BUJUMBURA, Burundi (18 August 2023) – The local rice supply in Burundi and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains far below the demand, even if it is planted across different agro-ecological zones and the governments have increased in arable land areas. This gap is due to the low adoption of performant rice varieties, the lack of good quality
Mechanized DSR offers multiple benefits that enable early rice harvesting, timely sowing of seeds, and higher yields of succeeding crops such as wheat, chickpea, and mustard. (Photo: ISARC) Developing climate-smart rice production technologies offers a promising strategy to combat climate change, increase rice yields, achieve sustainable agriculture, and help ensure long-term food security. These climate-smart technologies play a crucial role
Periodically assessing the soil’s health is very important to show the effect of current agricultural practices on the soil and maintain soil nutrients at optimum levels using new management practices. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy provides an alternative highly effective method for rapidly and cost-effectively estimating soil properties. Precision fertilizer management at scale requires a thorough understanding of the spatial variability of
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (01 August 2023) ~ Deputy Director General for Research Dr. Ajay Kohli has been appointed interim Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) by the Board of Trustees, effective 1 August 2023. He will be taking over from Dr. Jean Balié, who will transition to a new role in CGIAR as Director for the Impact
Rice cultivation in the salt flats of southern Bangladesh accounts for 25% of the country’s total cultivated land. In this coastal area, characterized by brackish waters, farming has always been a tremendous challenge due to the high salinity levels in the soil. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when the farmers of this region learned about the high-yielding salt-tolerant rice
In a bid to enhance agricultural innovation and exchange best practices, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Rice Breeding Innovation (RBI) team completed their East and Southern Africa (ESA) Crop Tour. This year, the RBI teams, alongside AfricaRice breeders and NARES partners, focused their efforts on Tanzania and Burundi with the visit spanning from 8 to 17 May 2023. This
LOS BANOS, Philippines (26 July 2023) – This July, Gold Standard launched a new carbon credit methodology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in rice cultivation. Developed with inputs from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), this new methodology,can help farmers reduce emissions from rice fields, as well as open a new source of income from the sale of carbon credits,
Regenerative agriculture presents a holistic approach to farming that not only focuses on enhancing soil fertility, carbon content, and nutrient availability but also integrates beneficial insects, birds, and other animals into the agricultural system. However, to evaluate the impact of resource-intensive and regenerative agricultural practices on agro-biodiversity, the development of an agro-biodiversity index is necessary. The world is facing a