www.irri.

org/irrc/

April 2006, Vol. 1, No. 2 Volume 5, Number 2 May-August 2010

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Irrigated Rice Research Consortium

Rice Research for Intensified Production and Prosperity in Lowland Ecosystems

Nutrient Manager for Rice team wins technology development award

The Nutrient Manager for Rice team gets recognized for their hard work and persistence in bringing the principles of site-specific nutrient management to the people who need it the mostthe farmers.
he Nutrient Manager for Rice team received the Achievement Award in Technology Development from the Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) during the 40th Annual Scientific Conference in Davao City, Philippines, on 18 March. The team was recognized for developing the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) technology for rice and the computer-based decision software Nutrient Manager for Rice. (See related story on page 6.) The SSNM technology and the decision software gave farmers and extension workers a comprehensive fertilizer guideline that is tailored to specific conditions in rice fields, an important step to further popularize the scientific and knowledgeintensive SSNM principles. The team is composed of IRRI scientistsIRRC Productivity and Sustainability Work Group (PSWG) leader Roland Buresh and his research staffand partners from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB), West Visayas State University (WSVU), and Atlas Fertilizer Corporation (AFC). PSWG soil scientist Rowena Castillo explained that the software was a product of years of consolidated research between IRRI and scientists from PhilRice and UPLB. Nutrient Manager for Rice could

Roland Buresh Rona Nia Mae Rojas

quickly provide fertilizer guidelines after responding to 15 questions about specific rice fields or rice-growing conditions. The user of the software gets a personalized guide as to the amounts and timing of fertilizer application based on a selected rice variety, adds Ms. Castillo. In 2008, an initial version of the Nutrient Manager for Rice software was evaluated and refined through farmer participation with WVSU and AFC. The field-tested version was then released on CD in English and five Philippine dialects. IRRI researchers also produced a tutorial CD with a video and PowerPoint presentation that has since been used for training across the Philippines. The software also used information gathered from Philippine provinces on common rice varieties, rice production practices, and yields to develop provincial quick guides. These are tailored to a specific provinces common rice cultivation practices to facilitate rapid dissemination of nutrient management based on SSNM principles. These quick guides were developed for 75 Philippine provinces and are distributed and promoted through the Department of Agricultures Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Rice Program.

Another IRRI-produced video, entitled Tales of Ryza, the rice plant: proper nutrition makes healthy rice plants, talks about improved SSNM-based practices. It features an animated talking rice plant named Ryza, which pops out of the rice field and tells a farmer about the nutrient needs of rice. The quick guides and video are available on the Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank Web site, www.pinoyrkb.com/resources.

IN THIS ISSUE...
NEWS IRRC staff reap awards..................................2 Science features IRRI rodent research.......3 IRRC holds rodent management training..4 ICOP-Philippines meet for 2010..................4 IPM in rice-based systems book..................5 International Rice Congress set in Nov.....5 Fresh facts on field-specific nutrients.........6 Developing applications for SSNM..............6 AWD goes to Africa.......................................7 Postharvest training across the Philippines...................................................8 IRRI scientist writes for book on farmland birds.............................................................9 Rodent conference held in South Africa....9 AWD in Bangladesh.....................................12 PROFILES The wild life of Alex Stuart.........................10 Contributing on a global scale...................11 PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS.......8

IRRC staff reap awards

and audited available communication materials and preferred sources of agricultural information; and edited content Trina Leah Mendoza, senior commu- and advised on layout of the new bronication specialist of the IRRC, won the chures of the IRRC and Nutrient Manager. IRRI Award for Outstanding Research Support for 2009. The annual nationally Trina Mendoza recruited staff (NRS) awarding ceremony poses with her was held on 15 April at IRRI. The NRS plaque for Awards Program recognizes the imporOutstanding tant contribution of NRS to IRRIs work Research Support. and formally rewards outstanding performance. Ms. Mendoza developed and implemented a diverse portfolio of communication strategies that successfully promoted the work of the IRRC and IRRI internally and internationally. She led and guided some of the national partners in developing more effective communication strategiesat both the Institute and project levels. Ms. Mendozas achievements in 2009 include the following: developing a video titled Easing the plight of the hungry, transIn addition, Ms. Mendoza facilitated lated in Bengali and Hindi; assisting in the development of a new look for the Rice the video development on alternate wet- Knowledge Bank (RKB) Web site, assisted ting and drying, and soil water-holding IRRI scientists in writing their materials, capacity for an e-learning module; site- and ensured that these were uploaded specific nutrient management; and pro- onto the Web. She is also a contributing duction of a video on early harvesting writer for IRRIs Rice Today magazine and using PowerPoint presentations. wrote the press release on the launch of Her audit report of communication the new Good Agricultural Practices Web activities of the Indonesian Center for site for the RKB. Agricultural Technology Assessment The winners were selected by a comand Development in December 2008 led mittee composed of distinguished memtheir director general to oversee a new bers of the IRRI community from both strategy for communication that was im- research and research support groups. plemented in 2009, including a national Elizabeth Jean Woods, IRRI Board of newsletter fashioned after RIPPLE news- Trustees chair, congratulated the winletter. In Cambodia, Ms. Mendoza also ners and highlighted the importance of conducted an audit of available commu- individual staff contributions to the overnication materials and preferred sources all success of the Institute. IRRI Director of agricultural information during a General Robert Zeigler, in his closing remarketing assessment and communica- marks, described how he continues to be tion strategies workshop. inspired by the outstanding work of the She spearheaded the production NRS in achieving IRRIs mission. of three high-quality issues of RIPPLE; presented guidelines on producing post- Buresh wins CGIAR Outstanding ers and brochures for a workshop of the Scientific Article high-profile 1 Must Do, 5 Reductions project in Vietnam; produced two posters for Roland Buresh, IRRC Productivity Indonesia, which were pretested during and Sustainability Work Group leader, focus group discussions with farmers, won the Outstanding Scientific Article

Emma Quicho Rona Nia Mae Rojas CGIAR Press Release

Mendoza gets IRRIs Outstanding Research Support Award

award given by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) at the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development in Montpellier, France, on 29 March. Dr. Bureshs study, published in 2008 in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, challenges the old belief that intensive agriculture is necessarily incompatible with soil health. Based on analysis of soil samples collected over 15 years from four experiments begun during the 1960s, Dr. Buresh and three colleagues (Mirasol Pampolino and Eufrocino Laureles of IRRI and Hermenegildo Gines of the Philippine Rice Research Institute) determined that continuous planting every season or rice monoculture on submerged soils consistently maintained or actually increased soil organic matter. Their findings demonstrate that, if farmers remove crop residues from the field rather than incorporate them into the soil, this need not reduce grain yields, as long as the nutrients removed are replaced with appropriate use of chemical fertilizers.
Jun Correa

Rona Rojas

Dr. Roland Buresh struck down a long-held belief regarding intensive agriculture.

The irrigated rice system that passed Dr. Bureshs rigorous sustainability test occupies some 24 million hectares in Asia, accounting for about 40% of global production and providing food for 1.5 billion people.
> continued on page 3

RIPPLE

Science features IRRI rodent research

Science, the worlds leading outlet for scientific news, commentary, and cuttingedge research, published an article titled Holding Back a Torrent of Rats by IRRC coordinator Grant Singleton. The article, featured in the February issue, followed a successful international conference on impacts of rodent outbreaks on food security in Asia in October 2009 at IRRI (for more on the conference, see RIPPLE Vol. 5, No. 1). Highlighted in the article was the direct link of bamboo masting in Bangladesh, northeast India, and Myanmar to rat population explosion and its subsequent impact on food security. Bamboo masting, described as the simultaneous production of fruit by an entire population of bamboo, provides rodents with an abundant supply of food, thus allowing them to breed longer. Also discussed was a scheme to manage the damage, with inputs from Dr. Singleton and fellow rodent ecology and management experts Drs. Steve Belmain and Ken Aplin. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general-science

Rona Nia Mae Rojas

Trina Mendoza

Members of the community work together in hunting down rats in An Giang, Vietnam.
journal, with articles ranked among the worlds most cited research. Dr. Singleton also wrote Rodents gnawing away at crops, stored grain and our health, published in January in the first technical innovation brief of the CGIAR Systemwide Program on Integrated Pest Management (SP-IPM). The article discusses the three major impacts of rodents on crop growth, postharvest losses, and human health. The article also covers the emerging solutions that take into consideration the
gether with IRRI scientists Romy Cabangon, Emma Quicho, To Phuc Tuong, and Bas Bouman, conceptualized and prepared the poster to promote the wide use of eWater for effective delivery of information on water-saving technologies. Partners from the Philippine Rice Research Institute, University of Southeastern PhilippinesMindanao e-Learning Space, and Bulacan Agricultural State College also coauthored the winning poster.

ecology of rodent pests and human health issues. There are integrated actions that must be done at a community level to effectively manage the rice field rat in lowland irrigated rice areas. A simple technology known as the Community Trap Barrier System for chronic crop losses greater than 10% is also highlighted. The SP-IPM technical innovation briefs present IPM research findings and innovations for the management of pests, diseases, and weeds in agricultural production.
The CSSP annual conference had the theme Harnessing genetic and ecosystem diversity for sustainable agriculture and was attended by about 300 crop scientists, extension specialists, and professors from both public and private sectors from different parts of the Philippines. The conference was a venue for the participants to present their latest research results, outputs, and products.
Enrico Mercado

IRRC staff reap awards...

continued from page 2

WSWGs eWater wins best poster at CSSP conference

The IRRC Water-Saving Work Group (WSWG) poster entitled eWater: an e-learning training tutorial in water management for rice production won the Best Poster award in the Socioeconomics/Extension & Education category during the Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) 40th Annual Scientific Conference in Davao City, Philippines, on 15-20 March. The poster bested 108 other entries for the award in three categories upstream, downstream, and socioeconomics/extension and education research. eWater is a training tutorial on sound field water management and other watersaving technologies in irrigated rice production. The tutorial contains four interactive modules for learners to gain skills in efficient water management. (See related story in RIPPLE Vol. 4, No. 3.) WSWG leader Ruben Lampayan, to-

IRRI scientists Romy Cabangon (middle) and Emma Quicho (right) receive, on behalf of the Water-Saving Work Group, the Best Poster award for eWater from former Crop Science Society of the Philippines President Emma Sales (left).

Enrico Mercado

May-August 2010

IRRC holds rodent management training

wenty participants from the Crop Protection Division of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Department of Agriculture (DA) attended the training course on New Developments in the Management of Rodents on 16-17 March at the SEARCA guesthouse, Los Baos, Laguna. The training course was organized by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). The participants, representatives from the 16 regional crop protection centers of BPI-DA all over the Philippines, presented their respective regions current rodent situation and how it is addressed locally. The course helped bridge the knowledge gap on rodent management in the country and trained the participants on how to apply better management techniques with social, cultural, and ecological factors in mind.

Rona Nia Mae Rojas

ICOP-Philippines sets 2010 activities

olleagues from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and IRRI held the 4th annual review and planning meeting of the Philippines IRRC Country Outreach Program (ICOP) on 26 February at the IRRI Training Center. The IRRC currently also has ICOPs in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The meeting was attended by 32 participants from PhilRice, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center, and IRRI . ICOP-Philippines fosters learning and knowledge-sharing of good agricultural practices across four of the major rice-growing regions in the Philippines. The meeting served as a venue for participants to present the progress of their collaborative research in 2009 and to develop their 2010 activities integrated with the Philippine Rice SelfSufficiency Plan (PRSSP). Eulito Bautista, deputy executive director for research of PhilRice, called the meeting timely because of the

Lectures were given by IRRC coordiDuring the course, they learned the principles of ecologically based rodent nator Grant Singleton, PhD student Nyo management (EBRM); rodent breed- Me Htwe, and IRRC agricultural anthroing ecology in the Philippines; assess- pologists Flor Palis and Rica Flor. ment of damage and yield loss caused by rodents; decision analysis, systems approach, and participatory research leading to community EBRM; and the social dimensions of a concentrated communication campaign against rats in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija. A visit to a rice field in Calauan, Laguna, provided a demonstration on how rodent traps are set in the field, an inspection of rodent damage to rice, and discussion on how to assess such damage, which is often overlooked, unless it is at a high level. The participants then visited IRRI, where they conducted hands-on training on species identification, key Harvey Garcia, IRRCs wildlife biologist, shows body measurements, and determining training participants how to identify rodent the breeding history of female rats from species and conduct key body measurements. necropsy.

Rona Rojas

Rona Nia Mae Rojas

Members of ICOP-Philippines continue to work together to address yield gaps in rice production.

drought that the Philippines is currently experiencing and the urgent need to continue to close the yield gap for rice production. Grant Singleton, IRRC coordinator, said that the ICOP approach provides an adaptive research model for integrating various natural resource management (NRM) rice technologies and practices in a form understood by end-users (extension specialists, farmers, policymakers). He further stressed

that an effective ICOP will strengthen our shared goal of delivering good agricultural practices for irrigated rice production in the Philippines. The participants reported on the implementation of IRRC technologies in their respective region vis--vis rice yield, constraints to technology adoption, and other emerging issues in rice production. The 2010 action plans strengthened the integration of innovative NRM technologies, based on feedback from farmers who have tested the component technologies, and specified a significant expansion in the area of farmer participation. Before ending the workshop, Dr. Singleton emphasized that investment is also made through partnerships in people who can share knowledge and experiences in the adoption of various rice technologies. Dr. Bautista urged everyone to continue working together to reach more farmers as a contribution to answer the nations call for sufficient rice.

Rona Rojas

RIPPLE

Book on IPM in rice-based systems launched

Rona Nia Mae Rojas

fter 3 years of hard work, the book IPM in vegetables: enhancing its implementation in ricebased cropping systems, by Madonna Casimero and Peter Ooi, was launched on 9 March at the 41st Pest Management Council of the Philippines conference in Davao City. The book discusses how extension workers and government units can work effectively with farmers using participatory approaches in rice-based farming systems in the Philippines. It covers the three main aspects of integrated pest management (IPM)insects, diseases, and weeds. The book contains practical case studies that enable extension workers to work more effectively with farmers to help them adapt and apply innovative techniques. The success of farmer field schools in promoting IPM was expanded into integrated crop management and later transformed into diversified farming systems. The platform to do this was farm animals, and manage farm wastes called Palayamanan, which educates for profitable yet sustainable farming. farmers to diversify their crops, raise IPM in Palayamanan was used as

an entry point to educate the farmers in safe vegetable production implemented in rice-based farming systems. This led to safer farming practices and increased farmers productivity and income. IPM helps prepare farmers to enter into a competitive local and global market that imposes stricter food safety requirements. Dr. Casimero is a project scientist in the Crop and Environmental Sciences Division at IRRI and is currently based in Indonesia as leader of the Increasing Rice Productivity in South and Southeast Sulawesi Project. Dr. Ooi is the former regional director of the Asian Regional Center of AVRDC (The World Vegetable Center). He is now a consultant of the Pesticide Action Network based in Penang, Malaysia. The book is published by and available at the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Philippines. For more information, visit www.bar.gov.ph.

International Rice Congress set in November

gies, trade issues, and policies that will define the future role of rice in supporting poor rice-dependent communities. Delegates are also invited to share their expertise, show their products and services, and learn about the latest developments in the industry. IRC2010 will include the 28th International Rice Research Conference, the 3rd World Rice Commerce Conference, the 3rd International Rice Technology and Cultural Expo, and the 50th anniversary celebrations of IRRI. Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will also host the 3rd Ministerial Round Table Meeting comprising all agriculture secretaries or ministers of major Asian countries. Incidentally, the IRRC will hold its annual Steering Committee meeting concurrently in Hanoi. Papers and posters to be presented will focus on the following themes/topics: policy, market, and supply chain; social and cultural dimensions in rice farming and communities; postharvest; information, dissemination, and innovation; climate change and rice agriculture; environmental resilience and ecosystem services; water availability and access; pest, disease, and weed management; drought, flooding, and problem soils; closing the yield gap; harnessing rice biodiversity; molecular biology and -omic technologies; raising yield potential; and quality grain, health, and nutrition. This activity is jointly organized by IRRI and AsiaCongress Events Management Co. Ltd. and is hosted by MARD. For more details, log on to www.ricecongress.com.

he 3rd International Rice Congress (IRC) will be held on 8-12 November at the Vietnam National Convention Center in Hanoi. The IRC, held every 4 years, is the worlds largest gathering of the rice industry. With the theme Rice for future generations, IRC2010 will provide a forum for representatives from the public and private sectors, including researchers, scientists, professionals, traders, and policymakers. Delegates will discuss the latest rice research, future technolo-

May-August 2010

Fresh facts on field-specific nutrient management

Roland Buresh Trina Leah Mendoza

Isagani Serrano

he importance of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) for rice and other crops was highlighted in March as the IRRC Productivity and Sustainability Work Group (PSWG) conducted two consecutive workshops at IRRI. Dr. Roland Buresh, PSWG leader, and Dr. Mirasol Pampolino, International Plant Nutrition Institute agronomist, served as resource speakers for the workshop on Implementing SSNM for Cereal Crops on 22-26 March. Eighteen participants from India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Tanzania learned about new technical information on SSNM for high-yielding production systems with rice, maize, and wheat. They also tried using new decision tools for field-specific nutrient management for rice, maize, and the rice-wheat system. Participants visited long-term experiments and met with IRRI staff during the week. The following week, a workshop on Implementing SSNM in the Philippines was held on 29-30 March. Soil scientist Rowena Castillo and agricultural engineer Joseph Sandro, both staff of Dr. Buresh, facilitated the workshop. The workshop was targeted for partners from the Philippines involved

Philippine partners learn the latest information on field-specific nutrient management and applications of the Nutrient Manager for Rice decision tool. in either implementing projects on the development and dissemination of fieldspecific nutrient management or serving as resource persons in training or education on nutrient management for rice. Participants from the Department of Agriculture camestaff from the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Agricultural Training Institute, regional field units, and the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Rice Program. They were joined by representatives from the Atlas Fertilizer Company and state universities and colleges. The 2-day workshop updated the participants with the latest technical information on the scientific principles for making field-specific nutrient management recommendations. Participants were also introduced to new videos on nutrient management for rice, quick guides for fertilizing rice, and new Web- and mobile phone-based applications of the Nutrient Manager for Rice decision tool. The workshop gave participants the chance to share their experiences and information on evaluating and disseminating field-specific nutrient management for rice.

Developing applications for SSNM

he IRRC Productivity and Sustainability Work Group (PSWG) has released two new Web-based decision tools based on the scientific principles of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM). The Nutrient Manager for Rice Tutorial provides an introduction on the rice requirements for supplemental nutrients. It demonstrates how fertilizer guidelines are formulated for a rice crop based on the answers to five questions about rice-growing conditions. It shows how information on crop establishment, growth duration of rice, attainable yield, residue management, and soil fertility

Roland Buresh Katherine Nelson Rona Nia Mae Rojas

affects the application rates of fertilizers nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The tutorial also includes a suite of decision tools that is tailored for rice production in major rice-growing countries or regions. Each Nutrient Manager tool provides a field-specific fertilizer guideline based on the responses to questions about ricegrowing conditions in the field. The Nutrient Teacher for Rice is a teaching tool suited for students and instructors of introductory courses in soil science and crop science. Similar to the Nutrient Manager tutorial, it demonstrates

how fertilizer guidelines are formulated based on answers about rice-growing conditions. It also shows how information on season, crop establishment, variety, growth duration of rice, yield, residue management, soil fertility, and use of organic materials as sources of nutrients affects rates of NPK fertilization. These tools and the complete suite of Web-based tools can be accessed at www. irri.org/nmrice. For more information on SSNM, visit www.irri.org/ssnm. The PSWG also capitalized on the
> continued on page 7

RIPPLE

AWD goes to Africa

Trina Leah Mendoza

ach day in Senegal, Africa, rice farmers pump water from the Senegal River to keep their rice fields under 10 centimeters of water. This constant flooding of rice fields uses up a lot of water from the river, which is also the source of drinking water of millions of people living in Dakar City, Senegals capital. Michiel de Vries, a PhD student from Wageningen University, The Netherlands, brought the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method, an IRRC technology, to Senegal. His research led to saving 40% of irrigation water, while yields were still 95% of the usual method of flooding.
IRRI photo

Mr. de Vries, a former student of IRRI water scientist Bas Bouman, conducted his research at the Africa Rice Center in Senegal. He explored whether AWD, a water-saving technology studied extensively in Asia, can be applied in Sahel areas. In his study, the best results were achieved when the rice field was flooded during half the growing season, and AWD was implemented during the other half. A perforated pipe or tube was placed in the ground, where farmers can see and measure the underground water level, and know when they have to irrigate. Benefits of AWD In most irrigation systems in Africa, 1,700 liters of water are needed to produce 1 kilogram of rice. Using AWD, it can be lowered to 1,000 liters per kilogram. Instead of applying AWD only half of the season, farmers can use the AWD method throughout the season, says Mr. de Vries. They would then be able to save half of the irrigation water but have about 20% less rice output. Mr. de Vries says that irrigation costs are sometimes

so high that farmers find this option appealing. Farmers can benefit from it because irrigation takes up about a quarter to a third of their production costs. They greatly value cost savings because they have to compete with inexpensive imported Asian rice in the market. AWD in Sahel areas His findings show that AWD can be applied in other Sahel countries with rice cultivation, such as Burkino Faso, Mali, and Niger, where major irrigation systems are present. However, Mr. de Vries says that it all depends on how these networks are set up. If farmers do not have to pay for water (e.g., the government does the pumping for them), they would not benefit from saving water and would not do so, says Mr. de Vries. His research on AWD has sparked a lot of interest in Senegal. The agriculture information service in Senegal has financed a demonstration project and two Wageningen students have also done field tests on the farms. If AWD can be implemented in their rice fields, Senegalese rice farmers can save up to 40% of irrigation water, without lowering rice yield.

With AWD, Senegalese rice farmers can save up to 40% of irrigation water, without lowering rice yields.

Developing applications...
continued from page 6
Joseph Sandro

popularity of mobile phones in the Philippines to further bridge the gap between agricultural research and end-users, particularly farmers. A new mobile phone application for Nutrient Manager for Rice is being developed for farmers who have limited, if any, access to computers and the Internet. It is aimed at giving farmers more access to valuable agricultural information via mobile networks. The mobile Nutrient Manager uses an interactive voice response (IVR) application. The caller need only dial a toll-free number, which will be answered by a voice prompt. The caller will then respond to a series of recorded questions (about rice-growing conditions) by

A Filipino farmer tries out the Nutrient Manager mobile phone application to get an instant fertilizer guidline for her rice field.

pressing the appropriate number on the phone keypad. At the end of the call, the phone will receive a text message indicating the type, amount, and timing of fertilizer application for a specific rice field. Marco van den Berg, IRRI Information Technology Services head, is currently assisting PSWG in integrating the IVR application with the Nutrient Manager for Rice decision tool. Launch of this application is set for July 2010 and will be done in partnership with IRRI, the Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines, and Globe, a large mobile network provider. DA staff training and the release of an orientation video for extension workers and farmers regarding the use of the mobile Nutrient Manager are planned for June 2010.

May-August 2010

Postharvest training across the Philippines

dentified as one of the key activities of the Philippine postharvest learning alliance (LA), training activities on flat-bed dryer (FBD) operation and maintenance and hermetic storage techniques were held in April in Bohol, Agusan del Norte, and Camarines Sur provinces. These are pilot project sites of the IRRI-Asian Development Bank Project, supported by the IRRC Country Outreach Program and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). More than 100 seed growers, farmers, and extension agents attended the training activities. The archipelagic nature of the Philippines plus the staggering postharvest losses in the field of around 15% pose a huge challenge to achieving sufficient rice production, says Dr. Caesar Tado, co-project leader. But if these losses could be reduced, the equivalent amount of rice being imported would then be addressed. The principles, operation, and maintenance of the FBD were presented and demonstrated. The reversible FBD, a new technology that was transferred to the Philippines from Vietnam, was also introduced. Participants were excited about their association obtaining the new technology of fixed-bed drying with air reversal, which can reduce labor requirement during drying and can result in better rice quality.

Carlito Balingbing Trina Leah Mendoza

Principles and techniques of hermetic storage were discussed, and demonstrations were conducted using the IRRI Super Bag and Cocoon. The introduction of the storage technique sparked the interest of the participants, especially when they learned that it can maintain seed quality even after several months in storage. Practices on adaptive research relative to hermetic storage were discussed. Methods for effective monitoring, sharing, and channeling of information that will be generated from farmers trials and adoption were also established. Key farmers and seed growers committed to facilitating and coordinating exchange of information and lessons learned from the use and adaptation of postharvest technologies with members of the alliance.

Bohol Experiment Station head Antonio Du highlighted the importance of postharvest technologies such as the mechanical dryer and hermetic storage system in reducing postharvest losses of farmers to increase their income. Mr. Abner Montecalvo, PhilRice-Agusan acting branch manager, expressed his appreciation of the efforts of IRRI and PhilRice in bringing these technologies to the farmers. The participants were grateful for the new knowledge they have gained. All are expectant of a good output from the adaptation of these technologies, particularly in maintaining quality of seeds and grains in their storage and better operation and maintenance of their FBDs.
Carlito Balingbing

Bohol trainees gather around the flat-bed dryer being loaded with grain as PhilRice engineer John Eric Abon gives instructions.

PUBLICATIONS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Buresh RJ. 2009. The SSNM concept and its implementation in rice. Proceedings of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) Crossroads Asia-Pacific Conference, 8-10 Dec 2009, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Available at www.irri. International journals Borlagdan PC, Elauria JC, Elepao AR, de Padua org/ssnm. DB, Dizon EI, Gummert M. 2010. Study on the cause of postharvest rice grain yellowing. CIGR Gabinete GG, Buresh, RJ. 2009. Site-specific nuJournal- International Commission of Agricultural trient management (SSNM): profitability to farmers, current level of adoption, and constraints to and Biosystems Engineering. (in press) wider adoption in Iloilo Province, the Philippines. Borlagdan PC, Elauria JC, Elepao AR, de Padua Proceedings of the International Fertilizer IndusDB, Dizon EI, Gummert M. 2010. Effect of rice hull try Association (IFA) Crossroads Asia-Pacific Conand the changes in biochemical properties on ference, 8-10 Dec 2009, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. postharvest rice grain yellowing. Journal of Crop Available at www.irri.org/ssnm. Science and Biotechnology. (in press) Kartaatmadja S. 2009. Benefits of promoting Douthwaite B, Gummert M. 2010. Learning selec- SSNM: experience from Indonesia. Proceedings tion revisited: How can agricultural researchers of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) Crossroads Asia-Pacific Conference, make a difference? Agric. Syst. (in press) 8-10 Dec 2009, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Available at www.irri.org/ssnm.

Conference proceedings

Events

Coordination Unit Sustainable Rice Production through Improved Natural Resource Management Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences & IRRC Workshop, Guangzhou, China, 9-11 June Water-Saving Work Group Preparation of the study concept (AWD impact study in Bangladesh) in Berlin, Germany, 21 June-3 July Southern Laos ACIAR Project Workshop: Water Component in Vientiane, Laos, 2-6 August Postproduction Work Group Annual Planning Meeting for IRRI-ADB Postharvest Project in the Philippines, Leyte, Philippines, 1-2 June Business Model Workshops, Pursat and Battambang, Cambodia, 5-6 June Stripper Harvester Training, Pursat, Cambodia, 7-8 June

RIPPLE

IRRI scientist writes for book on farmland birds

Bas Bouman Trina Leah Mendoza the habitat and provide refuges and reservoirs for aquatic animals. Although not a full-fledged substitute for natural wetlands, rice fields are increasingly recognized as vital for bird conservation, migratory birds in particular. In the Mediterranean, where most wetlands have been drained for malaria control and farming, rice fields are the only wetlands left during the dry summer and autumn, providing a vital stopover to migratory birds. At least 100 designated Ramsar sites across the world include rice fields. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. The book has been written by seven experts in biology and agriculture and compiled by the Dutch Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CLM). It costs 24 or about US$33 plus shipping costs. To order, send an email to birdbook@clm.nl.

armlands, collectively, form the largest habitat on the globe, supporting a huge variety of birds. But a global review of this birdlife has never before been published. The new coffee-table book Farmland birds across the world aims to fill this gap. A special chapter of the book written by IRRI water scientist Bas Bouman is dedicated to birds occurring in rice fields around the world. Today, rice fields represent 15% of the worlds wetlands. Although not a viable equivalent of natural wetlands, flooded and irrigated rice paddies are the richest agroecosystems in terms of waterbirds. Many species using rice fields originate in wetlands and grasslands. There is abundant seasonal and spatial variation in the habitat, with mosaics of flooded, moist, and dry fields alternating with dikes, says Dr. Bouman. Irrigation adds ditches and water tanks that further enrich

International rodent conference held in South Africa

he need for interdisciplinary collaboration was highlighted during the 4th International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management (ICRBM) held on 12-16 April in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Around 140 scientists from 30 countries all over the world gathered in the ICRBM, which is held every 4 years, to discuss rodent-related research, issues, and concerns. The event, hosted by the University of Free State in South Africa, was attended by IRRC coordinator Grant Singleton, IRRC anthropologists Flor Palis and Rica Flor, and PhD student Nyo Me Htwe. Participants talked about research on rodent physiology, taxonomy, genetics, disease, behavior, and population dynamics. Studies on ecology, sociology, management, and conservation were also discussed. Dr. Singleton, ICRBM Organizing Committee member, discussed insights on rodent outbreaks in Asia from 2007 to 2009, the gaps in rodent management, and how these gaps could be addressed. Dr. Palis gave a plenary talk entitled Can humans outsmart rodents? Learning to work collectively and

Rica Joy Flor

Grant Singleton

Conference participants from different countries go on an African safari.

strategically. She outlined how people have dealt with rodents throughout history and presented the case of successful community management of rodents in Vietnam. Ms. Htwe and Ms. Flor also presented their research in Myanmar and the Philippines. Ms. Flor was awarded the Best Oral Presentation from a Developing Country for her presentation. The event also featured South African hospitality through social activities such as a braai (barbecue) dinner, a game drive, visit to a shebeen, lunch at the art museum, and a postconference tour. The premiere of Discovery Channels Swarm Chasers was also held at the National Museum. This documentary features Dr. Steve Belmain, rodent ecology and management expert, and his team as they investigate how rodent outbreaks happen in bamboo- and rice-growing communities in Chittagong, Bangladesh. In his closing remarks, Professor Charles Krebs of the University of British Columbia, Canada, said that rodent research has achieved much in species classification, disease research, and other aspects. He highlighted the knowledge gained on rodent outbreaks and diseases, and the methods or controls that can be used to address them. Prof. Krebs also emphasized the importance of the interaction between humans and rodents.

May-August 2010

PROFILE

The wild life of Alex Stuart

lex Stuarts life is anything but boring. The young rodent ecologist from Britain thrives on adventure, and takes on challenges that are not for the faint of heart or the weak-willed. Alex is a research officer at the Vertebrate Pests Unit, School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading, UK. He recently received his PhD in biological sciences from the University, where he explored rodent ecology and management in the complex lowland agro-ecosystems of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor in the Philippines.

In Brief
Trina Leah Mendoza

stand when attempting to control them, rubbing his head, he suddenly realized he says Alex. Many interesting nonpest spe- was a few feet away from a herd of buffalo, cies of rodents are beneficial to ecosystems, one of the most dangerous animals in Afsuch as the Striped earth-rat, which eats rica. Luckily, they did not notice him and golden apple snails and giant earthworms he escaped. that are destructive to the Ifugao Rice TerStudying rats also exposed him to rat races. and snake bites and diseases, but they are He fell in love with the beautiful di- minor setbacks compared to the highs verse landscape of Sierra Madre, and the he gets from not knowing what species he welcome hospitality of the local people. is going to catch in a new location. While These and the potential for research to going around the traps, every different help the community and the environment species encountered in a trap is like openenticed Alex to choose the site. Living near ing a Christmas present, he says. the sea where he and his wife, Inyoung, These highs inspire Alex to continue could swim and surf after a hard day of working on rodents. He plans to develop trapping rats was a bonus. more sustainable management strategies His fascination for wildlife began as a for controlling rodent pests, and to develop child growing up in South Africa, which our understanding of the beneficial roles of he describes, has abundant wildlife in all nonpest rodents. shapes and sizes. He has done volunteer Despite frightening encounters with work at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Cen- animals and hardships in the field, Alex tre in Thailand, monitoring the behavior advises biology students to be open to all of captive and reintroduced gibbons and types of animals and not to focus only on educating visitors. At the Loddon Nature those that look cute and cuddly. All species Reserve in Berkshire, UK, he helped carry have their own unique characteristics that out monthly mammal surveys. make them fascinating and which earn But it was at Mkuze Game Reserve, them their place in this world. South Africa, where Alex had his most terWith his positive, hard-working attirifying encounter with wildlife. During a tude and sense of adventure, it will not be TRAPPED! Alex Stuart with his furry friend capmammal transect count, he ventured alone surprising if we hear about Alex next traptured in Mt. Sierra Madre, Philippines. through a bush and accidentally walked ping rats in some far-flung area in an exotic Alex conducted a pioneering 2-year into a branch. As he stumbled forward, country, back into the wild. study of rodent communities along a boundary of intensive rice agriculture, rice-coconut production, and secondary regenerated forests in a remote region of the Philippines, says Dr. Grant Singleton, one of his supervisors. This work was conducted under trying physical conditions it would take 3 hours to set a trap line of 15 traps in the secondary forest. His strong commitment and perseverance, coupled with a nicely thought-out study, led to findings which made us rethink rodent management in these agriculture-forestry ecotones. Alex is no stranger to rodents or living it rough, having done his MS degree in the Ifugao Terraces in the Philippines, studying the habitat use and feeding ecology of native rodents. Rodents occur throughout the world and have received a lot of attention as pests, but very little is known on LIFES A BEACH: Alex and wife, Inyoung, onboard a tricycle in Baler, Philippines, their home for 2 their ecology, which is important to under- years while Alex was doing his PhD.

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Contributing on a global scale

Rona Nia Mae Rojas

PROFILE

ormal. Simple. Ordinary. Words used by Shaobing Peng to describe his personal life. But the work and achievements of this scientist from China say otherwise. Born in Wuhan, Dr. Peng studied agronomy at Huazhong Agricultural University, China, then went on to obtain his masters degree in crop physiology at the University of California-Davis, USA. He pursued his PhD in crop physiology at the Texas Tech University, USA. Dr. Peng is currently a senior crop physiologist in the Crop and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) at IRRI. He has dedicated the past 19 years at IRRI to studying the yield potential of flood-irrigated and aerobic rice. His other research thrusts include nitrogen-use efficiency, stress physiology, hybrid rice, crop and natural resource management, and climate change in relation to rice production. In 2004, he coauthored a paper titled Rice yields decline with higher night temperature from global warming, which highlights the impact of night temperature on rice yields. The paper reported that grain yield declined by 10% for each 1 C increase in night temperature during the crop growing season. The report demonstrates that decreased crop yield is linked to increased nighttime temperature associated with global warming. As a result, other scientists started to focus more on night temperature during crop growth. This finding also got the attention of major news outlets worldwide, especially with the media buzz surrounding global warming. Global warming is actually more associated with nighttime warming; and it also has a very negative effect on rice yield, explains Dr. Peng. We scientists are working hard to study the adaptation mechanism in rice varieties, because some [varieties] are more tolerant of warm night temperature. He worked with the IRRC in determining and improving the nitrogen-use efficiency in Guangdong Province, China. Together with IRRC coordinator Grant Singleton and IRRI principal scientist Roland Buresh, Dr. Peng collaborated with partners at Guangdong Rice Research Institute

(GRRI) on the 3 Controls Technology. The technology is based on the principles of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) that enables rice farmers to tailor nutrient management (read more on SSNM on page 6) to the specific conditions of their field and provides a framework for best management practices for rice. Dr. Peng says that they were able to work with Chinese partners in modifying nutrient management practices based on the SSNM principles to suit the environment and rice production situation in Guangdong. This modification, now called 3 Controls Technology, had positive outcomes for the farmers. The technology helped reduce crop losses caused by lodging and reduced expenses through a decrease in the application of nitrogen fertilizer and insecticide. According to field studies done around the province, there were economic returns of about US$220 per hectare for farmers practicing the technology. The 3 Controls Technology has now expanded from fertilizer management to other aspects of crop management.

Dr. Peng (right) examines a rice plant with a Chinese collaborator, Prof. Jianchang Yang (left), from Yangzhou University.

As a long-time scientist at IRRI, he continues to enjoy working with the people in the Institute. A unique aspect of IRRI is that you get a chance to work with and learn from many scientists from different disciplines and cultures. You get professional and personal growth. He also values the contribution of his nationally recruited staff, expressing that without his staffs support and hard work, he wouldnt have achieved as much as he did. Still, Dr. Peng has set more goals for himself. By working with other scientists, he aims to contribute to efforts that would increase rice yield potential or maximum yield by 10%. He believes that getting the best traits out of a wide range of germplasm and introducing them into local high-yielding varieties will help achieve this goal. Whenever he can, Dr. Peng unwinds with a game of tennis, badminton, or table tennis. A typical rest day would be spent with his wife and children at home. He is also fond of watching basketball games on TV whenever they involve fellow countryman and superstar athlete Yao Ming. Though he is far from retiring, this crop physiologist wants to be remembered by his research team as nice and pleasant to work with. And even if perhaps I make mistakes, I hope that the scientific community would see me as an honest and reliable scientist, he says.

ON HOLIDAY. Dr. Peng and his family opt for some quality time in China during his home leave from IRRI.

May-August 2010

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Public-private partnerships push for AWD in Bangladesh

he alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method, an IRRC watersaving technology, is making waves in Bangladesh and will soon in India and other countries with much help from the private and public sectors. AWD has been validated as an efficient technology in saving water in irrigated rice systems in Bangladesh and other rice-growing countries after IRRI developed and shared it with many national partners, says Dr. Hamid Miah, IRRI liaison scientist for Bangladesh. Government organizations led by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority, Rural Development Academy, and the Department of Agriculture Extension tested AWD on a large scale from 2006 until the end of the 2009 winter season. Private companies Syngenta and PetroChem and the nongovernment organization (NGO) Practical Action have also promoted AWD in farmers fields. Water pump owners, sometimes locally called waterlords, are now convinced of the importance of AWD, particularly in Rangpur, where RDRS, an NGO, operates. Waterlords earn their income by selling water to farmers. Previously, they doubted whether they would earn enough profit if they reduced irrigation frequency or saved on fuel needed to pump water. Now, they have started to realize the importance of saving resources for their countrys economy and for the environment. In January, RDRS organized an orientation program on AWD and invited 50 people, including 36 pump owners. The waterlords vowed to adopt AWD in their irrigation command areas and persuade farmers to try it on at least one of their plots, if not in all. Syngenta promotes AWD through the distribution of water tubes, which they call pani (the term means water in Bangladeshi) pipes. They have distributed pani pipes and conducted training courses on AWD for farmers in South Asia (Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan), with plans for other countries in 2010.

Trina Leah Mendoza

Ruben Lampayan

Volume 5, Number 2 May-August 2010 This newsletter is produced by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The IRRC promotes international links among scientists, managers, communicators, and farmers in lowland irrigated rice environments. Materials in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official views of IRRI, SDC, or collaborating institutions of the IRRC. EdITORIAL ANd PROdUCTION TEAm IRRC Trina Leah Mendoza, Grant Singleton, Rona Nia Mae Rojas, Jennifer Hernandez CPS Tess Rola, Bill Hardy CONTRIBUTINg AUTHORS Roland Buresh, Katherine Nelson, Carlito Balingbing, Rica Joy Flor, Bas Bouman Please direct further correspondence, comments, and contributions to Trina Leah Mendoza Senior Communication Specialist International Rice Research Institute DAPO Box 7777 Metro Manila, Philippines Email: t.mendoza@cgiar.org Web: www.irri.org/irrc

Dept. of Agriculture Extension officials observe the pani pipes in training done by IRRCs Ruben Lampayan in collaboration with BRRI in October 2009.

On 27-31 April, Syngenta held a rice expo in Cabanatuan, Philippines, promoting AWD and other technologies to more than 2,000 farmers, agricultural technologists, seed growers, and other stakeholders. In Bangladesh, Syngenta conducted thousands of trials in farmers fields, which resulted in a 3050% reduction in water consumption per trial plot. Their results also showed that AWD reduced irrigation cost by 2127%, as well as labor, fuel, and machinery costs. Yields increased by 29%. Syngentas efforts to disseminate AWD in Bangladesh this year are quite remarkable, and they plan to include the pani pipe in their educational program action plan next year in India and Pakistan, says Dr. Ruben Lampayan, IRRC Water-Saving Work Group leader. Through a program called Syngenta Connections, selected agricultural science students from Australia will visit India for 2 weeks and learn the technology from Syngentas field staff. The aim is for these students to conduct training and demonstrations for 3,000 local rice farmers in the country. This is really an amazing development where a private company with seemingly no direct benefits for promoting water-saving technologies is engaged in outscaling our IRRC AWD methodology based on what we call the field water tubes, says Dr. Bas Bouman, IRRI water scientist. In the field of natural resource management, I dont think we have many such examples!

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