In western Odisha, farmer groups and women’s self-help groups are taking the lead in bringing a range of healthier rice varieties to local markets, improving nutrition for families while creating new income opportunities. By Dillip Kumar Rout, Sampad Nayak, Mosharaf Hossain, and Swati Nayak At the Pallishree Mela of 2025 in Balangir, a famous farmer fair that celebrates agriculture, community
By Sharif Ahmed, Humnath Bhandari Rice covers 11% of the world’s arable land and is responsible for approximately 1.5% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and around 10-12% of total agricultural emissions. Bangladesh is one of the most rice-dependent countries (cultivates ~75% of its arable land) in the world. This creates a dual challenge of ensuring food security for
By Glenn Concepcion In a world grappling with a rising population, climate change, and a growing need for healthier food options, scientists are turning to an unlikely pairing: rice and seaweed. A scientific review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition explores the vast, untapped potential of combining rice starch with biopolymers from seaweed to create transformative products
A collection of studies from the front lines of the climate crisis reveals that tackling inequality is fundamental to transformative adaptation By Eleanor Fisher, Jon Hellin, and Mary Ng’endo It’s a phrase we hear so often that it has almost lost its power: those least responsible for climate change suffer the most from its consequences. But for many social scientists,
By Danica Louise C. Sembrano In Nepal, where agriculture supports more than half of the population, having sustainable access to quality and well-adapted seeds before the cropping season begins can make a difference. Research shows that quality seeds alone can lead to a 20-30% increase in yields (Devkota and Shrestha, 2020). Yet for maize and wheat farming households in the
By Bushra Humaira Sadaf Arsenic in rice has long been linked to contaminated irrigation water, especially in the dry-season Boro crop. But new research in Bangladesh which covers 943 sites shows that rainfed systems also play a role, and understanding this better can help shape safer, more sustainable rice production. The study recently done by IRRI and Cranfield University looked at three
By Libere Nkurunziza, Arlindo Matsinhe, and Myrtel Anne Valenzuela Mozambique’s irrigation systems hold great promise, but much of it remains untapped. Smallholder farmers often operate public irrigation schemes without the knowledge or resources to maintain them. Pumps fall into disrepair, canals become clogged, and rice productivity suffers. Weak administrative structures with limited financial transparency, and gaps in technical training make
by Afreen Khan1, Mamatha Goundla2, Ranjitha Puskur1 1 International Rice Research Institute 2Centre for Sustainable Agriculture Introduction Seeds are vital to agriculture, affecting productivity, climate resilience, nutritional outcomes, and biodiversity (Kramer and Galiè, 2020). The choice of seed is not just about yield or technical performance. It is a negotiation between tradition and innovation, between household food needs, market incentives