Biometrics: April 2013

India: Coromandel joins IRRI to advance rice technologies

Coromandel International Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for cooperation in promoting and disseminating improved rice research technologies in India.

The technologies covered in the agreement will help improve all aspects of rice cultivation, including seed quality, nutrient and crop management, water management, farm machinery, and postharvest processing.

“The MOU between IRRI and Coromandel is a landmark partnership between a global center of excellence for rice research and a farm solutions company with the widest reach in the principal rice-growing areas of India,” said Kapil Mehan, managing director of Coromandel. “This partnership will facilitate the introduction of world-class rice production technologies in India for improving yield and quality, which, in turn, will lead to higher incomes for rice farmers and increased quality rice production in the country.”

Coromandel International Limited is a manufacturer of fertilizers and crop protection products and has a major presence in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal that, together, contribute to more than half of India’s rice production. It has 640 retail stores in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka that give it direct access to more than 2 million farmers.

The partnership with IRRI will allow Coromandel to bring state-of-the art rice production technologies and best practices to rice farmers in India through its extensive network.

"IRRI has many partners in India who have helped ensure widespread adoption of valuable technologies such as flood-proof scuba rice, which have helped Indian farmers produce more rice even in adverse conditions to stimulate economic development across the nation," said Robert Zeigler, director general of IRRI.

"Our new partnership with Coromandel fosters a new type of relationship with the private sector in India to advance our research in new and more dynamic ways through Coromandel's on-ground presence and direct interaction with farmers," Dr. Zeigler continues. "With Coromandel, we are looking forward to reaching more farmers and spreading the benefits of the best in rice science even further to reduce poverty and improve environmental outcomes."

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Landbank offers agriculture scholarships for Filipino students

LandBank President and CEO Gilda Pico (4th from left)
receives a certificate of appreciation from
IRRI Deputy Director General for Communication and
Partnerships V. Bruce J. Tolentino (4th from right).

A scholarship program was recently launched for dependents of small farmers and fisherfolk in 'agricultural communities undergoing change.'

The deed of donation for the scholarship was signed by officials of the Landbank of the Philippines (Landbank), a financial institution of the Philippine government, and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on 23 April 2013 at the Landbank Plaza in Malate, Manila.

The scholarship program, called Gawad Pag-aaral Tungo sa Maunlad na Bayan or Gawad-PATNUBAY, offers grants to 50 scholars—28 for college degrees scholarship in agriculture and 22 for TESDA-certified technical-vocational education program.

Each scholar is entitled to a 100% tuition fee subsidy, a monthly stipend, a book allowance, and a uniform allowance. He/she will also receive employment assistance upon graduation.

Landbank provided the funds for the scholarship program, which IRRI will administer.

Five universities are initially covered in the program, which will be implemented starting June 2014. These are the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Central Luzon State University, Visayas State University, Central Mindanao University, and University of Southern Mindanao. More partner schools will be added to the program.

Recognizing IRRI's training track record and extensive network with educational institutions nationwide, Landbank chose the Institute to implement the program that aims to stabilize the declining number of agriculture graduates.

“We are grateful to have IRRI as our implementing partner for the college scholarship program. We are confident that through this program, we can help provide a solid base of education for the next generation of rice scientists and agri-preneurs and infuse much-needed fresh blood into the country’s agriculture and cooperative,” said Gilda Pico, Landbank president and CEO.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI’s deputy director general for communication and partnerships, cited the 'shared history' between IRRI and Landbank. Both were founded in the 1960s and share the same vision of combating poverty and food insecurity.

“We are moved by the same innovation for public good—innovation that is exemplified and actualized through education,” Dr. Tolentino said.

The Landbank donation comes during the Philippines' National Year of Rice, set aside by the government to celebrate Filipino rice farmers and ensure the ongoing development of the Philippines’ rice sector through the education of the next generation of rice scientists and agricultural experts.

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Related stories:
Landbank, IRRI launch scholarship program for agriculture (PIA)
GLandbank offers college scholarship grants to agriculture students nationwide (GMA News)

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Indonesia: CURE steering committee meets in Lombok

Seventy-five participants from ten countries attended the twelfth annual review and steering committee meeting of the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) on 23-25 April 2013 in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

West Nusa Tenggara is the home of Gogo Rancha (GORA) or dry direct-seeded rice, which saved farmers from famine in the early 1990s.

Abdul Haris, representing the governor of the province, welcomed the participants and acknowledged the important role of CURE in addressing the effect of drought on rice production in the province

CURE is coordinated by David Johnson, senior scientist and head of IRRI's Crop and Environmental Sciences Division.

Ganesh Thapa, senior economist at the Internation Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Asia Pacific Region, said that investments are needed in sustainable areas, with a focus on smallholder farmers. "IFAD’s commitment to save poor farmers and help raise livelihoods is realized with its partnership with institutions of research excellence like IRRI."

A mini-symposium, held alongside the meeting, tackled Indonesia's efforts as the country tries to deliver its commitments to CURE through its own national programs. It sought to address issues and concerns of farming communities in Indonesia’s stress-prone areas. Solutions were sought specifically on developing appropriate germplasm and integrated crop and natural resource management for sub-optimal rice ecosystems in Indonesia.

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Genomics professor is guest in researchers lunch

Thomas Mitchell-Olds (third from right),
with some of IRRI's young scientists.

Thomas Mitchell-Olds, professor at the Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy at Duke University in the U.S., was the guest during the Young Researchers Lunch for April.

Dr. Mitchell-Olds discussed his approach to data analysis, in which he considers multiple traits together in order to see genetic differences better. He also gave the young scientists on the table tips for applying in US universities.

April participants were Margaret Anne Pelayo, Corinne Mira Marfori-Nazarea, Alex Grondin, Swe Zin Myint Thein, Dennis Nicuh Lozada, and Aye Min.

The Young Researchers Lunch is a monthly meeting of IRRI scientists who are in the early stages of their career. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for discussions with senior scientists on a range of topics on science and career paths.

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Emergency preparedness training held for local residents

The Neighborhood Emergency Services Team (NEST) training, a set of lectures and drills on disaster management and emergency preparedness, was held for the tenth time by IRRI's Host Country and Community Relations Office (HCCRO)—this time, for 18 volunteers from barangays Bayog and Mayondon in Los Baños, Laguna.

The 5-day (22-26 April) training course aimed to impart preparedness and response before, during, and after a disaster. Specific topics were first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, bleeding management, shock management, fire safety, earthquake safety, light search and rescue, water safety, and counter-terrorism. Participants went through disaster simulation to test their acquired knowledge.

“Every barangay encounters different kinds of emergency situations. The question is: is everyone ready and well-informed when faced with such situations? Most likely not,” said Ardith Yangzon of the Emergency Research Center, Incorporated (ERCI). She is one of the NEST facilitators.

The NEST training was not only conducted for free; the barangays were also supplied with a complete first aid kit and spine board.

“The NEST training is very helpful, especially in a flood-prone area such as ours,” said Rommel Ilagan, barangay administrator of San Antonio, Bay, a NEST-trained barangay. Residents of San Antonio were able to apply their emergency preparedness skills when Typhoon Habagat passed over the province in 2012.

The HCCRO organized the activity with IRRI's Safety and Security Services, using funds from the United Parcel Service (UPS) and in cooperation with the ERCI, which provided NEST facilitators.

The next NEST training will be held on 27-31 May at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna.

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Second medical mission held in local barangay

The second medical mission and community health education activity for 2013 was held at Barangay San Antonio in Los Baños, Laguna, on 25 April.

About a thousand residents, mostly persons with disabilities (PWD), infants, and children, came to receive free check-ups, medicines, vitamins, and health counseling.

Most of the medicines given away were donated by the United Laboratories (UNILAB) or funded by IRRI.

Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, Inc., also donated loaves of bread in various flavors that were distributed to patients and PWDs.

Three medical doctors from the Army General Hospital in Taguig City came for the mission, which was requested by PWDs of Barangay San Antonio from barangay officials.

The activity was organized by IRRI's Host Country and Community Relations Office.

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Physiology lab re-opens

IRRI's old "Rainbow Lab" has been refurbished into the more efficient and modern Physiology Laboratory, thanks to funding from the Australian government.

The Physiology Lab, built as a communal facility, was inaugurated on 19 April 2013 in a small ceremony led by David Johnson, head of the Crop and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) that houses the lab.

The lab now features a compartment each for 'wet' (physiochemical and molecular work) and 'dry' (plant processing and phenotyping measurements) lab work.

Funding for the renovation was secured through the efforts of Bas Bouman, former CESD head and now GRiSP director. The renovation was overseen by Abdel Ismail, who issued guidelines for use of the lab during the inauguration.

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Research and agriculture leaders join IRRI board of trustees

Three new members joined the regular biannual meeting of the Board of Trustees of IRRI on 3-5 April at IRRI HQ in Los Baños: Subbanna Ayyappan of India, Kaye Basford of Australia, and Jim Godfrey, OBE, of the UK.

Subbanna Ayappan (India)

Dr. Ayyappan is the secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) of the Ministry of Agriculture of India. He is also the director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), where he worked previously as deputy director general of fisheries.

Dr. Ayyappan stated that the collaborative work between IRRI and ICAR has helped India cross the 100 million ton mark in annual rice production. “We have been in touch with IRRI management and scientists in so many ways so I am happy to be on the Board starting this year. I look forward to sharing experiences with my fellow Board members and colleagues from different parts of the world and visiting IRRI headquarters during the BOT meetings.”

He said that IRRI has an important role over the next 20-30 years in enhancing the productivity and profitability of rice farming, as well as ensuring nutrition for the increasing world population.

Kaye Basford (Australia)

Dr. Basford is a professor of biometry at the University of Queensland, where she is also currently president of the Academic Board and was head of the School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences (2001-11).

She is also currently president of the International Biometric Society and is a past president of the Statistical Society of Australia, Inc. and of the Queensland Zone of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology. Her academic focus has been on the analysis and interpretation of data from large-scale multi-environment plant breeding experiments, such as those conducted by international agricultural research centers.

Being a new Trustee, she said that the Board’s role in a nonprofit organization like IRRI is to help oversee what it is doing and help deliver on its mission. She added that the external perspective provided by the Board helps ensure that IRRI could move forward in its aim to advance rice science.

“I think IRRI has a lot to offer in the future, and I don’t think that it’s confined to just rice. I think it’s perhaps even the way an international research center can do things and can bring people together in various ways,” Dr. Basford said.

Jim Godfrey, OBE (UK)

Dr. Godfrey is a farmer from the United Kingdom and an alumnus of the University of Reading. He is former chair of the International Potato Center (CIP), the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), the UK Potato Marketing Board, the Sentry Farming Group plc, the Dream Direct Group plc, and the alliance of the 15 CGIAR centers that he represented with governments, the United Nations, and the World Bank.

“IRRI always came across as a large center, well-organized and doing good work,” said Dr. Godfrey. “I hope I can bring a perspective of a farmer onto the Board. I thoroughly enjoy interacting with the research community, but what I’m interested in seeing is how that research is taken through to practice.”

The IRRI BOT will meet next in Burundi in October 2013.

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India: Stronger inter-country linkage sought to improve technology delivery

The Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project prepares for stronger linkage among its partner countries India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and others in Africa as the project moves toward Phase 3.

This was the focus of the project's 3-day (9-11 April 2013) annual review and planning workshop held at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex in Delhi. Planning was made for the second year of Phase 2 of the project.

Abdelbagi Ismail, overall project coordinator, said that STRASA, being a flagship project of both IRRI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), demands more from its members, especially given the strong support and direct involvement of the BMGF at various levels of the project implementation.

Bas Bouman, director of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), also stated that STRASA is the flagship project of GRiSP.

David Mackill, overall STRASA advisor and consultant, cited how the project's good progress will now require better coordination and partnership and greater involvement of young scientists.

Gary Atlin, senior program officer for Agriculture and Research Development of the BMGF, commended project outcomes both at product development and dissemination levels, with real effort made on products delivery to farmers. He thanked the Government of India for its support to seed dissemination through the National Food Security Mission, Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India, and similar initiatives.

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Myanmar: Partners in Ayeyarwaddy Delta get help on data management

A training program on management of field and data from on-farm trials in the Ayeyarwady Delta in Myanmar was recently held for IRRI's partners under a project supported through the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust (LIFT) Fund.

The activity was a follow-up to the participatory adaptive research training program held on 15-21 September 2012 for local partners in Labutta, Bogale, and Mawlamliyegnum townships.

Participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials and seed systems of stress-tolerant rice are components of the IRRI project supported through the LIFT Fund. Through the program, participants’ skills improve in using statistical tools to analyze experimental data (agronomic, preference, and sensory evaluation) from on-farm PVS trials. Field management techniques in on-farm PVS trials were also reviewed.

Sixteen participants from the IRRI project, Ministry of Agriculture in Bogale, and NGO partners from the Delta such as GRET, WHH, Mercy Corps, AVSI, AYO, Loka Ahlinn, and Radanar Ayar attended the training program, which was held on 3-4 April 2013 at the IRRI Myanmar office in Bogale Township.

Resource persons were R.K. Singh, senior scientist; Romeo Labios, consultant; M. Akhlasur Rahman, postdoctoral fellow; and Daw Ohn Mar Myint from the Department of Agricultural Research in Yezin.

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'Father of hybrid rice' Yuan Longping speaks in consortium meeting

Yuan Longping, regarded as the 'father of hybrid rice,' gave the keynote speech during the sixth annual meeting of members of the Hybrid Rice Development Consortium (HRDC) on 2 April. Professor Yuan talked about progress made in the breeding of 'super hybrid rice.'

Other topics discussed during the meeting were:

IRRI's new breeding structure (Eero Nissila)
Rice supply, demand, and trade market outlook (Sam Mohanty, IRRI)
Progress of hybrid rice R&D at CIAT (Edgar Torres)
PRISM: Crop monitoring system (Tri Deri Setiyono)
Mechanized hybrid rice production in the U.S. (Jose Plaza, RiceTec)
Disease screening and marker lab service for HRDC members (Michael Thomson and Casiana Vera Cruz)
HRDC report (Fangming Xie)
MTA for hybrid rice materials at IRRI (Elsie Quaite-Randall)

The HRDC has 82 members from both the public and the private sector. The meeting was held at IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños.

Participants visited the Grain Quality and Nutrition Center, Genotyping Services Laboratory, Blast Nursery, and the HRDC Multilocation Replicated Yield Trial.

They also made selections of early-generation breeding lines (F2 and F3 stages) on 1 and 3 April, and attended the 1st National Hybrid Rice Congress (3-5 April) organized by PhilRice and the Philippine Department of Agriculture.

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Bangladesh: Extension staff undergo rice production training

Staff of partner NGOs of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) project attended the 2-day Rice Production Technology training course held in Faridpur on 6-7 April 2013.

Twenty-one field staff of the Society Development Committee, Jagoroni Chakra Foundation, and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee participated in the course, which was organized through funding from USAID for capacity building of extension staff.

Topics covered in the course were: modern rice varieties, principal rice production practices, quality seed production, and postharvest technologies.

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Bangladesh: Field visit assures partners of wider technology spread

A field visit to trial and demonstration plots of rice-sunflower and rice-sesame cropping systems showcased improved agronomic practices in rice seed production.

The visit assured partners of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) and IRRI of good progress toward wider dissemination of such practices and technologies in the next cropping season.

Joining the field visit were key persons from the Directorate of Agriculture Extension, agrotechnology experts from Khulna University, cropping systems specialists from the Jessore Hub of CSISA, and representatives of partner NGOs Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha, Uttaran, Socio-Economic Development Organization for the Poor, and Ashroy Foundation.

The activity was organized by the CSISA-IRRI team of Khulna Hub.

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Bangladesh: Short-duration rice allows for sunflower crop afterwards

A farmer’s field day on sunflower cultivation in rice-based systems focused on the use of short-duration rice varieties during the aman season.

Farmers shared how they used to cultivate local rice varieties (e.g., Sada mota, Lal mota, BR22, and BR23) in the aman (July-November) season. All of these are long-duration varieties and harvest can drag up to the end of December, after which other crops such as wheat, maize, lentil, mustard, and sunflower can no longer be grown.

Earlier, upon advise from the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), 5 farmers took the initiative to grow short-duration T. Aman rice. By November, the farmers were done with the harvest and were then able to plant sunflower in the same land.

Sunflower oil is an important household commodity, and is also a source of extra income for farmers.

Fifty farmers joined the field day, held on 4 April 2013 at Chandpasha of Babuganj Upazila in Barisal District. The event was organized by CSISA-IRRI Barisal Hub.

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IRRI Annual Report wins ACE silver award

The IRRI Annual Report has consistently received top awards from the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) for several years now, and its 2011 edition was recently named for the Silver Award in the electronic publications class.

The award will be formally presented on 11-14 June in Indianapolis, during the ACE and National Extension Technology Conference.

IRRI Director General Bob Zeigler congratulated the AR team for "keeping IRRI in the spotlight."

The award-winning AR, which comes in a tandem print and interactive CD format, is produced by IRRI's Communication and Publishing Services.

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Darwinian scientist is guest in researchers' lunch

R. Ford Denison (center) and some of
IRRI's budding scientists.

The Young Researchers Lunch hosted a second guest for March, R. Ford Denison, author of the book, Darwinian Agriculture.

Dr. Denison was at IRRI to give a series of lectures derived from the book and hold discussions and debate with IRRI researchers. He shared his perspectives on agriculture and evolution, saying that he believes situations in nature may not necessarily be best for agriculture.

Attendees during the lunch meeting were Crystal Concepcion, Joseph Sandro, Govinda Rizal, John Carlos Ignacio, and Michelle Anne Bunquin.

The Young Researchers Lunch is a monthly meeting for scientists who are in the early stages of their career. Its aim is to provide an opportunity for discussion with senior scientists on a range of topics on science, including career paths.

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19 IRRI staff undergo data collection and encoding course

The first offering of Research Data Management (RDM) 11, or Data collection and encoding for research technicians, was held today (26 March).

The course aims to impart good practices in handling research data, knowledge, and techniques to enable research technicians to effectively use spreadsheets during data encoding. The technicians were also taught to use an Android tablet device using FieldLab v. 2.4 and other spreadsheet apps for data collection.

Data collection is a crucial step in managing research data. Accuracy of data collection and encoding into spreadsheets is crucial in the research data pipeline, being the starting point of data manipulation, checking, and validation. Only when data is deemed accurate can further processing and analysis be made. Data errors, if not found and corrected early, can prove costly.

Nineteen research technicians from IRRI research divisions and their supervisors attended as participants.

The RDM 11 training team is composed of Menchu Bernardo, Icoy Mercado, and Dec Arreza of IRRI's Risk Management and Quality Assurance office.

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