China presents friendship award to IRRI scientist

IRRI soil scientist Roland Buresh (second from left)
receives the Guangdong International Friendship Award.

Roland Buresh, IRRI soil scientist, was presented the Guangdong International Friendship Award for his contributions to the three-controls project across the province.

The three-controls technology has become the major extension technology of the Ministry of Agriculture and of Guangdong Province. By 2011, the technology had been applied in 5 provinces and regions, reaching 46 million units and effecting rice grain increase of 1.45 billion kilograms.


The award, which cites Dr. Buresh's "support to Guangdong's economic and social development and contributions to Guangdong's international exchanges and cooperation,"was presented to him by Zhu Xiaodan, governor of Guangdong Province, on 27 November 2012.

Also present during the ceremony were Wang Yang, party secretary of CPC Guangdong Committee; and Yang Jiechi, minister of foreign affairs of China.



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Busy week in India: Third International Agronomy Congress, ICAR-IRRI Work Plan signing, and PAU 50th anniversary

Bob Zeigler (leftmost), with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (center) and leaders of Indian agriculture
and academe during the 50th founding anniversary of the Punjab Agricultural University.

The global rice research agenda was the focus of a plenary talk given by Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, during the Third International Agronomy Congress held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, 26-30 November.

The congress was held for the country's agriculture sector to take stock of technology capital available for agriculture diversification, climate change management, and livelihoods; and to draw future research strategies to address the 'emerging matrix of agriculture problems in a holistic manner.'

About a thousand delegates from 24 countries participated in the congress.

While in India, Dr. Zeigler also signed the ICAR-IRRI Work Plan for 2013-16 on 29 November. Signing for ICAR was Director General S. Ayyappan. With the signing, both institutions agreed to implement the 4-year work plan under the existing collaborative mechanism as enumerated in the ICAR-IRRI MoA of 1974. The Plan involves 24 ongoing and new collaborative projects with the Global Rice Science Partnerhip (GRiSP). New projects include Genotyping and phenotyping for gene discovery, Epigenetics: Potential roles in controlling agronomically important traits, Multi-parent advanced generation inter-crosses (MAGIC) among diverse genotypes to facilitate gene discovery for various traits in rice, C4 rice, New sources of resistance to biotic tresses/wild rices introgression, and Increasing the yield potential in rice among others.

Prior to the Work Plan signing, Dr. Zeigler attended the opening of the 3-day international conference, Sustainable agriculture for food and livelihood security—part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on 27 November 2012 in Ludhiana.

The PAU conference was opened by Pranab Mukherjee, president of the government of India.

Dr. Zeigler, addressing more than 1,100 participants (photo), commended the PAU for having served agriculture well in the past 50 years and expressed hope that the university continue to produce the next generation of scientists that will help bring about global food security.

Dr. Zeigler also chaired the technical session, Breeding crops for food and climate resilience.


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Philippines: Rice as health staple featured in Biotech Week

Rice is a staple food for almost all Filipinos, and could be a vehicle for nutrients lacking in the regular diet in a sustainable way. Research activities pertaining to the development of rice as a healthier staple was one of the highlights of IRRI’s participation in the week-long celebration of the 8th National Biotechnology Week (NBW), together with partners from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).


This year’s theme Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran focused on biotechnology’s gains for health improvement and is aptly chaired by the Department of Health.

IRRI and PhilRice shared knowledge on new approaches to health in the Philippines and how nutrition, food, and agriculture are interconnected. An example of this new approach is the improvement of rice and other crops to contain micronutrients that supply vitamins and minerals to the body.

These were presented through plenary and special seminars, and through posters and information materials distributed in the exhibit booth.

The NBW was held 26-30 November 2012 at the Gateway Suites in Quezon City, Philippines. Through Presidential Proclamation No. 1414 (2007) that declared the last week of November each year as National Biotechnology Week, the NBW has become an important vehicle to increase public understanding and knowledge on the benefits and impact as well as the safe and responsible uses and applications of biotechnology in the country.


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Low-income residents of Makiling foothills get free health advice and medicines

IRRI's community health education and medical mission is moving from the shores of Laguna de Bay to serving residents of the foothills of Mt. Makiling.

The Host Country and Community Relations Office partnered once again for this activity with medical doctors from the Philippine Army General Hospital. The army doctors have previously given health counseling and consultations to more that a thousand residents of Barangay Sta. Cruz in Bay, Laguna, for free.

Medicines funded by IRRI and through donations from the IRRI-UPLB Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) was also provided for free to those who were in need.

IRRI has been doing community health education and medical mission to low-income residents of Los Baños and Bay, with the goal of reducing the incidence of common diseases and to advocate wellness.



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Photo contest winners announced

Winning photos

More than 90 photos were received as entries to the recent AFSTRI Photo Contest that was open to IRRI staff, scholars, and researchers. The winners in the three categories are:

Research environment in IRRI:
1. Andrea Lynn N. Lazaro (researcher, C4 Rice Project), with her photo captioned, “The headless researcher”
2. Nikki Arivel Larazo (researcher, C4 Rice Project)
3. Evangeline Pascual (MS affiliated scholar, PBGB)

Daily life in IRRI:
1. Michael Thomson (scientist, PBGB), with his photo captioned, "Working at th foot of Mt. Makiling"
2. Nikki Arivel Larazo (researcher, C4 Rice Project)
3. Benjamin Straube, (MS research scholar, CESD)

Nature in IRRI and Los Baños:
1. Michael Thomson (scientist, PBGB), with his photo captioned, "Red dragon"
2. Reena Jesusa Macalalad (MS thesis research scholar, PBGB)
3. Benjamin Straube, (MS research scholar, CESD)

The top winners will be awarded cash prizes and certificates while the rest others will be given certificates of recognition on 7 December 2012, during the AFSTRI general assembly.


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IRRI breeding marks 100,000th cross

Rice breeding in IRRI marked a milestone in the Institute's mission to help feed the world—its 100,000th cross.

A simple yet meaningful gathering to mark the breeding milestone was held on 29 November 2012 at N.C. Brady Laboratory in IRRI, which houses the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology division. The event was attended by IRRI staff and members of management, as well as retired breeders who saw through the early years of breeding in IRRI.

Glenn Gregorio, deputy head of the breeding division, dubbed ricebreeding work as a “tedious way of matchmaking.”

“IRRI has been in existence for more than 50 years and, with the vast diversity at our disposal through the Genebank, we have been making about 2,000 crosses a year,” says Dr. Gregorio. “Our 100,000th—or IR100K—is a cross between the high-yielding NSICRc 214 and IR09M105, a high-nutrient variety.”

One of those who witnessed the unveiling of IR100K was retired assistant scientist Rizal Herrera. Mr. Herrera joined IRRI in 1961 as farm aide, and soon after, transferred to the laboratories. He was one of the first who made crosses at IRRI. “I made my first cross in 1971, and came up with the idea of the vacuum emasculator—a device that made our breeding work 50% more productive.” Mr. Herrera shared.

More than four decades since the release of the first IRRI-bred variety—IR8, or "miracle rice"—IRRI continues to take to heart the principles of its foundation: to help secure food for humanity.

Eero Nissila, head of IRRI's breeding division, noted during a short speech in the ceremony that IRRI has released close to 900 varieties all over the world.



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Lao PDR: Success stories in irrigated rice presented

"It is worthwhile to invest in rice research,” said Carmen Thoennissen, senior advisor of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation or SDC.

Dr. Thoennissen's remark sums up assessment of and discussions held at the conclusion of Phase IV of the work of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). Key success stories from Phase IV were presented and discussed at a workshop and steering committee meeting held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 21–22 November2012.

More than 50 participants from 10 Asian countries came to theworkshop in which the outcomes and impacts of the IRRC over the past four years were discussed.

A highlight of the event was a preliminary report from an international panel that is considering the impacts of the IRRC since its inception in 1997.

The SDC ends its 16-year funding of the IRRC in December 2012. The IRRC will continue beyond 2012 in a refined version. The SDC will then fund a new 8-year project on closing rice yield gaps in Asia, or CORIGAP, that will be managed under the IRRC umbrella.

Dr. Thoennissen praised IRRI's Grant Singleton for his work as coordinator of the IRRC over the past 7 years, affirming that he has been the “perfect person” for the job. She gave a presentation to Dr. Singleton on behalf of IRRI and the SDC.

Bas Bouman, director of the Global Rice Science Partnership, described once working with the IRRC as a “rich and rewarding” experience.

Workshop and meeting participants were steering committee members (Bounthong Buouhom, chair; Jesie Binamira; Pham Van Du; U Than Aye, standing in for the Myanmar representative; Dr. Thoennissen; and Dr. Bouman), IRRI staff, IRRC coordination unit staff, IRRC workgroup leaders, and various country partners.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communications and partnerships at IRRI, was also present during the event. 



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Indonesia: Training on fan testing held in South Sumatra

Twenty participants from the academe, manufacturing, and the government extension arm attended a training event on fan testing and evaluation.

The training course had emphasis on fan testing procedures, data gathering, and data analysis and included an open forum for discussing issues in postharvest, particularly paddy dryer operation.

Participants did the actual fan testing during the training. Proper matching of dryer components and proper dryer operation were discussed by IRRI's Pat Borlagdan. A properly fabricated fan is critical for dryers.

The training was held on 26-28 November 2012 at a fabrication workshop that was handling a job order involving 30 flatbed dryers from government and private clients. It was organized by the postproduction workgroup of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), in collaboration with the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technologies in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The IRRC postproduction workgroup is managed by Martin Gummert, engineer and scientist at IRRI.



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Philippines: CURE hosts IFAD’s 5th country review

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI's head of communications and
partnerships, addresses ACPoR participants in a
dinner hosted by CURE at the IRRI Guesthouse.

The fifth Annual Country Programme Review (ACPoR) of IFAD—a meeting of representatives of IFAD-assisted programmes/projects in the country—was hosted this year by the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments or CURE, jointly with the International Potato Center and the World Agroforestry Centre.

During the ACPoR, participants review implementation experiences, share project good practices, discuss problems encountered, and find solutions to improve program or project performance.

This year’s review, held on 28–29 November 2012 at IRRI headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, had the theme, Managing information and knowledge in delivering impact across project cycle.

Participants to the fifth ACPoR were representatives from these IFAD-supported projects: Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Programme (RuMEPP) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2) under the Department of Agriculture (DA); Rapid Food Production Enhancement Programme (RaFPEP) under DA, which has two sub-projects: Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) and Irrigated Rice Production Enhancement Project (IRPEP); IFAD Medium Term Cooperation Programme (MTCP)-Philippine Farmers’ Forum (PhilFaFo), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)-Rewards for, Use of and Shared Investment in Pro-poor Environmental Services Schemes (RUPES), International Potato Center (CIP), IRRI-CURE, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the COSOP Reviewers. Also present were upcoming and new project entrants: the Integrated Natural Resource and Environmental Management Project (INREMP) under DENR and Convergence on Value Chain-Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (CONVERGE) under DAR.

This year’s ACPoR was held back-to-back with IFAD-Philippines’ 6th Knowledge and Learning Market or KLM, held on 27 November 2012 at Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City. The KLM is an event for knowledge-sharing among policymakers, IFAD projects, and implementing government agencies and partners. It is also an interaction point with the general public through information-sharing.



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Second offering of RDM 201 course for IRRI staff

The second offering of the Research Data Management 201: Advanced SQL was held on 27-29 November 2012 in IRRI.

In RDM 201, some advanced functions and queries that can be useful when building more complex applications were introduced. The course was also a refresher on basic database management skills, taught by having participants look at and define the structure of a relational database system, compared to the hierarchal model of handling data.

Participants, composed of 7 IRRI research staff, were also taught to identify denormalized data and correct data redundancy up to the third normal form.

The RDM 201 training team is composed of Menchu Bernardo, Icoy Mercado, and Dec Arreza of IRRI's Risk Management and Quality Assurance. 



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Laboratory weighing scales ISO-calibrated

An institute-wide calibration of weighing scales is ongoing at IRRI on 27 November-7 December, as an initiative of IRRI's Risk Management and Quality Assurance team.

One hundred fourteen units from research, including analytical, top-loading, and bench scales will be calibrated by ISO 17025-accredited Metrologie Concepts Solutions. A calibration certificate is provided for each unit.


A scale is only as good as its ability to provide accurate measurements. In laboratories, weighing scales are workhorses and accuracy of measurement changes in time, due to wear and tear. Their proper handling and maintenance are thus very important.

The RMQA ensures that third party calibrations are performed regularly. The last one was made in 2009-10.


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African and Asian women train to be leaders of change

Twenty-five women from Africa and Asia came to IRRI for the 5-day Leadership course for African and Asian women in research and extension, an effort toward developing a cadre of women who can lead their respective institutions in addressing gender issues in research and in the workplace and facilitate the improvement of livelihoods of women in the grassroots.

The course aims to help women scientists, policymakers, research managers, project managers, and extension workers develop leadership skills and become effective agents of change in the agriculture sector.

Topics covered in the course were: concepts and mainstreaming of gender concerns in agriculture; research methods; interrelations among climate change, food security, and gender; leadership and project management; development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills; business planning; and seed production.

To supplement the formal sessions, the women got their feet wet in the fields by transplanting rice seedlings and testing several farm machines. They also had the chance to interact with and interview women members of CARD, a Philippine microfinance institution based in Bay, Laguna.

The participants were from Togo, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The course was held 19-23 November 2012 at the IRRI Training Center as a major output of the gender strategy under the Global Research in Science Partnership (GRiSP), and was the ninth time it was offered. It was coordinated by Thelma Paris, socioeconomist and gender specialist at IRRI, and Noel Magor, head of the Training Center.

The coordinating team acknowledges the support of Umesh Shankar Singh, coordinator of the STRASA Project in South Asia; and resource persons Bas Bouman, Gelia Castillo, Sylvia Avance, Eugenio Castro, Jr., Thelma Paris, Maria Socorro Arboleda, Alfred Schmidley, Joyce Luis, Maria Angeli Maghuyop, Anilyn Maningas, Macario Montecillo, and Priscilla Comia. 



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Thailand: Agricultural machinery in focus at conference

A conference, Agricultural Machinery n Rice Production: A Challenge for ASEAN, was organized jointly by Naresuan University and the Thai Rice Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, highlighting mechanization options and new technologies.

It was held in Chiangmai on 26-28 November 2012 and was attended by 150 participants from nine countries that includes government policymakers, researchers and academics, and private sector representatives.
Alfred Schmidley, IRRI scientist and business model development and market specialist, delivered a plenary lecture, Status and prospects for farm mechanization in rice production.

“While the key drivers of mechanization—including labor shortages, cropping intensification, and the need for increased efficiency and power during peak pre-harvest and post-harvest operations—have not changed, the landscape has," says Dr. Schmidley.

Dr. Schmidley said that ensuring sustainability, food quality, and efficient resource use remain major challenges for the ASEAN and other rice-growing regions and will require not only improved mechanization solutions but also more innovative approaches to delivery, better access to and exchange of information and knowledge, and better understanding of local needs and constraints. 

“Hence, this requires not only better mechanization solutions but cross-sector actors working together in a global environment to ensure successful outcomes,” he adds.



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China: Rice planthopper project plans for 2013, holds international conference

Key partners of the ADB-IRRI Rice Planthopper Project from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines met on 19-20 November 2012 to report on the progress of the various applications of ecological engineering, insecticide resistance monitoring, and upscaling activities in their respective countries.

Datasets were consolidated, data analyzed, and cross-country comparisons made in preparation for publication.

The project was granted a no-cost extension until December 2013, and partners also presented their respective work plans for the final year.
The International Conference on Rice Planthoppers followed on 21-23 November 2012, still in Hangzhou, China. New findings from research on ecological engineering, virus diseases, and plant-insect relationships, as well as studies on the economic, social, and policy implications of planthopper outbreaks, were presented during the conference.

Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, cited in his keynote address the importance of strengthening rice research in addressing climate change, hunger, and poverty.

Also during the conference, a new spider species found in Hainan Island was named after Jiaan Cheng of Zhejiang University, in recognition of his contributions in rice pest management. The newly discovered spider is named Mallinella chengjiaani. A plaque was presented to Dr. Cheng by Dr. Zeigler and Zhang Guoping, dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of Zhejiang University. 



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Laos: Workshop sums up impact of NRM technologies for rice

The impact of natural resource management technologies in rice production in Asia, as well as impact pathways, were consolidated in a workshop attended by 25 participants from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines.

The four-day workshop-writeshop is the culminating activity of the social science group of the Irrigated rice Research Consortium (IRRC) and sought to document and compile lessons learned on the impact pathways and impacts of IRRC technologies on the lives of rice farmers, rice-farming households, and rice-based farming communities in Asia.


Three communication experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños were invited to speak on the various aspects of writing and submitting a journal article. Throughout the course of the program, the author-participants had the opportunity to refine and improve their initial writeups, guided by the experts, during the hands-on writeshop exercises.

Florencia Palis, anthropologist at IRRI, emphasized the importance of documentation and publication, saying that "unless the research work is published, the research did not happen."

Grant Singleton, IRRC coordinator, shared publication advise from his own experiences in publishing his work.

The workshop-writeshop was held in Vientiane, Laos, on 16-19 November 2012. 


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Singapore: Rice figures on Asian food and lifestyle fest

Asian Masters, a series of Asian food and lifestyle events, is taking place this month (November) all over Singapore.

One of these events, the Masterchef Workshop held at Great World City, featured Lam Soon’s Naturel organic brown rice on center stage, whipped up by five top chefs into 10 dishes.
Lam Soon and IRRI Fund, Ltd., were presenting partners for the whole-day event through a special sponsorship tie-up.

Asian Masters was organized by Sphere Exhibits Pte, Ltd., a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings. It is holding events in various venues—hotels, restaurants, theatres, galleries, and boutiques.



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Singapore: First rice-growing contest held

The first rice-growing competition in Singapore was held on 5 November 2012, in conjunction with World Food Day.

The competition, jointly organized by IRRI Fund and Science Centre Singapore, had the theme Agricultural cooperatives—key to feeding the world and sought to equip teachers with knowledge in the life sciences, particularly in rice biology and geography, and skills to initiate rice-growing as a project in the schools.
The inaugural competition was launched among 15 teachers in 10 schools in June 2012. IRRI supplied rice grains that teachers brought back to grow in their respective schools. The amount of rice grains harvested was a key criteria for the competition, along with a presentation by the students describing their experience and challenges in cultivating the rice crop and performing another creative task involving rice.

The finals, involving 2—Anglo-Chinese School and Dunman Secondary School—out of the 10 schools, were held on 5 November at the Science Centre Eco-lab. Both were finally announced as winners because of a tight competition will be rewarded with a study trip to IRRI.



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Accountant group helps locals become more money-smart

Residents from IRRI's host communities, Bay and Los Baños, were participants in a recent training on effective business skills, held as part of the Institute's livelihood programs.

The half-day activity sought to provide an opportunity for these residents to achieve financial freedom for themselves through sustainable and income-generating livelihood projects.

The 27 participants are composed of officers of the livelihood associations, including the womens' organization Sulo ng Pamayanan, that HCCRO has organized and trained previously in the following:
Tranca (junk shop operation, organic gardening, pickle-making); Bambang (briquette-making, junk shop operation, urban aquaculture, paperbag-making); San Agustin (paperbag-making); Maitim (candle-making); and Tuntungin (fashion bags and accessories).

Resources and facilitators for the activity were officers of the IRRI-UPLB Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), and includes IRRI accountants Nehry Coronel (incumbent PICPA president), Fernando Florece, and Floridel Macalala.

More joint volunteer activities are being planned by IRRI-UPLB PICPA with the Host Country and Community Relations Office (HCCRO).



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AfricaRice breeder is guest in researchers' lunch

The monthly Young Researchers Lunch welcomed Baboucarr Manneh, irrigated rice breeder and coordinator of abiotic stresses projects in AfricaRice, as its guest for November.

Lunch attendees—Changrong Ye, Nurul Hidayatun, Yam kanta Gaihre, Samir Ebson Topno, Tahir Awan, and Zilhas Ahmed Jewel— were curious about Dr. Manneh's career and rice-growing conditions in Africa.
Dr. Manneh cited the widespread problem of cold temperature stress in Africa, a surprising discovery for the group, and explained that overcoming this particular stress could greatly impact on the size of land area in which rice can be grown in Africa.

The Young Researchers Lunch is a monthly meeting for nationally recruited staff and scientists who are in the early stages of their career. Its aim is to provide an opportunity for discussion with senior scientists on a range of topics that include science and career paths.

For more information, please contact Joy Sagabay (M.Sagabay@irri.org) or Amelia Henry (A.Henry@irri.org).



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Rice database admins undergo training for certification

Six IRRI staff underwent the PostgreSQL Database Administration training course for eventual certification as database administrators, specifically for PostgreSQL DBMS.

The participants come from IRRI's Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division (William Eusebio, Jack Lagare, Victor Alcantara, and Allan Zarsuela) and Information Technology Services (Carlos Ortiz and Victor Alarcon) and all have critical roles in ensuring updated and relevant data to support IRRI's work in developing technologies to improve rice production.
The 4-day (12-16 November 2012) training and technology presentation was conducted by Sarosh Siddiqui, a database administration expert from Illinois-based SaiFirst Corporation.



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Myanmar: Experts plan rice component of ACIAR-funded food security project

A planning meeting for a project on diversification and intensification of rice-based systems in lower Myanmar was held last week (12-13 November) in the Maubin township, Ayeyarwady.

The 4-year project will include research on cropping options to increase and sustain productivity of both rice-rice and rice-pulse cropping systems in the Ayeyarwady Delta and is one component of a program on improving food security and farmer livelihoods in Myanmar.

The program is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and AusAid and has four other components—grain legumes, fisheries, livestock, and socioeconomics.
Myanmar is a fast-growing rice producer and may soon play a major role in the global rice market. The Myanmar government and its agriculture arm was represented from the regional down to township levels during the planning for the project's rice component.

IRRI rodent expert and Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) coordinator Grant Singleton leads the new project with the strong involvement of other IRRI scientists.

Dr. Singleton, along with IRRI scientists David Johnson and Madonna Casimero, visited two project sites and held dialogues with farmer groups. Dr. Casimero, now based in Myanmar, will oversee the adaptive research trials on natural resource management practices. Dr. Johnson will lend his expertise on crop establishment options and weed management.

Martin Gummert, IRRI postharvest specialist, will lead the development of best management practices to reduce postharvest losses in both cropping systems.

Dr. Singleton reported on the project’s overview, progress, workplans, and objectives during the inception meeting of the ACIAR Myanmar program on 14-16 November in Yangon.

IRRC communication specialist Trina Mendoza was invited to present experiences with farmer participatory videos in Sulawesi, Indonesia, as a tool for monitoring and evaluation of research outcomes. 



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Indonesia: In-country meeting held to discuss upland needs

The Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) and IRRI-Indonesia Office jointly organized a meeting held on 12 November 2012 in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

The meeting was held to review the program of research and development activities in rice-based systems in the uplands under CURE, with emphasis on community seed bank (CSB) activities; identify opportunities to exploit the comparative advantage of traditional varieties grown by upland communities, in relation to CSB activities; and explore further collaboration with CURE Indonesia on an ongoing program of CURE on CSB implementation.

It was attended by Hasil Sembiring (ICFORD director) Made Jana Mejaya (ICRR director), Kasdi Subagyono (ICATAD director), and other representatives from these institutions.  From IRRI were Zaini Zulkifli (IRRI Indonesia liason scientist), Joel Janiya (IRRI senior associate scientist), and Casiana Vera Cruz (IRRI senior scientist and CURE working group leader for upland environments).

CURE activities in Indonesia under drought- and submergence-prone and upland environments, with emphasis on activities in the uplands, were presented by Vera Cruz and Mejaya, whereas technology assessment regarding seed production and dissemination was presented by Subagyono.

A case of CSB implementation was presented by Andy Saryoko, an extension specialist from Banten, Java, where they are implementing informal (farmers’ varieties) and formal (modern varieties) upland rice seed multiplication system. BPTP Banten is actively pursuing activities in exploration, collection, and evaluation of upland rice land races.

A policy on the use of certified seeds has been proposed and approved by the government of Indonesia in support to all the activities on seeds and seed production,.

The next steps that were identified to enhance collaboration were on raising productivity in the uplands from elite lines and improved upland varieties; capacity building for the young generation of Indonesian scientists; and a new set of activities for the uplands.




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Cambodia: Farmer field day and combine harvester discussion held in Battambang

Farmers view technology options from manufacturers
and contract service providers.

The Farmer Field Event and Combine Harvester Roundtable was held on 10-11 November 2012 in Battambang Province, hosted by Don Bosco School and Model Farm where IRRI and other Learning Alliance partners are conducting adaptive research and capacity-building among the community’s marginal smallholder rice farmers.

The Don Bosco School and Model Farm provides rice to their three  primary and secondary schools operating in Cambodia.

“With IRRI's support, we hope to turn the site into a sustainable model farm and agro-vocational school to educate graduates and poor farm families who send their children here,” explains Walter Zwick, 76-year-old retired German farmer and Don Bosco volunteer.

With improved technologies and courses in repairing, operating, and maintenance of farm equipment, the incomes of poor and marginal farmers can be raised and the children of farm families can graduate from school into employable agro-sector jobs or be able to start their own service-providing agro-enterprises. 

Postharvest technologies and management options—including laser leveling, mechanical drying, combine harvesting, and various capacity-building activities—are being tested and promoted as part of multistakeholder Learning Alliance. These bring together farmers, provincial extension agents, private sector service providers and technology suppliers, and MAFF policymakers and related departments. 

“The goal,” explains Pyseth Meas, IRRI Postharvest Project coordinator and MAFF director for international cooperation, “is to help farmers learn to use these technologies and adopt them as value-adding business models to reduce postharvest losses, improve product quality, and spread benefits throughout the processing chain.”

The Cambodia Postharvest Learning Alliance, IRRI, Cambodia’s Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF) jointly sponsored the event.



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Philippines: Technoclinic held for farmers in Mountain Province

More than 30 rice farmers from the Cordillera Region in Northern Philippines attended a technoclinic held by IRRI and PhilRice scientists on 13 November 2012 in Barlig, Mountain Province.

Isabelita Oña, IRRI associate scientist, and Evelyn Gergon, PhilRice plant pathologist, answered questions from farmers on blast disease, rice bugs, worms, golden apple snails, leaf folder, birds, and rat infestation.

Samples of rice leaves that are afflicted with different diseases were also passed around to help the farmers familiarize with and identify the different symptoms of rice diseases.

The farmers said that they eat the golden apple snails that they pick from their rice fields to help control their presence. Gergon told them that they can also use the decaying snails to attract rice bugs. They can put the decaying snails in a net and wait for it to be filled with rice bugs, which they can later set on fire.

Also cited by farmers as challenges were unpredictable weather and the lack of organic fertilizers. Like most farmers in the Cordillera Region, farmers in Barlig practice organic farming. The problem, though, is that they require large amounts of sunflower and weeds to fertilize their fields.

The conduct of the technoclinic was part of the provision of technical innovation services or TIS, a linkage that the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) had built with the IFAD-funded Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2).

Participants in the technoclinic came from the villages of Lunas and Macalana, where the lowest point is at 750 masl and the highest is in Mt. Amuyao at 2,862 masl.



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New scholarship launched

On the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first scholar at IRRI, the Association of Fellows, Scholars, Trainees, and Residents in IRRI (AFSTRI) launched a scholarship program—the IRRI-AFSTRI Alumni Scholarship or IAAS.


The IAAS was formed out of the support and encouragement of several IRRI staff and alumni and aims to assist students of agricultural universities across the world who are in their final year of their bachelors or masters degree programs and who have shown academic excellence in preceding years of study.


A one-time thesis grant of USD 600 for bachelor’s level andUSD 1000 for master’s level will be given to students who have interest to rice and rice-based research.

IRRI, state and private universities, and IRRI country offices will be the scholarship implementation partners.

The first scholar at IRRI arrived in 1962. To date, IRRI has trained some 14,000 from all over the world. There are currently about 130 scholars in IRRI.

AFSTRI welcomes donations to the fund. For more information and donations, please send an email to iaas@irri.org. 


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Rice book for kids launched

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The Rice Book for Kids by Norma O. Chikiamco was launched before a wide-eyed audience of children from schools near IRRI, which hosted the event.

The 32-page book is a visual and colorful collection of facts about rice—how it is produced and processed, and how it is an important part of many cultures—written in simple and exciting language.

The book is published by Anvil Press in the Philippines and is illustrated by Martin Malabanan, with IRRI as a major source of information and photos.

"IRRI believes that it is important to get the message out to our young people about the importance of rice," says Gene Hettel, head of IRRI Communication and Publications Services, who opened the launch. "I think this book speaks to an important audience. As future consumers, producers, or even as scientists working to improve the crop, we need to get kids excited about rice."

Sixty-six percent of those who visit IRRI every year are students, many of whom are young children, such as those present during the launch.

The kids were from Brent International School (IRRI campus), Christian School International, and Bagong Silang Elementary School. Several teachers and IRRI staff were also present.

The launch included a storytelling and games for the kids, book-signing by the author, and cocktails that featured sweet and savory rice dishes. The treat including rice polvoron, prepared by the author from her own recipe. 


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Cultural Night sees "peak of art genes expression"

Seventy-six IRRI staff and scholars from 14 countries showcased costumes, tradition, and culture with music, dance, and artistry on International Cultural Night (9 November 2012), seeking to rise to “the peak of art genes expression," which was the theme of the event.

Countries represented in the show were Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, India, China, Malaysia, Iran, Indonesia, Canada, Myanmar, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines.


Three kids representing China and Bangladesh also took to the stage.

The program was opened with remarks from V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI deputy director general for communications and partnerships.

The event is an activity of the Association of Fellows, Scholars, Trainees and Residence of IRRI (AFSTRI). 


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Indian agriculture secretary signs up for stronger ties with IRRI

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Honorable Shri Ashish Bahuguna, secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India, signed a memorandum of agreement with IRRI on 10 November 2012 to further strengthen collaborations with one of the largest rice-producing and -consuming countries in the world.

Secretary Bahuguna was in IRRI 8-11 November 2012, accompanied by Reena Saha, director for crops, and R.K. Trivedi, deputy commissioner for seeds quality control in the Ministry.

Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general; V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communications and partnerships; and several scientists gave Secretary Bahuguna a briefing on IRRI's work and activities in India through a series of presentations. Potential areas for future collaboration were also discussed.

"Working with India in the last 12 years, I have noticed that the country is quite progressive in improving capacity of its research institutions,” said Abdelbagi Ismail, IRRI scientists and leader of the Stress-tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) Project. “Things are changing. Indian institutions are now involved in technology development at all levels. We have good scientists, good platforms, to take this partnership steps forward."

The Secretary’s visit to IRRI was initiated and facilitated by the STRASA Project, about which he was given an introduction by Dr. Ismail and Uma Shankar Singh, STRASA-South Asia regional coordinator. The Project's impact from the development of drought-, salt-, and submergence-tolerant varieties—and their proper management—was also taken up.

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Solutions hack their way into rice science

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After many hours of intense hacking to produce apps for rice research over the weekend at IRRI, the SMART-supported BigAs Hackathon successfully culminated with the announcement of winners on Sunday, 11 November 2012.

The Hackathon was a two-day event that brought together computer programmers, software developers, graphic designers, and others in the IT industry to try and use their skills to solve technological challenges in agriculture.

The winners are:

• Most Innovative App or Special Jury Award: Envilog (stand-alone temperature and humidity sensor with real-time GSM-based data sending, offline data collection, and web-based visualization) by Franklin Binos II, Richard Myrick Arellaga, Johnaray Dimaunahan, and Wyne Dell Manuel (Team PhilRobotics-A).
• Best Game App: Araro (text-based simulation game) by Bryan Bibat and Alvin Edward Chan (Team Araro).
• Best Research Data Collection App: ISWater (automatic data gathering of soil water level using sensors, notifies farmers/researchers via mobile phones) by Arvin Orubia, Michelle Aldave, Drexie de Leon, and Cherryl Opon (Team Love Team).
• Best Farmer InfoTechnology App: Binhi - (rice variety picker) by Joan Antonette Bautista, Jason Bourne Escolano Manzala, John Louis Perez, and Raymond Balingit (Team Libra).

Each team member took home a Smartbro Bro Plug-It and a Samsung Pocket. Team PhilRobotics-A, which won first place, also won a free one-week stay at IRRI to help the team further develop their actual app. They will also be giving a seminar soon to all IRRI staff about their lessons and experiences at the Hackathon, as well as about their winning app, Envilog.

"We are very excited about this initiative to apply ICT and mobile technologies to rice farming. We look forward to working with IRRI, government, and farmers organizations so that we can develop innovative services that will help improve the lives of our farmers," said Ramon Isberto, head of SMART Public Affairs.

"Over the course of the weekend, 'rough' versions of a variety of apps emerged, and two teams produced combinations of hardware and software for automated data collection,” said Marco van den Berg, IRRI's chief information officer.

“Results include a brand-new version of the RiceGrow game developed at IRRI in the late 1980's by the Hukes, a rice quiz framework, enhancements of the IRRI Nutrient Manager app, an app to crowd-source farming advise, a variety adviser app framework, a prototype leaf color detector, a Riceworld Museum visitor app, and a land-leveling app that does not need expensive laser gear, because a phone will do. Pretty awesome for a weekend's work," Mr. van den Berg said.

Members of the panel of judges were: Trina Florencio, software development supervisor, SMART Communications, Inc.; Jovino de Dios, head, Information Systems Development, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice); Joselito Francisco Limjap, head, International and Carrier Business, ICT Research and Development Enterprise, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT); Adam Borja, administrative officer, National Rice Program, Department of Agriculture (DA); and Fermin Roberto Lapitan, professor Institute of Computer Sciences, UPLB.

Also represented were SMART Devnet and IdeaSpace Foundation, both of which could eventually help app developers turn their prototypes into a potential business enterprise.

“It was an exciting weekend for all of us at IRRI," said V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general of communications and partnerships at IRRI. "The Hackathon has helped generate new ideas and fresh thinking into the ongoing rice science work. The whole process has been invigorating.”

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Best research papers recognized in young scientists meet

The winning papers and authors in the 2012 IRRI Young Scientists Conference were recognized in a ceremony held on 9 November 2012 at IRRI Havener Auditorium. V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communications and partnerships, presented the awards to:

Tobias Kretzschmar (Gene validation of a major QTL for tolerance of anaerobic conditions during germination), first place; Genelou Atienza (Ubiquitous resistance to rice tungro spherical virus is mediated by a gene for translation initiation factor 4G), second place; and Taznoore Samine Khanam (Impact of rice price hike on poverty in Bangladesh), third place.

Citations were also given to Ronald Tapia (Introduction of transport proteins into Oryza sativa L. to facilitate installation of the C4 pathway); Swati Kamal (Transformation of rice with C4 genes and characterization of the transgenic plants); and Yam Kanta Gaihre (Methane emission and rice yield as affected by elevated temperature, rice straw incorporation, and soil properties in lowland rice paddy soils).

Noel Magor, head of the IRRI Training Center, opened the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first scholar coming to IRRI. One of these first scholars was Reynaldo Lantin, who gave the keynote speech.

Dr. Magor spoke about the importance of nurturing relationships with IRRI's partners across the globe through its work with scholars. "We should appreciate not just the science, but also the development of people," he said.

India's minister of agriculture, Hon. Shri Ashish Bahuguna, who at that time was visiting IRRI, also graced the ceremony. He expressed hope for rice research's future.

"I always thought that young people are drifting away from science. But coming here, seeing how robust the presentations were, has given me hope," Minister Bahuguna said.

The 50th anniversary celebration and awarding ceremony was the culmination of the two-day IYSC, organized by the Association of Fellows, Scholars, Trainees, and Researchers in IRRI (AFSTRI).

Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, had expressed enthusiasm and pride for the event, and said that IRRI's future rests on this new generation of scientists.

Likewise, Achim Dobermann, IRRI's head of research, said that IRRI needs to anticipate needs in the value chain decades from now.

"Behind the success of IYSC 2012 were four factors: a simple concept, enthusiastic team, support with encouragement from institution and massive participation," said Govinda Rizal, AFSTRI president.



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First young rice scientists' meet a success

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The first IRRI Young Scientists Conference (IYSC), themed Sustaining excellence in rice research, was successfully held at IRRI Headquarters on 8-9 November 2012, with more than 300 IRRI staff and researchers from other countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, India, Iran, and Tanzania) attending.

The event opened with encouraging messages from Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general; Achim Dobermann, head of IRRI's research; and Govinda Rizal, president of the Association of Fellows, Scholars, Trainees, and Residents of IRRI (AFSTRI), which organized the conference. IRRI's leaders expressed anticipation of the initiative's continuation in the coming years.

IYSC 2012 aimed to provide a venue for budding scientists to share their research with a wider audience and across different disciplines. The 2-day program included more than 80 presentations and 6 best research presentations that showcased just how complex and diverse the field of rice science is.

The program also included a panel discussion about the theme and about how IRRI can further pursue excellence as an institution, more than as individual scientists. Panelists were in agreement that all sectors of IRRI (management, transport, security, research, purchasing, communication, information, data management, and others) are all linked and should pursue excellence together.

An exhibit and a ceremonial tree-planting activity were also held to mark the golden jubilee of the arrival of the first batch of scholars and trainees at IRRI.

Reynaldo Lantin, one of the first IRRI scholars and an AFSTRI alumnus, also addressed the gathering.

Dr. Zeigler introduced the Secretary of Agriculture of India, Hon. Shri Ashish Bahuguna, who expressed appreciation for the initiative. Secretary Bahuguna was in IRRI for a visit.

The IYSC 2012 organizing team was composed of Changrong Ye, Dr. Rizal, Jedeliza Ferrater, Rico Gamuyao, Shanta Karki, and Teodora Cabasan.



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Nepal recognizes three IRRI scientists

Three IRRI scientists, holding plaques of recognition (L-R):
Julian Lapitan, Thelma Paris, and Uma Shankar Singh

Three IRRI staff were awarded plaques of appreciation by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) during the workshop, Enhancing women’s livelihoods in rice-based farming systems, held at Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu, Nepal, 4-6 November 2012:

Thelma Paris, senior scientist (socioeconomics) and gender specialist, was recognized for her contributions to the capacity building of women scientists, researchers, and farmers of Nepal as well as to research and development (R&D) in rice and rice-based cropping systems at grassroots level.

Uma Shankar Singh, senior scientist and South Asia regional project coordinator of the Stress-Tolerant Rice  for South Asia (STRASA) was cited for his contributions to the development of stress-tolerant rice, particularly submergence-tolerant varieties, their dissemination, and capacity building of Nepalese scientists.

Julian Lapitan, senior manager of National Program Relations, was acknowledged for his contributions to and support of establishing the IRRI Country Office in Nepal, R&D and collaboration in rice and rice–based cropping systems, and development of Nepal's Rice Knowledge Bank.

The awards were presented by Dil Bahadur Gurung, NARC executive director.

The workshop was attended by 20 women from Nepal, Bangladesh, and India and was conducted to (A) provide opportunities for women engaged in research, development, and extension to acquire and use their technical knowledge in rice production, postharvest, seed management, and seed health to enhance the livelihoods of poor women farmers in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal; (B) develop an action plan for addressing the technology needs of women in production, seed management, and seed health by their institutions; and (C) develop a cadre of women leaders who can address the technology and livelihoods needs of grassroots women engaged in rice-based farming systems.

Resource persons for the workshop were Dr. Paris, Dr. Singh, and Mr. Lapitan; Sudhanshu Singh, postdoctoral fellow (IFAD-EC Drought Project, IRRI-India); P.K. Singh, associate professor and nodal officer, Mega Seed Program of Banaras Hindu University, India; Karuna Vishnawat, professor of plant pathology and site coordinator, All-India Coordinated Project on Seeds, GPUAT, Pantanagar, India; Devendra Gauchan, chief of the Socioeconomic Division of NARC; and Mirza Islam, principal scientific officer, Plant Breeding Division, and head, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture.


Workshop participants shared experiences in working with women farmers through participatory varietal selection (PVS) for stress-tolerant rice varieties, community seed banks, small-scale seed business, and other training activities for women’s groups.

Three country proposals were presented and discussed at the end of the workshop, highlighting their action plans for strengthening mainstreaming efforts in addressing the technology and training needs of women in the grassroots, in collaboration with IRRI.

The workshop was supported by IFAD-EC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and USAID.




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Book-signing for new children's book

The Rice Book for Kids, a new title by famous Filipino author Norma O. Chikiamco with Anvil Publishing Inc., will be launched on Monday morning (19 November) at Kari’s Garden in IRRI.

The new book, aimed at youngsters, includes facts about rice as part of our culture, trivia how rice is processed, what it takes to produce rice, and other things that are all written in a simple, easy-to-follow style. Besides yummy rice recipes, the creative illustrations aid in introducing rice to the younger audience.

IRRI is the source of much of the information in the book.

Members of the IRRI community, who might want to get an informative and attractive Christmas present for their children, are welcome to drop by Kari’s Garden between 11:15 a.m. and noon to get a signed copy of the book by Ms. Chikiamco who will be visiting.

Interested parties can make a reservation to purchase a copy of the book (Php 150) ahead of time by contacting the Riceworld Bookstore, ext. 2456.



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