By Sarvesh Shukla, Anirban Nath, Neeraj Tyagi, Swati Nayak, Mosharaf Hossain While resistant to change and wary of risk, more and more rice farmers are taking small steps to adopt more sustainable cultivation methods such as direct-seeded rice, and they are discovering its economic benefits. Chandauli District, known as the Rice Bowl of Uttar Pradesh, has been grappling with a
by Anirban Nath, Sarvesh Shukla, Neeraj Kumar Tyagi, Swati Nayak, Mosharaf Hossain Farmers in Uttar Pradesh are driving the adoption of biofortified rice, improving nutrition and incomes through Seeds Without Borders. With better seeds, training, and market access, success stories like Durgawati Devi and Rajesh Singh show how a community-led approach can transform lives. Tackling Hidden Hunger with Nutritious Rice
by Tanu Kumari, Kranthi Kumar Challa, Shweta, Amit Kumar Srivastava In a world where food demand is soaring, yet arable land is shrinking, technology is redefining how we monitor and manage crops. One of the most promising innovations in precision agriculture is the use of drones—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—to detect crop stress and predict yields with enhanced accuracy. Unpredictable Crop
Makati City, Philippines (11 March 2025) —Southeast Asia comprises around a third of the total rice harvest worldwide. It is also home to two of the top rice-exporting countries in the world, Thailand and Viet Nam. However, traditional rice farming methods significantly contribute to methane emissions in agriculture, making it crucial to adopt more sustainable practices in the region. In
In a series of conversations with CGIAR Knowledge Management teams, Valentina De Col from ICARDA spoke with Lea Delos Reyes, former Specialist for Library and Information and Knowledge Systems at IRRI. Their discussion highlighted CGIAR and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s partnership on two important initiatives that facilitate sharing data and research outputs in the
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (26 February 2025) ~ The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has launched a new AI-powered digital platform that can significantly advance and accelerate hybrid rice breeding and parental selection around the world, contributing to improved food security and sustainable agriculture through the propagation of high-yielding and climate-smart rice hybrids. Called the Global AI-Hybrid Rice Platform (GAI-HRP) ,
The Better Rice Initiative Cambodia (BRIC) was launched to foster national collaboration in tackling the interconnected challenges of agriculture, climate change, and food security. Ensuring farmers’ needs are addressed to close current gaps and shortcomings in adopting climate-smart rice cultivation practices is indispensable. Understanding farm activities and benefits from implementing MRV activities are important priorities. Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 16-21 February
A comprehensive study documenting the extensive adoption of CGIAR-supported agricultural innovations across Vietnam was presented at a high-level workshop in Hanoi. The study has identified notable breakthroughs achieved under the initiative, including improved rice and cassava varieties and the successful integration of new tilapia strains. The event, hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the CGIAR Standing Panel