Rice research, a long-term solution to rice crisis

The New Research & Development Structure at the International Rice Research Institute (2006-2010)

The new R&D Program structure being pursued by the Philippine-based International Rice Reasearch Institute is composed of three programs and 19 major projects.  Compared to the discipline-based program structure used from 1987-1998 and the multidisciplinary structure used from 1998 to date, the new structure has the following advantages:

·     The overall structure is simple, transparent, and dynamic; it can house all activities of the institute;

·     Projects are focused, output-driven, and anchored on the technology needs of the integrated rice crop management and rice-based farming systems;

·     Technology outputs from each project feed directly into the integrated and area-based systems of technology packaging and promotion;

·     The systems integration is flexible enough to be able to target both high- productivity and low-productivity environments, as well as small and big rice production systems;

·     Intra-disciplinary teamwork and science is enhanced and promoted;

·     Scientist-extensionist-farmer linkages are enhanced using the integrated systems of promotion and feedback generation at the village level;

·     Duplications amongst activities of erstwhile programs, branch stations, and discipline-based divisions are eliminated;

·     Integration and streamlining of activities are automatically achieved as similar activities, regardless of proponent, are listed under a single project;

·     The project listing itself represents a logical and temporal flow of processes and activities in the research-development-extension continuum;

·     Knowledge sharing is promoted, the use of ICT is highlighted, and impact assessment is institutionalized; and

·     Limited human, financial, and other logistical resources are used more efficiently.

The new structure incorporates and improves upon the advantages of the two R&D program structures used by PhilRice since 1987.  Moreover, it complies with the requirement of the EO 366 of redirecting PhilRice operations and activities to its prime mandate, while also responding to the present and future needs of industry stakeholders.  Given these advantages, not only would the new R&D structure be expected to generate relevant and timely technologies, systems, and knowledge, but PhilRice would also be able to generate and deliver these to its various clients and stakeholders, at a much lower cost to Philippine taxpayers.

 

PHILRICE R&D PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 2006-2010

Ecosystem	PROGRAM 1 Favorable Ecosystem (Irrigated Lowland)		PROGRAM 2 Unfavorable Ecosystem (Rainfed Lowland)
Key Result Area	Transplanted	Direct Seeded
Variety	Project 1 Development of varieties for transplanted rice systems with high yield, performance stability, disease and insect pest resistance, and good grain quality.	Project 2 Development of varieties for direct-seeded rice systems with high yield, performance stability, disease and insect pest resistance, good grain quality, and submergence tolerance.	Project 7 Development of varieties for rainfed lowland ecosystems with high yield, disease and insect pest resistance, good grain quality, and drought tolerance.
Tillage and crop establishment	Project 3 Development of tillage and crop establishment technologies for irrigated rice culture with emphasis on leveling and water constraints.		Project 8 Development of tillage and crop establishment technologies for rainfed lowland rice culture with emphasis on leveling and optimizing water use-efficiency.
Water Management	Project 4 Development of water use- efficient technologies under favorable rice ecosystems.
Integrated Nutrient Management	Project 5 Development of location-specific nutrient management technologies for favorable rice ecosystems based on broad agro-climatic characterization.		Project 9 Development of location-specific nutrient management technologies under unfavorable ecosystems based on broad agro-climatic characterization.
Integrated Pest Management	Project 6 Development of pest management technologies for irrigated lowland rice with emphasis on weed management under direct-seeded culture and, forecasting of pest emergence.		Project 10 Development of pest management technologies under unfavorable rice ecosystems with emphasis on forecasting of pest emergence.
Basic seed prod., seed health, & germplasm mgt.	Project 11 Nucleus seed production, seed health, and germplasm resource conservation and utilization.
Harvesting	Project 12 Development of rice machinery with emphasis on harvesting.
PROGRAM 3 Knowledge Management and Promotion	Project 13 Database management.
	Project 14 Impact assessment and policy and market research.
	Project 15 Village-level integration of technologies and systems.
	Project 16 Integrated area-based technology promotion.
	Project 17 Training course development and delivery.
	Project 18 Knowledge products generation and information dissemination.
	Project 19 Networking knowledge for value-adding.

 

Source: http://www.philrice.gov.ph//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=126