Originally published on cgiar.org by:IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) on Apr 3, 2007
The latest from Rice Today, the magazine of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Los Baños, Philippines – The Mekong is undeniably one of the most important rivers on Earth. It is the lifeblood of millions of people, providing water to grow rice in significant portions of six countries—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China (the southern provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi). This area, known as the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), is home to 300 million rice farmers and consumers. Despite recent successes in the GMS (such as the achievement of rice self-sufficiency in Laos), one-quarter of the area's population remains below the poverty line. Because of this, rice research and efforts to help the local farmers remain fundamental to the GMS's continued economic development. The April–June issue of Rice Today investigates new work in the GMS that is set to increase rice productivity, improve livelihoods, and reduce poverty, while the new map page offers a snapshot of how geographic elevation and poverty in the Subregion are related.
Water is one of the planet's most valuable resources, yet for too long it has been taken for granted. In the coming years, and in the face of increased competition for water from the expanding urban and industrial sectors, the rice industry must feed more people while at the same time reducing poverty and protecting the environment. Rice Today examines what needs to be done to meet the enormous water challenge.
The April–June issue carries articles on the development of salt-tolerant rice, which is set to help farmers hampered by salt-affected soils in South Asia, and the use of biochar—charcoal created by burning rice husks—to produce soil that has the potential to help both rice production and the environment. Continuing the environmental focus, Rice Today ventures to Java, Indonesia, where two volcanic disasters are destroying rice crops and making life tough, if not impossible, for thousands of people.
The magazine's Africa section profiles rice scientist Monty Jones, who in 2004 became the first African to win the prestigious World Food Prize, for his role in developing the heralded New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties.
Grain of truth looks at the effects of the Green Revolution in Latin America, and contends that current production constraints are agronomic, not genetic. Rice Facts asks how countries will produce enough rice to feed growing populations in the face of declining growth in cereal yields.
All of this, plus the latest news, views, and rice books, is available now in the April–June 2007 issue of Rice Today. Magazines are now in the mail to subscribers. To subscribe, contact Chris Quintana and copy your request to publisher Duncan Macintosh. Send editorial inquiries to Adam Barclay.
To access the PDF files in the above links, you need Adobe® Reader®, available free at www.adobe.com.
# # #
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world's leading rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines, with offices in 13 other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 15 centers funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies (www.cgiar.org).
# # #
For information, contact Duncan Macintosh, IRRI, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines;
tel +63-2-580-5600; fax: +63-2-580-5699; email d.macintosh@cgiar.org.
Web sites: IRRI Home (www.irri.org), IRRI Library (http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org), Rice Knowledge Bank (www.knowledgebank.irri.org)
