Indonesia: CURE steering committee meets in Lombok

Seventy-five participants from ten countries attended the twelfth annual review and steering committee meeting of the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) on 23-25 April 2013 in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province. 

West Nusa Tenggara is the home of Gogo Rancha (GORA) or dry direct-seeded rice, which saved farmers from famine in the early 1990s.

Abdul Haris, representing the governor of the province, welcomed the participants and acknowledged the important role of CURE in addressing the effect of drought on rice production in the province

CURE is coordinated by David Johnson, senior scientist and head of IRRI's Crop and Environmental Sciences Division.

Ganesh Thapa, senior economist at the Internation Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Asia Pacific Region, said that investments are needed in sustainable areas, with a focus on smallholder farmers. "IFAD’s commitment to save poor farmers and help raise livelihoods is realized with its partnership with institutions of research excellence like IRRI."

A mini-symposium, held alongside the meeting, tackled Indonesia's efforts as the country tries to deliver its commitments to CURE through its own national programs. It sought to address issues and concerns of farming communities in Indonesia’s stress-prone areas. Solutions were sought specifically on developing appropriate germplasm and integrated crop and natural resource management for sub-optimal rice ecosystems in Indonesia. 


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