News Overview

by Swati Nayak*, Arabinda Kumar Padhee**, Sk Mosharaf Hossain*, Subhasmita Mahapatra* Dilip Kumar Rout*, Girija Prasad Swain* (International Rice Research Institute*, **Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, Government of Odisha) In Odisha, the eastern state of India, smallholder farmers are adapting and mitigating the challenges of drought through a unique collaborative effort by IRRI and the State Department of Agriculture

by Niyati Singaraju, Shalini Gakhar A study of rice farmers in India and Indonesia through the MDII framework revealed barriers and opportunities for the adoption and inclusiveness of agricultural digital tools like Rice Crop Manager, particularly for women and marginalized farmers. In today’s digital age, farmers adopt innovative tools to make more informed decisions in agrifood systems. One such application

by Veronica Mae Escarez A Nature report revealed that improving nitrogen use efficiency by lessening redundant nitrogen use and adopting sustainable agronomic practices such as proper water management and cropping calendars can help fight nitrogen pollution and climate change in South Asia. As South Asia rises as the center of global rice production, it has become a hotspot for nitrogen

by Rehana Noor In the Haor wetlands of Bangladesh, rice is a key source of food and livelihood for millions of people. Working with partners, IRRI is helping advance rice cultivation in the region while protecting these threatened ecosystems through sustainable farming innovations. The haor wetland region of Bangladesh accounts for 25% of Bangladesh’s boro rice production and 15% of

A photo-op of participants at the 2024 NARES-IRRI Joint Advancement Meeting, with over 90 participants from 12 countries, including 25 online attendees. ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, 4 October 2024 – The 2024 NARES-IRRI Joint Advancement Meeting in Zanzibar, Tanzania, reaffirmed a shared commitment to tackling food security challenges in East and Southern Africa (ESA). Hosted by the Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI),

Through the Cross of Friendship medal, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic acknowledges IRRI’s contribution to the country’s development. LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (6 February 2025) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was conferred with the Cross of Friendship medal by the government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) for its “excellent work contributing to research on rice varieties”

2025 marks the 10th year since the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) and the 30th year since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were declared to elevate gender equality by leveraging women’s rights. This year, IRRI is celebrating IDWGS with the theme “Her Rice Science” by exploring diverse career paths that girls and women can

This water-conserving, emission-reducing, and cost-saving practice can help farmers, but challenges still remain for widespread adoption. A new paper published in Nature Food by an international team of scientists proposes that an innovative rice irrigation methodology, known as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), has significant potential to transform rice farming globally, contributing to enhanced water productivity while maintaining high yields.