You Are Browsing ‘Opinion’ Category

We now know that conservatism—the reluctance of farmers to accept new ideas—only partly explains the low adoption of the new rice technology. The primary reason is that the new varieties are out of place in most of the diverse ecological situations under which rice is grown. Fortunately, the marked genetic...

During 1974, we at IRRI have given considerable thought to how we can more effectively help the world’s small farmers increase their rice production....

IRRI’s growing germplasm bank now contains more than 30,000 of the world’s estimated 100,000 varieties. Many of these varieties yield poorly...

Although the IRRI varieties with improved plant type have found acceptance over wide areas, even more important accomplishments of the institute, however,...

The success of IR667-98 in Korea is an outstanding achievement. This line has now been named officially by the Koreans and is called Tongil. It has a japonica-type...

Facts indicate that farmers prefer varieties with high insect and disease resistance. The Institute’s breeding program is now geared to producing...

During 1969, the Institute named two new varieties, IR20 and IR22. They have the same yield potential as IR5 and IR8 but they are highly superior in grain...

The most striking contribution of the Entomology Department during 1968 was the further proof that a high degree of immunity to planthopper and leafhopper...

Like so many other parts of our economies and lives, the rice sector is facing enormous challenges–but also the opportunity to take it in a new direction. ...

The great contribution of IR8 is its high yield potential, which, of course, derives from its short stature, its vigorous tillering ability, and its nitrogen...