmer participation in research and on the establishment of demonstration sites. The course also covers case studies of outreach activities aimed at delivering technologies to poor farmers. This is in line with the activities of the IRRC ICOPs; one ICOP has been launched in Myanmar (see related article in this newsletter) and others are being planned with NARES partners in countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.Myanmar participants U Win Swe (far left) and Khin Nilar Thein (shown writing) join PR&E training course. (Photo by IRRI Training Center)

The course, jointly organized by IRRI and the International Potato Center, was held for the rst time. We received favorable feedback from our Myanmar colleagues on the value of the

course. There are plans to hold the course again within the next 2 years, and the IRRC plans to sponsor other NARES colleagues. Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar.org)

Research streams

Direct seeding and weed control for rainfed and irrigated rice in northwest Bangladesh

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he installation of shallow tube wells in many areas around Rangpur, in northwest Bangladesh, has allowed farmers to grow irrigated rice in the dry season in addition to rainfed rice in the monsoon season. While this

raises land productivity, increasing costs are leading farmers to seek cheaper production methods and, in particular, reduce the requirements for labor. Direct seeding of rice, in place of transplanting, is a potential means to achieve such savings as the need for a nursery and tasks such as pulling, transporting, and transplanting seedlings are avoided. Weeds constrain the adoption of direct-seeded rice, however, because we lose the advantage of weed suppression from transplanting rice seedlings into standing water. With direct seeding, the need for hand weeding may be reduced by the use of either a push weeder, in the case of row seeding with a drum seeder, or preemergence herbicides. A team of scientists from the Bangladesh Rice Research Insti-

tute (BRRI), IRRI, University of Liverpool, and the Natural Resources Institute in the UK assessed the potential of direct seeding of rice in the dry and monsoon seasons of 2005, through eld experiments and farmer participatory approaches. Materials and methods. In on-station experiments, direct seeding was compared with the usual farmer practice of transplanting rice (TPR) in the dry and monsoon seasons. In direct-seeded (DS) rice, wet, germinated seed was sown on puddled land with a lightweight hand-pulled drum seeder or was hand-broadcast (BC only in 2005). Weed management options in the rice were compared: (1) hand weeding rice three times; (2) the BRRI push-weeder, followed by two hand weedings; (3) preemergence

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Research streams

application of oxadiazon in DS rice or pretilachlor in TPR, each followed by one hand weeding. Establishment and weed control options were also assessed on-farm with ve farmer groups in the 2005 dry season. Results. The highest rice yields were associated with direct seeding and herbicide use (see table). Increased weed infestation resulted in a 40% increase in hand weeding for DS or BC rice compared with TPR. Weeds The occurrence of important weed species among the different establishment treatments was similar. The fern Marsilea minutaRice grain yield (t ha1) in on-station trials.

accounted for the greatest biomass among the weeds, followed by the grass Echinochloa crus-galli. Cyperus difformis was the most important sedge. There was substantially more weed biomass in the broadcast and drum-seeded plots than in the transplanted plots. Ischaemum rugosum, Echinochloa colona, Fimbristylis miliacea, Paspalum distichum, and Cynodon dactylon were also present, though these are of minor importance.

different. Across farms, these averaged 4.89 t ha1 for TPR, 4.95 t ha1 for broadcast, and 5.42 t ha1 ( 0.185) for drum-seeded plots. Farmers reported lower labor requirements for DS rice (3 person-days ha1) compared with uprooting seedlings and transplanting (77 person-days ha1). Direct-seeded rice required less water with lower pumping costs than did transplanted rice.

Rice On-farm yields of irrigated rice established by the three methods were not signicantly

Establishment method Transplanting Drum seeder Broadcast seeding S.E.M.

Monsoon 2004 Hand weeding 3.55 3.80 Herbicide 4.03 4.56 0.210 Push weeder 3.52 3.79 Hand weeding 5.02 5.88 5.78

Dry season 2005 Herbicide 5.10 6.41 6.34 0.161 Push weeder 4.77 5.75 -

Summary Yields of direct-seeded rice were as good as or better than those of transplanted rice in farmers elds and in station trials. With direct seeding, farmers had a labor savings of 74 person-days ha1. Direct seeding by a drum seeder or broadcasting resulted in increased weed growth compared with transplanting. Attention needs to be focused

Methods of planting rice: transplanting and direct seeding using a lightweight plastic drum seeder.

on any changes in abundance of important grass and sedge weeds that may occur with the adoption of different establishment methods. The trials will continue in the 2006 boro season. M.A. Mazid (BRRI), D.E. Johnson (IRRI) (d.johnson@cgiar.org), and J. Janiya (IRRI) (j.janiya@cgiar.org)9

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Proles

The IRRC familyTU Than Aye IRRC SC chairperson he Steering Committee (SC), which provides policy guidance and oversight for phase III of the IRRC, has nine members drawn mainly from several, but not all, developing countries of the region. The SC is composed of Ms. Veena Khaleque (Bangladesh), Prof. Jia Jingdun, (China), Dr. Gautam Kalloo (India), Dr. Hasil Sembiring (Indonesia), U Than Aye (Myanmar), Ms. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga (Philippines), Dr. Nguyen Van Bo (Vietnam), Dr. Carmen Thnnissen (SDC representative), and Dr. Ren Wang (IRRI representative). U Than Aye was elected as the SC chairperson. I believe that the IRRC can provide a great help to farmers not only in Myanmar, said U Than Aye. Rice production comprises more than 50% of the economic contribution in our country and we need to raise its production to meet our increasing consumption. He said he considers it a great honor for him to be chosen as the SC chairperson. Most of his responsibilities are focused on agricultural extension and development and achieving better cooperation with other institutions in Myanmar. He also spends part of his time as secretary of the Executive Committee of Myanmars National Agricultural Policy, being actively involved in setting national priorities for rice production and sustainability, linking international institutions (such as IRRI) with local agricultural ofces, and seeking technical expertise and opportunities for agricultural development. After obtaining his degree in agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture, Myanmar, in 1973, U Than Aye worked as an agricultural extension ofcer in the MAS. Earlier, he dreamed of becoming an engineer rather than an agriculturist because agriculture was not really appealing to him. However, after reading a magazine about rice, his whole point of view changed and he realized how important agriculture and rice were. In 1987, he obtained his Master of Science in pesticide analysis from Bristol University, UK. He then worked in the Plant Protection Division, MAS, and subsequently became the general manager of the Project Planning, Management, and Evaluation Division in MAS. When not at work, he spends his time with his family, swimming and playing golf. Rice is an important crop to achieve global food security, said U Than Aye. I am asking the SC members, and all of the people at MAS involved with the IRRC, to do their part in promoting the IRRC scheme.

DGrant Singleton IRRC coordinator

r. Grant Singleton began as the new IRRC coordinator on 1 September 2005. Grant has 23 years of experience working on integrated pest management in agricultural systems. Since 1993, he has led six projects in Southeast Asia and has been a consulting scientist on a 3-year project in Bangladesh and a World Vision project in Vietnam. In Australia, Grant managed a multidisciplinary team of scientists (ecologists, epidemiologists, modelers, molecular biologists, reproductive physiologists, virologists) involved in cutting-edge research on fertility control of rodents using immuno-contraception. For the past 10 years, he has been a group leader at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, leading the Community Ecology Group prior to his appointment at IRRI. Grant has a strong working knowledge of the IRRC through his involvement as joint coordinator of the Rodent Ecology WG (2001-04). His research in Asia and Australia on ecologically based rodent management has had a strong level of participation by farmers, with a focus on coordinated and cooperative community action. He has published more than 150 scientic papers and book chapters, and contributed to 44 conference proceedings. He is the lead author of three books. Grant has many close colleagues in Asia and is looking forward to building on these partnerships and developing new networks to facilitate effective

delivery of IRRC technologies to farmers. He sees phase III of the IRRC as an exciting opportunity to (1) continue the high-quality innovative research of IRRI and NARES partners through the IRRC WGs and (2) develop an integrated package of technologies that have been veried as effective in farmers elds. The packaging will need to be simple and specically tailored for agricultural regions, cultures, and socioeconomic status of the farming communities. Grant has a simple measure of successby the end of 2008, thousands of farmers in Asia will be using our technologies. There are strong indicators that changes in farmer practices resulting from IRRC technologies will be sustained.

TeamEDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION TEAM: IRRC: Grant Singleton, Ma. Theresa Tenorio, Joan Abes CPS: Tess Rola, Kathy Lopez, George Reyes, Boyet Lazaro CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Roland J. Buresh, David E. Johnson, Joel Janiya, Ruben Lampayan, Ruvicyn Bayot, Martin Gummert

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PublicationsInternational journalsAlam MM, Ladha JK, Rahman Khan S, Foyjunnessa, Harun-ur-Rashid, Khan AH, Buresh RJ. 2005. Leaf color chart for managing nitrogen fertilizer in lowland rice in Bangladesh. Agron. J. 97:949959. Belder P, Bouman BAM, Spiertz JHJ, Peng SB, Castaeda AR, Visperas R. 2005. Crop performance and nitrogen use in ooded and aerobic rice. Plant Soil 273:167-182. Belder P, Spiertz JHJ, Bouman BAM, Guoan Lu, Tuong TP. 2005. Nitrogen economy and water productivity of lowland rice under water-saving irrigation. Field Crops Res. 93:169-185. Bouman BAM, Peng S, Castaeda AR, Visperas RM. 2005. Yield and water use of tropical aerobic rice systems in the Philippines. Agric. Water Manage. 72:87-105. Singleton GR, Sudarmaji JJ, Krebs CJ. 2005. Integrated management to reduce rodent damage to lowland rice crops in Indonesia. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 107:75-82. Tuong TP, Bouman BAM, Mortimer M. 2005. More rice, less water integrated approaches for increasing water productivity in irrigated rice-based systems in Asia. Plant Prod. Sci. 8:229-239. Yang Xiaoguang, Bouman BAM, Wang Huaqi, Wang Zhimin, Zhao Junfang, Chen Bin. 2005. Performance of temperate aerobic rice under different water regimes in North China. Agric. Water Manage. 74:107-122.

Quiz

by Joel Janiya

Below are weeds common in both irrigated and rainfed rice. Identify their correct names. (Answers at the bottom)

a) b) c) d)

Cyperus iria Cyperus rotundus Echinochloa colona Cyperus difformis

a) b) c) d)

Echinochloa glabrescens Echinochloa colona Cyperus difformis Leptochloa chinensis

a) b) c) d)

Echinochloa glabrescens Isachne globosa Ischaemum rugosum Rottboellia cochinchinensis

Facts and myths about weeds

A farmer in southern Philippines asked a local technician, Why is it that rice plants lodge when the eld is clean but, when weeds are present, they dont? The technician answered, Well, sir, when weeds are removed from the rice eld, the rice plant has nothing to lean on to, that is why it lodges, but when weeds are present, rice plants dont lodge because weeds support them and prevent them from lodging. Is this true? Probably not! While the weeds appear to support the rice plant and prevent it from lodging, it is more likely that weeds prevented excessive vegetative growth, which would lead to lodging. Where there were no weeds, the rice grew more vigorously and was therefore more prone to lodging.Answers to quiz: d, b, c

Conference proceedingsAzmi M, Chin DV, Vongsaroj P, Johnson DE. 2005. Emerging issues in weed management of direct-seeded rice in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In: Toriyama K, Heong KL, Hardy B, eds. Rice is life: scientic perspectives for the 21st century. Proceedings of the World Rice Research Conference, 4-7 Nov 2004, Tokyo and Tsukuba, Japan. Los Baos (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute and Tsukuba (Japan): Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences. p 196-198. Singh Y, Singh G, Johnson D, Mortimer M. 2005. Changing from transplanted rice to direct seeding in the rice-wheat cropping system in India. In: Toriyama K, Heong KL, Hardy B, eds. Rice is life: scientic perspectives for the 21st century. Proceedings of the World Rice Research Conference, 4-7 Nov 2004, Tokyo and Tsukuba, Japan. Los Baos (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute and Tsukuba (Japan): Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences. p 198-201.

Upcoming events (January-April 2006)TRAINING AND WORKSHOPSLabor Productivity WG Direct seeding for the Indo-Gangetic Plains, Pantnagar, Faizabad, Patna, February/March 2006 Improving productivity in the Barind, Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 2006 Water-Saving WG Integrated eld water management training course in Bohol, Philippines, January 2006 Farmers eld school/end-of-season eld day, Bulacan, Philippines, April 2006 All IRRC WGs Integrated IRRC technologies, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, 23-25 January 2006 Field visit and planning, CLRRI, Vietnam, March 2006 Water-Saving WG Finalize plan for the next seasons activities, Myanmar, 8-15 January 2006 IRRC eld visit of water activities, Myanmar, March 2006 Site visit, planning for eld experiments, and joint data analysis, China, April 2006 Productivity and Sustainability WG Visit collaborative MAS-IRRC research on rice and provide training to research and extension sta members on management of eld experiments and data collection, Myanmar, 30 January-4 February 2006 IRRC Coordination Unit Participate in a workshop on priorities for rice production in Lao PDR, Vientiane, Lao PDR, January 2006 Plan, prepare, and pretest a socioeconomic survey of IRRCs target and nontarget sites in Myanmar, January/February 2006 Participate in the Rice-Wheat Consortium annual meeting in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 5-7 February 200611

COUNTRY VISITSLabor Productivity WG Meeting and review results, GBPUAT, RAU, NDUAT, NRI, India, February 2006 Workshop and review results, BRRI, NRI, Bangladesh, March 2006

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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 2006

Ripple January 2006