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International Rice Research Institute July-September 2006, Vol. 5, No. 3 e
ISSN 1655-5422
contents
Vol. 5, No. 3
Rice Today is published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the world’s should not be construed as expressing IRRI policy or opinion on the legal status of any
leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with country, territory, city or area, or its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or
offices in 13 other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on boundaries.
improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, Rice Today welcomes comments and suggestions from readers. Potential contributors
particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of are encouraged to query first, rather than submit unsolicited materials. Rice Today
15 centers funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited submissions, which should
(CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. For more information, visit be accompanied by sufficient return postage.
the CGIAR Web site (www.cgiar.org).
Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used in this publication Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2006
NEWS
Climate Change initiative ramps up
Ariel Javellana
higher temperatures. However, scientists of its own research funds as part of an effort
are calling for more research to fully under- to raise $25 million for a major five-year
stand the impact of climate change—espe- project to mitigate the effects of climate
cially the extreme weather it may cause—on change on rice production. “We need to start
international efforts to reduce poverty and developing rice varieties that can tolerate research and policy directions and priori-
ensure food security. higher temperatures and other aspects of ties.
A Climate Change and Rice planning climate change right now,” he said. IRRI’s senior climate change re-
workshop in March 2006 at the Interna- “Fortunately, the recent sequencing of searcher, John Sheehy, told the workshop
tional Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the the rice genome will allow us to do this much that poor farmers need help in several chal-
Philippines was told that climate change is faster than we could have in the past,” Dr. lenging new areas. “We need to develop rice
already affecting Asia’s ability to produce Zeigler added. “But, in addition to new rice varieties tolerant of higher temperatures
rice, and that this could eventually slow ef- varieties, we must develop other technolo- that can maintain yield and quality when
forts to reduce poverty in the region, where gies that will help poor rice farmers deal extreme temperatures occur,” Dr. Sheehy
most of the world’s poor live. with climate change.” said. “We also need rice varieties that can
The workshop was informed that, to The proposal plans include three sites take advantage of higher levels of CO2 in the
overcome many of the climate change-re- on at-risk rice lands in the Philippines, atmosphere, rice that is vigorous enough
lated problems facing rice production in southern China, and northern India. Re- to recover quickly from extreme weather
Asia—and continue to meet the demand searchers will use data from these sites to events and disasters, and very high-yielding
for rice in the region—yields will have to construct models designed to predict the rice that will provide a supply buffer for poor
double over the next 50 years. Research has effects of climate change and help develop communities during periods of change.”
business models. The RKB, entered in the species for rice-wheat cropping systems of
demonstrates the RKB
Economic Development category, was one on board an ICT Road Indo-Gangetic Plains covering India, Paki-
of 151 finalists chosen from 1,155 entries. Show bus. stan, Nepal, and Bangladesh,” Rice-Wheat
The eventual winner in the RKB’s category Consortium for the Indo-Gangetic Plains
was India’s “ITC eChoupal,” which uses ence and Technology’s (DOST) Mobile Head Raj Gupta said. The French Institute
ICT to help improve the competitiveness of Information Technology Classroom—a bus of Pondicherry initiated the project in
small-farmer agriculture and enhance rural that in March and April toured the Philip- collaboration with the consortium, Inter-
prosperity. Information about all finalists pines as part of the K-AgriNet ICT Road national Centre for Agricultural Research
is available at http://event.stockholmchal- Show. The Road Show is promoting the and Development (CIRAD by its French
lenge.se. use of computers and the Internet to local acronym) of France, and the Netherlands-
IRRI training staff also took the RKB government officials, agricultural extension based Wageningen University.
aboard the Philippine Department of Sci- workers, and farmers.
No to rice futures trading sutom, head of Thailand’s Foreign Trade to emergency cases occurring in member
The Japanese agriculture ministry has Department under the Trade Ministry, said countries.
disapproved plans by the Tokyo Grain Ex- the bilateral cooperation would include
change and Kansai Commodities Exchange support by Thailand to improve the quality Forbidden seeds
to list rice futures contracts for trading on of Vietnamese rice in aspects of harvesting, The trading of any strain of genetically
an experimental basis, saying this would storing, selling, and transportation. The two modified (GM) rice is strictly prohibited
gravely affect rice production and distribu- nations are creating and applying a general in China until it has passed a safety as-
tion. Japan initiated rice futures trading marketing strategy on a trial basis, which sessment, Director Fang Xiangdong of the
in the 18th century and terminated it in could later be applied by the world’s top Ministry of Agriculture’s Biosafety Office
1939. five exporters, including China, Pakistan, said in reaction to Greenpeace China’s al-
and India. legations of illegal commercialization of
Highest Cambodian production pest-resistant GM rice cultivated and sold
Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Cam- Emergency rice in Central China’s Hubei Province over the
bodia’s nearly 6 million metric tons of rice Vietnam has contributed 14,000 tons of rice past two years.
harvest in 2005, the best harvest in 27 years, to the East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve
representing a 43% increase over 2004 and (EAERR), a regional cooperation program Mice, rice enemy number 1
a surplus of more than 2 million metric among China, Republic of Korea, and Japan, Scientists from Vietnam, Australia, and
tons above the needed rice for domestic which aims to assist member countries cope IRRI recently held a meeting to implement
consumption, Oryza.com reported. with difficulties caused by natural disasters a US$556,500 project, funded by the Aus-
and disease. Of the 337,000 tons of rice tralian Centre for International Agricultural
Joint forces in rice exports reserved so far, 87,000 tons come from Research, to control mice in the Cuu Long
Oryza.com reported on 18 April 2006 that countries of the Association of Southeast (Mekong) Delta, Vietnam’s central-coastal
Vietnam and Thailand agreed to strengthen Asian Nations and 250,000 tons from region, and southern Sulawesi in Indonesia.
their rice exports to stabilize rice prices in Japan. EAERR is now formulating regula- Mice destroy 15% of the rice produced annu-
the international market. Rachane Potjana- tions on rice aid action to quickly respond ally in the Southeast Asian region. The proj-
IRRI
Reducing grain shattering encoding defense
proteins, which appeared in the journal
S cientists from Michigan State Uni- determined rice chromosome 4 as being Plant Science, aim to develop rice cultivars
versity led by plant biology associate responsible for the reduced shattering. with enhanced resistance to sheath blight
professor Tao Sang, while undertaking Then, plant biology research associate by genetically transforming high-yielding
rice domestication research, have identi- Changbao Li invented a process that al- indica rice cultivars with a rice gene that
fied for the first time the genetic mutation lowed researchers to efficiently complete encodes a protein. Pathogenesis-related
that reduces grain shattering, a feat that the screening of 12,000 seedlings. proteins can enhance plant resistance to
could help improve rice production. The Science Express quoted Rich pathogens when overexpressed.
researchers pinpointed a mutation in Triemer, chairperson of the Department The researchers, led by Krishnan
DNA causing an amino acid change in a of Plant Biology: “By tracing the breed- Kalpana, revealed that the engineered rice
protein responsible for the nonshattering ing of rice and identifying the genetic had increased resistance to the rice fungus
of rice varieties. mutations, the researchers have opened Rhizoctonia solani when compared with
According to the electronic publica- new doors to the science community nontransformed plants. In addition to
tion Science Express, which published that benefit the world through a more sheath blight resistance, they found that
the article Rice domestication by re- effective use of the land and water used the transgenic lines were also resistant to
ducing shattering, the researchers first to grow rice.” the rice sheath rot pathogen, Sarocladium
oryzae.
ect, to be completed in 2009, will be carried rice production. Speaking at a workshop on tant. One can take out the groundwater
out jointly by the Australian Commonwealth scaling up of technologies to improve rural and use it for irrigation. Even if the water
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisa- livelihood organized by the Birsa Agricul- dries up, the rain, which comes for a short
tion, IRRI, and the Vietnamese Department ture University, in collaboration with IRRI period, can replenish the groundwater stock
for Plant Protection, the Vietnam News and the state’s agriculture department, Dr. for further use.”
Agency said. Hossain told The Telegraph: “Jharkhand
is mainly dependent on rains for irrigation Clean boots for good crops
Irrigation rehab purposes. Even the Philippines has similar Farmers in the Cordilleras in northern Lu-
Restoration work on the Philippines’ na- problems. The farmers depend on rains or zon, Philippines, were advised to regularly
tional and communal irrigation systems is canals that often dry up during summer. wash their boots because their soles and
in full blast in response to President Gloria Therefore, groundwater becomes impor- edges could transport pathogens or disease-
Macapagal Arroyo’s goal of attaining rice causing organisms to their crops. Rhodesia
self-sufficiency by year 2009. The project Celoy-Manzan, an IRRI assistant scientist
is expected to restore the productiveness of who specializes in molecular genetics, ex-
some 12,475 hectares of agricultural lands plained to farmers gathered at the Benguet
and benefit 21,500 farmers nationwide. State University that rubber boots, when
Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban soiled and muddy, could become potentially
said that the nationwide rehabilitation will hazardous in moving potent organisms from
result in “the efficient delivery and distribu- farm to farm and affect the natural balance
tion of irrigation water.” between pathogenic (disease-causing) and
beneficial organisms on farmlands. Her
Groundwater for rice production advice also goes to some 300,000 farmers
Mahabub Hossain, head of IRRI’s Social Sci- in 13 towns of the province, according to a
Gene Hettel
ences Division, has advised the Jharkhand report from online news agency INQ7.net
government in India to tap groundwater for on 21 April 2006.
T he governor of Nigeria’s
Osun State, Prince Olagun-
fertilizing for cultivation and postharvest
techniques after threshing. Farmers will also
IRRI
soye Oyinlola, has advocated learn about self production of seed and the
African rice news a stop to rice importation to distribution system.”
conserve and harness much-needed foreign Meanwhile, NERICA has taken its
Nutrition revolution for Africa reserves during the inauguration of two roots in The Gambia because of its wider
in India and Bangladesh. Hari Gurung (EPPD); T.P. Tuong, CES, including staff
also joined SSD as an international research of the former Crop, Soil, and Water Sciences
fellow. Division and the entomology and ecology
Yuichiro Furukawa, Ruben Lam- research groups of the former EPPD; Ma-
G
lobal rice production “Growth reflected relatively
hit a world-record 628 favorable weather conditions in
million tons in 2005, Asia, western Africa, and South
after increasing for the America, and the positive effects
third consecutive season. The all- of high prices in 2004, which
time high was announced in the had fostered a general increase in
April 2006 issue of the Rice Market plantings,” according to the report.
Monitor, published by the Food and However, tight domestic
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of supplies and rising populations
the United Nations, ahead of the 21st left a number of countries facing
session of the International Rice production shortfalls in 2004,
Commission (IRC) on 3-5 May 2006. leading to a spike in global imports
in 2005 of 29 million tons—another
What next? record, but a figure that is expected
to drop slightly in 2006.
for rainfed
combine local traditional varieties Phraya delta of central Thailand.
that possess abiotic stress tolerance Progress in developing varieties
ecosystems
with elite lines obtained from for rainfed lowlands has been
international research centers. relatively slow. In India, for example,
Such research involves complex 18 varieties were released per
by Mahabub Hossain breeding procedures and often has million hectares in 1970-2000 for
Head, Social Sciences Division, a low probability of success, and, the irrigated ecosystem, compared
International Rice Research Institute when a variety is released, farmers with only 9 for the rainfed lowland
and consumers may not accept it. ecosystem. But there has been
A
We have seen promising progress considerable spillover of varieties
sia has made remarkable in developing varieties for the rainfed released for the irrigated system
progress in boosting rice upland ecosystem but many farmers into the rainfed lowland system.
production and productivity continue to grow traditional varieties. However, data on the effect of
over the last 4 decades. Most The only major success has been in adoption show that rice yield has
of this increase has been achieved China’s Yunnan Province, where the remained low because farmers
through the adoption of improved adoption of improved varieties was are reluctant to invest in adequate
rice varieties. But the progress facilitated by investment in terracing inputs—such as fertilizer—because
has remained uneven—countries the sloping uplands and thereby of the risks of crop failure from
that rely predominantly on rainfed modifying the growing environment. drought and submergence.
ecosystems continue to lag behind. Substantial efforts have also Recent efforts in using modern
Rainfed ecosystems—sloping been made in improving varieties biotechnology tools to incorporate
and plateau uplands, medium to for the flood-prone ecosystem by drought and submergence tolerance
deeply flooded monsoon-dependent changing the rice plant’s capacity to into popularly grown modern
lowlands, and salt-affected coastal elongate with rising floodwaters and varieties may help increase rice
areas—still account for about 45% developing kneeing ability—the ability production in the rainfed lowlands.
of total rice lands in Asia. These of a plant that has been flattened by
ecosystems therefore remain floodwaters to grow upright again Adapted from a paper presented at
crucial to sustaining future growth when the water recedes. However, the 21st Session of the International
in rice production, especially as farm-level data from Thailand Rice Commission, held in Chiclayo,
improvements in rice production in show limited adoption of improved Peru, 3-5 May 2006.
I
n 1960, the founding fathers of the ricelib.irri.cgiar.org. The library available, and ensure quick access.”
International Rice Research Insti- also houses documents in around Meanwhile, assistant chief
tute (IRRI) recognized the need, 80 languages—English accounts for librarian and rice bibliographer
especially in the developing world, just over half, Japanese almost one Carmelita Austria points out that
for accessible knowledge and infor- fifth, and Chinese 6%. The entire print publications remain as impor-
mation in the field of rice research. bibliography is available in print, on tant as ever. “Computers will not
In his book, An adventure in CD, and online, and is updated daily. replace books,” she says. “We do
applied science: a history of the In- The library also offers elec- not simply replace old technologies
ternational Rice Research Institute, tronic alerts, computerized lit- with new ones. Print and electronic
IRRI’s first director general, Robert erature searches, and electronic resources have their own strengths.”
Chandler, wrote that an essential ele- and print document delivery. Just Making the ever-increasing
ment of the institute “would be a good as important, the LDS trains libra- knowledge available to the people
library that would contain the world rians from other organizations, who need it is indeed a great chal-
collection of important rice literature and trains IRRI staff on database lenge for librarians. Failure means
and such other reference materials creation and management. that all those print and electronic
as would be needed by a group of At the helm of the LDS is Mila resources are consigned to gather
natural and social scientists engaged Ramos. A graduate of the University dust—both real and virtual— in the
in an active research and training of the Philippines, Ramos began at archives. With Ramos and her staff in
program. Furthermore, the facility the library in 1965. Over the ensuing charge, the needs of rice researchers
should be able to make available to 41 years, she has served at the world’s across the globe are in safe hands.
F
or this issue’s article on bird diversity and
wetland conversion (see Balanced on a wing False color images of Candaba marsh on 17 March 1976 and 3 April
on pages 34–36), Rice Today needed a land- 2002. While there were small differences in the infrared data collected
cover map of Candaba marsh to compare historical between the two years, this comparison gives an immediate sense of
the magnitude of change that has occurred to the landscape due to
and current conditions and plan a field visit. The
construction of agricultural fields and, to a lesser extent, fish ponds.
only available maps weren’t detailed enough and
hadn’t been updated since the mid-1970s, so the
IRRI Geographic Information Systems lab used 17 March 1976
freely available LandSat data from the Global Land
Cover Facility (http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.
shtml) at the University of Maryland in the USA.
Because of our interest in vegetation cover, satellite
data were reprocessed into false color images that
exploit the high infrared reflectance of chlorophyll—the
green pigment in plants—to render vegetation patterns.
The image is termed “false color” because the
imaging process displays the intensities of red,
green, and infrared radiation recorded by satellite
sensors as shades of, respectively, green, blue, and
red instead (see https://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/
tutorial/Landsat%20Tutorial-V1.html). In the resulting
image, vegetation is in varying shades of red, water
is blue, and bare or fallow areas are light brown.
2002
Image Processed by Aileen Maunahan (3)
Institute (IRRI), with the support international borders, the domestic then, the very high prices received
of the Bureau of Agricultural price will naturally tend to equal the by Filipino farmers translate into
Research (BAR) of the Department world price unless the government very high rice prices paid by poor
of Agriculture of the Philippines, intervenes with trade restrictions. consumers. The large gap between
conducted a 3-year study of the issues If domestic prices are higher than world prices and domestic rice prices
involved. BAR’s support enabled world prices, private traders will not only harms consumers, it also
the research team of Dr. Dawe, try to profit by importing from creates opportunities for corruption
who was then still stationed in the abroad, buying low, and selling high. that would disappear if the price
Philippines as an IRRI economist, This process will continue until differential were much smaller.
Piedad Moya, senior associate the additional supply of imports During the past few years, the
scientist in IRRI’s Social Sciences lowers domestic prices and erases Philippines has imported about 10%
Division, and Cheryll Casiwan, those profits. The reverse will of its consumption requirements.
economist with the Socioeconomics happen if world prices are higher According to May 2006 press
Division of PhilRice, to bring together than domestic prices: private reports, the projected rice import
agricultural experts from many other traders will profit by exporting. total for 2006 will amount to around
Philippine organizations, such as the For rice in the Philippines, 1.4 million metric tons. Because
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, only the government has the legal palay and rice prices are higher
the National Food Authority, and authority to arrange imports. in the Philippines than on world
state colleges and universities. “Because the government is markets (sometimes nearly double
Trade liberalization, although a currently limiting the quantity of world prices), the researchers’
term used widely today, is often not imports each year,” says Ms. Moya, analyses show that rice trade
properly understood. “It does not “the law of supply and demand liberalization would most likely
necessarily mean more imports for suggests that domestic prices will mean more rice imports than this.
all commodities in all situations,” rise, and, in fact, they have.” “Lower palay and rice prices
explains Ms. Moya. “What it does It is not widely known, even due to increased imports would, of
mean is that the price for a specific in the Philippines, that Filipino course, hurt palay farmers,” says Dr.
commodity inside the country farmers receive much higher prices Dawe, “especially those with large
(the domestic price) becomes the for their palay (rice at harvest surpluses to sell. Many palay farmers
same as the price for that same before the husk is removed) than do are poor, but many are not, and most
commodity outside the country (the farmers in neighboring developing of the benefits of high prices accrue
world price), after taking account countries. Further, farm prices to the larger, better-off farmers
of the exchange rate and any for rice have increased during the because they have the most surplus
necessary transportation costs.” past 10 years much faster than for to sell. However, there is no doubt
Generally speaking, for any other key agricultural commodities that some small, poor palay farmers
commodity that is tradable across such as corn. Not surprisingly would be hurt by trade liberalization.”
E
suggests that lower prices resulting consumers should be done gradually, manating
from increased imports would not all at once. In the foreword to the from a 3-
benefit the many poor consumers book that details the results of this year joint
who spend more than 20% of research, Why does the Philippines PhilRice-IRRI
their income on rice alone. “These import rice? (see box at right), they study, this book
attempts to answer
consumers consist of fishers, landless write that “Gradual changes make the question on
laborers, corn farmers, and the it easier for all members of society the cover, and
urban poor—in fact, most poor to adjust their lives to changed then proceeds to
people in the Philippines are not circumstances. Any analyst with a the even more
rice farmers,” Dr. Dawe points out. dose of humility must admit to being difficult issue of
what would happen
In a trade liberalization scenario less than perfect, and a gradual if rice trade were
that results in more rice imports, approach to reform would allow liberalized and
Filipino farmers would need to an assessment of changes before the Philippines began to import more rice.
either become more competitive full reform is implemented.” Although written by experts on the rice
in rice production or explore “In thinking about the future economy and some of the country’s young
economists, this book is intended for a
alternative crops. “One promising of rice policy in the Philippines general lay audience. The reader need not be
way to improve competitiveness is or any country for that matter, it familiar with complex concepts and jargon
through the use of hybrid rice, a new is important to keep a balanced in economics or mathematics in order to
technology that could increase yields perspective,” says Dr. Dawe. “Rice understand the arguments presented. All
and profits in areas and seasons that is what many farmers grow, but it that is necessary is an open mind and a
willingness to think carefully.
are suitable for its cultivation,” says is also what nearly all consumers The primary goal of this book is to be
Ms. Casiwan. “PhilRice is conducting eat. In many cases, farmers have educational. For example, the Philippines
considerable hybrid rice research more flexibility to switch crops imports rice because it is an island nation;
that will, we hope, provide farmers than consumers—especially poor Filipino farmers receive high rice prices; farm
with this additional option.” ones—do to switch their staple food.” laborers, not rice farmers, do the bulk of the
work producing the nation’s rice; and most
Progressive rice farmers can and Although self-sufficiency can be a of the poorest people in the Philippines are
are exploring growing other crops. laudable goal, it can cause great harm not rice farmers. If readers retain just some
“The choice of alternative crops will if it is pursued at all costs, without of these facts about the rice sector in the
vary from province to province and regard for the welfare of the poor. Philippines, and discuss them with friends
some of these alternatives are even Self-sufficiency pursued through and colleagues, then the publication will have
been successful.
more profitable than rice and would improvements in productivity For more information about purchasing
make farmers wealthier,” says Ms. and competitiveness is much less this book, access IRRI’s online publications
Casiwan. “But these crops are also likely to have negative side-effects, catalog at www.irri.org.
often riskier to plant than rice, and and is a target worth pursuing.
and (top opposite) feeds his pigs. may cost a farmer at least $680—are
needed to irrigate farms after the
Trade liberalization:
an agricultural economist’s perspective
Rice Today recently discussed the issue of rice trade liberalization with David
Dawe, Bangkok-based economist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations and former International Rice Research Institute economist.
Rice Today: What effects can trade gleaned from the studies described in Trade liberalization,
reforms have on reducing poverty? poverty and food security, a part of the new publication
from the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, The
Dr. Dawe: The effects of trade reforms on poverty and State of Food and Agriculture in Asia and the Pacific.
food security are complex and will vary depending on
social structure (e.g., the proportion of landlessness Rice Today: If any country decided to import more
in the rural population, inequality of land ownership), rice, in part, to benefit poor consumers, can today’s
infrastructure, the specific commodity involved (e.g., world market be trusted to provide those supplies?
whether it is preferentially consumed by the poor or well-
to-do, whether it is being imported or exported in any Dr. Dawe: In the mid-1970s, the answer was uncertain. Today,
particular country), and many other factors. This complexity however, the world rice market has fundamentally changed.
means that analyses of specific countries and commodities World rice production is more stable because of more irrigation
are highly valuable, although some generic lessons can be and high-yielding varieties with pest and disease resistance.
In addition, more exporting countries are commercially Dr. Dawe: First of all, rice is very different from oil in that
oriented—the health of their own domestic rice economies production comes from millions of small farmers acting
depends on being reliable suppliers to the world market. As independently, as opposed to a few oil wells controlled by a
proof, the world market has successfully weathered two recent government planner. This makes it difficult to control surplus
events that did not turn into crises—the massive El Niño of 1998 production if a cartel is successful in raising prices. Second,
and China’s rice imports in 2004 and 2005. Today, although rice is a perishable commodity, unlike oil. Thus, when surpluses
price fluctuations still occur on the world market, rice prices accumulate, and governments try to keep prices high by
are more stable than ever before, and they are more stable holding these surpluses off the market, they will suffer large
than world prices for other cereal grains. So, the world rice financial losses as the rice deteriorates in storage. Third, rice
market can be trusted once again, just as it could in the 1950s. exporters have been trying to form this cartel for many years
without success, as the interests of the exporters are very
Rice Today: What about price stability diverse. While some countries may try to increase world prices
when opening to external markets? on their own by holding back their rice stocks, other nations
are happy to provide more opportunities for their farmers to
Dr. Dawe: Trade can play an important role in ensuring export at any time. In other words, enforcement is a problem,
price stability, as in the case of Bangladesh during the “flood as with all cartels. Fourth, oil prices are high today because
of the century” in 1998 that caused a drop in rice production. of recent increases in demand and the prospects of further
The government eliminated tariffs on rice imports during increases in demand from India and China, as well as political
the crisis and the increased supplies brought in from India instability in the Middle East. In contrast, rice demand is
by private traders kept domestic prices stable. In addition increasing relatively slowly as wealthy and middle-class Asian
to trade, government storage also has a role to play in consumers diversify their diets away from staple foods in favor
ensuring price stability, but the costs of food reserves are of meats, dairy products, vegetable oils, and fruits. Because
often much higher than the benefits. Tariffs that vary in of all these factors, it will be difficult for a rice exporters’
response to changing world prices and domestic harvests cartel to increase prices by more than a small amount.
(either according to a predetermined schedule or on an
ad hoc basis) may be a more cost-effective mechanism for
stabilizing domestic prices. This is a more feasible option For more information on this topic, see Trade
today than it was in the 1970s, because of the increased
liberalization, poverty and food security in the new
stability in the world rice market mentioned earlier. Such
tariffs should be imposed only for key commodities, confined publication from the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the
to a low level, and used to moderate price fluctuations,
Pacific, The State of Food and Agriculture in Asia and the
not provide protection for an extended length of time.
Pacific. The publication can be obtained online at
Rice Today: What is your take on rice
www.fao.org/world/regional/rap/publication.asp
exporters trying to form an organization of
rice-exporting countries that would lead to or by sending an email to david.dawe@fao.org.
a cartel of rice exporters just like in oil?
R
ice and agriculture rice science, despite its vital
are still fundamental importance to the region.
to the economic However, an innovative
development of most project launched in April
Asian nations, not to mention in Thailand and the
their cultural and social Philippines marks the start
identities. The rice industry of a major new effort to
has been a foundation of the encourage young Asians to
Asian way of life for generations. consider a future in rice.
In much of Asia, rice plays a “It’s a sad fact of life in
central role in politics, society, modern Asia that many young
and culture, and directly people in the region don’t think
or indirectly employs more of rice as offering an exciting
people than any other sector. or promising career, so they
A healthy rice industry, focus on other industries and
especially in Asia’s poorer other careers,” says Robert
countries, is crucial to the Zeigler, director general
Jose raymond Panaligan
Philippine headquarters learning international scientific activity,” he inserting a gene into the rice genome.
about the latest rice research and, says. “The recent sequencing of the It wasn’t all air-conditioned labs,
more importantly, how rice research rice genome attracted enormous though—they also had the chance
can provide a brighter future for international attention, especially to get their hands dirty, preparing
rice production and, consequently, among the scientific community, a field for rice transplanting.
peoples’ livelihoods in Asia. yet most young Asians still don’t One of the camp’s biggest
Dr. Zeigler emphasizes that, if the know it even happened, let alone successes was the camaraderie that
rice industry is to continue to develop understand its implications for blossomed among the students.
in Asia, the rice industry must attract the food they eat each day.” Despite sharing little language, the
the region’s best and brightest young During their 5 days at IRRI, the young Thais and Filipinos struck up
people. “We want them to understand students, who were accompanied by friendships that look set to last well
that rice research is not some sleepy their teachers, tried their hand at beyond the 5-day camp. IRRI has
little scientific backwater, but is, several laboratory techniques such as created a Web site where the students
in fact, right on the cutting edge of extracting DNA from a rice plant and can communicate and post photos.
Thailand
Supawan Fukkearw
Suwassa Semsil
Boontawee Kuhana
Leenlada Monpo
Narumol Nookong
Sasiwimon Saengaawang
Santad Klaithin
Weerasak Megwee
Preeda Lunlee
Anon Chaiyasatr
Philippines
Faye Victoria Casimero
Joana Joyce Gadiano
Evelita Cara
Pamela Cunanan
Jeniffer Pascual
Romarc Corpuz
Mc Christian Julius Macaranas II
Michael John Albert Malig
Carlos Miguel Jr.
Photography by Jose raymond panaligan, Lauro Atienza, and chrisanto quintana
According to IRRI Spokesperson down his face as he guzzled water. director of the Thai Rice Foundation,
Duncan Macintosh, the chance to mix Meanwhile, the Thai student calmly expressed hope that the students
with people from different cultures ate his second, then third, then returned home with a new sense
also provided some comic moments. fourth, then fifth chili. The rest of of excitement about rice and its
“At dinner one night,” recounts the students were in stitches.” potential both in science and in
Macintosh, “one of the Filipino boys Macintosh added that the the future development of Asia.
boldly challenged one of the Thai Filipinos got their revenge later, “Rice has played a vital role in
boys to a chili-eating competition. when they challenged the Thais Thailand’s economic development,
After gulping down three chilies in to eat Filipino balut. While the not to mention its history and
the time it took the Thai lad to eat Filipinos savored the delicacy, culture,” says Dr. Gomez. “The
one, the Filipino proclaimed victory— the Thais gagged and spluttered challenge is to try to translate this
prematurely, as it turned out. Within on the fertilized duck egg with a into a sense of excitement and
a minute or so, the Filipino had nearly-developed embryo inside. interest amongst young people
turned red and tears were streaming Kwanchai Gomez, executive in Thailand and all over Asia.”
Steinbeck
and a calling
by Rebecca Khelseau-Carsky
ariel Javellana
G
rowing up on his father’s The Grapes of Wrath profoundly alive Steinbeck’s narrative on the
almond and poultry affected his thinking. Reading at struggles of the working class.
farm in Australia, Noel the age of 16 about indebted farmers “Some things affect you inside,” he
Magor knew from early in the American Midwest losing recalls. “I believe that my reflections
childhood that he would pursue a their land, and of the hardships on The Grapes of Wrath, and
career in agriculture. His father, suffered by migrant farm laborers, my growing awareness of social
one of 10 children, had grown up on sparked in him an interest in justice issues, prompted me to
the modest 3-hectare farm that his social justice—an interest that move into development work.”
grandfather had struggled to keep. later became a commitment. Measured by his achievements,
Yet, with the conviction that fair play Proof of that commitment Dr. Magor’s decision was an answer
and hard work lead to success, Noel’s began in 1974. Upon completing a to a calling. In 1977, simultaneously
father succeeded in expanding the bachelor’s degree in agricultural serving as agricultural service head,
family farm to 12 hectares. What science at Adelaide University, Noel
Dr. Magor remembers most clearly set off to Wollo Province in northern
today is how his father repeatedly Ethiopia, where a devastating
won competitions with his chickens famine had struck the year before.
and produced beautiful almonds As a volunteer, he assessed how
using green manure and irrigation. the famine affected village families
What young Noel probably did and sought ways to rehabilitate
not realize in his early childhood the most destitute by providing
was that other influences would grain through food-for-work
set him on a particular career path projects and by distributing seed.
leading to distant lands. From his Twelve months of living and
secondary school days, he felt an working under primitive conditions
Petrra (2)
step
Pest by pest by
by Rowena McNaughton step
C
ambodia’s per hectare yields up to levels comparable with diagnostic interest in disease,
rice yield is one of the those of other countries in the region. with most scientific pest research
lowest in Asia. This is One of Cambodia’s few focusing exclusively on insects.
a significant problem plant pathologists, Ny Vuthy, “Most farmers can’t identify
in a country where adds that, until recently, there diseases, and therefore do not
more than 80% of the has been little technical and know how to treat and manage
population is reliant on agriculture
for its primary source of income and
Cardi (5)
where rice constitutes 90% of total
agricultural output. Rice is also by far
the country’s most important staple
food, with the average Cambodian
obtaining three-quarters of his or
her calories from rice and consuming
160 kg of the grain per year.
Within the problem of low yields,
however, lies a great opportunity.
In November 2005, the Cambodian
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and
Fisheries reported that the national
average rice yield was 2.1 tons per
hectare—an improvement on previous
years but, according to researchers
from the Cambodian Agricultural
Research and Development
Institute (CARDI), simply not high
enough. In neighboring Vietnam,
for example, the average yield
stands at 4.1 tons per hectare.
“There is no doubt that, in
Cambodia, diseases of rice contribute
to low productivity by reducing yield
and grain quality,” Preap Visarto,
head of CARDI’s Plant Protection
Hin Sarith, research assistant in CARDI’s Soil and Water Department, and a field worker check on plants in
Program, explains. Improved a CARDI greenhouse. Thun Vathany (top left), research assistant in CARDI’s Plant Breeding Department, tests
understanding and management of the disease resistance of CARDI-developed orchard germplasm. Top right, a Cambodian Agricultural University
pests can help pull Cambodia’s low student performs fieldwork at CARDI.
Improved methods of measuring how rice plants respond to drought in the field are helping scientists
discover how and why some varieties tolerate water shortages better than others—knowledge that will
ultimately help farmers withstand the cruel vagaries of the weather
T
he International Rice emergence of new information and page 33), scientists can investigate
Research Institute technologies is making it quicker, drought-resistant traits and genes
(IRRI) has highlighted easier, and cheaper to decipher the (or regions of the genome) and the
drought as one of the complex genetic networks of drought potential value of different varieties.
major challenges to be tackled resistance in rice. However, the In the 2006 dry season alone, IRRI
in its future research. Drought physiological characterization, or scientists examined the drought
is a more complex phenomenon phenotyping, of plants has not, until response of more than 14,500
than most other stresses, such now, advanced at the same pace. If rice lines and varieties—including
as salinity, submergence, pests, scientists are to better understand traditional and exotic rice varieties
and diseases. It can occur at any and exploit the wealth of available that potentially harbor a wealth of
point during crop production and genetic information, they need valuable genes—at the institute’s
for any length of time, affecting detailed knowledge of the biological Philippine headquarters. Each line
a large array of physiological, effects of drought stress at both the needed to be carefully monitored
biochemical, and molecular cellular and whole-plant levels. for its response to drought in the
processes. These complexities, along By subjecting plants to different field, so that the resultant data could
with the uncertainty in drought irrigation regimes and thus different be combined with existing genetic
timing, intensity, and duration, levels and intensities of drought information, allowing researchers to
have posed a major challenge for stress (see Playing rain-god on ultimately select the best candidates
agricultural scientists. Despite for breeding programs for drought
Jose raymond Panaligan (3)
Hamlyn JONes
water by closing their stomata, which of irrigation include:
consequently raises internal plant 30.5 °C Soil drying. By exposing drained paddy fields
temperature. Leaf temperature is thus to soil drying periods during both dry and wet
A thermal image of drought-stressed
seasons, researchers can simulate intermittent
related to the stress level of the plant. rice (right; mostly yellow) and irrigated rice
(left) in an IRRI field. dry-spells in rainfed lowlands. This system has
Infrared thermometer guns been used by IRRI drought breeder Gary Atlin
have long been used to measure the to screen large collections of breeding lines and
temperature of individual leaves. be used to detect whole-plant, or rice hybrids and to identify several donor parents
As early as the 1980s, former IRRI even whole-plot, temperature within for drought resistance breeding.
Sprinkler irrigation. This is used in upland
crop physiologist John O’Toole seconds. While this technique can
fields to compare plant performance under
used this method to screen rice be applied very quickly on a large well-watered aerobic conditions and drought
varieties for reproductive-stage scale, more detailed measurements conditions. It also allows drought of varying
drought avoidance. He found are required to fully understand severity to be simulated at specific plant growth
that mean canopy temperatures the effect of drought stress. stages.
Drip irrigation. This uses drip tapes to apply
increased dramatically from 28 to As part of a project funded by
water to individual rice plots, thus allowing
37 degrees Celsius during a drought the Rockefeller Foundation, Hamlyn variable drought stress periods. Drip irrigation
stress period, and that the lines Jones, from Dundee University in is the preferred method for screening varieties
that had previously responded Scotland, and Mauro Centritto, with major differences in flowering time—by
best to drought consistently from the Consiglio Nazionale delle initiating the stress period at different times,
researchers can target a specific growth stage
remained coolest under stress. Ricerche (National Research Council)
for each variety.
Despite these promising results, in Rome, recently worked with IRRI’s Line-source sprinkler irrigation. This is used to
using an infrared gun on single drought physiology group on scaling generate a differential gradient of soil moisture
plants can result in high plant- up field screening procedures from varying from well watered to extremely dry, thus
to-plant variation and thus have single plants or leaves to plot and allowing comparisons of the effects of different
levels of drought stress on the same plots at
limited scope as an efficient and field levels. While taking a series of
the same time.
reproducible screening method. infrared thermal images from atop
However, recent technological a 6-meter scaffolding tower placed
progress in infrared thermal imagery above rice plants under various reduce yield, the researchers also
has revived interest in using canopy drought stress treatments (see took measurements during and
temperature as a screening tool, photo below), the team of scientists after flowering to understand what
especially if scaled up to plot or field measured other indicators of drought the exact cause of this reduction
levels. Infrared cameras can now stress such as above-ground biomass is, and to determine what causes
production, plant certain varieties to yield more than
water status, others under drought stress. Early
photosynthesis, results are gradually revealing the
Hamlyn JONes (atop
tower) takes a thermal and leaf gas physiological processes that underpin
image while Rachid Serraj exchange the rice plant’s response to drought.
(right), Gary Atlin (cen- through stomata. Further improving the efficiency
ter), and Ranee Mabesa
discuss their research. Combining this and accuracy of screening will
information with allow enhanced integration of
temperature newly developed genomics tools
measurements with corresponding methods of
will provide a phenotyping. Such advances will
more detailed help scientists unravel the mysteries
picture of the of drought and ultimately develop
effects of stress rice varieties that can withstand
on individual severe water shortage, thus helping
lines. the millions of farmers who are
As periods afflicted each and every season.
of water shortage
during a plant’s Drs. Serraj and Cairns are senior
reproductive crop physiologist and postdoctoral
stage can fellow, respectively, in IRRI’s Crop and
severely Environmental Sciences Division.
33
environment
AN INTERMEDIATE EGRET
flies over rice fields.
Balanced
Wing
on a
Y
ou might see something fickle resources for enhanced food land leveling, and bunding, radically
strange if you go bird production. And, satellite imagery alter the ecology of the system and
watching near the small shows us that, over the past 30 years, tend to eliminate nonproductive
town of Candaba in the human ingenuity has been hard at native vegetation. From a wildlife
middle of the Philippine work converting Candaba marsh conservation perspective, converting
island of Luzon—next to rice fields into a homogeneous landscape of wetlands to agricultural fields too
and a dusty road, with no water in agricultural terrain (see maps on often represents habitat simplification
sight, are houses perched on stilts page 14). to favor the needs of just one
with boats stored underneath. This Bringing floodplain wetlands species—the crop—and creates
area is a cultivated floodplain and into agricultural production generally nonoptimal circumstances for other
it’s the quintessential place between requires flood control and drainage to species and ecosystem functions.
land and water—an area defined manage water levels. These hydrologic While at first the arguments over
by its potential both in terms of modifications, along with plowing, high levels of food production versus
agricultural productivity and as a
habitat for a profusion of wildlife.
At the edge of Candaba marsh,
Almost every wet season, about near the Pampanga River, a
a third of Candaba’s 18,000 hectares truck drives past a flood gauge
of farmland are flooded up to several designed to measure depths
meters by the Pampanga River. This more than 4 meters above
is in some ways a vestige of floodplain ground level.
landscapes that used to be much
more widespread in Asia. However, as
demand for rice has increased, many
areas like this—with soils that are
potentially good for agriculture, but
usually too wet—have gradually been
appropriated for rice production.
It is a scene repeated again and
again in the planet’s rice-producing
areas. From an agronomist’s
perspective, wetland conversion
exemplifies the application of human
ingenuity to optimize nature’s
T
����
he figure to the right shows a theoretical model �
“It’s a false dichotomy,”
of species richness (for birds, for example) as says Thomas Brooks. “The most
a function of landscape homogeneity (the ������ authoritative study on this (Balmford
variation of types of habitat in the landscape). ����������
The more intense the farming, usually the more et al 2002, Science Vol. 297, p 950–
homogeneous the landscape and the fewer native 953) shows that, if the value of all
species can be expected. This does not necessarily ��� �
environmental services is considered,
mean that the number of birds will be lower, as conservation areas are generally
we may see a rise in the abundance of invasive ��� ����
worth 100 times the opportunity
species (species that expand rapidly when they ���������������������
are introduced from another region or when costs of establishing them.”
Potential relationships between degree of landscape
environmental conditions change). homogeneity (variation of types of habitat in the land-
Further highlighting the
The shape of the curve depends on what scape) and the number of species able to use an area. potential for a win-win solution,
species and habitats make up the ecosystem. Sackville Hamilton turns the issue
The more specific environmental demands a
on its head and adds that “when you
species has, the sooner it will disappear when its is shaped by many factors, so it is difficult to
environment changes. determine the exact shape of the curve, but this look at very extensive wetlands, they
Case A presents an example where most conceptual model provides an idea of how much are actually rather homogeneous
native species disappear quite early in the land effort is needed to restore biodiversity. Case A, for at the landscape level and it’s quite
conversion process. An example of this would be example, would require the system to be restored possible that when agriculture is
converting forest to rice fields, where most of the to close to its original condition—a very large
introduced to the landscape in
forest species are lost very quickly because their effort. In case B, however, even small measures
niches don’t overlap with the rice system. In case can have significant positive effects. patches, it can actually increase the
B, species richness is sustained much longer. An An understanding of how species react to overall biodiversity of the system.”
example here could be rice farming in an existing land use gives us a clearer idea about which areas The real issue, it seems, is to
wetland, where more species may be able to use are likely to experience the maximum benefit from carefully find the right balance.
the new habitat and patches of natural habitat our restorative efforts.
still remain.
The relationship between wetlands and birds Jonas Rune is a Philippines-based biologist. Greg Fanslow is an environmental
consultant at IRRI.
Cheaper rice can help break the cycle of poverty and malnutrition
A
t least 840 million people of the rice grain (developing varieties
worldwide do not have enough that contain increased levels of
food to meet their daily energy micronutrients) are well documented,
needs. In addition, more than three little research has explicitly examined
times this number—including many the link between the price of rice and
who do have enough food to avert day- the nutritional status of rice produc-
to-day hunger—suffer from micronu- ers and consumers.
T
he simple answer to the question posed by the title is “no”— cases of arsenic poisoning have been caused by consumption of
because most rice is not dangerous. On closer inspection, contaminated drinking water, not food.
though, we find that some rice-cropping systems are more Cadmium, which chemically mimics the plant micronutrient
likely than others to take up metals that are toxic to humans. Such zinc, is less likely to be found in rice grain than in other grains
metals may be a natural part of the local environment or present because it is less available to plants under flooded conditions.
in industrial pollution. However, because cadmium is very toxic, it is important to monitor
Who is most at risk from contaminated rice? Nutritionally any effects that trends in rice production may have on grain
deficient people are more likely than well-nourished people to cadmium content. In water-scarce areas, for example, water-saving
experience harmful effects from eating rice containing higher- irrigation strategies may increase cadmium uptake. Sources of
than-average levels of metals. As the most impoverished people cadmium in rice fields include urban sewage sludge applied to
are the most likely to be malnourished, they too are the most soil, runoff from mining operations, and, to a much lesser extent,
vulnerable. phosphate fertilizer.
Which metals are dangerous? The risk of long-term exposure What are scientists doing? Researchers have a four-pronged
to low levels of metals is difficult to confirm. All of the potentially approach to minimizing the content of metals in rice grains:
toxic metals are naturally present in the environment in trace identifying which geographical areas have elevated risk and
amounts and are ingested with food, testing soil and plant samples; identifying
water, and air. Human bodies have the the rice varieties that take up the least
ability to deal with these background metal or convert the toxin to less toxic
levels. The World Health Organization
The most impoverished forms when grown in high-risk areas;
has established guidelines on allowable developing irrigation, fertilization, and
consumption of various toxins. people—and hence residue management strategies that help
How important is food in exposure to minimize metal uptake by plants; and
to metals? Some toxic metals, such the most likely to be recommending growth of nonrice crops
as chromium, mercury, and lead, are where the risk is too high for rice.
considered very low risk as plant food malnourished—are What can farmers do? Farmers
contaminants because plants can’t absorb who think their farm may be in a high-
them. Other metals, such as copper and the most at risk risk category should contact their local
zinc, are needed in small quantities by extension office and arrange to have soil
plants and humans, and become toxic to and grain samples tested. If a contaminant
plants before they reach high enough concentrations to be toxic is present, there may be a recommended approach for their area—
to humans. The metals that pose the biggest risk are those that more suitable varieties or irrigation techniques, for example.
chemically mimic plant nutrients and can therefore be absorbed What can policymakers do? As well as determining allowable
by plants at high enough concentrations to threaten human levels of contaminants in food, policymakers can implement food
consumers. and soil-testing programs in suspected risk areas, monitor land
Is rice riskier than other food? Arsenic is of more concern use and cleanup of contaminated sites, and build capacity for
in rice than in other grain crops because flooded soil conditions monitoring and solving contamination problems.
make arsenate, which mimics the plant nutrient phosphate, more How do I know my rice is safe? Most people are extremely
available to plants. However, far more arsenic accumulates in unlikely to consume sufficient contaminated rice to cause
leaves than in grain, and experiments have so far failed to measure health problems. The people most at risk are those who live on
arsenic concentrations above published safe limits in rice grain, contaminated sites and eat primarily the rice produced on their
even in very contaminated soil. own land, those who have additional sources of contamination
Sources of arsenic contamination in rice fields include geologic besides rice, and those who are nutritionally deficient. Many of
soil materials that are naturally high in arsenic, irrigation with these people do not have access to the necessary information. It
contaminated water, residual arsenical pesticides used on cotton, is our job to identify and inform them.
or application of poultry manure from chickens treated with
arsenical antiparasite food additives. In Bangladesh, which has Sarah Johnson is a soil scientist in IRRI’s Crop and Environmental
widespread geologic arsenic contamination, the many documented Sciences Division.
6XEVFULSWLRQ SULFHV IRU WKH YROXPH IRXU LVVXHV USA – $367.00;
Euro Zone – !360.00; Rest of World – £238.00.
40 Rice Today July-September 2006