Rice research in good hands as young IRRI scientists come together

 OLD NEWS

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Rice research in good hands as young IRRI scientists come together

IRRI's young scientists, as well as their more experienced colleagues, have come together for the 2012 IRRI Young Scientists Conference (IYSC) to share their work and insights on rice research, 8-9 November 2012 at IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños.

The conference is driven with the theme, Sustaining excellence in rice research, which hints of the current status of research in agriculture in general and rice in particular.


IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler expressed enthusiasm for the event, saying that IRRI's future rests a lot on this new generation of scientists.

"Without a crop of vibrant, intelligent, dedicated, and caring young scientists, IRRI would not have a future," Dr. Zeigler said in the foreword of the 2012 IYSC abstract book. "Armed with knowledge gained at IRRI, the unique experience they get here, and valuable professional relationships they foster, our current batch of young scientists, I believe, will continue this legacy of contributing to a better world through rice science."

Likewise, Achim Dobermann, IRRI's head of research, said that IRRI needs to anticipate needs in the value chain decades from now. "Young scientists must play a leading role in such efforts and thus help shape a new image for modern agriculture," Dr. Dobermann said.

Presentations of abstracts will cover these areas of rice science: crop improvement, crop protection, extension, marketing and policies, environment and sustainability, genetics and genomics, and innovations and novel approaches.

The conference will also celebrate 50 years of scholarship and training at IRRI. An exhibit for this celebration is located at the breezeway in Harrar Hall, IRRI.


Learn more about IRRI (www.irri.org) or follow us on the social media and networks (all links down the right column).

First young rice scientists' meet a success

 OLD NEWS

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

First young rice scientists' meet a success

Photos | Video

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.



Learn more about IRRI (www.irri.org) or follow us on the social media and networks (all links down the right column).

RICE QUIZ - 1

1. What is the botanical name of Asian rice?

2. Which of the following region is not suitable for rice cultivation?

 a) Antarctica

b) Madagascar

c) Himalayas

d) Tropical rainforest

3. In which of these countries rice is the staple food?

a) Canada

b) China

c) Italy

4. How much of people's daily energy needs are met by rice in the developing world?

a) 27%

b) 10%

c) 50%

d) 100%

5. How much water is needed to grow a kilogram of rice?

a) 10 litres

b) 2000 litres

c) 10,000 litres

6. How long does a rice plant take to mature (on average)?
a) 3 to 6 hours

b) 3 to 6 weeks

c) 3 to 6 months

d) 3 to 6 years

7. How much rice does an average person in Myanmar eat each day?

a) Half gram

b) Half-kilogram

c) Half quintal

d) Half tonne

8. Which country exported the highest quantity of rice in 2015?

a) Thailand

b) Vietnam

c) USA

d) Philippines

9. How many varieties of rice are known?

a) 2300

b) 20000

c) 140000

10. HOW MANY SPECIES OF RICE ARE KNOWN?



11. In which country was rice first domesticated?



12. Which is the primary region of the origin of rice?

a) Indo china

b) WestAfrica

c) Mediterrnean




13. African Rice (Oryza glaberrima) originated in Inland delta of Upper Niger river. Which African country is located there today?

14. Which is the wild ancestor of the African rice (Oryza glaberrima)?

15. AfricaRice Center developed a high yielding rice by crossing Asian Oryza glaberrima and Oryza sativa aand the the hybrid is named as New Rice for Africa. What is this “New Rice for Africa” popularly known as?

16. Which of the following is not true about the NERICA rice?

a) Produce up to 400 grains per head

b) Contains 2 % more protein than its parental lines

c) Easy to harvest

d) Tolerant to submergence

17. Who was recognized with 2004 World Food Prize for his leadership in developing NERICA?

18. What is the ancient rice (Oryza brevilugata) called these days?

19. Who was the first Portuguese chronicler to mention rice growing in the Upper Guinea Coast in 1446?

20. What is the position of rice in worldwide production?

PUZZLE

1. Why is rice cold?

Email me the answers  

Farewell to Wallace Daniels and Dr. Eero Nissila

Both  Mr Wallace Daniels and Dr. Eero Nissila stayed in the Institute for a short time and left behind strong footprints.

Mr Wallace Daniels 

Dr. Eero Nissila

IRRI at Young Rice Scientists Tutugunan ang kahirapan at Gutom sa Bansa

By Raffy Rico | Saturday, January 31, 2015 - 12:40 pm

Ang International Rice Research Institute (IRRI ) sa Los Banos Laguna ay dinagsa ng mga “Young Rice Scientist’s” mula iba’t ibang lahi sa mundo kamakailan (Enero 27, 2015), Layunin nito na mapaunlad ang ating pag-aangkat ng bigas sa buong mundo. Para na rin sa kinabukasan ng mga susunod na henerasyon.
Pag dating ng grupo ng mga mamamahayag (after lunch), sinimulan ang programa, kasunod nito ang “GroudBreaking ceremony” ng Lloyd T. Evans plant Growth Facility.
Sa Pagsisimula ng Programa, ito ay pinangunahan nina Grant Singkleton at Janelle Jung. Ang nakapaloob sa nasabing Programa ay tinalakay ng mga bisita buhat sa ibat-ibang bansa:

• Post-harvest losses by Rodents ( Scientist Nyo Me Htwe )
• Induced mutations alter 0 13C values in C4 plants ( Scientist Govinda Rizal )
• Supporting women alter in rice farming: Where can we contribute ( Scientist Pieter Rutsaert )
• Testing C4 gene promoters ( Scientist Shanta Karki )
• How learning alliance or adaptive management approach affects innovation ( Scientist Rica Joy Flor )
• Increasing rice yield through pyramiding high value genes ( Scientist Ramkumar Gandhimari )
• Targeted genome editing through CRISPR/Cas9 technology ( Scientist Akshaya K Biswal )
• Enhancing rice straw management to mitigate environmental footprint ( Scientist Nguyen Van Hung )
• Why getting muddy matters: Lessons learned from getting young scientists out of the lab and into the field. ( Scientist Janelle Jung )
• SNP marker development for rice breeding ( Scientist Maria S Dwiyante )
• Population structure in 3000 rice genomes ( Scientist Dmitri Chebotarev )
• Mutagenesis for discovery of genes affecting the leaf vein density in a model C4 monocot ( Scientist Vivek Thakur )
• Understanding adaptation of rice across varying environments: Traits, trait interactions and QTLs ( Scientist Shalabh Dixit )
• Night inspiration and sink activity reveals high night temperature induced yield and quality loss and rice. ( Scientist Rajeev Nayan Bahuguna )
• Effect of land configuration on water productivity and crop performance in rice-based cropping system. ( Scientist Krisha Devkota )
• Biotect + breeding = healthier rice varieties ( Scientist Jessica Rey )
• Setaria photosynthetic mutant screen using Plant Screen Phenotyping System ( Scientist Jolly Chatterjee )
• C4 gene stacking ( Scientist HsiangChun Lin )

Nagkaisa ang mga Kabataang Scientists at mga miyembro ng International Rice Research Institute (IRRI ), na tugunan na mabawasan ang kahirapan at gutom sa Bansa. Sa pamamagitan nang malawakang produksiyon ng Bigas at kapaki-pakinabang sa kalikasan.

Ayon sa IRRI, ang mga magsasaka umano ang unang makikinabang sa mga makabagong teknik sa produksiyon ng bigas, na maging kuwalipikado ito sa merkado, at may siguridad na maiingatan ang kalusugan sa kung sinuman ang makakakain nito.

Sapagkat malaki ang suporta ng mga tumutulong na malalaking Bansa, Publiko at Pribadong Sektor na mapalago pa ang mga pasilidad ng pagsasanayan ng mgaScientist’s. Kung pagbabasihan sa pangangailangan ng bigas sa buong mundo, ito ay umabot na sa walo-hanggang sampung milyon tonelada na bigas ang kakailanganin sa loob ng isang taon at dapat na sa mababang halaga ito mabibili ng taong bayan.

Sumasabay din ang klima ng panahon na pabago-bago at madalas nakakadanas ng mga iba’t-ibang kalamidad. Nariyan na tumataas ang level ng tubig dagat, sa lupa, mainit na panahon, pagbaha at malalakas na ulan na siyang nagpapahirap sa ating mga magsasaka sa buong mundo.

Kaya dito nagsisimula na maglalaho ang sustansiya ng lupa, na siya ring dahilan sa paghina ng ani ng mga magsasaka sa mundo. Hindi na kataka-taka na umabot ng isa lang sa anim o mahigit na sa isang bilyon na tao ang nabubuhay sa kahirapan na halos hindi nakakatikim ng bigas bawat araw.

Samantala, patuloy rin na lumaki ang bilang ng malnutrisyon sa buong mundo, dahil sa epekto ng mababang produksiyon ng bigas, na hindi abot kaya ng mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan. kung kaya ganoon na lamang ang pagsisikap ng ating mga makabagong Scientists sa buong mundo.

Para sa kinabukasan, magpapatuloy ang pag-aaral upang matugunan ang suplay ng bigas sa buong mundo. Maingatan ito, maunawaan, maibahagi na gamit sa hinaharap itong Rice Genetic Diversity.

Ang sama-samang puwersa ng IRRI’s ay umabot na sa isang libo tatlong daan at limampu (1,310). Samanta umabot naman sa isang libo at isang daan(1,100) na ang mga headquarters sa Pilipinas, isang daan dalawampu(120) naman sa Bansang Bangladesh, limampu (50) sa India at sa iba pang lokasyon sa Asya at Aprika.

Kaya nag-iimbita pa ang IRRI ng mga bagong Scientist ng Bigas, para mabigyan ng tamang pagsasanay, upang mabawasan o maiwasan na ang malnutrisyon sa buong mundo. (Narisa P. Gonzales)

SOURCE

Top 10 IRRI Contributions to the World

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a dedicated international institute for rice research and training, was established in 1960 with the support of the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and the Government of the Philippines.  Its headquarters is located in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines and offices are in at least sixteen countries. For over half a century, IRRI has been in fore-front of research, news, breakthroughs and in receiving awards.  Here I like to create a discussion to find out top 10 things that we remember, when we mention the term IRRI. I compiled 10 contributions that I feel put IRRI at the helm. I want to initiate a discussion to find other major contributions of IRRI. Feel free to share your opinion.

1. Yoshida Solution

In an in vivo hydroponics rice seedling culture system, rice seedling either germinated directly on the solution or obtained from tissue culture are grown in the solution for considerable time. The solution must have nutrients in right amount. In 1976, S Yoshida and his research team published the ingredients and recipes for preparation of culture solution. Today, this recipe is widely known and used as Yoshida solution.

Ref: Yoshida S, Forno D.A., Cock J.H. & Gomez K.A. (1976). Laboratory Manual for Physiological Studies of Rice. IRRI, Manila. Philippines

2.  IR8

A year after the establishment of IRRI in 1962, Dr. Peter Jennings made 38 crosses of various varieties at IRRI. The eighth cross was between a dwarf variety known as Dee-geo-woo-gen (DGWG) and Peta, a tall variety. After cultivation for several generations uniform plants with high yield were selected, multiplied and distributed to farmers across the rice growing world that led to increase the rice yield that contributed to green revolution. The plants were about 120 cm tall, had strong culms, matured in 130 days- about a month earlier than the traditional varieties. Traditional varieties were averaging around one ton of rice per hectare of land (a hectare is 2.5 acres). Dr S. K. De Datta, published the result that said - the IR8 rice produced around 5 tons per hectare with no fertilizer and rose to almost 10 tons with 120 kg of nitrogen per hectare. That was 10 times the traditional rice yield. Later other lines with prefix IR , such as IR 64, IR 72, etc were released. In 2013, IRRI celebrated 100,000th cross.

Ref: http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/crops_17.html

3. Rice genebank

IRRI maintains the International Rice Genebank that holds with more than 127,000 rice accessions and wild relatives. Samples of rice found in different countries in the world are in IRRI for safe keeping, and for sharing the common public good. As the rice is gradually replaced from farmers’ field and from their natural habitat, IRRI maintains them. The seeds are stored in low temperature in specially designed gene bank where the seeds are kept viable for many decades. IRRI gives free samples of different types of rice seed to any prospective user (farmers, scientists, researchers, governments or other stakeholders) on request, according to the conditions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.  A copy of all the collection have been deposited in Svalbard Global seed Voult ( Norway). This reserve bank of seeds is an attempt to preserve seeds in future.

Ref:  http://irri.org/our-work/research/genetic-diversity/international-rice-genebank

https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/food-fisheries-and-agriculture/landbruk/svalbard-global-seed-vault/id462220/

4. Whole genome (re)sequencing of rice

Though modestly referred in most publications, the then Biometrics and Bioinformatics Unit of International Rice Research Institute played a significant role in the whole genome sequencing. In 2002 the first rice genome sequencing was completed and it was published in 2005. Since then the genomics research in rice has increased dramatically.  At present, IRRI has completed whole genome sequencing of 3000 accessions of rice and is sequencing more accessions.

Ref:  http://rgp.dna.affrc.go.jp/E/IRGSP/Dec18_NEWS.html

http://irri.org/news/media-releases/3-000-rice-genome-sequences-made-publicly-available-on-world-hunger-day

http://www.gigasciencejournal.com/content/3/1/7

6. Stress (Submergence, drought and salt) tolerant rice

IRRI has developed rices for drought, flood, submergence and salinity prone areas.  They have been released in Asia and Africa. Rice with SUB1 gene derived from an indica rice has been bred into local and high yielding varieties to develop rice which overcome submergence stresses. The SUB1A gene begins to work when the plants suffocates under water by making the metabolic activities in the plant dormant, conserving the vitality until the water level recedes.  The gene then works to induce tillering once the plant is above the water level. Rice with drought tolerant traits, salinity tolerant traits have been developed and released. They were welcomed by the farmers from the affected areas. 

7. Long-term continuous cropping experiment (LTCCE)

Unless challenged with examples of other longer experiments, this remains the longest experiment to study the effect of continuous intensive cropping in field without addition of fertilizer or crop residues. It was started in 1952 and more than 150 crops have been harvested from these plots. Even now the soil has remained fertile to yield 2 to 3 tons per hactre per crop.

Details are HERE

8. Central Luzon loop survey

​​​The Central Luzon Loop Survey was started by IRRI scientists in 1966 prior to the Green Revolution. It is believed to be the longest continuous survey in rice farming and of rice farm families. The survey is taken for every 4-5 years. The sample farms are selected from the six municipalities in Laguna province - namely: Bay, Binan, Cabuyao, Calamba, Calauan,and Sta. Rosa. The survey tracks the changes in the farmer adopted rice technology, cultural practices, land tenure, mechanization, and labor practices 

Details: HERE

Readers,

I am sure you don’t agree with some of the achievements above. So I leave the next two highlights to you to propose. Please provide support your claims.

9.

10.

Photo credits: IRRI Flickr
References: as cited or linked above.

IRRI Photos

Source: IRRI Flickr

Rice harvest likely to register record high

Improved irrigation, mechanised farming and high-yielding varieties are among the contributory factors

Agriculture: Despite cyclone Phailin damaging crops across the country, last year’s paddy production is still expected to touch a record high of 88,000MT, which translates to 57,000MT of rice after recovery (threshing).

Cyclone Phailin affected farmers in Paro, Thimphu, Wangduephodrang, Trongsa, and Punakha, and a total of 2,162kg of paddy was estimated damaged in Paro alone.

Based on a report, the food and agriculture organisation (FAO) recently published, the increased projection is attributed to expansion in plantings and higher yields.

The estimated paddy production is also four percent more than 2012’s production. Taking the lowest market price for local rice, which is Nu 50 a kilogram, the production of 57,000MT of local rice means the country produced rice worth Nu 2.8B last year.

Bhutan imported rice worth Nu 1.2B in 2012, an increase from Nu 853M in 2011.

Although agriculture officials expected increased paddy production in 2013, they are yet to see the final figures.

Chief agriculture officer Chimmi Rinzin said production would either go beyond the projected target or remain as targeted. “But it would definitely increase,” he said, adding it will take another four months to affirm the increased harvest.

The increased estimates of paddy production, Chimmi Rinzin said, were made based on increased investment in irrigation and mechanism program in the agriculture sector.

“There is mechanised farming system today,” he said, pointing out that improved irrigation system has turned fallow lands cultivable.

Promoting high-yielding varieties of paddy was another activity, agriculture officials explained that increased harvest last year.

The chief agriculture officer said they have noticed an increase in both production and productivity.

Although heavy rain and strong hailstorm in Mongar damaged maize fields of 286 households, maize production is estimated at 81,000MT, slightly more than 2012’s production. With this, the aggregate cereal production in 2013 is estimated at 192,900MT.

Following higher production in 2013, the cereal import requirement for the 2013-14 fiscal year (July-June) is also estimated at 66,100MT, about nine percent less from the previous year.

Imports in Bhutan consist mainly of rice and wheat, which, as per the FAO findings for this fiscal year, are forecast at 58,000MT and 6,000MT, respectively.

Chimmi Rinzin said paddy production target by the end of the current plan is 90,000MT.

However, officials said the country doesn’t have enough land to cultivate to make it 100 percent rice-sufficient. “But we’re able to maintain 50 percent rice-sufficiency and our target is to reach at least 65 percent in this Plan,” Chimmi Rinzin said. “Cereal sufficiency will be met.”

Starting 2009, department of agriculture has completed 12 major irrigation schemes in the country. The plan is to implement at least 30 large irrigation schemes each year during the 11th Plan.

By Rajesh Rai

source: Kuenselonline

Bhaktapur crop failure: 16 VDCs hit; farmers lose Rs 80 million

KATHMANDU, OCT 03 -

A portion of the standing paddy crop in Bhaktapur has been destroyed by “neck blast” and “bacterial leaf blight” diseases. According to a preliminary finding, paddy on 361 hectares out of the 4,252 hectares of rice fields in the district has been lost.

The infection has been detected in 16 village development committees (VDCs). Experts said crop losses could amount to 20,000 tonnes worth Rs 80 million at current prices.  

According to the finding, farmers had planted a hybrid paddy variety named DY 69 which was recommended for the Tarai and the Inner Tarai.

DY 69 is a Chinese hybrid variety registered and recommended by the Seed Quality Control Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD) in 2010.

On Sept 17, the MoAD formed a seven-member committee to investigate the crop failure in the district and prepare a report and recommend further action.

The finding, which is yet to be officially confirmed, has indicated that the crop was not supported by varietals performance, or it did not adapt properly with the climate. “Private companies have been supplying the seeds to farmers in Bhaktapur for the last three years,” said a committee member.

Sources said that this rice variety had a high productivity of 9.52 tonnes per hectare which attracted farmers to plant it. The crop matures in 125 days.

The committee has also been asked to find out the actual crop losses based on which the government plans to compensate the farmers. The committee has asked for another three weeks to finish the report. It had originally been given 15 days to do it. As per the initial report, only 27 percent of the bran contained kernels. The paddy crop was struck by the disease 30 days before it was to ripen.

Meanwhile, a number of agro scientists have assumed that the problem might have occurred due to increased frequency of growing the hybrid variety. Ideally, the seed replacement rate is 25 percent for self-pollinated crops, 33 percent for cross-pollinated crops and 100 percent for hybrid varieties.

A similar disaster struck the maize crop in five districts in the Tarai in 2010 and 2012. Last year, one-third of the standing maize crop on 8,000 hectares of farmland did not have corn in their corncobs. This happened in Nijgadh, Ratanpuri, Bharatganj Singwal, Bhodaha, Phatepur and Dumarbana VDCs.

Government studies have shown that early sowing of hybrid maize seeds was the major reason behind the repeated crop failures. According to the report, the secondary reason was increased frequency of applying the hybrid variety.

The report had pointed out that there was widespread use of hybrids in the Tarai in ways not recommended by the government.

Neck blast, also called neck rot or rotten neck, is caused by infection of the neck node by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae. It causes severe yield loss.

Likewise, bacterial blight of rice has high epidemic potential and is destructive to high-yielding cultivars in both temperate and tropical regions especially in Asia.

It can destroy up to 80 percent of a crop if the disease develops early. Even if it develops late, it can severely diminish the quality and yield of the grain.

Officials at the Seed Quality Control Centre said that although these two diseases were common in Nepal, they have not been reported in other parts of the country.

Posted on: 2013-10-04 09:23

eKANTIPUR  

SANGHAM PRASHAIN

Wetlands in want of water

With no water to irrigate the fields, the wetlands of Wanringmo in Ramjar, Trashiyangtse have remained fallow

Agriculture: With streams that irrigate the paddy fields drying, wetlands in three gewogs of Trashiyangtse – Ramjar, Toedtsho and Khamdang – are left fallow.

Cultivation in more than seven acres of paddy field in Wangringmo, Ramjar, stopped after the Bamnari stream dried up. “Cultivation ceased after Bamnari stream, the only water source for the fields, shrunk as it was channeled to the villages from upstream,” a villager from Ramjar said.

The water from Bamnari was drained into the villages, because the spring water that served for drinking water before dried up recently, he said.

Since then, the Bamnari that once provided enough water for irrigation to Wangringmo located downstream failed to supply abundant water for cultivation.

“The little water that flows downstream is only enough for a few landowners, while the rest of us downhill have no water,” another villager from Ramjar, Phuntsho said.

Wangringmo, located on the flat bank of Drangmechu, is known for its potential to grow chili earlier than others. While Wangringmo is the only wetland that has been left fallow in Ramjar, up to 300-400 acres of wetlands are left fallow in Khamdhang gewog for want of irrigation canal. Paddy fields in villages like Brenglung, Manla, Tshotsang and Shali in Khamdhang have also remained fallow for years from the lack of irrigation canals.

Khamdhang village, which once thrived with its wetland, has now turned its land into maize fields. “If we had water, Khadhang would be filled with paddy fields by now, because when we had water, everyone turned dry land to wetland,” a villager from Khamdhang, Sangay Wangdi said.

The villagers prefer rice to maize for staple food, he said, adding that, if they have access to water, they are still hoping to grow rice. “Villagers can no longer afford imported rice, the price of which keeps shooting up.”

From a total of 8,883 acres of wetland in six dzongkhags, 1,193 acres have gone fallow in the past ten years, according to a study by the research centre in Wengkhar under Mongar. If the trend continued, Bhutan would have no wetland in another seven decades. Fifty of the 69 gewogs in east imports 51 percent of the country’s rice consumption, the study pointed out.

But villagers of Khamdhang, anticipating water would flow into their fields one day, are still paying tax for wetland, which is double of that for dry land, although they have been growing maize for over 12 years now. The tax for an acre of wetland is Nu 24 annually.

“Most lands are fallow because of water shortage, besides other factors like rural-urban migration,” Khamdhang gup Ugyen Wangdi said. He said the fallowing multiplied after floods damaged the only water source from Buyang. The irrigation canal is still under repair. Ramjar mangmi, Karchung, said the gewog is planning to channel water to Wangringmo from Drangmeychu river using a water pump.

“For that, farmers also received training on keeping the fields engaged throughout the year rather than just paddy,” Karchung said.

Khamdhang, which continues to see an increasing area of wetland remaining fallow, would have water when the pending Buyang water supply is restored.

By Tempa Wangdi, Trashigang

Source: Kuensel

Upland Rice cultivation in Mongar, Bhutan

Deprived of wetland to cultivate paddy, villagers of Damkhar under Gongdue gewog in Mongar have resorted to cultivating it on dry land. The practice is called pangbara. These days they are busy weeding the plantation.

Source: Kuensel

Rinchengang’s rice revolution

By the handful: Wangdue drangpoen Pasang Wangmo inaugurates the first harvest

Double cropping and mechanised farming could bring about a change of fortunes to this economically deprived settlement

Agriculture: Of the many paddy fields that sit on a gentle slope in Rinchengang, one of the poor villages in Wangdue, one is the size of five archery ranges put together, on a flat piece of land.

Along the right side of the Wangdue zam (bridge), the field is filled with full-grown and ripe paddy plants that sway in the breeze coming from the Punatsangchu (river).

The paddy in the other fields near the village is still in the growing stage, with transplantation done a few weeks ago.

On July 19, more than 50 farmers, including agriculturists and senior government officials, gathered at the huge rice field, which is spread across 20 acres, to harvest the crop using a mechanised harvester and pedal thrasher.

Using double cropping mechanism, the first crop was transplanted in March this year. “We could have harvested in the first week of July, but the rain didn’t allow us,” the national rice programme coordinator, Ngawang Chopel, said.

Re-initiated after a decade, rice farmers in Rinchengang village should be able to harvest paddy twice a year. “They should be able start next plantation by the end of this month,” Ngawang Chophel said.

In the second phase, the farmers will grow the IR-20913 variety, which is a short duration paddy, developed using local and imported variety from the Philippines.  This time as well, the government will provide them free machines, seeds and expertise.

The number 11, which the farmers of Rinchengang harvested, is a cold tolerant variety, suitable in high altitude areas like Thimphu, Paro, Tashigang, Tashiyangtse, Lhuentse and Mongar.

Farmers like Dema said that, last year, the harvest was barely adequate for her family of three, and her husband had to contribute labour to earn more cash.

Dema usually collected around 200kg of paddy from her one langdo of land.  With double cropping and mechanised farming, she can now harvest more than 600kg.

A comparative study showed that 4,900kg of paddy may be harvested from 20 acres of land using the mechanised method, as against 1,000 to 1,800kg through traditional farming methods.  Agriculturalists said the increase was mainly because of improved variety and method used.

Until recently, 90 percent of the 83 households in Rinchen chiwo worked as sharecroppers, village elders said. “More farmers became sharecroppers, as land holdings became smaller with expansion of the family,” a village head said.

Mechanised farming will also help produce more in a small land holding, according to Thedtso gewog’s agriculture extension officer, Jamgay Lhamo. “We plan to expand double cropping from 20 acres to 35 acres,” she said.

Double cropping was carried out as a part of a pilot project to revive the programme that was introduced in 1999 but discontinued because of water shortage and damage by pests.

Earlier this year, plantation was done using a Japanese machine planter that took 20 minutes to plant what it took two workers a day.

“I’m hopeful, through the sale of rice, people will become self sufficient. GNH is when we become self-reliant,” the Wangdue drangpoen, Pasang Wangmo said, when the first crop was harvested. “With mechanised farming wives don’t have to complain about their husband running away in farming season.”

Despite, agriculture being the main source of income for more than 900 people living in the clustered village of Rinchengang that faces the burnt down Wangdue dzong, keeping double cropping going is a concern among agriculture officials.

Tuned to urban lifestyles influenced by Punatsangchu project, farmers may discontinue if the government withdrew free seeds, machines and fund for greenhouse. “I don’t know whether they’ll continue when they have to do everything on their own,” one of the rice experts said.

By Tenzin Namgyel, Wangdue

SOURCE

Discourse with the trainees of the Rice Production Course

Course Description:

Participants will be able to get their feet wet in the rice paddies of Asia and to know how rice is connected to the international community.

The 3-week course aims to create a new generation of plant scientists that are well networked into the international community and understand the importance of innovative plant science in addressing global problems.  The course will enable the participants to:

·        understand the basics of rice production with field visits to the main rice production region in the Philippines;
 

·        be familiar with the germplasm collection at IRRI and current issues related to germplasm exchange and property rights;

·        appreciate the research issues of IRRI and its development partners;

·        acquire hands-on skills relating to rice breeding, molecular genetic, and genomics;

·        understand how to structure effective international collaborations, and

·        plan and personal contacts to work effectively as part of the international research community in the future.

Lead in rice?

Written by  Sophie Clayton

Last month, the BBC reported that US rice imports 'contain harmful levels of lead' (as published on 10 April 2013), followed by an article in Time Magazine, Worrisome levels of lead found in imported rice. Both cited research from Monmouth University that was pending publication in a scientific journal.

The topic got wide media coverage, yet the results were surprising to experts working in rice, including scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Results under review

The BBC has since updated its article (still with the same title), but it now includes a critical new paragraph: “However, the results are preliminary and will be extensively reviewed prior to publication in a journal.” This reaffirms the work has not yet been published and that there is still a question mark over the validity of the data on the amount of lead reported to have been found in the rice samples.

Dr.Tsanangurayi Tongesayi, Associate Professor - Analytical and Environmental Chemistry at Monmouth University, and the researcher behind the work, explained, “We put our paper on hold pending the data verification exercise that we are carrying out.”

Some media outlets have followed up on this and published counter articles such as in Natural News, which delves into the topic in detail, Exclusive: Scientific paper that announced high levels of lead in rice suddenly retracted by its author and the Herald Online, Lead in rice study retracted; truth about heavy metals in rice revealed.

Dr. Tongesayi explained that the first method they used to analyze lead content was an XRF instrument, which he says is widely agreed to be an excellent method for analyzing total metal content ¹. He explained that when they went to verify the amount of lead they had found in the rice using a different method they received very different results showing much less lead than originally recorded.

He said they were now doing more analyses using more than one method in an effort to get verifiable data on the amount of lead found in the rice.

“The most important issue for me at this point is to make sure the data is accurate,” Dr. Tongesayi said. “If it is not accurate we will obviously not publish the paper.”

Is rice safe to eat?

Previous research ^2 , 3 , has shown that lead is not a significant concern for food safety of rice. Even where the soil is contaminated with a lead spill, a number of studies have shown that rice plants do not take up a significant amount of lead and move it to the grains. Human exposure to lead comes primarily through inhalation of exhaust fumes (in places where lead is still used in gasoline) or direct ingestion of lead-containing dust or paint.

IRRI supports the existing evidence that demonstrates that rice consumption is not considered a significant source of exposure to lead.

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References 

1. Palmer PT, Jacobs R, Baker PE, Ferguson K, and Webber S. (2009). Use of field-portable XRF analyzers for rapid screening of toxic elements in FDA-regulated products. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Apr 8;57(7):2605-13.

2. Shimbo S, Zhang ZW, Watanabe T, Nakatsuka H, Matsuda-Inoguchi N, Higashikawa K, and Ikeda M. (2001). Cadmium and lead contents in rice and other cereal products in Japan in 1998-2000. Sci Total Environ. 2001 Dec 17;281(1-3):165-75.

3. Moon C S, Zhang ZW, Shimbo S, Watanabe T, Moon DH, Lee CU, Lee BK, Ahn KD, Lee SH, and Ikeda M. (1995). Dietary intake of cadmium and lead among the general population in Korea. Environ Res. 1995 Oct;71(1):46-54.