www.irri.

org/irrc

Volume 4, Number 3 September-December 2009

IRRIGATED RICE RESEARCH CONSORTIUM Rice Research for Intensified Production and Prosperity in Lowland Ecosystems

Promoting AWD in Bangladesh

IRRI CPS

USING WATER WISELY. Farmers manually irrigating their rice crop in Rajshahi in Northwest Bangladesh. To Phuc Tuong
saving technology alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in the last three dry-season (boro) rice crops. Gracing the event were Mr. C.Q.K. Mutaq Ahmed, secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, as the chief guest; and Dr. Wais Kabir, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC); Dr. Nurul Alam, executive director of KGF; and Dr. M. Zainul Abedin, IRRI representative for Bangladesh, as special guests. Keynote papers were presented by Dr. To Phuc Tuong, senior scientist at IRRI, and Dr. M.A. Sattar, chief scientific officer and head of the Irrigation and Water Management Division of BRRI. The workshop featured nine presentations
> continued on page 2

national workshop, Adoption and Success of AWD Technology for Rice Production, was successfully held at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) on 15 July. This was followed by a well-attended press conference the next day held at the Building Resources Across Communities (formerly Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or BRAC) headquarters in Dhaka. The workshop was jointly organized by BRRI and IRRI and funded by the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (Agricultural Research Foundation, KGF) and IRRIs Food Security for Sustainable Household Livelihoods (FoSHoL) Project. The more than 60 participants were composed of researchers, extension workers, employees of private companies and NGOs, and farmers who have actively participated in validating, testing, and disseminating nationwide the water-

IN THIS ISSUE...
NEWS New postharvest project kicks off in Vietnam, Philippines.....2 3 Controls Technology leads to healthier crops in Guangdong..........3 Postharvest 2009 a success..................4 SSNM video now on YouTube...........4 Institutionalization of AWD pushed...5 IRRC holds rice health workshop.....6 eWater up for release.........................7 Newly discovered pitcher plant, a solution for rat control?...............8 Working with partners on Mot Phai, Nam Giam..........................9 Strengthening work in Lao PDR...12 PROFILES A man for An Giang...............................10 Starting at the grass roots....................11 PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS........9

he new rice postharvest project Bringing About a Sustainable Agronomic Revolution in Rice Production in Asia by Reducing Preventable Preand Postharvest Losses was kicked off through a series of Participatory Impact Pathway Analysis (PIPA) workshops in Vietnam and the Philippines in recent months. Under the leadership of IRRIs postharvest development specialist, Martin Gummert, the project aims to increase incomes of farmers by bringing out postharvest innovations that consider the entire value chain. The effort hopes to reach a minimum of 300,000 farming households in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia within 5 years. In Vietnam, a preliminary PIPA workshop was held in Vung Tau City, on 21-24 April, involving 50 farmers and other stakeholders from all over the country. The workshop was attended by Dr. Bui Ba Bong, vice minister of Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and Dr. Le Van Hung, vice rector of Nong Lam

New postharvest project kicks off in Vietnam and the Philippines

Rica Joy Flor Paeng Palis

Carlito Balingbing

Thirty-seven participants attended the PIPA workshop at PhilRice.The new postharvest project aims to increase farmers incomes by bringing out postharvest innovations that consider the entire value chain.

University (NLU). As a follow-up to the workshop, a series of regional workshops was held from 21 July to 4 August to ensure further participation from the stakeholders in different regions of the country. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, a PIPA workshop was held on 27-30 April at PhilRice in Nueva Ecija and was attended by stakeholders in the Philip-

pine Postharvest Network. Thirty-seven farmers, seed growers, researchers, and representatives of NGOs, the private sector, and different government agencies participated. The IRRI team, led by Martin Gummert, and the PhilRice team, led by Eulito Bautista, Cesar Tado, and Evangeline Sibayan, organized the workshop, which was facilitated by Impact Specialist Tonya Schuetz.
portunity. Dr. Tuong informed attendees of the workshop and press conference that IRRIs work on AWD in Bangladesh was carried out mainly in the framework of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Water-Saving Technologies for Rice Cultivation project funded by the ADB. Dr. Md. Firoze Shah Sikder, director general of BRRI, acknowledged IRRIs contribution to rice production in Bangladesh and recognized the work on AWD technology as testimony to a successful BRRIIRRI collaboration. In the press conference, representatives of major newspapers, radio, and television broadcasting agencies in Bangladesh interacted with Drs. Sikder, Hamid Miah (IRRI), Tuong, Sattar, and Mahabub Hossain, executive director of BRAC and former head of IRRIs Social Sciences Division. Coverage for the national workshop and AWD came from five newspapers and a television network.

(L-R) Drs. Hamid Miah, M. Zainul Abedin, To Phuc Tuong, Md. Firoze Shah Sikder, Agriculture Secretary C.Q.K. Mutaq Ahmed, and Wais Kabir.

Promoting AWD... continued from page 1

and three farmers views on the validation, dissemination, and assessment of AWD and resulted in the unanimous recommendation of disseminating AWD nationwide to benefit farmers, save pump energy and foreign exchange, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. The secretary of agriculture confirmed that the Ministry approves and supports AWD. He requested agencies concerned with rice production to widely

disseminate the technology and named the Department of Agricultural Extension as the major stakeholder tasked to upscale the technology nationwide at the farmers level. Dr. Alam informed the participants that KGF has fundsUS$150,000that can be allotted for the AWD program and encouraged the institutes to submit project proposals for evaluation by KGF for funding, each with a maximum of $30,000. Dr. Hamid Miah, liaison scientist of IRRI, will pursue the matter with BARC and work with IRRI, BRRI, and relevant agencies to avail of the funding op-

RIPPLE

3 Controls Technology leads to healthier crops in Guangdong

uangdong, one of Chinas most prosperous and heavily populated provinces, is experiencing what most agricultural countries are going through. About 110 million people consume rice every year, making Guangdong Chinas largest grain consumption area. However, Guangdong can produce only 40% of its rice needs, since, over the past 20 years, riceland has declined by 33% because of industrial development and urban growth. Now, strong land-use policies are established to protect fertile rice-growing lands. The area planted to rice has stabilized over the past 3 years, and the target is to maintain a 40% production level despite the growing population. One of the key strategies developed to address this concern is through the 3 Controls Technology. The technology involves (1) more efficient use of nutrients by following the principles of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), which often leads to more than a 20% decrease in nitrogen (N) use; (2) reduced lodging of the rice crop by avoiding excessive N uptake and better water management; and (3) a reduced number of insecticide sprays since the crop is healthier. Grant Singleton and Shaobing Peng, scientists from the International Rice Re-

Trina Leah Mendoza Grant Singleton Shaobing Peng

keen to raise the profile of the 3 Controls Technology. The technology has spread to nearby villages, mainly, it seems, through word of mouth. Farmers from other villages saw the demonstration fields and have asked township agricultural staff about the technology. At one site, simple message boards were put up, bearing key messages from the farmers themselves. In August, 5,000 posters were printed to explain the technology. Plans are being made for an audit of communication activities in late 2009, which will become the basis for the formulation of strategies for wider dissemination of the technology. Socioeconomic studies are slated for June 2010. IRRI scientists, led by Achim Dobermann, Roland Buresh, and Shaobing Peng, in collaboration with partners in China, have been doing work on improving rice N fertilization through SSNM in China since 1997. Field experiments were initially conducted in Zhejiang Province in 1997 and the project gradually expanded to the provinces of Guangdong, Hunan, and Jiangsu in 2001, to Hubei in 2003, and to Heilongjiang in 2005. These six provinces occupy about 45% of the area planted to rice in China. Collaborating organizations in China are Zhejiang University, GAAS, Hunan Agricultural University, Yangzhou University, Huazhong Agricultural University, Northeast Agricultural University, China Agricultural University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The 3 Controls Technology was one of the products developed from this collaboration of more than 10 years. This exciting project holds much promise, having all of the following: a committed and fervent local champion in Dr. Xuhua Zhong, project leader at GRRI; strong end-user involvement; clear economic benefits; societal benefits; alignment with provincial government policy initiatives; a potential strategy to help farmers adapt to extreme climatic events; and a potential for natural diffusion.

search Institute (IRRI), visited Guangdong on 2-5 July to meet with partners, led by Dr. Xuhua Zhong, at the Guangdong Rice Research Institute (GRRI) and discuss the collaboration of IRRIs Irrigated Rice Research Consortium with GRRI on the 3 Controls Technology. The collaboration has been very effective in influencing policy. In 2008 and 2009, the technology was included in recommendations by the provincial government for high yield creation. Drs. Singleton and Peng visited Gaoyao City and the Xinhui Administration area, two of 13 large demonstration sites in the province. The farmers they spoke with were very enthusiastic about the technology. One of the positive outcomes from the technology was that farmers worry less about high crop losses caused by lodging. Field studies indicate economic returns of about US$220 per hectare for farmers who use the technology. This reflects a 1030% reduction in fertilizer costs (one less N application) and two fewer insecticide sprays. The IRRI scientists also met with top officials of the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS), who were very impressed by the technology. Dr. Youding Chen, GRRI director, is

GRRIs Dr. Xuhua Zhong explains the 3 Controls Technology to members of the local media as IRRC Coordinator Grant Singleton looks on.
September-December 2009

IRRI and Asia Congress hold successful Postharvest 2009 in Bangkok

he International Rice Research Institute, in partnership with Asia Congress, successfully held a 3-day Postharvest Rice Conference and Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, 15-17 July. The event was supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Thai Rice Exporters Association, the Thai Rice Millers Association, and various organizations and media. Postharvest 2009 gathered rice postharvest researchers, technology experts, equipment suppliers, and service providers. There were 24 technical presentations by researchers and scientists on various themes and topics in rice postharvestfrom quality and markets, and postharvest management technology, to commercialization of research results, the highlight of the conference program. The opening ceremony was led by Dr. Apichart Pongsrihadulchai, adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In his message, he pointed out that, besides efforts to increase production by increasing yield, efforts to reduce postharvest losses are also crucial. The conference aimed to provide opportunities to share and discuss key issues among countries to help one another in improving capabilities to increase rice production, Dr. Apichart added. Dr. Ricardo Cachuela of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Exten-

Carlito Balingbing
Carlito Balingbing

(L-R) Marcel Ewals (AsiaCongress), Martin Gummert (IRRI), Mrs. Samlee Boonyawivat (Bureau of Rice Research and Development,Thailand), Dr. Ricardo Cachuela (Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension, Philippines), Dr. Apichart Pongsrihadulchai (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives,Thailand), Dr. Kwanchai Gomez (Asia Rice Foundation), Mr. Rut Subniran (Patum Rice Mill and Granary Public Company Limited), and Duncan Macintosh (IRRI).

sion represented the Philippines. In his message, he emphasized the need to empower the small sectors, such as the farmers and small entrepreneurs, to solve Asias rice postharvest problems. Losses of 14% were recorded in 1997about 77 million tons, equivalent to US$7.7 billion, due to inadequate storage and drying facilities. Mr. Prasert Gosalvitra, director general of Thailands Rice Department, similarly noted the constraints to postharvest operations, brought about by delays in harvest, outdated and poorly maintained rice mills, and lack of skills to use the technology, among others. But, with farmer adoption of proven technologies and improvement in farming and postharvest management practices, these postharvest problems

can be overcome. During the welcome reception, Duncan Macintosh, IRRIs development director, lauded the efforts of the organizers of the conference, saying that this is another important step in strengthening IRRIs partnership with 12 Asian countries. He also highlighted the upcoming International Rice Congress in November 2010 in Hanoi, Vietnam, as a very significant event for 16 nations that consider rice as fundamental to their economy. IRRIs participation in Postharvest 2009 was also marked by an exhibit showing recent technologies in rice postharvest systems and results of various research studies, apart from oral presentations by IRRI researchers and scientists.

VIDEO ON SITE-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT NOW ON YOUTUBE

video on site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) is now available online. Developed for farmers in the Philippines, it could be helpful for use by extension workers during meetings with farmers. In the video, a rice farmer, Mang Lando, gets the surprise of his life when a talking rice plant pops out of his rice field and tells him what rice plants need. Ryza, the talking rice plant, gives Mang Lando first-hand information on rice and nutrients. Going through the growth stages of rice, Mang Lando finds out how to manage nutrients in order to get high yields. Ryza also convinces Mang Lando to try out the Nutrient Manager for Rice, an easy-to-use computer program that provides farmers with a quick fertilizer guideline for their own field. To view the video, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkVNnZcF07o.

RIPPLE

Institutionalization of AWD pushed in the Philippines

Trina Leah Mendoza

Emma Quicho-Diangkinay Ma. Angeles Quilloy Ruben Lampayan

Irrigation System (MARIIS), started implementing AWD as an irrigation water management scheme in selected turnout service areas of the systems (see Farmers reap rewards of AWD in RIPPLE, MayAugust 2009 issue). From the combined 160,000 farmers getting irrigation water from these two systems, about 25% have already been covered by the technology. AWD has also been implemented by more than 20,000 farmers in a number of smaller national irrigation systems in the country. With more than one million Filipino rice farmers in irrigated areas, AWD will not be effectively disseminated and its impacts will be minimal if support at the policy level is not sought. Stakeholders feedback The draft AO was presented by the TWG to stakeholders in the Philippines through island-wide public consultation meetings organized in four clusters and venues from 14 July to 5 August. The consultation meetings aimed to orient stakeholders about the proposed AO and to seek comments in refining the draft, with the endview of obtaining initial approval from the stakeholders. The public consultations were conducted in four clusters: two in Luzon, one in the Visayas, and one in Mindanao. Funds for the conduct of the public consultation meetings were provided by the GMA Rice Program. The Cluster 1 meeting was held on 14 July in Baguio City with participants coming from Region 1, Region 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). MARIIS, the main source of irrigation water in Region 2, was also well represented. The meeting was hosted by the DA-CAR regional field units (RFUs). The Cluster 2 meeting was hosted by BSWM and was held in Tagaytay City on 22 July for participants from Regions 3, 4A, 4B, and 5 and the UPRIIS. The Visayas cluster (Cluster 3) meet> continued on page 6

Promotion and adoption of AWD in the Philippines started in 2001 among pump irrigation systems in Tarlac Province.The technology has diffused to include gravity irrigation systems from 2005 onward.

n a noble effort to facilitate the adoption of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) as a water management practice in all irrigated rice areas in the country, the Philippine Water-Saving Work Group (WSWG) partners under the umbrella of the Department of Agriculture (DA) were tasked by the DA Secretary (through Special Order No. 266 issued in April 2008 creating a Technical Working Group) to formulate a draft policy guideline in the form of an Administrative Order (AO) titled Guidelines for the adoption of water-saving technologies (WST) in irrigated rice production systems in the Philippines. The AO will enable the mainstreaming and institutionalizing of water-saving technologies (particularly AWD) in the functions and responsibilities of all DA agencies and bureaus. The draft AO covers technical considerations for WST, dissemination and implementation strategies, institutional arrangements, and other provisions for proper and sustained implementation. Behind the scene A NARES-led undertaking, the Technical Working Group (TWG), is being headed by Evangeline Sibayan of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Samuel Contreras of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the chair and co-chair, respecSeptember-December 2009

tively. Other TWG members of the secretariat are Teresita Sandoval (BSWM), Leo Javier (PhilRice), Carlito Gapasin (National Irrigation Administration, NIA), Renato Gamboa (NIA), Carmelo Cablayan (NIA), Amparo Ampil (DAPolicy Research Service), Victor Sernadilla (DA-Field Operations Service), and Mina Florague (PhilRice). WSWG leader Ruben Lampayan provided technical backstopping in the draft formulation. This initiative is an offshoot of the WSWG-sponsored workshop titled Adoption and impact on water savings in rice production in the Philippines held in March 2008 (see Water-saving workshop quenches thirst for technologies in RIPPLE, July-September 2008 issue). A task force was formed to brainstorm and develop mechanisms to bring WST to the policy level to effectively disseminate AWD technology among irrigated rice farmers in the Philippines. Status of AWD adoption The promotion and adoption of AWD in the Philippines started in 2001 among pump irrigation systems in Tarlac Province, and the technology has diffused to include gravity irrigation systems from 2005 onward. The big national irrigation systems, such as the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS) and the Magat River Integrated

IRRC holds rice health assessment workshop

IRRI CPS

he Crop Health Work Group (CHWG) of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) organized Assessment of Rice Health for Better Management of Rice Diseases and Insects, a workshop held 1-4 June in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. Twenty-five participants from Thailand and Vietnam came for the workshop, which is part of a capacitybuilding process established among Thailand, Vietnam, and IRRI in plant protection, crop health assessment, and risk analysis. The capacity-building process will focus on preventing risks to rice crop health and complement the efforts of these countries in rice disease and insect pest surveillance systems and risk management.

The IRRC covers lowland irrigated rice-based systems in Asia, where crop health problems have always been a concern, with very serious problems emerging recently. The CHWG, recently established to focus on the management of diseases and insect pests, is one of five work groups of the IRRC. The workshop aimed to highlight the notions of risk prevention in crop health and strategic risk management; do so with a shared, common set of methodologies (data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation procedures) among sites and countries; and ensure local ownership of both data and procedures, and thus foster capacity building. and institutional arrangements needed for technology adoption. Farmer leaders and NIA managers also shared their positive experiences with AWD. AWD doesnt only provide enough water to everyone in the irrigation system, while maintaining or even getting better yields, said Mr. Ric Povido, a farmer-leader participant from Iloilo. It also serves as a peace-making technology as farmers fought against each other to get access to water. When the farmers realized that rice doesnt need standing water all the time, more water became available for the downstream farmers. As a whole, the TWG was highly successful in getting comments and suggestions from the participants that would enhance the content of the AO. All the cluster consultation meetings were very productive and concluded with high hopes for the technology being the solution to availability problems in irrigated rice in particular and in agriculture in general. With increasing competition for the use of water from other sectors, the participants felt the need to save and conserve water to increase food production. All clusters endorsed the draft AO

Tungro is a rice disease that mainly affects plants during vegetative growth.

Institutionalization of AWD... continued from page 5

ing was held in Iloilo City for participants from Regions 6, 7, and 8. DA-RFU 4 hosted the event on 29 July. The Mindanao cluster (Cluster 4) meeting was held in Davao City with Regions 9, 10, 11, and 12 and Caraga participating. The meeting, held on 5 August, was hosted by the DA-RFU 11. The public consultation meetings have brought more than 300 stakeholders, including executive directors, managers, heads, engineers, and key staff from various agencies, including the DA-RFU executive directors, GMA-regional rice program coordinators, NIA regional and provincial managers, and farmer-irrigator association leaders. Representatives from local government units and state universities and colleges also participated in the consultation meetings. The participants in all clusters actively contributed to the discussions during the open forum. Many relevant clarifications, issues, and concerns were raised. These were related to the dissemination and implementation strategies,

for immediate approval by the secretary and subsequent implementation. Still a few steps away After the consultation meetings, the next step is to consolidate all comments through a write shop and finalize the AO for submission to the DA secretary. After this, the real work begins!
Water-Saving Work Group

GMA Rice Program Coordinator Frisco Malabanan acknowledges the efforts of the TWG at the Cluster 3 meeting in Davao City.

RIPPLE

eWater up for release

he Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) WaterSaving Work Group (WSWG) has completed a new training product known as eWater Management or simply eWater, an e-learning tutorial on sound field water management and water-saving technologies in irrigated rice. Developed in collaboration with the University of Southeastern Philippines-Mindanao e-learning Space (USEP-MiSpace), eWater was conceptualized during the June 2008 at ameeting of the Philippine partners of the WSWG to address the need to effectively deliver information on sound field water management and water-saving technologies to stakeholders in Asia (see e-learning module on water-saving technologies in the works in RIPPLE, July-September 2008 issue). Partners who are already exposed to these technologies, including trainers, agricultural technologists, extension workers, irrigation system managers, and engineers, can readily use the module as a resource for them. According to Ruben Lampayan, WSWG leader, eWater provides practical techniques on managing and saving water to increase water-use efficiency and productivity in irrigated rice production areas in Asia. The developed modules combine scientific information with practical suggestions for implementation. Dr. Lampayan and Gilbert Importante of USEP-MiSpace provided the overall leadership in project management, with IRRC-WSWG staff member Emma Quicho-Diangkinay providing overall support. The USEP-MiSpace production staff created the instructional designs and platform of the eWater course, while IRRIs Romy Cabangon and David Shires made significant contributions to the content development and instructional design, respectively. eWater has been structured into four interactive modules for learners to gain competency in efficient water management. The contents of
September-December 2009

Ruben Lampayan Emma Quicho-Diangkinay

Water-Saving Work Group

To download eWater, visit www.knowledgebank.irri.org/ewatermgt.

the modules came mostly from the IRRI book Water management in irrigated rice: coping with water scarcity, written by Dr. Bas Bouman, Dr. Lampayan, and Dr. T.P. Tuong, and from training materials developed by the Work Group. Module 1, an introductory section that analyzes water use and productivity, is composed of seven lessons. Specifically, this module enables learners to understand rice environments, global rice water use, causes of water scarcity in rice-growing areas, water balance and water productivity concepts, and groundwater behavior in rice fields. Module 2 tackles the plant-soilwater system and is structured into three lessons to enable learners to understand the major components and functions of the soil in relation to crop growth; to understand soil-water relations such as those governing soil moisture retention, movement, and availability; to trace the movement of water from the soil to the plant and to the atmosphere; and to describe the mechanisms by which rice adjusts to drought conditions. Module 3 discusses sound field water management and coping with water scarcity. Here, technology options to help farmers efficiently manage irrigation water, save water, and cope with water scarcity at the field

level are presented. This module consists of seven lessons that describe ways to deal with reduced (irrigation or rain) water inflows to rice fields by reducing nonproductive outflows by seepage, percolation, and evaporation through land preparation, crop establishment methods, and water and cultural management practices during rice crop growth. Module 4 consists of detailed discussions on alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technology. The module is divided into three lessons, describing AWD in relation to crop growth, demonstrating practical application of the technology, and appreciating its benefits. The program concludes with a course summary. Slideshows, videos, and links to other resources are included in the e-learning tutorial. With the completion of the first version of this product, we hope this course will find its way to many users, says Dr. Bas Boman, IRRI CESD head and Program 2 leader. To get people to use it and to collect feedback, we need to advertise this. The product will be distributed on CDs to Work Group members and partners in Asia. The eWater modules will also be launched online in IRRIs Rice Knowledge Bank, and with links to various country rice knowledge banks.

Discovered rat-eating plant, a solution for rat control?

Grant Singleton, IRRI rodent expert and Irrigated Rice Research Consortium coordinator. We are often told about botanical extracts that are poisonous to rats, but perhaps we now have a natural rat trap! Certainly, this newly discovered rat trap is a welcome addition to the arsenal used in controlling rats. Rodents are the most abundant and diversified order of living mammals in the world and can contribute to human disease and threaten public health. Rodent-borne diseases: a comprehensive review Dr. Singleton was recently a co-author of a 50-page review on rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health with Drs. Bastian Meerburg and Aize Kijlstra from Wageningen University, The Netherlands. In their article published in Critical Reviews in Microbiology, the scientists stressed that rodents play a significant role in transmitting a large number of diseases to humans and to animals that provide important sources of protein for humans. Risk levels of infection vary between different pathogens. It is thus crucial to observe rodent populations more closely to predict future disease occurrences and to be able to identify new rodent-borne diseases. Models that characterize changes in the demography and population density of rodents are needed to help predict expansion of rodent-borne diseases and thus allow planning, which will improve public health enhancement efforts. The authors highlighted the possible need to further investigate the effects of human activity and global climate change because these might lead to rodents having different interaction patterns and habitats, which could result in infectious diseases emerging in areas that were previously not affected. A key message that emerged in the article is the underreporting of rodent zoonoses or disease transmission. Insufficient attention is paid to the diagnosis of these important diseases, says Dr. Singleton. In Asia, often common and treatable diseases such as leptospirosis and murine typhus are misdiagnosed. Some cases are simply diagnosed as fevers of unknown orAlastair Robinson (2)

Trina Leah Mendoza

igin, while others are misdiagnosed as dengue or malaria. This is a tragedy, given that many poor agricultural workers are at high risk of contracting rodent-borne diseases. The reviewers conclude that more research is needed to develop integrated prevention strategies and to determine how to interrupt disease transmission cycles that involve rodents. With proper application of ecologically based rodent control methods, it is possible to reduce the dangers of rodent-borne diseases in areas where humans, food animals, and rodents live close to one another. If this rat-eating pitcher plant can, in some way, help in catching rats, then it is a much-needed contribution to effective rat management and another interesting way of nature to maintain checks and balances. We leave the final word to Dr. Singleton: Alas, the time it would take a pitcher plant to digest a rat would be sufficient for another generation of rats to be born! So, our quest for an effective method of rodent management continues, with management based on a strong understanding of the ecology and living habits of rodent pests offering the best promise.
Links to articles: Palawan discovery:A living rat trap www.gmanews.tv/story/170117/Rat-eating-plant-foundin-Palawan Rat-eating plant discovered in Philippines www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6041241/Rateating-plant-discovered-in-Philippines.html

A juvenile pitcher plant shows the bell-like shape of the species.

n early August, surprising reports of a rat-eating plant discovered in Palawan circulated on the international and local news circuit. According to media reports, a team of botanists led by British experts Stewart McPherson and Alastair Robinson found the plant in 2007 on Mount Victoria in Narra, Palawan, after a 2-month expedition. The team, which included staff from Palawan State University, received word from two Christian missionaries who found the large, carnivorous pitcher plant in 2000. Their detailed findings were published earlier this year in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society after a 3-year study of all 120 species of pitcher plants. According to GMANews.TV, the rateating plant is among the largest of the pitcher plants, with pitchers measuring 30 16 cm, twice the size of pitcher plants usually found in the area. Named after British nature filmmaker Sir David Attenborough, Nepenthes attenboroughii uses acid-like enzymes to dissolve its prey. In his interview with Telegraph.co.uk, McPherson said that the plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects but also rodents. This is a spectacular discovery, says

A rosette pitcher of the newly-discovered species of pitcher plant.

RIPPLE

IRRC works with Vietnamese partners for Five Reductions, One Must Do
ollowing the success of the Three Reductions, Three Gains (3R3G), or Ba Giam, Ba Tang, campaign in Vietnam, the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and IRRI, through the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), are working together to carry out a new campaign, Mot Phai, Nam Giam, or Five Reductions, One Must Do. The 3R3G program, adopted as a national policy by Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2006, encouraged farmers to reduce seed rate, fertilizer use, and pesticide use. The new Five Reductions, One Must Do program adds recommendations related to reducing postharvest losses and water use, and timely use of fertilizers. The one must do is to use certified seeds. An Giang was made the national model at the provincial level for the implementation of this program. Activities are rapidly being conducted to promote the program. On 12-13 May, 25 participants from DARDs Plant Protection Department (PPD), IRRI, Cuu Long Rice Research Institute (CLRRI), and An Giang University attended a message design workshop in Long Xuyen, An Giang. IRRC communication specialist Trina Mendoza presented basic concepts in creating leaflets and billboards, which, according to Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, PPD vice director general, are their priority

Trina Leah Mendoza

Trina Leah Mendoza

Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan (third from left) of DARDs Plant Protection Department oversees the poster-making session of the message design workshop.

campaign materials for 2009. IRRC Coordinator Grant Singleton, on behalf of IRRI, said that he was very impressed with the progress, open discussion, and plans to move the project forward. A group of participants developed the content of a booklet on technologies, while another group designed several billboards. The following day, participants presented these prototypes to two groups of 1015 farmers. The farmers appreciated the materials and enthusiastically gave their comments. The final materials will soon be produced and distributed in the

province. On 13-14 May, IRRI anthropologist Flor Palis, University of California-Davis MS student Lauren Pincus, and CLRRI sociologist Truong Ngoc Chi conducted focus group discussions with farmers and leaders of plant protection stations in four districts to learn about the current ricegrowing practices in these areas. A household survey was conducted from June to August in all 11 districts of An Giang. The Five Reductions, One Must Do program will be implemented at 30-hectare demonstration sites in 11 districts of An Giang.

PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS

PUBLICATIONS Meerburg BG, Singleton GR, Kijlstra A. 2009. Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health. Critical Reviews in Microbiology. 35(3): 221270. Arthur AD, Krebs CJ, Pech RP, Farroway LN, Singleton GR. 2009.The transmission rate of MCMV in house mice in pens: implications for virally vectored immunocontraception. Wildlife Research. 36: 386-393.

EVENTS Needs Assessment for the ADB Postharvest Project in the Philippines September 23-26: Bohol September 28-October 1: Agusan Del Norte IRRC Steering Committee Meeting October 12-16:Yangon, Myanmar Rice Post-Production Training October 19-30: IRRI, Philippines

International Conference: Impacts of Rodent Outbreaks on Food Security in Asia October 26-28: IRRI, Philippines Training on Efficient Rice Production for Lao PDR Smallholder Development Project November 9-10:Vientiane November 13-14: Savvannakhet Province 6th National Grains Postproduction Conference (Organized by PRPC) November 25-27: Bohol, Philippines

September-December 2009

PROFILE

A man for An Giang

been a scientist. But perhaps it was his destiny to serve the people of An Giang and lead the province to greater heights. DARD, along with the Plant Protection Department, struck up a good partnership with the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) in early 2008 when the Peoples Committee of An Giang requested the IRRC to assist them in applying technologies that would raise rice productivity. The aim is to develop An Giang as a model province for good agricultural practices in irrigated rice production. The IRRC assists by advising on training of trainers, providing technical advice on an integrated approach to best-practice management of lowland irrigated rice, and helping in documenting the learning process and assessing impact on farmers. The project will build on the success of Ba Giam, Ba Tang, or Three Reductions, Three Gains, a national policy in Vietnam, to develop a broader set of practices, Mot Phai, Nam Giam, or Five Reductions, One Must Do. (Read IRRC sponsors workshop on irrigated rice production in An Giang, RIPPLE, May-August 2009 issue.) Right now, he sees the weak infrastructure in fields, such as a lack of good roads and canal systems, as a constraint in promoting technologies. The most pressing concerns of An Giang farmers are their small rice-growing area, shortage of capital, and shortage of storage capacity to deal with the fluctuating rice prices in the market, Mr. Pha says. Add to this

Trina Leah Mendoza

the weakness in marketing of Vietnam rice export companies. With all these concerns, Mr. Pha sure has a lot on his hands. To take pressure off, he reads books, especially novels, and listens to soft and classical music. Weekends and holidays are reserved for family and friends. But, on a regular workday, he is diligently collecting and researching relevant information, delegating tasks to his staff, overseeing the implementation of activities, and going to the field on occasion to check things out. Farmers find it important to produce good seeds, says Mr. Pha of his talks with farmers. Learning how to apply fertilizers and pesticides effectively and correctly is useful to them. With all the great things happening for An Giang, Mr. Pha couldnt be more pleased. Not only is he contributing to the agricultural development of the province, but to that of the whole country as well. He does, however, wish to add more value to rice as well as other agroproducts in the future. I also believe that about 80% of our farmers will adopt the Five Reductions, One Must Do program, says Mr. Pha. His optimism for success is unwavering, despite the challenges they face, and it is because he is fully convinced of the benefits of these technologies. I think people would often be surprised to see the miracles of technologies and science, he says. Truly, it is hard-working and dedicated people like him who make partnerships successful and inspiring.

n the upper reaches of the Mekong Delta lies the province of An Giang, one of three provinces in the Mekong that contribute to Vietnams flourishing rice export trade. One of the people responsible for the rapid growth of An Giangs crop production is Doan Ngoc Pha, deputy director of An Giangs Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). DARDs mission is to help improve agriculture (crop production and husbandry), aquaculture, and forestry in An Giang; take part in rural development by improving infrastructure; and build capacity of farmers, farmers groups, and agricultural cooperatives. As DARD deputy director since 2003, Mr. Phas main tasks have been to monitor crop production and development of agricultural cooperatives and farmers groups, and work with departments in agroproduct promotion and rural development. Before assuming his post at DARD, Mr. Pha was head of the General Division of the Peoples Committee of An Giang from 1998 to 2003. An agronomy graduate from Cantho University, he received his masters degree in economics of development from the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City. Had he not been a public servant, he says he would have

Mr. Phas optimism for success is unwavering despite the challenges they face in An Giang.

Despite his hectic schedule, Mr. Pha makes it a point to spend time with those close to him. Weekends and holidays are reserved for family and friends.
RIPPLE

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PROFILE

Starting at the grass roots

Paeng Palis
Alvaro Pamplona

iscoveries in science are of best use if they are ultimately applied to improve the lives of ordinary people or, in the case of agricultural sciences, the lives of farmers and consumers. It is in this vein that the presence of scientists, professionals, and other workers engaged in extension proves very important and forms an integral part in the dissemination of knowledge. One such person is Joel Janiyathe IRRCs resident extension agronomist. Hailing from the quiet town of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, in central Philippines, Kuya Joel has always been intrigued by the ways of nature. As a child, he was always on hand on the family farm; as a youngster, his life revolved around the countryside. It did not come to mind that I would be working as a researcher when I grew up, recalls Joel. All I wanted at the time was to enjoy nature. I grew up in a village where the main source of livelihood is farming. Growing up in a community of farmers, it was natural for him to choose a course he was most familiar with agriculture. After graduating from the Central Philippine University in Jaro District, he went to work for the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Trina Leah Mendoza

Joel Janiya (center) leads participants at a field visit to discuss different weeds in a training workshop in Bhutan.

The IRRCs resident extension agronomist believes in starting at the grass roots.
September-December 2009

in 1977. After a while, he earned his masters degree in agronomy from the University of the Philippines Los Baos, where he specialized in weed science. He says of his work: I have been involved in farmer field trials in the Philippines since the 1980s. In the early 90s, I became part of the Upland Rice Research Consortium, which is now part of the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE). Although my work is not directly on extension, it is unavoidable that I talk with farmers in the field. Working with farmers is very rewarding because it helps me widen my perspective on the practical application of research results and how these results can be translated into useful technology. Currently, Joels work includes organizing training courses for researchers and technicians on technologies for rice production and developing extension and lecture materials on rice technology. On top of this, he is involved in conducting needs assessments of farmers in partner countries of the IRRC. He adds, Extension work is exciting, challenging, and rewarding. Since most of my work is done outside the country, breaking the language barrier is a big challenge. Interpreters do help

a lot, but there is no real substitute for talking with farmers in their own language. Another challenge is developing extension materials that farmers can easily understand. Conveying the right message is essential. When asked about the pressing issues and concerns of rice production in the Philippines, he enumerated three: the increasing weed problem in directseeded rice, pushing farmers to rely heavily on herbicides; water scarcity; and the increasing cost of inputs. Doing what he does, one may think Joel has no time for some fun and leisure. But he tinkers with his camera in his spare timeshowing his love of photography and videography. He is also a member of the IRRI Toastmasters Club, among many other organizations. Throughout his life as an agricultural scientist, Joel has realized the importance of sharing knowledge with those who will ultimately benefit from itthe end-users. With this realization, he acknowledges the importance of communicating with farmers effectively, starting at the proverbial grass roots where challenges are most evident and solutions are most needed. And to him, knowing that someone is benefiting from what he is doing is what keeps him going.

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Strengthening work in the Land of a Million Elephants

Joel Janiya Rica Joy Flor

Joel Janiya

Volume 4, Number 3 September-December 2009 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, Jenny Hernandez, Paeng Palis CPS: Tess Rola, Bill Hardy CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Carlito Balingbing, Shaobing Peng, Emma Quicho-Diangkinay, Joel Janiya, Ruben Lampayan, Ma. Angeles Quilloy, To Phuc Tuong, Rica Joy Flor Please direct further correspondence, comments, and contributions to Dr. Grant Singleton IRRC Coordinator International Rice Research Institute DAPO Box 7777 Metro Manila, Philippines Email: g.singleton@cgiar.org Web: www.irri.org/irrc

Farmers in Khang Phone Village in Xanasombon District draw the village community map at the start of the group discussion. Rica Joy Flor supervises this participatory activity.

or years, the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), through its work groups, has established partnerships and projects in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic. This landlocked country, bordered by Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand and known as the Land of a Million Elephants, has a national strategy geared toward agricultural development and poverty alleviation. A collaborative project with the Lao PDR National Rice Research Program (NRRP) and IRRC in the lowlands could provide an important opportunity to help the country reach its goals. About 40% of the estimated population of 6 million in Laos lives below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of total employment. About 80% of its arable land is used for growing rice. Since 1995, the Lao government has worked with the International Rice Research Institute to collect seed samples of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos. Approximately 77% of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice after the development, release, and widespread adoption of improved rice varieties, and through economic reforms instituted at the time. Production increased by an annual rate of 5% between 1990 and 2005, and Lao PDR achieved a net balance of rice imports and exports for the first time in 1999. Howev-

er, significant areas of chronic rice shortages still exist throughout Laos. The IRRC and the NRRP have developed a plan to help rice farmers improve rice production by increasing self-sufficiency and developing business models to enhance income generation. To jumpstart this collaboration work, IRRC staff Rica Joy Flor, an anthropologist, and Joel Janiya, extension agronomist, conducted needs assessment in Champassak Province, with Lao partners Vorachith Sihathep and Bouthien Manivong of the Phone Ngam Rice Research Station. In Champassak Province, the team visited two villages in Xanasombon, one in Pathoumphone, and two in Champassak District. Through the participatory approaches of community mapping and focus group discussions, villagers shared information on practices, issues, concerns, and constraints encountered by farmers in their rice production, postharvest, and marketing activities. Through this method, appropriate IRRC technologies that may help overcome the rice production constraints will be identified. This information will also be used in shaping the training course that the project will implement in November 2009 for scientists, technicians, and farmer-leaders. In the coming dry season of 2009, selected technologies will be tested in farmers fields.

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RIPPLE