Biometrics: October 2012

IRRI signs agreement with University of Illinois

A memorandum of understanding was signed between University of Illinois (UoI) at Urbana-Champaign and IRRI on 26 October, during the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which established Land Grant universities such as Illinois.

UoI was represented by Phillis Wise, vice president and chancellor of the university. Pradeep Khanna, associate chancellor, was also present during the signing.

IRRI DG Bob Zeigler discussed with Dr. Wise areas of possible collaboration between the two institutions. Dr. Zeigler completed his undergraduate degree in biological sciences from UoI.

The university through their ADM Institute of Postharvest Technology will work closely with IRRI in South Asia in the areas of capacity building and postharvest value chains and technologies for rice cropping systems.

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GCARD2 under way in Punta del Este, Uruguay

The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2) is being held this week (29 Oct.-2 Nov.) in Punta del Este, Uruguay. GCARD2 is focusing on the ways to implement the tasks identified in the GCARD RoadMap with special attention to “Foresight and Partnership for innovation and impact on smallholder livelihoods.”

From IRRI and GRiSP, Robert Zeigler (IRRI director general), V. Bruce J. Tolentino (deputy director general for communications and partnerships), and Bas Bouman (GRiSP director) are attending the week-long event to discuss progress across CGIAR to reshape research so that it better answers the needs of resource-poor smallholder farmers and fosters rapid rural development.

Dr. Bouman, GRiSP director, spoke yesterday (29 October) during the session on national food security about the contribution of rice research to global food security. [Background info on Dr. Bouman's presentation.]

Also taking part in the event is Kei Otsuka, former scientist at the Social Sciences Division and past chair of the IRRI Board of Trustees. Dr. Otsuka is also part of the current GRiSP Oversight Committee.

The Conference is an excellent platform to build cooperation around key forward-looking agendas and plan joint actions among all stakeholders. This should in turn, open international partnership opportunities and help the development of concrete research and development programs that can lead through to substantive impacts.

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Race for rice apps (IRRI-Smart Bigas Hackathon)

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and SMART Communications are holding Bigas Hackathon 10-11 November in Los Baños as one of the activities prepared by IRRI for Rice Awareness Month.

The Hackathon is open to computer programmers, software developers, graphic designers, interface designers, enthusiasts, or anyone who thinks their genius could help make rice research a little better.

"Here, participants get to apply their highly specialized skills in addressing technological challenges that extension officers, agricultural scientists, rice farmers, or consumers face," says V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI deputy director general for communications and partnerships.

Challenges might include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Develop a revolutionary, completely new, or groundbreaking solution for making different varieties of rice available to farmers;
- Develop a rice consumer app that will provide users with information, such as, what rice varieties are available in the market, facts about brown rice, or nutrient content;
- Create an online rice game;
- Speed up IRRI survey data processing and improve storage;
- Enhance IRRI's processes or procedures;
- Design a digital moisture meter for rice (keeping moisture in check helps rice keep longer in storage)

The challenges list keeps growing, but the one goal is to have better solutions for rice stakeholders.

"We’re looking for web and mobile apps to help solve some of the toughest problems we face in rice research, ranging from complex computational problems to the creative use of games and social networking," says Marco van den Berg, chief information officer at IRRI.

"The Hackathon strengthens IRRI's efforts to build a platform of digital tools for rice sector players—farmers, extension agents, entrepreneurs, and government managers," adds Dr. Tolentino. "We hope that it will also be an opportunity for ‘hackers’ to have fun while applying their IT skills to solve real world problems."

Join the BigAs Hackathon by registering for free via SMART sign-up. Awards are: Best Game App, Best Research Data Collection App, Best Farmer InfoTechnology App, and Most Innovative App/Special Jury Award. Each member of a winning team will receive a Samsung Galaxy Pocket and Smart Bro Plug-it.

The activity will take place at the IRRI Library in Los Baños, Laguna, from 11 a.m. of 10 November to 2 p.m. of 11 November.

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Rice blast research calls for joined forces

The Rice Blast Workshop is ongoing (29-31 October 2012) at IRRI as an offshoot of the fifth annual meeting of the Temperate Rice Research Consortium (TRRC) in September held in Turkey.

The workshop is a joint effort between TRRC Working Group 2 (with focus on biotic stresses, specifically rice blast) and the JIRCAS Blast Research Network.

The workshop uses a parallel approach, looking at both pathological and breeding studies in rice blast research.

Twenty-five participants from member countries of the JIRCAS Blast Research Network and 10 participants from the TRRC Blast Working Group will present on the differential system for blast studies and their research achievements and plans.

The workshop presents many exciting opportunities for learning and group discussions. Hands-on sessions have been arranged on newly developed technologies, such as evaluation of infection on monogenic lines, new designation system for blast races, and estimation of genotypes for blast resistance genes.

Participants also went a field visit to the IRRI Blast Nursery to check the reaction of virulent blast races to resistance genes and to see a practical demonstration at the IRRI Molecular Marker Application Laboratory.

The workshop brings together scientists from 15 countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and America, plus representatives from JIRCAS and IRRI.

Eero Nissilä, in his opening remarks as head of the IRRI Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division and leader of the Varietal Improvement Program, noted that this is the first time the JIRCAS Blast network and the TRRC Blast WG have combined efforts to focus on blast research.

In an extensive introduction on the history of blast research and the network, Hei Leung (IRRI principal scientist and leader of the Genetic Resources Program) reflected on the beginnings of blast research, dating back from IRRI’s inauguration in the 1960s where the rice blast pathosystem was started, to the 1980s when partial resistance and immunity was achieved, and the 1990s when the stable resistance concept was started, up to the 2000s when many developments occurred because of advances in molecular biology.

Dr. Leung said that the real challenge now is for scientists to get the best mix in reconstituting stable blast resistance using the many tools now available. To achieve this, he said that international cooperation for multiple screening at sites to validate the effectiveness of resistance is needed, and that this joint workshop was a good start.

The workshop was coordinated by K.K. Jena, IRRI senior rice breeder and TRRC WG2 coordinator, and Yoshimichi Fukuta, JIRCAS project leader.

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Philippines: Ifugao and Kalinga rice farmers attend technoclinics

More than a hundred rice farmers from the Cordillera Region in Northern Philippines participated in simultaneous technoclinics held by IRRI and PhilRice scientists on 23-24 October 2012 in Pasil, Kalinga, and Hungduan, Ifugao.

The 20 farmers who participated in the Hungduan technoclinic cited these among their farming problems: earthworms, rat infestation, zinc deficiency, blast, rice bugs, and stem borers. They admitted considering using poison on occasion to stop rats from damaging their crops.

Alternative methods were suggested to address these problems, such as the use of rice straws to attract earthworms. The farmers were also encouraged to plant simultaneously to limit the damage caused by stemborers. This recommendation was made in light of the farmers’ plan to adopt a community trap barrier system (CTBS).

In Pasil, Kalinga, close to a hundred farmers from 5 villages (Galdang, Bagtayan, Masilay, Guina-ang, and Dangtales) came to participate in the technoclinic. Common problems that the farmers cited were zinc deficiency, stem borers, rat infestation, birds, rice bugs, golden apple snails, and diseases such as blast and brown spot. They also mentioned stunted growth and yellowing of rice plants. The farmers brought with them samples of disease- and insect-damaged rice plants.

A suggestion made during the clinic as intervention in rodent management was community action, which includes synchronous planting and the use of CTBS. Farmers revealed that they had been using DDT or arsenic to control rat infestation. This practice has been found unsuitable in managing rats. The Pasil farmers' practice of allowing rice ratoon to proliferate during the fallow period has worsened the stemborer problem. Field sanitation was suggested to address it.

It was also suggested that varieties tolerant to zinc deficiency be tested in the area to address zinc deficiency problems, since some of the fields cannot be drained due to the abundant and continuous supply of water.
The conduct of the technoclinics was part of the provision of technical innovation services, a linkage that the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments had built with the IFAD-funded Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2).

Two teams were formed that facilitated and documented the technoclinics in Hungduan and Pasil, respectively: Renato Reaño (IRRI senior associate scientist), Evelyn Gergon (PhilRice plant pathologist), and Elenor de Leon (CURE communication specialist); and Joel Janiya (IRRI senior associate scientist), Isabelita Oña (IRRI associate scientist), Jessieca Catapang (IRRI videographer), and Heihke Panwitt (IRRI intern on plant pathology).

Farmers’ groups that have been identified for the technoclinics include the Lunas Tribal Women and Macalana Ammiyan Organization in Barlig, Mt. Province; RIC Golden Grains and RIC-Galdang in Pasil; and Bangbang Farmers’ Organization in Hungduan. The groups from Pasil and Barlig are composed of women farmers.

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China: IRRI Board of Trustees meets in Shenzhen

The IRRI Board of Trustees held its regular October meeting on 15-17 October 2012 in Shenzhen, China.

The venue for the meeting was arranged with support extended by the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen Institute for Breeding and Innovation (SIBI), and the local governments of Shenzhen.

The IRRI Trustees tackled several important issues on their agenda, including (a) IRRI’s strategy for the establishment and management of its intellectual assets; (b) IRRI's financial report for 2012 and overall operating budget for 2013; (c) status of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP); and (d) developments in the global CGIAR.

The Trustees also took time out to participate in the launching ceremony of the SIBI. They met with the local government officials of Da Peng—the municipality where the SIBI is located—and of the special administrative region of Shenzhen, more popularly known as the “factory to the world.”

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Three board members leaving at end of 2012

By the end of 2012, three Trustees complete their tenures on the IRRI Board—Jillian Lenné, Usha Zehr, and Mohammed Syeduzzaman.

At the dinner hosted by BoT Chair Emerlinda Roman, the Board expressed their deep gratitude to the departing members for their distinguished service.

Jillian Lenné

Dr. Lenné was praised for her work as chair of the Program Committee and for her work ethic, calm demeanor, profound modesty, and the quiet authority she exuded that helped the Board navigate through the various issues faced by the program committee.

M. Syeduzzaman

Dr. Roman pointed out Mr. Syeduzzaman’s strong record of service to the governments of Pakistan and then Bangladesh.

As member of the Board, Mr. Syeduzzaman took his duties as chair of the Finance Committee very seriously and worked to mobilize significant funding for IRRI research from the Bangladeshi government and private sector.

Usha Barwale Zehr

Dr. Zehr was praised as a person of multiple talents who sees both details and the big picture in issues brought before the Board.

Dr. Roman described Dr. Zehr as "one who at one moment is strongly arguing a point and then the next a mother talking fondly of her sons." Dr. Roman adds that "she has the gift of articulation but expressed with a combination of clarity, poise, and passion."

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Indonesia: IRRC partners continue activities after project wrap-up

Makassar, Indonesia—A wrap-up meeting and writeshop were held on 15-16 October to formally close a project aimed at improving rice productivity in South and Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Djafar Baco, project consultant, said in his welcome remarks that he hopes for continued collaboration between IRRI and Indonesia in the future, especially in South and Southeast Sulawesi.

Madonna Casimero, IRRI senior scientist, said that she was happy to have lived in Sulawesi as a project scientist of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) and to have worked with the partners. “This project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research was unique because it was driven by partners, especially the farmers,” she said.

Now, even with limited assistance from IRRC, partners from the Assessment Institutes for Agricultural Technology (AIAT) from South and Southeast Sulawesi reported on their progress in implementing natural resource management (NRM) technologies in their farmer field schools (FFS) and extending them to farmers in other districts that are not part of the project.

On 18 October, Dr. Casimero; IRRC Communication Specialist Trina Mendoza, and Consultant Phrek Gypmantasiri talked with farmers in South Konawe District, SE Sulawesi, in a new village where the NRM technologies were being promoted by AIAT partners.

AIAT partners, together with key farmers, also drafted booklets on alternate wetting and drying, site-specific nutrient management, and ecologically based rodent management, with guidance from Ms. Mendoza and Dr. Casimero. They reported that the IRRC-produced NRM videos are now shown regularly at a local TV station in South Sulawesi.

The partners plan to institutionalize NRM in the national curricula of FFS for implementation at provincial level and develop communication materials for training and extension.

“This is not the end of a partnership, but the start of bigger collaborations,” says Dr. Casimero.

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Local community gets cosmetology training for livelihood

The Host Country and Community Relations Office sponsored Ganda Mo, Hanapbuhay Ko, a livelihood training course for women of Los Baños and Bay, the two towns that host the IRRI headquarters.

The 5-day (22-26 October 2012) skills training on basic cosmetology covered use of beauty tools, cutting hair for men and women, manicure, pedicure, footspa, hair perming, hot oil treatment, and hair coloring and highlighting, and was held for women who were interested in enhancing their livelihoods or add to their income.

The training was held in partnership with the Ang-Hortaleza Foundation Inc. (A-H, formerly Splash Foundation) and is being held for the sixth time. A-H Foundation provided the trainers and cosmetology kits.

Sixty-one women finished the course, after which they were exhorted to ponder over four important habits: making decisions based on values of diligence, perseverance, family, and honesty; managing time and financial resources; having positive goals; and continuously learning and applying new skills.

Those who finished the course had the opportunity to apply their new skills through Libreng Gupit (free haircut) activity held at the evacuation center at Bambang Elementary School, Los Baños.

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Learning Alliance holds first training on outscaling downdraft rice hull furnace technology

IRRI's Pat Borlagdan (right) shows participants how the
IRRI-developed downdraft rice hull furnace technology works.

Sixteen participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines completed the training on the new IRRI-developed downdraft rice hull furnace (dRHF) technology, held on 25-27 September 2012.

Trainees, which included dRHF pilot-testing cooperators, manufacturers, and Learning Alliance partners, were taught the proper operation of and fabrication procedures of critical components of the dRHF, including the combustion grates and ram drive assembly as feeding mechanism.

Participants were also given a demonstration of fabricated components in actual use (photo) in a batch recirculating and flatbed paddy dryer.

Martin Gummert, IRRI postharvest specialist, led a discussion on intellectual property concerns between IRRI and clients, with emphasis on licensing.

Pilot-test cooperators and first users of the technology also shared about their ideas and experiences. IRRI's Pat Borlagdan answered questions from the participants relating to the components of and operation of the dRHF.

The training was part of strategy to commercialize the technology and was funded through IRRC's Post-Production Working Group and the IRRI-ADB Postharvest Project, both managed by Engr. Gummert.

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Three researchers' lunches held in October

IRRI BOT member Steve Baenziger (center)
was guest during the 10 October YRL.

The flurry of activities in October at IRRI headquarters offered more opportunities for young IRRI researchers to chat with their more experienced seniors who were in town.

The three Young Researchers Lunches in October featured the following guests and attendees:

5 October. Frank Rijsberman, the new CGIAR Consortium CEO, with Reneeliza Jean Melgar, Sudhir Yadav, Balram Marathi, Shanta Karki, Reianne Quilloy, and Krishna Jagadish.

10 October (top right). Steve Baenziger, professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Nebraska, USA, and incoming IRRI Board of Trustees Program Committee chair, with Adam Sparks, Reza Mohammad Emon, Ruby Sallan-Gonzales, Jeshurun Asher Tarun, and Christine Jade Dilla-Ermita. Dr. Baenziger answered questions from some of the young researchers' on advanced breeding technologies. The group had a long discussion on the potential benefits of an IRRI partnership with the private sector.

Michael Francisco, Sr. (4th from left),
guest during the 23 October YRL.

23 October (left). Michael Francisco, Sr., editor of Nature Biotechnology, with Nikolaos Tsakirpaloglou, Rona Niña Mae Rojas, Armin Bhuiya, Ying Wang, Zilhas Ahmed Jewel, and Jung Hyun Shim. Mr. Francisco's advice for the young researchers was to meet and interact with as many other other researchers as possible, and to cultivate the ability to describe one's own work in a way that's interesting and concise.

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IRRI Toastmasters Club forms Los Baños counterpart

The IRRI and Los Baños Community Toastmasters Clubs (TMCs) hosted a joint induction of new members and a charter presentation on 22 October, held at the IRRI Dining Room.

The Los Baños Community TMC is newly organized by the IRRI TMC for professionals in the surrounding communities who are interested in honing their communication and leadership skills.

The event carried the 'parade of nations' theme, with guests and members wearing national costumes of UN member countries.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communications and partnerships, in his inspirational speech, emphasized the values of passion, planning, being pragmatic, and achieving pleasure from 'positively accomplished' projects.

Guests were Ma. Luisa Joven, Area 78 governor, who gave the opening message; Emily Hagad, Division K governor, who administered the oathtaking of the club members; and Grace Paras, District 75 governor, who conducted the chartering of new officers of the LB Community TMC.

District 75 comprises all the Toastmasters Club in the Philippines. Both IRRI and LB Community TMCs belong to Area 78, Division K.

Grace Centeno and Vini Cadiz are presidents of IRRI and LB Community TMCs, respectively.

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IRRI joins ADB to celebrate World Food Day

Two rice tasters, Julian Cribb, founding editor of Science Alert (at left in the video) and WooChong Um,
ADB's deputy director general for Regional and Sustainable Development (at right in the video),
knew what they liked, respectively, brown rice and white rice versions of the popular IRRI variety IR64.
Watch the video to find out their reasons why. Mr. Cribb, the well-known Australian author
of The Coming Famine: The Global Food Crisis and What We Can Do to Avoid It and other books,
later gave a special Tuesday morning seminar in which he discussed the need to recycle all our
waste water and nutrients back into food production, which would create an entire new industry.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) celebrated World Food Day 2012 at its headquarters in Manila during a 2-day food bazaar and exhibition this week (15-16 October). According to WooChong Um, ADB's deputy director general for Regional and Sustainable Development, the event raised awareness on food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.

Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the2-day World Food Day celebration at ADB
on 15 Octoberwere (from left) Julian Cribb, founding editor of Science Alert; Gene Hettel, head of
IRRI's Communication and Publications Services; Father Francis Lucas, chairperson emeritus of the
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC); Aristeo Portugal, representative of
FAO Philippines; Regente Dioneda, supervising agrarian reform officer, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippines;
and WooChong Um, deputy director general for Regional and Sustainable Development at ADB.

Joining ADB in this effort, IRRI staged a rice-tasting activity for ADB staff and visitors. Consumers typically know the type of rice that they like and dislike. When asked why, however, some consumers find it difficult to describe what makes a certain rice type acceptable or unacceptable to them. At the IRRI exhibit, nearly 200 volunteer rice tasters were given the opportunity to say why they liked or disliked what they were sampling (see video on top).

Rosa Cuevas served more than 200 samples of the popular IRRI rice variety IR64—in either brown
or white form—to eager volunteer tasters from ADB who visited IRRI's booth and exhibit.

Rochie Cuevas, cereal chemist at IRRI's Grain Quality and Nutrition Center (GQNC), who organized the tasting exercise, served rice in cups to the tasters with the help of GQNC assistant scientist Lenie Quiatchon. Other IRRI staff members working at the IRRI exhibit and tasting activity were Gene Hettel, Gigi Caballero, and Cynthia Quintos from Communication and Publications Services (CPS), and Aileen Garcia from the Public Relations Office.

Gigi Caballero, CPS product development and distribution manager, assists Julian Cribb with registering
to receive an email versionof Rice Today magazine. Anyone can sign up for this convenient version
of the popular magazine online.

IRRI also prepared a special supplement of Rice Today, which contained selected features on food security and quality that have appeared in recent past issues of the magazine. Mr. Hettel, CPS head, said IRRI also took advantage of the event to acknowledge ADB's support of some of the Institute's important research involving integrated crop and resource management in the rice-wheat system of South Asia and fighting planthoppers, which is a new threat to the sustainability of intensive rice production systems in Asia.

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Philippines: Farmers and children train on NM Rice

A series of training events on Nutrient Manager for Rice (NM Rice) was held for farmers and their children in four rainfed lowland rice-farming areas in the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija in the Philippines.

These were conducted under the project Improving livelihoods and overcoming poverty in the drought‐prone lowlands of Southeast Asia funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“This was a series of on-farm activities where LGUs, farmers, and their children are taught how to access NM Rice, a decision support tool that upholds the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) approach to judicious and efficient application of fertilizer,” explains Stephan Haefele (IRRI scientist, IFAD principal investigator, and CURE Working Group leader for drought-prone rice environments).

The new NM Rice is an interactive decision tool that caters to irrigated and lowland rainfed ecosystem. It aims to help rice farmers in these areas improve the growth and yield of their crop through on-farm validation and the development of a nutrient management technology using a combination of improved rice technologies for different ecosystems. NM provides a fertilizer guideline for a rice field based on responses to easy-to-answer questions and is accessible through the Internet on personal computers, mobile phones, and smartphones.

“NM Rice was initially distributed through CDs, but we soon realized that extension workers and farmers can be reached faster through the Internet or mobile phones,” Haefele added.

The training team, composed of Dr. Haefele and Niño Paul Meynard Banayo and Ranee Christina Mabesa (IRRI assistant scientists for soil-agronomy) facilitated the training series, held for local government units and farmers and their children, from June to October 2012 in Pura and Victoria, Tarlac; San Nicolas, Pangasinan; and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

The series of capacity enhancement activities was held in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The IFAD Philippines team, headed by Haefele, are now looking at upscaling the application through its adoption by the local governments of Pura, Victoria, San Nicolas, General Tinio, and other lowland rainfed areas in the Philippines.

Nutrient Manager for Rice was developed by the team of Roland Buresh, IRRI's principal scientist and nutrient management expert.

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UPLB celebrates 94th Loyalty Day

Close to a hundred IRRI employees celebrated with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) alumni by joining the annual Loyalty Day parade on 10 October. Deputy Director General for Communications and Partnerships V. Bruce J. Tolentino led the IRRI contingent.

The Loyalty Day recalls events from 10 October 1918, when the former UP College of Agriculture, from the dean down to the last laborer, volunteered en masse for the Philippine National Guard to defend the country against aggressors. UPLB has since devoted the month of October for the commemoration of this valor.

Students, faculty members, staff, alumni, and members of civic organizations, surrounding barangays, schools, and various institutions in Los Baños come together every year for the annual parade in the customary spirit of Loyalty Day.

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IRRI holds 'olympics' for local emergency preparedness trainees

IRRI hosted the Neighborhood Emergency Service Team (NEST) Olympics, with participants from 6 barangays in Los Baños and Bay, on 13 October.

The one-day Olympics served as a refresher course and test for current NEST trainees on various emergency skills. Events included medical response, carrying an accident victim, and fire-fighting response ("pila balde").

The Barangay Sto. Domingo Team from Bay won, with barangays San Antonio (Bay) and Tagumpay in second and third places.

Deputy Director General for Communications and Partnerships (DDG-CP) V. Bruce J. Tolentino awarded the trophies to the winning teams. Los Baños Vice-Mayor Josephine Sumangil-Evangelista was present during the awarding ceremony.

IRRI's Host Country and Community Relations Office and Safety and Security Services office organized the NEST training, which started in January 2012 and will continue until December 2013. It is being held with support from the United Parcel Services (UPS). Facilitators came from the Emergency Research Center, Inc.

The NEST training is intended to strengthen and improve the preparedness of members of IRRI' host communities in case of emergency and help them avoid crime and terrorism, prevent fire incidents, and learn the use of basic firefighting equipment. Trainees thus contribute to the safety and security of the community and help save lives.

During a major emergency, large numbers of victims, failure of communication, traffic, and road blockages will prevent victims from accessing essential emergency services on time. People will have to rely on one another for immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs. Under these conditions, family members, schoolmates, fellow employees, and neighbors will naturally try to help each other; emergency skills and preparedness are thus very important.

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Cambodia: Laser leveling reintroduced

The Department of Agricultural Engineering (DAEng) demonstrated laser leveling in the rice fields of Don Bosco School and Toul Samrong Agricultural Engineering Development Center in Battambang Province and in a farmer’s rice field at Kandal Province.

The resurgence of laser-leveling comes as the country attempts to ease labor shortage through the use of agricultural machinery, such as combine harvesters.

The ADB-IRRI Postharvest Project supported the field demonstrations by imparting techniques and providing laser kits. The DAEng contributed a bucket and an 82-HP tractor that has been used for laser leveling in target areas since 2011.

Laser leveling activities have been continuously implemented by DAEng with support from the Agricultural Value Chain Program or CAVAC, Australian Programme, and the Kampot Provincial Department of Agriculture at Sdach Kong Khang Cheung Commune, Banteay Meas District, Kampot Province. Thirty hectares of farmers’ rice fields were laser-leveled from end of April 2012 to mid-June 2012.

Beneficiaries and stakeholders have seen the merits of the technology enough to adopt it. During the field day on laser leveling at the pilot project in Kampot Province on 9th September 2012,
It also attracted the interest of Chan Sarun, minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, who recommended putting laser leveling into the national programme.

Laser land-leveling was introduced in Cambodia by IRRI in 1997, with about 200 rice fields around the Tonle Sap Great Lake leveled using it. Joe Rickman, IRRI scientist, and experts from the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institution (CARDI) and DAEng introduced laser leveling then to Cambodian farmers through training activities and field demonstrations. The operation, however, was halted after the project ended, largely because the technology was not widely known in Cambodia at the time and adaptation was low.

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Bangladesh: Farmers field day held on short-duration rice variety

A Farmers’ Field Day on BRRI dhan56, an early-maturing and short-duration variety, was held at Rajarhat in Kurigram District on 26 September 2012.

Seventy-three farmers came and exchanged practical tips and shared experiences with one another. It is noteworthy that no other rice variety matured in September in the area.

BRRI dhan56 posted a yield of 4.4 tons per hectare. The farmers were thrilled to get this much yield from a short-duration variety. BRRI dhan56 matures in 109 days.

The early harvest of rice provides a longer window for the subsequent non-rice crops, such as mustard and mungbean. Farmers previously harvested only two crops a year; with BRRI dhan, they now have the option of a third one, and an opportunity to increase their farm income.

The field day was organized by the Rangpur Hub of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia in Bangladesh.

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Bangladesh: CSISA participates in agronomy conference

The Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia in Bangladesh (CSISA-BD) took part in the 11th International Conference of the Bangladesh Society of Agronomy on 6 October 2012. The theme of the conference was Advances in agronomic research under changing environment in Bangladesh.

Three hundred fifty scientists from Bangladesh and abroad attended. Three CSISA-IRRI scientists were among those who presented papers during the conference. Dr. Salaque, CSISA-IRRI coordinator, presented a paper titled, Nutrient management for rice production.

CSISA-BD also set up its own booth to highlight its various activities, technologies, and progress. A 42-inch LCD screen played a documentary on CSISA-BD.

Present during the conference opening were Md. Abdur Razzaque, minister for Food and Disaster Management and chief guest; and Zainul Abedin, IRRI representative for Bangladesh, as special guest.

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Thailand: IRRI offers first workshop on herbicide-resistant rice

IRRI conducted the first herbicide-resistant rice (HRR) workshop for Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19-20 September 2012.

HRR is a cultivar of rice that is resistant to a particular herbicide or herbicides that would otherwise damage the rice crop. Herbicides can be sprayed on the resistant rice cultivar and destroy weeds without affecting the rice.

To date, three herbicide-resistant rice systems have been developed: imidazolinone-, glufosinate-, and glyphosate-resistant. Glufosinate- and glyphosate-resistant rice cultivars were developed through transgenic technologies. Imidazolinone-resistant rice cultivars (Clearfield®) are non-transgenic.

Clearfield rice was first commercialized in Asia in Malaysia in 2010 and may be introduced soon in other Asian countries.

HRR is typically used where weedy rice infests rice fields, as weedy rice is not controlled by selective herbicides. Weedy rice is a problem in Asia, particularly in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and parts of India.

The HRR technology is effective and simple, but comes with the risk of the herbicide-resistant weedy rice evolving via gene flow or herbicide selection pressure.

While HRR may help solve weed control problems in rice in the short term, without good stewardship its widespread use may become a threat to the sustainability of the Asian rice industry.

IRRI organized this workshop on HRR with these aims:

make farmers aware of options on the use of HRR in rice production systems
identify potential problems related to HRR
record lessons learned from the introduction of HRR in Latin America and North America
identify steps to be taken to minimize any negative effects of HRR

Twenty-six participants attended from IRRI, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, and BASF.

For more information, please contact Bhagirath Chauhan, weed scientist at IRRI (b.chauhan@irri.org).

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AFSTRI and IRRI Toastmasters Club hold speech craft course

The Association of Fellows, Scholars, Trainees, and Residents in IRRI (AFSTRI) and the IRRI Toastmasters Club (I-TMC) held a 3-day speech craft course and public speaking immersion training.

Speech Craft is a public speaking and confidence-development course given by officers of the TMC and is designed for those who want a quick introduction to and training in communication, leadership, and public speaking.

Seventeen AFSTRI members are undergoing the rigorous oratory training that is being held in 3 separate sessions (29 September and 6 and 20 October 2012).

I-TMC, a group under Toastmasters International, has held the speech craft courses in the past but this is the first time it conducted it jointly with AFSTRI and I-TMC to train AFSTRI members.

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Suhay announces art contest winners

Suhay, a charity group led by spouses of IRRI staff, held an artwork contest for children of local and international staff in late September. The winners have been announced, thus:

In first place is "Simbang Gabi" (above) by Jeril Matthew Belen, son of Marlyn Belen (NPR), with a cash prize of Php 2,500.

The others are, in second place, Junior Maunahan, son of Aileen Maunahan (SSD) (Php 1,500); and three honorable mentions for a cash prize of Php 1,000 each—Kathleen Riz Faye Adriano, daughter of Lolit Adriano (CESD), Iman Ismail, daughter of Abdel Ismail (CESD), and Susan Li, daughter of Tao Li (CESD).

Belen's winning drawing is a colorful depiction of the 9-day early morning masses held during Christmastime in the Philippines. See all artworks.

Prizes can be claimed from Judy Buresh of HRS.

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IRRI employee group holds feeding session and medical mission for flood victims

The Association of IRRI Secretaries and Administrative Staff, or AISAS, reached out to members of the local community affected by the flooding caused by the "Habagat rains" in August.

Working with the Lakeshore Homeowners Association, AISAS held a feeding program for 146 families from Barangay Kabaritan in Bay, Laguna, on 22 September 2012. These families are temporarily living in a 'tent city' inside Lakeshore Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Bay, Laguna. Children in the evacuation area participated in games and won prizes, while residents and AISAS members cooked a special meal for the feeding program.

AISAS also carried out a medical mission also for flood victims in Barangay Mayondon in Los Baños, Laguna, on 24 September 2012. This activity was held in partnership with the San Antonio de Padua Parish Health Ministry-Pagmamahal sa Kapwa Foundation, Inc., Tem Eusebio (local physician), and Barangay Chairman of Mayondon Vic Reyes. About 50 families from Purok 6 availed themselves of the free consultation and medicines.

The major sources of livelihood in these communities have been affected due to floodwaters not having fully receded along Laguna Lake. It is also typhoon season in the Philippines and more flooding is expected for the rest of the year.

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IRRI holds health education and medical mission for local community

To help lower the incidence of common illnesses and increase health awareness and good practices among local residents who are of low income, IRRI's Host Country and Community Relations Office conducted its eighth Community Health Education and Medical Mission in Barangay Maahas in Los Baños, Laguna on 28 September 2012.

The medical team, led by Mary Agnes Motril of the Philippine Army General Hospital, provided counseling on wellness among the elderly, basic hygiene, and nutritional care for mothers and children.

IRRI provided free vitamins and medicine for common ailments such as upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, skin diseases, and allergies.

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IRRI staff help raise aid for flood victims during local festival

IRRI employees led by IRRI Deputy Director General for Communications and Partnerships V. Bruce J. Tolentino joined Los Baños' walk-for-a-cause that had the theme, Mga nasalantang kababayan, ating damayan, on 17 September.

The foundation of the municipality of Los Baños, Laguna, is commemorated every September with a week-long celebration, usually opened by a grand parade, Bañamos, that is participated in by various organizations and civil agencies.

On its 397th anniversary in 2012, a walk-for-a-cause was held instead of the traditional grand parade. Proceeds from the walk will be used to help those affected by the flooding caused by the "Habagat rains" and Typhoon Gener in July. More than 1,000 families are still staying in evacuation centers or tent cities as floodwaters have not receded in some areas.

During the program, IRRI was recognized for its active participation and response to the emergency and relief operations and other continuing partnerships with the Los Baños disaster response and risk reduction committee.

IRRI's Host Country and Community Relations Office continues to organize and facilitate donations, feeding programs, rehabilitation, and livelihood activities for affected residents.

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Experimental design analysis course held in IRRI

Twenty-one IRRI staff attended the course, Analysis of experimental design using the SAS System, held on 24-28 September 2012 at the I.T. Learning Center.

The course includes introduction to the SAS environment, basic data steps, and procedures of the SAS programming language. Demonstrations, in addition to lectures and exercises, were made on analyzing data using the SAS program recipes.

The course also covered mixed models, repeated measures, incomplete block designs, spatial analysis, combined analysis, and generalized linear mixed models for the analysis of counts and proportions.

Resource persons course were Violeta Bartolome, senior associate scientist, and Leilani Nora, assistant scientist, both from PBGB-Biometrics.

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Indonesia: Seminar on rice postharvest technologies and fan-testing held in South Sumatra

The Post-Production Work Group of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium held a two-day seminar-orientation on rice postharvest technologies, in collaboration with the Balai Pengkajian Teknologi Pertanian (BPTP) in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Thirty farmer leaders, manufacturers, and local government officials attended the event. The attendees were introduced to the stripper harvester technology that will compliment more than 300 flatbed dryers adapted in the area. A video on the stripper harvester was shown, in which the relevance of the technology to flatbed dryers were presented as well as the scarcity of manual labor in the area.

Farmers raised some of the problems encountered with the flatbed dryer during the seminar, including low drying air temperature and long drying time.

Pat Borlagdan of IRRI discussed the requirements for a good flatbed dryer and briefed the farmers on fan-testing and how it can ensure the proper functioning of flatbed dryers. A demonstration on the use of an actual fan test rig assembly was held.

Professors from Sriwijaya University also spoke on the process of technology adaption and the critical role of manufacturers.

The IRRC-PPWG is managed by Martin Gummert, IRRI postharvest specialist.

The event was was graced by Andy Mulyana, director of the Suboptimal Land Research Center in Sriwijaya University; Rudy Soehendi, director of BPTP Palembang; and Benjamin Lakitan, deputy director for research at Jakarta Central Office.

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