www.irri.

org/irrc/

April-June 2007, Vol. 2, No. 2

April 2006, Vol. 1, No. 2

International Rice Research Institute

Irrigated Rice Research Consortium

Rice Research for Intensied Production and Prosperity in Lowland Ecosystems

RIPPLE 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.

Rice Knowledge Bank and the IRRC: bringing science to rice farmers
In this issue
Waves of action .............. 3 Guangdong gung-ho on new rice technology Weedy rice attacks Asias direct-seeded rice Research streams ............ 5 Cleverly cutting costs in Cambodia Effective nutrient management for Iloilo rice Ripples of change ........... 8 A rewarding 2006 for IRRC in Myanmar Saving water for food security in India IRRC co-sponsors extension workshop with MAS Book review: Global advances in ecology and management of golden apple snails 2nd IRRC SC meeting held in Indonesia Profiles.................................13 Steering IRRC in the right direction The weed doctor is in Publications and ............15 upcoming events

More than 2.7 billion people rely on rice as their main source of food. (Photo by R. Panaligan)

cross Asia, rice has a crucial role to play in achieving the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Improvements in rice farming will help not only farmers, farm workers, and their families but also the millions of poor people who are totally dependent on rice. An increase in rice production is strongly needed, and it should come primarily from higher yields from existing rice elds in the irrigated and favorable rainfed lowland ecosystems, as opportunities to increase rice planting area are limited. It is even more difcult to achieve higher rice yields in less favorable agricultural environments. Irrigated rice accounts for about 50% of the global rice area and about 75% of the total world rice

production, and is cultivated on about 135 million hectares of harvested rice area. It produces more than 530 million tons of paddy rice every year. The good news is that a wealth of valuable knowledge on rice farming exists from the research efforts of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners. However, if technologies developed by rice research are not effectively delivered to farmers, their livelihoods are unlikely to improve. The challenge is to move this research-based rice farming knowledge from the research centers to the doorsteps of rice farmers across Asia. Two agents working hand in hand in bridging the research-extension gap are the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) and the Rice

Knowledge Bank (RKB). All of IRRIs research ndings that are directly relevant to the extension community are deposited in the RKB, much like a real banks functions. These research ndings are supplemented with training and support knowledge that extension agents need to effectively transfer new technologies to farmers. IRRI continues its efforts to better assemble and package knowledge and training on each validated technology around themes that respond to farmers needs. Information is now being organized using the seed-to-seed cycle. This cycle provides researchers and extension specialists with an excellent one-stop shop to help them support farmers by
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Rice Knowledge Bank...from page 1

1. Designing, conducting, and reporting farmer participatory researchmuch development in agriculture depends on local research and its on-farm validation. 2. Raising awareness on success cases of up-scaling and the skills required. 3. Strengthening their professional skills: a range of computer-based courses are provided, which increase the capacity of ofcers to manage their time, conduct meetings, and design projects.

In addition, the RKB also contains English language support in the form of a 120lesson introductory course that teaches effective use of English. The RKB not only includes IRRI research results but also encourages countries to showcase their local research ndings, adapt research knowledge from IRRI for their own situation, or translate IRRI knowledge into their own languages. Countries out-

side Asia, such as several in Africa, have also found IRRIs validated researchbased technologies useful. The RKB is being promoted widely to all extension agencies, including government agencies, nongovernment organizations, the private sector, and universities. In addition to the extension audience reached in many countries, masteral and PhD scholars at IRRI and from Asias universities and agricultural colleges use the knowledge and training from the RKB to better equip themselves as they continue studies on improving rice research and rice farming. The IRRC, at the same time, also links with country partners to share promising rice-growing technologies and strengthen their capacities. The Consortium also sponsors students and researchers to attend training courses, thus developing new networks, which is crucial to an effective organization. More than 2.7 billion rice farmers and consumers depend on the sustainable productivity of the irrigated

rice ecosystem for their supply of food. And they require information on stateof-the-art technologies so that they can increase their efciency in rice production. With the partnership between the RKB and the IRRC, farmers can now access this valuable information. The RKB is a dynamic, living document that all agents working in extension can use as their rst port of call when seeking to provide rice farmers with information. The RKB, together with the IRRC, will continue to deliver relevant knowledge and associated training to farmers through as many channels as possible so that, as farmers encounter problems, help can be literally just a mouse click away. Through the RKB and the research partnerships between IRRIIRRC and its collaborators, the essential knowledge needed to improve rice farming is being made available by successfully bridging the research-extension interface.
David Shires (d.shires@cgiar.org), graphics by Lauro Atienza

Contributions welcome for rice black bug book

director) are eager to receive country status reports for this book, which will address globally the problems, current status, and management of this cryptic invasive alien rice insect pest. So far, they have been getting excellent responses from many rice entomologists and insect taxonomists in Australia, Europe, and Africa. They encourage contributions, especially from South and Southeast Asia, since the rice black bug cryptic species has a com-

cientists from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are inviting contributions for their upcoming book, The Invasive Rice Black Bugs (Scotinophara spp.) of the World: Identication, Biology, Ecology, and Management. Editors Alberto Barrion (rice entomologist), Ravindra Joshi (crop protection specialist), and Leocadio Sebastian (plant breeder and PhilRice executive
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IRRI photo

plex and confusing taxonomy or classication system throughout these regions.

For more information, email rcjoshi@philrice.gov.ph or joshiraviph@gmail.com.

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Waves of action

Guangdong gung-ho on new rice technology

ts never a simple life for rice farmers. They get up at dawn, toil in the mud all day, and dont get home until sunset. And, even with all their hard work, they still arent assured a bountiful harvest, with nagging problems such as pests and diseases, less land, less labor, and less water, and more. But, in Guangdong, one of Chinas major rice-growing provinces, farmers have a reason to celebrate. A new, environment-friendly technology that will help them achieve high rice yields with fewer pests and diseases has received the stamp of approval and is now ripe for adoption. On 10 January, the threecontrols nutrient management technology for irrigated rice was appraised successfully in Guangzhou by an appraisal committee of seven scientists and specialists organized by Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Bureau. The three-controls technology, developed by the Rice Research Institute of the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GDAAS) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is based on the sitespecic nutrient management (SSNM) approach. A series of studies led by Dr. Xuhua Zhong showed astonishing resultsincreased and stable grain yield, increased nutrient-use efciency, reduced pests and diseases, and a high potential to improve food safety and the environment. The three controls refer to controlling (1) total nitrogen fertilizer input and

Dr. Xuhua Zhong (standing) discusses farmers current practices after the completion of the SSNM project. Dr. Roland Buresh (second from left, sitting) looks on. (Photo by Jiewen Ou)

nitrogen fertilizer applied basally and topdressed at tillering stage, increasing efciency of nitrogen use, and reducing pollution in the environment; (2) unproductive tillers, reducing the maximum tiller number, and increasing productive tiller percentage and population quality; and (3) the occurrence and development of insects and diseases, reducing pesticide and fungicide use, and improving food safety. The technology received high scores from the appraisal committee. Both committee members and the ofcials endorsed its adoption in Guangdong Province soon. They believed that the faster this technology is shared and adopted by farmers, the more benecial it will be in protecting the environment, improving food safety, and increasing farmers income. In the past, farmers in China have applied too much nitrogen to their rice crops, and, unfortunately, it has not been used efciently and has even caused some problems.

SSNMs inclusion in the three-controls technology is a major plus, as past studies have proven its many benets. SSNM was introduced in Guangdong in 2001 by IRRI scientists Roland Buresh and Shaobing Peng. After 2 years of eld experiments, SSNM was proven more advantageous than farmers traditional fertilizer practices, saving 2030% nitrogen fertilizer and producing 510% more grain yield. Disease and insect incidence was lower, especially leaf roller, sheath blight, and brown planthopper. Pesticide use decreased from ve applications in a planting season to only two or three. Lodging, the tendency of weak-stemmed rice plants to fall over, also decreased dramatically in the early-season rice crop. Beginning in 2003, in a joint effort between IRRI and the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, volunteer farmers from three villages in Xinxing County applied SSNM using the farmer participatory research

approach (see SSNM works in China in RIPPLE Vol. 2, No. 1). Most of the volunteer farmers produced higher yields with less nitrogen input, prompting their relatives and neighboring farmers to try SSNM in their own elds too. The SSNM fever continued into 2004 and 2005. Training courses and eld visits were organized. Farmers who werent able to attend the courses learned from those who did. Now, years after the experiment, farmers continue practicing SSNM and, by 2006, the technology had spread to the northern, western, and eastern parts of Guangdong. With the integration of SSNM into a new threecontrols technology that is ready for adoption, farmers in Guangdong, China, can look forward to a healthier harvest of rice with higher yields and reduced pesticide use.
Trina Leah Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

Ripple April-June 2007

sias rice farmers already reeling from a host of problems, including less land, labor, and water to grow the regions most important crop, as well as the looming impact of climate change are facing a cancerous new threat called weedy rice. Just like a cancer growing among human cells, weedy rice grows alongside conventional rice, making it very difcult to see and deal with. In Thailand, it was reported to have infested almost 200,000 hectares of rice in 2005, whereas, in the Philippines, the highest infestation rate has reached 90% in Iloilo Province. Weedy rice plants are weedy forms of rice that havein recent years invaded the worlds major rice-growing areas, including North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. But it is in Asia that it has caused the most damage. The exact origins of weedy rice in the region are still a mystery, although it is believed to be a natural hybrid of cultivated (Oryza sativa) and wild rice species (O. rupogon and O. nivara), or a result of the degeneration of cultivated rice. It is especially a problem in the direct-seeded rice areas of Asia. Weed scientist Madonna Casimero of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) says that, since it was rst found in the Philippines in the 1960s, it has become a big problem because it cannot be controlled by herbicides. Weed scientists and rice farmers, particularly in Iloilo Province, are all struggling to nd a sustainable solution but it is a tough challenge, Dr. Casimero says. At the crops early growth stages, removing wild rice
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Weedy rice attacks Asias direct-seeded rice

Weedy rice or padi angin (literally, wind rice), as it is known locally in Malaysia, was rst detected there in 1988. It is estimated to be causing crop losses of about US$25 million a year in Peninsular Malaysia. (Photo by D. Johnson)

seedlings by hand weeding is difcult, since they look a lot like the seedlings of cultivated rice. Some farmers with small farms do manual weeding or roguing, and remove the rice panicles by hand, Dr. Casimero says. But such strategies are not feasible if the farmer has 3 hectares or more, especially if there is heavy infestation, because the labor cost is too high. Dr. Casimero says weedy rice is nally recognizable at harvest time because it tends to be taller, has grains with long awns, and some plants have red grains seen only after milling. The bad news is that farmers cannot harvest the grains because they shatter easily. To make things worse, the grains left on the ground will germinate when conditions are favorable and produce even more weedy rice. Malaysia and Thailand now have the largest areas in

Asia in terms of weedy rice infestastion. When the weed rst appeared in Malaysia in 1988, farmers did not recognize it as a problem and did little to check its spread, says weed scientist Azmi bin Man of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. Now, most rice elds in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are affected, and it is estimated that weedy rice is causing crop losses valued at about $25 million a year on the peninsula. Dr. Chanya Maneechote, a weed scientist from Thailands agriculture department, has reported that 200,000 hectares were seriously damaged due to weedy rice infestation in 2005. Once farmers rice elds are infested, the control costs for weedy rice are high. At present, no single management technique can effectively control the problem. One way to prevent weedy rice is to use clean,

certied seed from a known source and then keep machinery and canals free from seeds and infestations. Manual weeding and good land preparation can also reduce initial infestations of weedy rice. Other reported control methods include water seeding (sowing pregerminated seeds in water), manual or mechanical transplanting, crop rotation, burning of rice straw in dry rice elds, application of pretilachlor with fenclorim during nal land preparation, and higher seeding rates of more than 150 kilograms per hectare. The battle against weedy rice in Asia has been joined by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) based at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines (www.irri.org/irrc). The IRRC has developed a bro> continued on page 5

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Weedy rice...from page 4

chure that describes weedy rices traits, the problems it causes, and its preventive measures and control. This brochure is now being distributed widely in Asian countries and can be downloaded from the IRRCs Web site. IRRI weed scientists David Johnson and Joel Janiya agree that A major step toward winning the battle against weedy rice will be to make farmers more aware of the problem, and we hope the brochure will help achieve this.

In the Philippines, PhilRice, in collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, has started studies to examine and characterize the biology of weedy rice to develop control strategies. A team, led by Dr. Casimero, has begun surveying all provinces in Central Luzon and parts of the Western Visayas to generate a map showing where weedy rice can be found. Starting next cropping season, they will be testing an integrated weed management strategy

Farmers and scientists inspect a weedy rice eld in Thailand. Weedy rice is classied into three different groups in Thailand according to appearance: Khao Hang (rice with awn), Khao Deed (jumping rice), and Khao Daeng (red rice). (Photo by D. Johnson)

in Iloilo Province involving longer land preparation time

and water management to reduce weedy rice populations.

Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

Research streams

Cleverly cutting costs in Cambodia

They now easily pay US$65 per hectare in Prey Veng and up to $70 per hectare in Battambang Province. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has teamed up with Vietnams Nong Lam University (NLU) and the Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA) in Prey Veng, through a project of the Postproduction Work Group of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), the Asian Development Bank, and the Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction. They aim to transfer the technology to Cambodia and later to Lao PDR to help farmers minimize their rice harvest losses and cost. Demonstrations were conducted in three areas and attracted more than 150 villagers and potential combine harvesting service providers. On the rst day, Prey Veng Governor Ung Samy and ofcials from the Departments of Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Extension were able to view the new technology up close. Field demonstrations and capacity-building measures for operators, extension workers, and local manufacturers were held. Combine specialists from NLU and from the manufacturer provided hands-on training on maintenance and using the machine, and assisted the local PDA team in demonstrating the combine to key farmers. In Vietnam and the Philippines, countries facing similar problems, mini combine harvesters are gaining popularity among farmers. The harvester was developed by engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton and national research institutions from both countries, and was then transferred to local manufacturers. Costing less than $5,000, it
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The new mini combine harvester can reduce harvesting cost and produce more and better-quality grain. (Photo by M. Pyseth)

rey VengA new and promising technology delighted farmers, machine operators, extension workers, manufacturers, local consultants, and government ofcials during a training and eld demonstration on 31 January-4 February. Now, they can reduce their losses and harvesting cost, and produce better-quality rice using a new smallscale combine harvester. This is good news as

harvesting cost increased recently in many provinces in Cambodia and Lao PDR. Urbanization and attractive labor markets in neighboring countries such as Thailand are causing increasing labor shortage during the peak season. Farmers compete for the same few available laborers for all the different harvesting operations (cutting, threshing, cleaning, and hauling) until the rice grains are safe in farmers homes.

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Cleverly cutting costs...from page 5

can harvest 11.5 hectares per day, and consists of a cutter-bar for cutting the crop, a small axial-ow thresher, and a built-in cleaner that delivers threshed grains of high purity straight into a sack. This highly mobile harvester needs only three persons to operate, can harvest even in ooded elds, and can be serviced by local workshops. Farmers can benet in two ways from the combine, says Dr. Meas Pyseth, an IRRI consultant based in Cambodia. First, they can get their crop harvested cheaper; second, they can sell more and better-quality grain because they can reduce the shattering of overmature grain and maintain good quality through timely harvesting. A rst estimation showed that local operating costs are around $35 per hectare, leaving a good margin to provide prot to the operator

Harvesting expert Tran Van Khan of Nong Lam University, Vietnam, explains the combine to Ung Samy (in black shirt), governor of Prey Veng, Cambodia, and to staff of the Provincial Department of Agriculture. (Photo by M. Pyseth)

and reduce the current high harvesting cost for farmers. This activity is an example of the integrated approach of IRRIs postharvest group to provide rice farmers with options to maximize their prots, says Martin Gummert, IRRI

postharvest development specialist. We work with the relevant international and national stakeholders from the private and public sectors to introduce appropriate technologies. We then arrange technology options and capacity building for farmer

intermediaries. We also encourage support to local small and medium enterprises that will ensure after-sales service to farmers. The result is a sustainable improvement in farmers income.
Martin Gummert (m.gummert@cgiar.org)

Presenting the International Plant Nutrition Institute

eginning 1 January 2007, a new global scientic agronomic organization called the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) starts its operations. IPNI is the former Potash and Phosphate Institute (PPI) and Potash and Phosphate Institute of Canada (PPIC), and a generous donor of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). IPNI was established in late 2006 by a resolution adopted unanimously by its founding members. PPIs Board of Directors committed its scientic staff to IPNI.
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This nonprot organization is dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrientsnitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, secondary nutrients, and micronutrientsfor the benet of families everywhere. Scientic programs are already established in South America, North America, China, India, and Southeast Asia, with plans to expand to other parts of the world. IPNIs Southeast Asia Program, a joint mission with the International Potash Institute (IPI), was previously called the PPI/PPIC-IPI, Southeast Asia Program. PPI/PPIC and IPI have

played an important role in the development of site-specic nutrient management (SSNM) for rice. Together with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the International Fertilizer Industry Association, they have provided nancial support for the development and dissemination of SSNM since 1997. They supported the Reversing Trends in Declining Productivity project from 1997 to 2000 and the Reaching Toward Optimal Productivity Work Group of the IRRCs second phase from 2001 to 2004. Now, they assist the Productivity and Sustainability Work Group

in the IRRCs third phase. The Productivity and Sustainability Work Group collaborates closely with IPNIs Southeast Asia Program under Director Christian Witt. One recent outcome of the collaboration was the December 2006 issue of International Fertilizer Correspondent an electronic publication of IPI which was devoted to SSNM for rice. The issue is available at www.ipipotash. org/e-ifc/2006-10/index.php. For more information on the IPNI Southeast Asia Program, email seasia@ipni.net or visit www.ipni.net/seasia.

Ripple AprilJune 2007

Effective nutrient management for Iloilo rice

the initial recommendations based on their eld experiences and created a one-page handout for Iloilo Province. This can now be seen at www.irri.org/irrc/ssnm. SSNM, combined with an improved lower seed rate of 100120 kilograms per hectare, increased yields by 0.9 ton per hectare higher than farmers practices, says Dr. Gabinete. Her study was nished in March 2006, but, since then, there has remained a bigger task at hand. I felt that I needed to bring this technology to Iloilo, says Dr. Gabinete. After graduation, she went home with the one-page handout and wrote letters to the DAs regional director, the provincial agriculturist, the director of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, and the president and the research director of WVSU, informing them of the new technology and her commitment to pass it on to farmers. In January, she presented the recommendations at the monthly regional technical working group meeting of the DA, where all the project leaders and provincial agriculturists attended. This April, she will be presenting SSNM to municipal agricultural ofcers with her UPLB collaborators. In the coming months, Dr. Gabinete will be sharing the technology with Iloilo farmers through eld demonstrations and focus group discussions. Two projects have sprung from her research, in which nutrient management will be integrated with best management practices. One is a collaboration with the IRRC Labor Productivity Work Group. With weed scientists David Johnson and Joel Janiya, she will study the productivity of direct-seeded rice with SSNM, sown using a drum seeder (see RIPPLE Vol. 1, Nos. 1 and 2 for more on the drum seeder) with added potassium and zinc fertilizers. Another study under development is a comparison of different techniques to determine nutrient requirements, with Dr. Wilfredo Cosico and Dr. Rodrigo Badayos of UPLBs Department of Soil Science. But rst on her list is a trip back to the farmers. I promised them I would return once I had the recommendations, says Dr. Gabinete. And to say thanks.

Greta Gabinete teaches a farmer how to use the leaf color chart, a simple, inexpensive tool that measures a crops nitrogen status based on leaf color. (Photos by Artyel Gabinete)

t all started with a sincere desire to improve ricegrowing conditions and farmers livelihoods. Greta Gabinete, then a PhD student majoring in soil science at the University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB) and a professor at West Visayas State University (WVSU), College of Agriculture and Forestry, Iloilo, thought of how to increase rice yields in her province. Iloilo is considered the rice granary of region six, and its usually second or third in rice production in the Philippines, says Dr. Gabinete. But the high production of rice is not due to the high yield per unit area of rice but to the large area devoted to rice production. I saw great potential for improving the productivity of rice in the province. She found out that farmers did not practice effective nutrient management, and their timing in applying fertilizer was off. They were used to applying fertilizers for crops with longer maturity periods of 100120 days. If they use early-maturing crops (9095 days), they still use the same schedule in applying fertilizer. Iloilo farmers were also applying either too

much or too little fertilizer. In addition, the Department of Agriculture (DA) was on the lookout for new technologies in rice production. With all these thoughts at the back of her mind, she approached the International Rice Research Institute and presented her study proposal to Dr. Roland Buresh, her would-be supervisor. Dr. Buresh then introduced her to site-specic nutrient management (SSNM). Dr. Gabinete proceeded with a study on formulating fertilizer recommendations for rice in Iloilo using soiland plant-based approaches. Hers was not an easy task. Starting in the wet season in May 2005, she encouraged 59 farmers from ve towns to participate in her study. They established omission plots to determine the nutrients already present in the soil. The nutrient that is lacking to achieve the yield target dictates which fertilizer to apply. With the help of Dr. Buresh, Dr. Gabinete formulated recommendations and tried them out when the dry season came. Only 14 farmers tested the recommendations, while the others continued the omission plots. Finally, after the dry season, they rened

Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

Greta interviews a farmer on her experiences in using SSNM in her eld.

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Ripples of change

A rewarding 2006 for IRRC in Myanmar

yanmarThe year 2006 may have seemed to have gone by quickly as the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) and its local collaborators eagerly promoted the use of sustainable, benet-enhancing technologies to further boost rice production of smallholder farmers growing rice in the lowland regions. The frenzy of activities kicked off in late January, with IRRC agricultural economist Arelene Malabayabas pretesting a baseline survey questionnaire and conducting a workshop on Socioeconomic Survey: Application to IRRIMyanmar Collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) associate scientist Zenaida Huelgas. In March and April, the trained Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS) staff served as eld staff, who, guided by Malabayabas, conducted a series of household surveys. These surveys provided the baseline information for follow-up surveys in 2008. Together, these two surveys will en-

able the IRRC to measure the impact of its technologies on farmers livelihoods over a 2.5-year period. In April, the IRRC Postproduction Work Group, led by Martin Gummert, integrated e-learning using computer packages in training on Postharvest management for improved quality of rice grain and seed at the Central Agricultural Research and Training Center in Hlegu, Yangon. Participants shared computers and learned about the theories behind postharvest processes. In the following days, they trained on threshing, drying systems, storage, milling, grain and seed quality, and determination of quality traits using the IRRI grain quality kit. A training on laser land leveling in rice production was also held in April in Nat Ta Lin, West Bago. This was a joint effort of the IRRC, MAS, and the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association (MRPTA). The Postproduction Work Group assists national partners such as MRPTA and local agricultur-

Trainees learn how to set up a low- cost dryer during a postharvest training activity in April. (Photo by G. Claessens)

IRRC researcher Arelene Malabayabas (back row, second from right) trains eld and MAS staff on interviewing farmers at the Han Thar Aye private monastery in Theikklar Chaing village, Letpandan, West Bago. (IRRC photo)
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al machinery manufacturers in producing commercially viable drying systems, and also collects baseline and yearly data on rice markets. The group is now focused on evaluating hermetic storage systems with farmers and rice millers/traders. In late May and early June, soil scientist Marianne Samson of the IRRC Productivity and Sustainability Work Group trained extension staff in Kyaiklatt, Ayeyarwaddy, and in Letpandan and Pyay, West Bago, on the modied mat nursery. This nursery approach is simple for farmers to use and provides healthier seedlings for transplanting. She also provided training on site-specic nutrient management (SSNM) and the modied mat nursery to regional ofcers and staff of the MAS Land Use and Extension Division. SSNM is an approach that enables farmers to maximize the efcient use of fertilizers when growing their rice crop. Nutrient omission plot trials, a tool of SSNM, are being conducted in parts of Myanmar to develop locally adapted recommendations for effective use of a limited supply of fertilizer. These recommendations are being evaluated in 13 locations in West

Bago, Ayeyarwaddy, Sagaing, and Yangon, with plans to expand to 29 sites this year. Training courses on integrated weed management in rice were held in March and October, attended by 48 participants from MAS and the private sector. Weed scientist Joel Janiya of the IRRC Labor Productivity Work Group discussed topics such as rice crop establishment methods, introduction to weed management, weed control methods, and yield loss assessment. Participants gained hands-on experience in weed sampling, weed identication, herbarium preparation, sprayer calibration, and herbicide calculation. The IRRC Water-Saving Work Group established demonstration sites of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and aerobic rice technologies in Ayeyarwaddy, West Bago, Sagaing, and Mandalay. AWD can lead to a reduction in water use by 25% while still maintaining yields. After a year, areas with scarce water resources such as central and upper Myanmar showed high potential in adopting AWD and aerobic rice varieties. Clearly, the Myanmar leadership is totally com> continued on page 9

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A rewarding 2006...from page 8

mitted to developing more in-country activities. Happily playing a supporting role, all four IRRC work groups are working harmoniously, with plans to develop demonstration sites showcasing a combination of technologies. The private sector, through the MRPTA, is also on board, and new farmer associations are being established at the state and division levels. These activities are being coordinated at the national level by the IRRC Myanmar Outreach Program (IMOP). This program is led by U Hla Myo, general manager, Extension Division, MAS, and U Than

Aye, general manager, Project Planning Management and Evaluation Division, MAS. The year nished with an excellent meeting of all four work groups and the coordinating group led by U Than Aye (MAS) and Dr. Grant Singleton (IRRI), in December at MAS headquarters in Yangon. Five scientists from IRRI in the Philippines, 10 scientists from MAS, state and division managers of MAS, and township managers participated in these fruitful discussions. Progress of all the work groups was reviewed and activities for 2007 were discussed.

Participants from MAS classify weeds in a training course on integrated weed management. Two training courses were held in March and October last year. There are plans to conduct another training course this year. (Photo by J. Janiya)

With the urry of activities in 2006, lets hope Myanmar and IRRC col-

laborators have saved enough energy for an even busier and more rewarding 2007.
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

Saving water for food security in India

Water scarcity: a global issue

ater scarcity is becoming more and more a global concern. With increasing population and competing demands from agriculture, industry, and urban areas, water is quickly turning into a limited resource. This problem is aggravated by abnormal climate patterns and diminishing water quality. By 2025, it is predicted that two-thirds of the world will experience water scarcity. Based on a study of T.P. Tuong and Bas Bouman, water scientists of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 90% of fresh water in Asia is diverted to its irrigated areas. If the prediction does come true, Asias food production will be greatly hurt. In India, signs of water scarcity are already evident

Oftentimes, farmers earn less from their harvest as compared to their expenses, so some of them are forced to stop growing crops. In some areas, farmers use electricity to run their pumps, but the supply of electricity is erratic. The inconsistent supply makes it hard to ensure the availability of irrigation when it is needed by the crop.

The areas in red will have limited water supply, while the areas in blue will have little or no water scarcity. The regions in orange will still have available water supply, but the costs to obtain water will be high. The shaded regions indicate countries that will import more than 10% of their cereal consumption in 2025.

Rice as a focus of watersaving initiatives

in agricultural areas. Their water table is dropping due to overpumping of groundwater for agriculture and domestic use, thus greatly affecting the long-term sustainability of water resources for food production. A water table is the top layer of groundwater.

In times of serious drought, water table levels may drop and wells may run dry. Another problem that farmers are facing is the high cost of fuel, which is needed to run the pump to draw out groundwater. This affects the protability of production.

Rice is the most important agricultural crop and the major user of available fresh water in Asia. It is one of the major crops in India, and in some areas it is grown subsequently with wheat. The usual way of growing rice is by transplanting in ooded and puddled soil. Rice is
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Saving water...from page 9

grown with standing water throughout the growing season. This practice of growing rice needs a relatively large amount of water compared with other cereals. However, most of the supplied water in the eld evaporates in the atmosphere or drains deep down and across the soil layer. With the looming problem of water scarcity, IRRI rice scientists and hydrologists, and partners from the national agricultural research and extension systems, have begun conducting research activities with farmers to control this problem. One of the potential water-saving technologies being studied is the aerobic rice system. The Irrigated Rice Research Consortium and the Challenge Program on Water and Food are two programs that support the ongoing research activities on aerobic rice in India through the Water Technology Centre (WTC) of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

Cooperating farmers pose in front of an aerobic rice eld planted with Apo variety (IR55423-01) in October 2006. This promising aerobic rice variety was tested in the Philippines, and it is now also performing well under Indian eld conditions. (Photo by C. Kreye)

Working with farmers

The aerobic rice system is a rice cropping system that uses varieties that can

be grown without standing water (similar to upland rice), but can produce yield values that are only 2030% lower than those of lowland rice (grown with standing water). Good management practices are applied to ensure the productivity and sustainability of the system. The participatory nature of the activities guarantees that the system is adjusted to the common farmers practice. The WTC has been working with farmers in Bulandshar, Uttar Pradesh, where they practice a ricewheat cropping system. Wheat is a rabi (dry-season) crop, while rice is a kharif (wet-season) crop. During the kharif season, they test

Dr. Christine Kreye (right), an international research fellow at IRRI, interviews Dr. Sarwan Kumar Dubey, senior scientist from WTC, and a farmer who participate in the aerobic rice testing. At the time of the visit in March 2006, wheat was still the standing crop. (Photo by R. Bayot)
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the performance of potential aerobic rice varieties. Factors considered for selection are yield, water savings, and farmers preference (which includes eating quality and marketability of the variety). Ten rice varieties were tested in farmers elds in three different villages. The varieties used were the better-performing ones that were tested under aerobic conditions at the IARI experiment station. Pusa Sugandh 3, an aromatic rice variety with relatively high marketability potential, performed particularly well in this variety selection activity. Farmers also observed the performance of the varieties under different irrigation treatments. In one part of the eld, the farmers irrigated frequently to keep the soil near saturation. In another section, they irrigated twice a week (except when it rained) to keep the soil moisture at eld capacity (approximately when the tensiometer reading is 20 kPa). In the remaining part, irrigation was done once a week to maintain soil moisture at 40 kPa (except when it rained). These treatments were compared with the traditional farmers practice. The varieties tested for this experiment were Pusa

Rice Hybrid 10 and Pusa Sugandh 3. These varieties performed well under aerobic conditions in the experiment eld. Signicant water savings (around 60%) were observed and yields were on a par with that of puddled transplanted paddy. However, the common constraint seen by farmers who tried this system were the weeds (Read about David Johnson, the weed doctor, on page 14). The aerobic rice system produced promising results on its initial year of testing. The IRRIs aerobic rice team and WTC counterparts will continue to look at the sustainability and protability of the system. Other water-saving technologies and indigenous practices are also being tested in the eld to determine the comparative advantages of the technologies. In their elds, farmers have been testing the transplanting of rice on beds. Farmers irrigate roughly once a week, and keep water at a half-furrow depth. Indian farmers greatly value rice as an economic crop, especially the aromatic varieties. They yearn for cultural practices that can reduce irrigation requirement and pumping cost. It is important for them to reduce the cost of production to increase crop protability. IRRI is very much aware of their plight. With the help of its partners, IRRI continues to develop technologies such as aerobic rice to answer farmers concerns.
Ruvicyn Bayot (r.bayot@cgiar.org)

Watch out for more on aerobic rice and other watersaving activities in the July issue of RIPPLE!

Ripple AprilJune 2007

IRRC co-sponsors extension workshop with Myanma Agriculture Service

he Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) and the Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS) sponsored a workshop on the Research-Extension Interface in Myanmar on 28 February at the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Yezin. The workshop was opened by U Tin Htut Oo, director general of agricultural planning of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. The workshop aimed to review current structures and possible changes in the research-extension interface in Myanmar, develop a better understanding of pathways for the dissemination of mature technologies to farmers, and share IRRC scientists knowl-

edge of the strengths and weaknesses of the agricultural extension processes of other countries in Southeast Asia. The workshop was attended by Dr. Grant Singleton (front row, 3rd from right in photo) and Dr. Flor Palis (5th from right) from IRRI. Opinions were exchanged freely during the workshop, and seven recommendations were developed for the consideration of the director general of agricultural planning. The presentations and discussions also provided excellent input into the planning of the IRRC and MAS for sharing of IRRC technologies to farmers in 2008. Among those who attended were U Than Aye, general manager of the MAS Planning

Division; U Hla Myo, general manager of the MAS Extension Division; three directors (program leaders) of DAR; IRRC in-country work group leaders U Chit Thien and Dr. Myo Kyaw; four township managers from Kyaik Latt and Myaung Mya (Ayeyarwaddy Division) and Pyay

and Letpandan (West Bago Division); and four farmers from each of the townships. The two sessions were chaired by Dr. Kyaw Than and Dr. Tun Saing, vice presidents of the Myanmar Academy of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, and Fisheries Sciences.
Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar.org)

Book review: Global advances in ecology and management of golden apple snails

Edited by Dr. Ravindra C. Joshi and Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian and ecosystem impacts, and methods to control GAS. In a comprehensive and beautifully presented 588-page publication, this glaring gap on our library shelves is now lled. The book has an impressive lineup of international writers with contributions on the biology and impact of GAS from 11 countries in Asia and also from North and South America. I was also interested to read about the detrimental impacts of GAS on natural aquatic ecosystems, mainly because of their consumption of native plants that otherwise provide an important ecosystem service in ensuring good water quality, and on farmers health, mainly through the misuse of pesticides. I strongly recommend this high-quality publication to students, researchers, and extension specialists. And, in an interesting twist, for those who would like to sample GAS cuisine, Dr. Joshi has compiled an interesting collection of recipes from the Asian regionexcuse me now while I go and whip up a dish of snails in coconut milk! For more information, visit www.philrice.gov.ph, and or-

he bright pink egg masses of the golden apple snail (GAS) are scattered throughout Southeast Asia. They are the iridescent calling card of an important invasive species in rice agroecosystems, a species that reportedly causes global crop losses of around US$100 billion. Despite its preeminence as a pest of rice for the past quarter of a century, until now there has not been a single publication that provides a resource book on the natural history, taxonomy, biology, specic country

der at prri@philrice.gov.ph or csnarvadez@philrice.gov.ph. 588 pages, hardbound Dimensions: 7.78 cm x 25.4 cm, weight: 1.6 kg ISBN 978-971-9081-31-9 Price: developed countries, US$102; developing countries, $52
Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar.org)
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Ripple April-June 2007

2nd IRRC SC meeting held in Indonesia

he 2nd Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) Steering Committee (SC) meeting was held in Cikampek, Indonesia, on 27-29 November 2006. The meeting was hosted by the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology under the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD). The IRRC SC is composed of leading representatives of national agricultural research and extension systems and nongovernment organizations from seven major Asian rice-growing countries. Members of the committee meet face-to-face yearly. Donor representatives who attended were Dr. Carmen Thnnissen (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), Dr. Christian Witt (International Plant Nutrition Institute, Southeast Asia Program), and Mr. Hillel Magen (International Potash Institute). Dr. Achmad Suryana, IAARD director general, welcomed the participants. Dr. William Padolina, deputy director general for operations and

The IRRC Steering Committee discussed progress in 2006 and plans for 2007 collaborative work. This year, the meeting will be hosted by the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 8-10 October. (Photo by J. Hernandez)

support services, represented IRRI during the opening program and in the subsequent deliberations of the SC. At the meeting, progress in 2006 and plans for 2007 collaborative work with country partners were discussed. The SC and donors were impressed by the level of activities and achievements of the IRRC during 2006. Their strong message for 2007 was for the IRRC to build on its successes that are directed at timely delivery of technologies to farmers so as to

IRRC Coordinator Grant Singleton discusses how the IRRC can help Indonesian farmers by delivering its technologies through the Prima Tani program. Seated at the rightmost is the Bupati (district head) and at the back are extension specialists. (Photo by F. Palis)

Hillel Magen (IPI) and Carmen Thnnissen (SDC) observe the rice husk cook-stove, which can heat one liter of water in about 5 minutes. (Photo by G. Singleton)
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strengthen collaboration with NARES. Networks and delivery pathways for outreach are in place in the Philippines and Myanmar. China, Indonesia, and Vietnam will be priority countries for developing an effective platform for outreach activities in 2007. Sharing of information, research needs, and experiences is important for an effective regional consortium. To facilitate this sharing, the IRRC sponsored the attendance of collaborators from

agricultural partner institutions of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines. They were hosted on the last day by the Indonesian Center for Rice Research at Sukamandi. At the institute, they visited laboratory facilities and eld experiments, and met with the IRRCs Indonesian colleagues.
Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar.org)

Ripple AprilJune 2007

Proles

Steering IRRC in the right direction

he best-known Indonesian rice dish is probably Nasi goreng, which simply means fried rice. It is a breakfast dish, often made from boiled rice left over from the previous nights meal. But for avid rice eaters such as the Indonesians, it doesnt matter how its preparedwhether its fried, steamed, or with coconut milkas long as theres rice on the table. Rice is very important for Indonesians because it is a staple food for more than 90% of the Indonesian people, says Hasil Sembiring, the director of the Indonesian Center for Rice Research. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the average Indonesian eats about 200 kilograms of rice each year. Indonesia is one of the worlds leading rice producers, with paddy production of more than 54 million tons and a cultivated area of 11.6 million hectares in 2006. Since 1980, Indonesias rice yield has been the highest in tropical Asia. Rice planting area grew by 33% between 1969 and 1990. However, since the 1990s, the conversion of many rice lands in Java for nonagricultural uses has contributed to a decline in rice yield. Dr. Sembiring considers land conversion of irrigated rice elds as one of the most pressing concerns now in Indonesian rice research, along with the decline in soil fertility. This is why, as head of the Center, I am constantly thinking of how we can increase our rice production by more than 5% each year, explains Dr. Sembiring. We provide rice technolo-

gies for Indonesian farmers, including new rice varieties that can give a satisfying yield and better life. Recently, they released a variety called Aek Sibundong. Dr. Sembiring is also the new Steering Committee chair of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). The IRRCs international Steering Committee is composed of leading representatives drawn from developing countries of the region, a donor representative, and a representative from the International Rice Research Institute. The committee meets yearly to examine the progress of the IRRC, and review plans for the following year. Dr. Sembiring reveals that his role as IRRC Steering Committee chair is wonderful, but I was really nervous when I was asked

to be the chair. Despite the nerves, this busy man handles the pressure well, since hes not a stranger to big responsibilities. Prior to his two challenging roles, he was the director of the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (AIAT) in North Sumatra from 2001 to 2005, and director of West Nusa AIAT from 1999 to 2001. Dr. Sembiring is foremost an agronomist and a soil scientist before taking on his administrative responsibilities. He earned his bachelors degree in soil science from the Bogor Agriculture University in Indonesia, and MS and PhD degrees in agronomy and soil fertility, respectively, at Oklahoma State University, USA. Even though hes been working on rice for quite a while now, he never seems

Hasil Sembiring does a great balancing act, juggling his duties as director of the Indonesian Center for Rice Research, as Steering Committee chair of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium, and as a family man to wife Asmanur Jannah and daughters Sindy and Tannia. (Sembiring personal archives)
Ripple April-June 2007

to get tired of it. In fact, he starts his day by walking around the rice elds. I also watch television and movies, and listen to music, but when I am at home, I try to spend as much time as I can with my family, narrates Dr. Sembiring. Precious family time is spent with the three important women in his lifehis wife, Asmanur Jannah, and two children, Sindy and Tannia. He says he wouldve become a medical doctor had he not been a soil scientist. Luckily for us, he delved into the soil sciences and hasnt left since. Now, he continues working toward improving rice research in Indonesia and in Asia. He encourages the youth and future rice scientists with this parting shot: Be dedicated to anything you do, love it and enjoy it, because what we do is important not only for us as individuals, but for all the people in the world.
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)
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The weed doctor is in

or most people, weeds are just a nuisance that grow in their backyard, mess up a pictureperfect park, or give them rashes when they sit on the ground. Weeds are often seen as merely pests, annoying and constantly popping up in all possible places. This is why David Johnson, a senior weed scientist at the International Rice Research Institute, nds it hard sometimes to explain his work to people. Unless people have worked in a eld, trying to raise a crop, they often dont appreciate how serious the losses to weeds can be and how much work can be involved in trying to keep them under control. Despite these efforts, we estimate that farmers lose 1025% of their crop yield to weeds, depending on how the crop is grown, says Dr. Johnson. He rst realized what a constraint weeds were to farmers when he worked with small farmers in Belize, Central America, in the 1980s. These farmers were involved in systems of shifting cultivation, and rice and maize were their two most important crops. Typically, a farmer might invest about 50 person-days to control weeds in a hectare of rice, which means if a husband and wife are working on the eld, and theyve got 1 hectare, theyll spend more than 3 weeks working just to clear the weeds, narrates Dr. Johnson. When you put that together with the other work that they have to do for the cropclearing, preparing the soil, and the harvestweeds count for a very substantial portion of their effort.
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Since then, he has had 20 years of experience in agricultural research and development within national and international programs focused on smallholder cropping systems. His expertise on weed management and agronomy of food crops, especially rice, has led him to projects in India and Indonesia. Before IRRI, he worked at the West Africa Rice Development Association in Cte dIvoire, from 1992 to 2000, and in Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania from 1999 to 2003. Working on rice in these different countries, it struck him that small farmers face similar problems such as labor shortage, lack of land tenure, few opportunities to diversify their production systems, and long distance from markets. One of the most rewarding and memorable aspects of working in these countries is seeing how appreciative small farmers are of someone taking an interest in their crop, and in them, says Dr. Johnson. For 3 years now, he has called the Philippines his

home. But he doesnt get to stay at his IRRI ofce for too long, since hes always headed to one of the eld sites of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortiums (IRRC) Labor Productivity Work Group. Hes either in India or Bangladesh, where they have activities in direct seeding, or in Malaysia, working toward managing its serious weedy rice problem. Dr. Johnson and his team also make the rounds to Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Northern Lao PDR, and the Philippines to work with researchers involved in the management of weeds. In the future, they hope to be able to develop management options that can be widely applied across Southeast Asia. If theres one place though that Dr. Johnson doesnt mind going often to, its the ocean. In fact, he would have gone off to sea, sailing professionally and going scuba-diving, were it not for weeds. Being by the sea, scuba-diving, and relaxing with my wife, Liz,

and sons, James, 14, Charles, 12, and Matthew, 9, are my favorite occupations, says Dr. Johnson. He often dives in Anilao, Batangas, a famous diving site in the Philippines, with his son Charles, who, Dr. Johnson proudly reveals, has recently received his divers license. This April, they plan to explore Palawan and the Sulu Sea in the Philippines. He says, however, that with the challenges that farmers are facing now shortages of irrigation water to suppress weeds, shortage of labor to control them, the emergence of new weed problems such as weedy rice and resistance to herbicides, and more serious weed problems brought about by farmers shifting from transplanting to direct seedingwe need to put more effort into anticipating the problems that farmers are going to face and providing solutions to at least some of them. When that job is done, that will be the chance to spend more time by the water.
Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

We almost lost a brilliant weed scientist in David Johnson, who, in his early twenties, thought of taking up sailing professionally. He pursued agriculture at London University instead. Nowadays, he goes scubadiving to quench his thirst for the seas. (Johnson personal archives)

Ripple AprilJune 2007

Publications
International journals
Brown PR, Huth NI, Banks PB, Singleton GR. 2007. Relationship between abundance of pest rodents and damage to agricultural crops. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 120, 405-415. Jacob J, Hinds LA, Singleton GR, Sutherland DR, Ylnen H. 2007. Is the reproductive potential of wild house mice regulated by extrinsic or intrinsic factors? Austral Ecology 32, 202-209.

Book chapters
Aplin KP, Brown PR, Singleton GR, Douang Boupha B, Khamphoukeo K. 2006. Rodent ecology in the rice environments of Laos. In: Rice in Laos (Eds. JM Schiller, MB Chanphengxay, B Linquist, and S Appa Rao), Chapter 19, pp. 291308, International Rice Research Institute, Los Baos, Philippines. Singleton GR, Krebs CJ. 2007. The secret world of wild mice. In: The Mouse in Biomedical Research, second edition. Volume I History, genetics and wild mice (Eds. JG Fox, C Newcomer, A Smith, S Barthold, F Quimby, and M Davidsson), Chapter 3, pp. 25-51, Else-

vier, San Diego, CA, USA.

Conference proceedings
Buresh RJ, Setyorini D, Abdulrachman S, Agus F, Witt C, Las I, Hardjosuwirjo S. 2006. Improving nutrient management for irrigated rice with particular consideration to Indonesia. In: Sumarno, Suparyono, Fagi AM, Adnyana MO, editors. Rice industry, culture and environment. Book 1. Proceedings of the International Rice Conference, 12-14 September 2005, Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. Subang (Indonesia): Indonesian Center for Rice Research. p. 165-178. Chandrasekar V, Gummert M, et al. 2006. Development and testing of rice hull

furnace for preheating the air for paddy drying. 2nd International Rice Congress 2006, New Delhi, India. Gummert M, Rickman JF, et al. 2006. Hermetically sealed storage systems for farmers and rice millers. 2nd International Rice Congress 2006, New Delhi, India.

Upcoming events (April-June 2007)

Conferences and workshops
International Workshop on Aerobic Rice jointly organized by the IRRC Water-Saving Work Group and the CPWF STAR project, China Agricultural University (CAU), Beijing, China, 22-24 October 2007 Postproduction Work Group Visit Vietnam for the midterm review of the ADB- and IRRC-funded project Improving Poor Farmers Livelihoods through Improved Postharvest Management, April 2007 Training on combine harvesting and laser leveling in Savannakhet, Lao PDR, April 2007 Demonstration and training of mini combine harvester and seed and grain quality training for extension staff in Myanmar, May 2007 Labor Productivity Work Group Training on weed management in Nepal, 23-27 April 2007 Visit eld sites in Indonesia, May 2007 Visit eld sites in India and Bangladesh, July 2007 Productivity and Sustainability Work Group Planning meeting on SSNM dissemination in Iloilo Province, Philippines, April 2007 Visit eld demonstration and verication trials in Indonesia, July 2007

Country visits
Water-Saving Work Group Monitor water-saving activities in Vietnam, April 2007 Visit water-saving eld sites in Thailand and Lao PDR, May 2007 Visit eld experiment sites in India, June 2007

Team
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION TEAM: IRRC: Trina Leah Mendoza, Grant Singleton, Jennifer Hernandez CPS: Tess Rola, Bill Hardy, George Reyes, Juan Lazaro IV CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Ruvicyn Bayot, Martin Gummert, David Shires
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Ripple April-June 2007

Community trap-barrier system (CTBS) located beside Zea Oat Extension Camp, Pyay Township, West Bago Division, Myanmar. The CTBS has been a successful alternative to conventional trapping of rodents in Indonesia and Vietnam, and it is now being tested in Myanmar. (Photo by A. Malabayabas)

Credits: The authors kindly provided pictures for their articles. Copyright for pictures belongs to the authors. Please direct further correspondence, comments, and contributions to Dr. Grant Singleton IRRC Coordinator International Rice Research Institute DAPO Box 7777 Metro Manila, Philippines E-mail: g.singleton@cgiar.org www.irri.org/irrc/ This newsletter presents the personal views of individual authors and not necessarily those of IRRI, SDC, or collaborating organizations in the IRRC. Copyright IRRI 2007