The Philippines triples it’s rice yields
International Rice Research Institute:
In the 1950s Los Baños in the Philippines was selected as the most advantageous location for an agricultural research program to expand food production in Asia. Accordingly the International Rice Research Institute, IRRI, was established in Los Baños, Philippines, in 1960. Since 1960 IRRI has helped Filipino farmers increase their rice production and the health of their rice farms by developing new technologies and varieties that have resulted in a steady increase in rice yields. IRRI is a nonprofit organization and some of the organisations that fund IRRI include the Asian Development Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, universities, and the European Commission. Following are some of IRRI’s contributions:
New rice varieties: In the Philippines, over 76 rice varieties are attributed to IRRI. In 2009, three new rice varieties (developed by IRRI) designed to help Filipino farmers grow more rice in difficult conditions were officially recommended for approval for commercial cultivation in the Philippines. One variety is flood-tolerant, one is drought-tolerant, and one is salt-tolerant.
Smarter fertilizer use: IRRI research has delivered to Filipino rice farmers a customized web-based tool called ‘Nutrient Manager’ (www.irri.org/nmrice) to help them manage their fertilizers more wisely to save money and improve rice production. ‘Nutrient Manager’ helps farmers identify how much and which fertilizers they should use, and when to apply them, to optimize their rice yield.
Sharing seed: IRRI houses the International Rice Genebank where over 109,000 different types of rice are maintained to conserve genetic diversity and ensure it is available to help improve rice crops into the future. Where possible, IRRI provides small quantities of rice from the International Rice Genebank to any individual or organization anywhere in the world free of charge. IRRI manages the collection under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture that facilitates access to genetic diversity while ensuring appropriate sharing of the benefits that arise from their use.
The Philippines triples it’s rice yields
According to researchers at IRRI, in the last fifty years, the Philippines has more than tripled its rice yield, while the world average rice yield has increased only about 2.3 times. It has raised its rice yields from 1.16 tons per hectare in 1960 to 3.59 tons per hectare in 2009. Rice yields in the Philippines are also higher than those in Thailand, the world’s biggest exporter of rice, where yields over the last few years have been around 3 tons per hectare.
Dr. William Padolina, deputy director general for operations at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said, “The Philippines has enthusiastically taken up rice science technologies that have helped farmers dramatically increase their yields. Filipino farmers have adopted more than 75 IRRI-bred high-yielding rice varieties since 1960, have greatly improved their fertilizer and pest management strategies, and are implementing water-saving technologies.”
Dr Padolina also said, “This year, IRRI is celebrating its 50th anniversary. During our 50 years we have established some important and productive partnerships with institutions such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the University of the Philippines, Los Baños that share our goal to help alleviate poverty through improved rice production.”
Dr. Padolina acknowledges that the Philippines could improve its rice yields even more and said, “The Philippines will continue to support rice research as a way of ensuring food security for Filipinos, to help lift local rice farmers and consumers out of poverty, and in turn improve the entire economy of the country.”
Source: http://beta.irri.org/news/index.php/press-releases/the-philippines-triples-it-s-rice-yields.html
February 19, 2010