l
DDDR:IAR/76/3 RESTRICTED
THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
v*-, Twelfth Meeting, Rome, 2-6 February, 1576
DRAFT REPORT OF THE TAC QUIN QUENNIAL
REVIEW MISSION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
(Agenda Item 4)
là
TAC SECRETARIAT
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1976
WS/H6727
l
DRAFT
REPORT OF THE TAG QUEI QU3KKIAL
REVIEW MISSION TO THE
INTERN AT TONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
E. S. Sv-aminathan 
n H. G. Pereira
A. Kelman 
J. Mellor 
■* L. Brader 
L. T. Evans 
R. U. Allard 
Y. Ishizuka
B. N. Webster
A
DDDR:IAR/76/3 RESTRIGTED
TABLE OP CCiTTENTS
I. Introduction 1
II. The Impact of Research on Rice Production 5
III. Research Programs, Priorities and Accomplishments 10
1. Genetic Evaluation and Utilization ............................ 10
2. Pest Control and Management .......................................... 17
fai Fungal, bacterial and virus diseases .............. 17
(b) Insect pests ............................ ................................. 22
(c) Weeds ........................................................................... 28
3. Cropping Systems ............................................................... 29
Environment and its influence ...................................... 32
5- Soil Fertility ................................................................... 33
6. Eater Control and Use ..................................................... 36
7. Machinery Development ...................................................... 37
u. Post-harvest Management ................................................. 41
9. Constraints to Increased Rice Production ................ 43
10. Consequences of New Technology .................................... 46
11. Research Concepts and Organization ............................ 4 9 
(a) Multi-disciplinary approach ................................ 4 9
(b) Concepts and materials of relevance to national
research ..................................................................... 50
(c) Mission-oriented basic research links with donor
countries ................................................................... 53
IV. Training 55
V. Cooperative Relationships 61
VI. Personnel Policy 69
VII. General Services end Facilities 72
1. Information and Library Services 
2 72General Station Administration 73
3. Additional Facilities Needed 73
VIII IRRI — The Next Phase 76
IX. Summary of Recommendations 90
X. Acknowledgements 99
ANNEXES
I. Itinerary
II. List of Persons Consulted
III. IRRI Statement on the Release and Naming of New Varieties 
IV. IRRI Cooperative Country Programs
REPORT OP THE TAG QUINQUENNIAL REVIEW HISS Id?
TO IRRI, NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 12, 1975
I. INTRODUCTION
1. For the 20 years, 1950 to 1970, the World. Bank, the UN agencies and most of the 
donor nations neglected agricultural research, while many of the developing countries gave 
low priority to agricultural production.
2. By 1970, FAO, the UNDP and the World Bank were alerted by field reports that de­
velopment schemes were failing for lack of adequate technology; they then turned to the suc­
cessful Rockefeller and Ford Foundations experience with IRRI and CB1MYT and invited their
cooperation.
3. This led to a series of informal meetings, hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation,
known now as the Bellagio Conferences on International Agricultural Research. Discussions
at the first two of these, in November 1970 and February 1971 led to the establishment in 
April 1971 of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) under
the co-sponsorship of FAO, UNDP and the World Bank, This informal association of donor
countries and organizations, regional banks and private foundations took over the overall 
funding of the existing International Agricultural Research Centres (iARC's) - IRRI, CBMYT,
IITA, and CIAT.
4. To assist its deliberations on allocation of resources, the CGIAR appointed a 
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) consisting of 13 eminent agricultural scientists in their 
own right, under the Chairmanship of Sir John Crawford, then Vice-Chancellor of the 
Australian National University.
5- At its fifth meeting, in July 1973, the CGIAR saw the need to make some long-term 
arrangements to evaluate the overall scientific quality and effectiveness of the IARC's.
It therefore set up a subcommittee on Review Procedures voider the Chairmanship of Dr. David 
Bell of the Ford Foundation.
6. The Bell Committee reported to the CGIAR in November 1973 and subsequently revised 
its report following the deliberations of the CGIAR. The revised report of the Bell Committee
made the following proposals with regard to Centre Reviews, which charged the TAC with their
conduct:
"The CG also needs periodic independent external assessments of the 
overall scientific quality and effectiveness of each Centre, and of the 
continuing need for its work, with special emphasis on the need to ensure 
that activities are not continued longer than necessary, and that acti­
vities of lower priority are replaced by those of higher priority. Such 
assessments are not appropriate on an annual basis, but should be 
scheduled no less frequently than every five years. Such assessments are
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equally needed by the Centers themselves, and it is the practice of ,
the Centers to organize them (sometimes separately for major segmen s
of the research program, rather than for a Center as a whole). The
CG looks to the TAC to assure that such periodic external assessments 
are made; it would seem feasible for the TAC to meet its responsibili­
ties in most cases by (l) assuring itself that the Center's assess­
ment process is adequate, and (2) participating in the Center s as­
sessment process by mutual agreement with the Center s Director. If 
the TAC considers it necessary, it can lay on a special assessment
process separate from that organized by the Center for its own purposes.
"We recommend that (l) the TAC and the Centers develop an agreed 
forward schedule and agreed standards and methods for conducting such 
periodic external scientific assessments; (2) the TAC adopt a regular 
procedure for participating in such assessments, reviewing their re­
sults, making any independent assessments it may consider necessary, 
and reporting its judgments to the CG."
7. The TAC accepted this mandate and charged its Secretariat to draw up a schedule 
for such reviews and to prepare draft Terms of Reference for consideration, 
8. IRRI was selected as the first institute to be reviewed and the Terms of Reference
for the Review Mission, after discussion with the Director, were finalized as follows:
" terms op reference
Introduction
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) 
has charged its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) with the conduct of 
quinquennial reviews of the value and effectiveness of the International 
Agricultural Research Institutes, Centers and Programmes which derive their 
financial support from the members of the CGIAR. It was agreed by the TAC 
at its Eighth Meeting held in August 1974 "that the International Rice Re­
search Institute (IRRI) should be the first of the International Centers 
whose work would be reviewed and evaluated by the TAC. The present Review 
Mission is being organized in accordance with that decision.
Scope and purpose of the Review
The major objective of such missions has been defined by TAC in agree­
ment with the Directors of the International Centers as follows:
"On behalf of the Consultative Group, to assess the quality 
and value of the scientific programmes of the Centers in order 
to assure the Consultative Group members that the operations being 
funded are being carried out in line with declared policies and to 
the full international standard expected."
It is hoped that the review will inter alia assist the International 
Centers themselves in planning their programmes and ensuring the validity 
of the research priorities recognized by the Boards of the Centers.
In pursuance of the main objective, defined above, the Mission is requested 
to give particular attention to the following aspects of the Work of the 
Institute:
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(i) the results of past research and training programmes at the 
Institute and the use to which the results have been (or are 
planned to he) put;
(ii) the relevance, scope, content and objectives of the present 
(and planned) programmes of research at the Institute in rela­
tion to (a) the broad mandate of the Institute, and (b) the 
immediate and long-term needs of the rice industry globally, and 
to advise on the future composition and balance of the pro­
gramme of research;
(iii) the current conference and training programmes being undertaken 
(or planned) by the Institute and the factors affecting the use 
of trainees by the recipient countries once their training has 
been completed;
(iv) the effectiveness of the work conducted under the information 
service and outreach programmes of the Institute, and its impact 
on recipient countries;
(v) the expenditures of the Institute in relation to the quantity, 
nature and quality of its research and training programmes;
(vi) the adequacy of the resources available to implement the pro­
grammes of research and training recommended above ;
(vii) the constraints which may be hindering the achievement of the 
Institute's objectives, and possible means of reducing or 
eliminating such constraints; and
(viii) the effectiveness of coordination of activities at the Insti­
tute, both in respect of internal consistency and balance of 
programme elements, and in particular with reference to its 
linkages with other national and international organizations.
On the basis of its review the Mission will: report to the Chairman 
of TAC its views on the need for any changes in the basic objectives or 
orientation of the Institute's programme elements, and on means of improv­
ing the efficiency of operations, and will make proposals for overcoming 
any constraints identified under item (vii). While the Mission should 
feel free to make any observations or recommendations it wishes, it must 
be clearly understood that the Mission cannot commit the sponsoring 
organization, e.g. the CGIAR/TAC. "
Composition of the Mission
9- The membership of the Mission was decided after discussion with the Director of 
IRRI, and the Team consisted of the following persons:
Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (Leader, Plant Breeding) Dr. L. Brader (Entomology)
Director General and Secretary to Government of India Global Coordinator FAO/UNEP 
Indian Council of Agricultural Research Integrated Pest Control Program 
Krishi Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road PAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla 
New Delhi 1, India 0 0100 Rome, Italy
Dr. R. W. Allard (Plant Breeding) Dr. L. T. Evans (Plant Physiology) 
Chairman, Department of Genetics Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO 
University of California P.0. Box 1600
Davis, California 95616, USA Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601
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Dr. Y. Ishizuka (Crop Management) Dr. H. C. Pereira (Soil Science)
Emeritus Professor, Hokkaido University Chief Scientist, Ministry of Agriculture 
(Home address: 3-4 Chome Kotoni, Nishi-ku, Fisheries and Food 
Sapporo, Japan) Whitehall Place London, SW1A 2HH, U.K.
Dr. A. Kelman (Plant Pathology)
Chairman, Department of Plant Pathology- Mr. B. N. Webster (Secretary)
1630 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin Deputy Executive Secretary 
Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Technical Advisory Committee, CGIAR c/o FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla 
Dr. J. Mellor (Economist) 00100 Rome, Italy
Agricultural Economist 
Cornell University,
Warren Hall, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853
Itinerary
10. As it had been agreed that the Team would review the outreach activities of IRRI 
in Thailand and Indonesia prior to its visit to the Headquarters at Los Banos, the Mission
assembled in Bangkok on Sunday, 23 November. Following briefing by the Mission Leader, two
days were spent on visits to national rice research institutions in the vicinity of Bangkok,
where national and IRRI cooperative rice research activities were discussed, and a visit
paid to the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Far East.
11. The team then flew to Indonesia on 26 November for four days, Visits were paid
to Government Departments in Djakarta and to research institutions in Bogor, Sukamandi and 
Karos, South Sulawesi to discuss national programmes in which IRRI is participating.
12. Following an overnight stop in Singapore, the Team arrived at Los Banos on Sunday, 
30 November. An intensive programme of presentation and briefing on IRRI's activities, in­
terspersed with field visits occupied the following week which terminated with visits to 
Northern Luzon on Sunday, 7 December, and a flight to Ilo-ilo on Monday, 8 December. At
the request of the Team the remainder of the week had been kept free of formal presentations 
in order to permit individual visits to specialist departements and programmes and to allow
adequate time for report writing and discussion.
13. The full itinerary is attached hereto as Annex I and a list of persons consulted
as Annex II.
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II. IMPACT OP IREI WORK CTJ RICE PRODUCTION AND COST 
BENEFIT ANALYSES OP RESEARCH INVESTMENT
14. The objective of IRRI is stated, to be to increase rice production with emphasis on
increasing yield per hectare. Thus, the logical measure of IRRI's success is the change in 
rice production in the various countries - and, in a more sophisticated sense, the change in 
the trend in the growth rate of rice production, Further, one would like to know to what
extent a given rate of growth of rice production is due to technological change of the type
forming the research effort at IRRI. Several different approaches to measurement of impact 
of research systems have been applied. Por this purpose, it is common to separate the in­
crease in output due to acreage expansion from that due to yield and attribute the latter to 
research; or separate the effect of all conventional inputs from the total output increase
and attribute that to research, Both these approaches are deficient for reasons illustrated 
below. In any case, all these approaches depend on knowledge of change in production and .
rates of change in production. Because this question is so central to the question of as­
sessing impact and so fraught with misunderstanding, it is useful to expand on the problems 
of measuring change in grain production growth rates.
The Problem of Detecting Growth in Pood Grain Production
15. The problem of measuring changes in growth rates in food grain production arises
from four factors:
First, very small changes in rates of growth are very significant from an economic 
point of view. Thus, a 2.9^ rate of growth of food grain production matches population growth 
but gives no basis for a broader contribution to the growth process. On the other hand, a 
3.5 to Af- rate of growth in grain production provides the basis for a very profound change 
in strategy of growth to allow much faster rates of growth of employment, and hence, much 
greater mobilization of labor for development purposes, with consequent faster economic growth 
rates and broader participation in that growth.
Second, given a high degree of variability in production conditions in agriculture 
and the complexity of the biological science changes needed for increa.sed production over 
a very wide range of conditions, there tends to be considerable stability in production growth 
rates. That is, it is very difficult to achieve more than 1 or 2 percentage point changes 
in the rate of growth of grain production except in very small, homogeneous regions.
Third, as compared to the changes in growth rates which are significant and which 
are achievable, there are very large, say 5» 10» 15 and even 20^, weather induced year to 
year changes in the level of production.
Fourth, it is important to policy determination that judgments as to the effect 
of programs be made for short periods of time of 5 or at the most 10 years.
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16. Thus, there is a simple statistical problem, It is impossible to detect with any
reasonable degree of statistical significance whether within any given five or even ten 
year period there has been the one or two percentage point change in growth rate which is
so significant to overall economic policy and human welfare.
17- It should be clear that the simple measure of self-sufficiency in food, that is, 
that there should be no net imports into a country, is a completely inappropriate measure
of research success, or production success generally, from the point of view of economic
growth. That is because self-sufficiency can be just as much a function of changes in demand 
as changes in supply. If one wants to achieve self-sufficiency in food one simply needs to
hold down or reduce the incomes of the lowest income people who spend the highest proportion
of average income, and increments to income, on food, Conversely, even if the supply situa-
tion is very favorable and growing quite rapidly, imports might increase if there were a 
highly successful program of mobilizing labor for increased employment and thereby placing 
greater purchasing power in the hands of the lower income laboring classes, Indeed, such
accelerated demand growth and consequent greater imports, is a prime objective of economic 
development.
18. Given the statistical problems of measuring rates of production growth, it may well 
be that the most useful technique is a simple one of simply plotting rates of growth across 
years regarded as being rather comparable in terms of weather. This turns out to be probably 
simplest to do by using the unusually good years which provide peaks in production along the 
trend line. Such an exercise for India illustrates a number of relevant points. We find 
that in the 1960's the growth rate of food grain production was about 2.8% per year. In the 
first half of the 1960's, it probably declined to about 2% per year. That decline was the 
result of a decline in the importance of expansion in land area as a means of increasing 
production as the remaining area as a means of increasing production as the remaining area 
to be brought into production was of poorer and poorer quality. Concurrently, the importance 
of fertilizer was increasing but was on such a small base that it could not yet be a major 
explanator of production. From the latter half of the 1960's into the early 1970's, it ap­
pears that the annual growth rate of food grain production accelerated to about 3»3%. The 
acceleration reflects the introduction of the high yielding wheat varieties perhaps, to some 
extent, introduction of high yielding millet varieties, but probably to an only very small 
extent indeed, introduction of new rice varieties. The effect of these introductions was to 
allow a continued very rapid expansion in fertilizer use to a point at which it was becoming 
an important explanator of increased production. A somewhat similar analysis for the 
Philippines suggests very slow growth in rice production in the 1950's, accelerating sub­
stantially in the early 60's as wide spread fertilizer use occurred, perhaps beginning to 
level slightly as fertilizer growth rates slackened and then a further acceleration of 
growth in the late 1960's as new high yielding rice varieties provided scope for a renewed 
acceleration in the rate of growth of fertilizer use.
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1?. From the above, a few points become clear in understanding the role of agricultural
research in the growth o” grain production. First, one should not expect dramatic increases 
in growth rates; hence, one would expect difficulty in statistical measurement, Second,
growth in production which is the product of research may simply displace old means of growth, 
such as the bringing in of new but low quality agricultural land - means of growth which may 
be increasingly unavailable in the future, and which in any case provide very meagre incomes
to growing populations. Third, the new technology may be necessary to continuation of old 
means of growth at acceptable rates of return, such as the use of increasing quantities of 
fertilizer.
20. In this context, we think the work by Evenson and others with respect to the rates 
of return on biological science research and the contribution of that work to growth should 
be seen not as a means of carefully measuring the returns to research so that just the right 
amount of research funds can be appropriated but rather, to dramatize the very crucial role 
which research plays, in complement to other inputs, on the total development process, It
is more logical to use those data to document that research is an absolutely essential com­
plement to the other processes of growth, and must be developed, expanded and its efficiency 
increased.
21. In this context of rice specifically and South and Southeast Asia generally, it 
seems clear that research has shown a potential to measurably affect production growth rates 
- as noted above for the Philippines and India and more dramatically in small sub-regions.
But that is an indication of potential. It seems patently obvious in the context of South 
and Southeast Asia that the research effort has a long way to go before even the mass of 
relatively easy problems are solved. Thus, it would seem that the question on expanding 
IRRI or increasing expenditure on research generally is really not whether research is im­
portant or whether the marginal returns will cover the marginal costs. Rather the questions 
are what is the organizational absorptive capacity for such expenditure. How should increased 
expenditures be proportioned between the national systems and the international institutes? 
What should be the proportion of expenditures between various disciplines within the Insti­
tute? How quickly can the institutes expand and still maintain the high degree of effective­
ness which they have had in the past? It is with these questions that we shall deal at 
least indirectly in the main body of the report. It seems likely that in this respect, 
our analysis is very conservative, in effect, weighing perceived financial constraints and 
organizational absorptive capacity very heavily. As a result, the suggestions for expansion 
of staff and facilities are most conservative relative to the returns likely to additional 
research and hence, will receive extremely high rates of return as compared to other aspects 
of rural development.
Criteria for Justifying Research Expenditure
Magnitude Involved:
22. The preceding analysis leads to the conclusion that it is premature and naive to 
judge the success of an Institute such as IRRI in terms of its direct measurable impact on
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national or regional rice production — even though that is quite properly the operationally
appropriate objective. 
23. Rice, grown under much more complex conditions than wheat, was found to require a
longer, more complex research structure, working for a longer period of time before growth
rates accelerated. The magnitude involved in even small, difficult to measure increments in
growth rates in rice production are immense — for example, one percentage point addition 
to the growth rate of rice production adds a stream of additional output in South and South-
east Asia alone of about 3300 million per year; equivalent to a healthy rate of return on
33 billion. In terms of the record observed for wheat and the early but limited breakthrough
in rice, accelerating the growth rate by one or even two percentage points seems quite
possible. The production increase will of course be a joint product of many inputs including
investment in fertilizer, irrigation, and many institutions. Research does not substitute
for that large investment in inputs, Both those investments cannot pay and will not be made
unless research raises the returns to such investment. Note the slackening of the growth 
ete in fertilizer used in the Philippines just before the new rice varieties came on the 
scene and the tremendous increase in investment in irrigation in association with introduc­
tion of high yield crop varieties.
The Genetic Potential;
2 A. Research on the yield potentials of the rice plant at IRRI show potentials of some
50 per cent higher than the maximum yields so far achieved in yield trials. Such incre-
ments are of course several times the average yield levels in actual rice production in the
region. The expenditure on basic research is infintesimally small compared to the impact
on aggregates of tens of billions of dollars in value of production, The questions must
necessarily be about institutional absorbitive especialty, balance of scientists and areas 
of work and division of effort among institutions and efficiency of the work system, not
the overall justification of such research, The effectiveness of part of the research
structure may properly be judged by the closing of the gap between experiment station yields
and the genetic potential, In its early years IRRI closed that gap substantially. It would
be appropriate to see a further closing of that gap in the next 5 years.
The Current Farm Production Potentials;
25. Research on farmers fields show yields attained with current knowledge on the order
of ijr to 2 times and 1+ to 2 tons more than farmers actually achieved, However, to a sub-
stantial extent such yield levels are not yet economic over wide areas. These data suggest
important areas of research for making the higher yields economic through lower cost pest
control, greater plant resistance to pests and so on. Again the economic value of adding
production increments of this value is so immense that one can say simply that financial
constraints should never be allotted to impede expansion of the research system. The critical
questions remain: (a) what is the institutional capacity to utilize added personnel; (b)
how may the capacity and the supply of personnel be enlarged; (c) and what is the most ef-
fective allocation of existing capacity among problem areas.
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26. The latter question of allocating capacity among problem areas deserves careful 
attention. Oil the one hand the bases for research success are so little understood that the
Institute must maintain effort over a wide range of problem areas - from breeding to
mechanization - and a wide range of disciplines, On the other hand, there is a basis for 
; systematic analysis of allocations at the margin, The economists can bring to bear an 
analytical system for viewing these questions, The "constraint" study can provide consid-
erable insight as the relative importance of various problems and approaches. It is im-
portant, given the uncertainty and small data base, that an open and close interaction 
occur between participants in the "constraints" work with their knowledge of the farm pro­
duction situation and the representatives of the disciplines with their insights into the
technical capabilities of their discipline, Prom such interaction should come a more con-
sidered allocation effort among and within such areas as engineering, chemical pest control,
plant breeding and other approaches to yield increase, It would be appropriate to raise
the question after the next five years as to what extent the current gap between farmers
yields and IRRI ability on farmers fields has been closed.
27. The question of institutional capacity and division between national and inter- 
national systems interact, Suffice to say that since absorbitive capacity to use funds is
the key constraint to obtaining research results, then IRRI's efforts to foster growth of
national research systems has potential for huge payoff in production results, There should
therefore be constant questions raised as to how IRRI's efforts may affect and foster de­
velopment of vastly expanded and more effective national systems.
-io­
ni. RESEARCH PROGRAMMES, PRIORITIES & ACCOMPLISHHEIITS
1. Genetic Evaluation and Utilization (GEU)
28. The program of "Genetic Evaluation and Utilization" has three major components 
which overlap each other: (l) a germplasm bank; (2) an evaluation and breeding program; 
and (3) an international testing program. The GEU Program involves about one third of 
the total personnel time (and budget) of IRRI, and it constitutes the single largest pro­
gram at the Institute. Its purpose is to assemble the total world-wide genetic resources 
of the rice species and to utilize the total variability of the species to develop vari­
eties which will improve and stabilize yields. Although IRRI scientists from various 
disciplines have cooperated in the breeding of varieties since the Institute was founded, 
the present formal GEU program was started two years ago to systematize and to encourage 
an interdisciplinary team approach to breeding superior varieties. Each team consisted of 
a plant breeder plus one or more specialists (e.g. agronomist, entomologist, plant patho­
logist, soil scientist) who contribute by screening and testing for superior plant type, 
tolerance to insects, diseases, adverse soil conditions, or other production related 
factors. Each team is organized and plans its operations so as to provide for an orderly 
flow of genetic materials from the germplasm bank, through large scale crossing and 
selection programs, to the distribution of improved genotypes to national programs. The 
TAC mission observed various aspects of the operation of the GEU program in Thailand and 
Indonesia and it also reviewed all of the major components of the programme in detail at 
IRRI headquarters. The GEU program is very large and complex. Consequently, we will des­
cribe only its main features and then comment on steps which might enhance its effective­
ness.
i. Germplasm Collection and Maintenance.
29. IRRI has been involved in germplasm collection and maintenance since its earliest
days. The success of its efforts with respect to these activities was highlighted in 1971 
when the rice breeders at the International Rice Breeding Symposium urged that IRRI assume 
global responsibility for genetic conservation in rice, a responsibility that was assigned 
to IRRI in 1975 by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources. The IRRI germplasm 
bank now contains more than 30,000 accessions of Oryza sativa cultivars and breeding lines, 
900 accessions of African rices (0. glaberrima), 1100 populations of wild taxa representing 
about 20 species, and 600 genetic testers and mutants. An aggressive program of field col­
lections has been carried out, expecially since 1972, which appears to have assembled most 
of the genetic variability in certain areas of the world. However, a number of possibly 
important areas in more than a dozen countries remain inadequately covered (e.g. China, 
parts of several Southern Asian Countries, the more remote areas of the Indian subcontinent 
and much of West Africa). Further, many special ecological niches remain to be collected
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for traits such as the following; tolerance to salinity, tolerance to acid, or alkaline 
soil conditions, floating ability, tolerance to heat, cold and drought, and resistance to
both ma.jor and presently minor diseases and insect pests, A schedule has been prepared
for direct IRRI participation in collecting in about a dozen of those areas in the period
XQ^6_X^oO and plans have also been made to collect still other areas and in certain special 
ecological niches, through cooperative arrangements with national programs, IRRI has
trained genetic stock officers for several countries and has also prepared two field 
manuals to aid collectors in performing their task more efficiently. IRRI systematically
collects 37 items of morphological and agronomic data on each accession as well as reaction
to two major diseases and one insect pest. To date, more than 25,000 accessions have been
characterized. These data are entered on computer cards for future detailed analysis.
30. As the collection has grown in size and also as the number of calls for seed from 
national programs has increased (approximately 5,600 seed packages were sent to 229 over-
seas scientists in 1974-1975), the facilities for this progran have been increasingly over-
taxed. At present, the program is hampered by inadequate laboratory space for processing
seek packets for distribution to national programs, Facilities for preserving the items
in the collection are perhaps even more restrictive; they are inadequate in both amount of
storage space and also quality of storage space especially for long term storage. Even
more important, the storage facilities are located in a building which serves as headquarters
for the field operations of the Institute, A great deal of electrical equipment, kerosene
powered driers, threshing equipment and so on operate beside the seed storage area and they 
post a major fire hazard to this irreplaceable collection, Another major problem associated
with preservation involves rejuvenation of genetypes which are unadapted to the Philippine
environment (especially African stocks and stocks which are susceptible to the numerous 
diseases and insects which occur at Los Banos). Clearly, effective maintenance of such
stocks is possible only in suitable habitats outside the Philippines.
ii. Screening and Hybridization
31. Rice is cultivated under a wide range of growing conditions including irrigated
areas with good water control, upland and lowland rainfed areas, deep water areas, and
under circumstances in which soil, temperature or other conditions are adverse. Rice is
also often cultivated in two or even three different seasons in any given area and in 
these different seasons temperature, disease and/or pest problems are often not the same. 
Specific combinations of characteristics are therefore needed for different sets of cir- 
cumstances amd IRRI has developed the International Rice Testing Program (IRTP) to clas-
sify rice germplasm for utilization in the national programs, The first international
nursery to be established was the Uniform Blast Nursery (19^3). Subsequently, eleven 
additional nurseries have been added which are listed here because their titled give an
idea of the difersity of characterists for which rice is being classified in the inter­
national testing program (numbers in parentheses are, respectively, the number of nurseries 
and number of countries in which the nurseries were grown in 1975):
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International Rice Yield Nursery, Early Maturity (49, 20) 
International Rice Yield Nursery, Medium Maturity (38, 15) 
International Upland Rice Yield Nursery (33, 16)
International Rice Observation Nursery (83, 32)
International Upland Rice Observation Nursery (51, 18) 
International Rice Blast Nursery (47, 26)
International Rice Sheath Blight Nursery (19, ll)
International Rice Tungro Nursery (l8, 7)
International Rice Brown Planthopper Nursery (20, 11)
International Rice Gall Midge Nursery (20, 8)
International Rice Salinity Tolerance Observation Nursery (17, 12) 
International Rice Cold Tolerance Nursery (34, 18).
32. These nurseries are supplied to the national programs on request. IRRI has pre-
pared special field books for each nursery to foster uniform data collecting and it summarizes
results and makes the data available to cooperators. Special attention is directed to the
International Rice Observation Nursery because it contains widely diverse genetic material 
(about 300 entries) and it is also exposed to the greatest diversity of stresses (83 loca- 
tions). Hence, it provides more widely applicable information than the special nurseries 
which are designed to test for specific characteristics.
33. On the basis of information obtained from the International Rice Testing Program, 
and in response to requests from the national programs, IRRI made nearly 3000 crosses in 
1975. A vacuum emasculation system has been developed which greatly speeds up crossing. 
Hybrid seeds of rice are naked and difficult to grow because of their vulnerability during 
germination, Consequently, Fq hybrids are grown at IRRI where appropriate germination
facilities are available. Some national programs have capability for making hybrids and 
some additional thousands of hybrids are now made in cooperating programs each year; thus, 
IRRI has stimulated a systematic scrambling of rice germplasm which is unprecedented in 
scope. The policy has also been to grow F2 hybrids at IRRI under 'unprotected conditions
to obtain a first screening for the more important diseases and insects. This F2 nursery
has to be inoculated with the bacterial blight organism however, under ERRI conditions.
Further screening for resistance to major diseases and insects pests is carried out in
both greenhouse and field tests during the F3 - F7 generations. Lines which combine
favorable traits are then entered into the International Rice Observation Nursery (or
other IRTP nurseries) for evaluation over the broad spectrum of environments covered by
that nursery. Many of these lines have been selected for more intensive testing in national
programs. Others are selected as parents by IRRI or by national programs for further rounds
of crossing (usually done at IRRI). Emphasis has shifted to multiple crosses (three parent
or three way and four parent or double crosses) to accelerate the combining of many desir-
able traits. Screening of multiple crosses begins in the F^ generation, and F2 and sub-
sequent generations are assigned according to cross to various special nurseries accoring
to degree of insect or disease resistance or other special traits required. Promising lines
are assigned to the IRTP or to advanced evaluation trials at any stage past the F-j genera-
tion. Some F2 populations have been sent directly to national programs and it is anticipated
«
- 13 -
that the national programs will increasingly request early generation materials. During 
1074-1975 more than 100,000 seed packets of promising lines were distributed, mostly through 
the International Rice Testing Program.
34. Practical, skills-oriented training is considered to be important for the scientists 
and technicians who handle the improved germplasm at the local level and select varieties for 
release to farmers. In 1975 the first GEU Training Program to improve skills was conducted.
35- No expansion of the hybridization and testing program at Los Banos is anticipated. 
Instead emphasis is being shifted toward more effective evaluation of performance in the In­
ternational Rice Testing Program and toward refining and redirecting efforts according to 
results of international testing.
Breeding for Specific Traits
36. Systematic screening for specific traits which limit productively began at IRRI
in 1962 with the initiation of a program to test for resistance to the blast disease.
Shortly thereafter testing for resistance to stemborers, bacterial blight, the tungro virus 
and leafhoppers was incorporated into the program and by 1970 screening for tolerance to a 
number of yield limiting edaphic factors as well as testing for quality were added. At
present the program includes systematic testing and breeding for 37 specific problem traits. 
Aboxit 35,000 breeding lines are tested annually at Los Banos for such traits, especially for
reaction to diseases and insects and for quality, including protein content (no line is
tested for all 37 traits), Lines with desirable expressions of such traits are made avail-
able to the national breeding programs and these materials have been utilized extensively
in the national programs, Several of the national programs have developed capacity for ft.
evaluating specific traits and, in total, these programs probably test more lines than are
tested at Los Banos. With the recent enlargement of the International Rice Testing Program
coordination between the IRRI program and the national programs has improved and results
have become quickly available throughout the network, A dynamic system thus appear to be
developing for facilitating the international flow of materials which carry favorable ex­
pressions of specific traits needed in breeding programs.
Breeding for Adaptation to Local Conditions
37- The initial breeding success at IRRI was the development of IRS, a variety with
yielding capacity vdiich far exceeded the known potential for tropical rices at the time
of its release in 1966. Ir3 was short, stiff-strawed and early, which proved to be widely
adapted, especially in high input agricultural systems featuring good water control, heavy
fertilization and insect control, It soon came to occupy a significant part of the tropical
rice area. However IR8 was susceptible to most of the major diseases and pests of rice and
it was inadequate in quality, The major effort at IRRI during the next decade was to eli-
minate these specific defects; the result was a series of named varieties, IR20, IR22,
IR26, IR 28, IR29, IR30, IR32, IR34, which gave the farmer substantial protection against 
loss from diseases and pests and certain unfavorable soil conditions, However, lines with
desirable traits will nearly always be found in varieties that are inferior to the new high
- 14 -
yielding varieties and often they are found only in very poorly adapted types. Thus, as
each such gene is introduced into the high-yielding genotype a block of linked genes which
ma;t have adverse effects on yield and adaptation will also be introduced. Evidently this
has happened in the successors of IR8 because they are generally inferior to that variety
in agronomic characteristics. IRRI breeders recognize that they have sacrifieddssome of
the yield potential of the IR8 type in incorporating multiple disease and insect resistance
into the more recent varieties and they are now taking steps which will place more emphasis
on breeding for improved agronomic type, including adaptation to local conditions. These
steps include: (l) increased emphasis on international nurseries which include materials
adapted to diverse habitats (e.g. the Early Maturity International Nursery, the Late
Maturity International Nursery, the International Upland Rice Observation Nursery and the
International Rice Observation Nursery) which are widely grown and thus make the available
germ plasm known and available to the national programs; (2) the distribution of ?2 or
other early generation materials to the national programs; (3) reducing selection ior spe­
cific traits at Los Banos to reduce the elimination of genes favorable to local adaptation
that accompanies severe reduction in numbers resulting from relay selection; (4) discon-
tinuing (on November 14, 1975) the policy of naming varieties, thus transferring the res­
ponsibility for varietal release of IRRI varieties to national organizations, This policy
is likely to lead to much more stringent selection for combinations of general and speci-
fic characteristics that lead to superior local adaptation. The present trend is thus the
logical one of transferring more and more of the selection away from Los Banos to local
areas as the national programs become stronger.
Evaluation and Recommendations
33. General. The IRRI program of Genetic Evaluation and Utilization has demonstrated
that improved varieties, coupled with appropriate management practices, can greatly in-
crease rice yields. The earliest success of the IRRI rice improvement program, the intro-
duction of TNI from Taiwan and the breeding of the variety IRS, introduced a widespread
awareness of the greater yield potential of indica rice. Subsequently, the program was
responsive to second generation problems and at present it is continuing to adjust flexibly 
in efficient utilization of the genetic diversity in the rice species to meet both the im-
mediate and long-term needs of the rice farmer, The rice improvement program, overa.il,
has been and continues to be outstanding. Following are comments on each of the three
major components of the program:
(a) The Germplasm Bank
39- One of the first activities of the International Rice Research Institute after
its founding in 1962 was to develop a germplasm bank, The Institute carried out this
activity well and by 1975 the IRRI collection of rice germplasm contained more than 35,000 
accessions. This collection is housed in the service and work building of the Institute,
a building that contains a great deal of electrical equipment and other equipment that
create a fire hazard. Thus the IRRI Germplasm Bank, which contains the global store of
- 15 -
genetic variability basic to breeding progress, is in constant jeopardy, We regard the de-
velopment of safe and adeguate facilities for the protection of this most basic and largely
irreplaceable resource to be by far the top priority need of the Institute.
/!0. Physical facilities for conserving and disseminating rice germplasm are inadequate 
in size safety and quality for efficient execution of the GEU program, including the Inter-
na-tional Rice Testing Program, In addition to long- and medium-term storage to preserve the
collection, substantially enlarged facilities are required to process materials received and
to prepare seeds for distribution. The IRRI staff has estimated the space required for each
of the essential functions and an architect has developed a preliminary design for a Rice
Genetics Resource Laboratory, About 50^ of the space in the building would be devoted to
the Germplasm Bank, about 3f$ to Rice Evaluation and Breeding, and about to the Inter-
national Rice Testing Program. The total facility appears adequate to service a Germplasm 
Bank of 100,000 entries a number which represents the probable ultimate maximum size of the
germplasm collection since it is estimated that 100,000 entries will encompass the total 
genetic variability of the rice species. The facility as planned also appears adequate to 
service both the immediate and longer-term needs of the Rice Evaluation and Breeding Pro­
gram and the International Rice Testing Programe since, as discussed earlier, these programs
appear* to be approaching optimum size. Thus not only considerations of the security of the
IRRI rice collection but also considerations of the effectiveness of the utilization of
the collection lead us to call attention to the Rice Genetics Resources Laboratory as the 
top priority need of IRRI in furthering its program to meet the needs of the rice farmer 
on an international scale.
/l. In addition to the Rice Genetics Resources Laboratory' we comment on the future 
direction of the program of collecting and conserving germplasm with respect to the fol-
lowing items:
(i) The program of collecting, conserving and disseminating rice germplasm in 
cooperation with national and regional organizations represents one of IRRI's most import­
ant opportunities to serve rice-producing countries. Efforts to bring about duplicate 
storage in national and regional centers of rice accessions held in IRRI's collection
deserve encouragement. Similarly national and regional centers should be encouraged to 
deposit duplicates of their collections in the IRRI Germplasm Bank.
(ii) High priority should be given to early completion of assembling the still 
uncollected indigenous rices of South and Southeast Asia.
(iii) Collaborative efforts with national and regional institutions in Rest 
Africa to develop a plan for conserving African rices, including weed races, should be
sought.
(iv) The proposed global network to conserve rice germplasm shoiild be imple­
mented with assistance and guidance from the International Board for Plant Genetic Re­
sources. in particular, IRRI needs the assistance and collaboration of institutions in 
Rest Africa and in temperate Asia to rejuvenate seed stocks of African and temperate zone 
varieties that are unadapted in the Philippines.
- 16 -
(b) The Pace Evaluation and Breeding Program
''2. The Rice Evaluation and Breeding Program is by far the largest component of the
GEU Program both in terms of personnel and budget. Uhen the formal GEU program was set up 
about two years ago, the Rice Evaluation and Breeding Program was organized into 13 inter­
disciplinary teams responsible for the following areas of evaluation and breeding: (l) 
agronomic characteristics, (2) grain quality, (3) fundal diseases, (/:) virus diseases,
(5) bacterial diseases, (6) multiple disease resistance, (7) insect resistance, (3) 
protein content, (b) drought resistance, (10) adverse soil tolerance, (ll) deep water 
and flood tolerance, (12) temperature tolerance, (13) integration into an international 
GEU program. The teams consist of one to five scientists, including at least one plant
breeder plus other appropriate interdisciplinary personnel, such as plant pathologists,
entomologists, or plant physiologists, A GEU Operations Committee integrates the acti-
vities of the 13 teams.
•'3. The purpose of this organization into teams is to encourage the direct involve­
ment of scientists of all disciplines into the total GEU program and to integrate their
activities at both the decision-making and operational levels, Two years after its in- 
ception this organization appears to be functioning well. Uithin each tean the subject
matter experts make decisions appropriate to their area whereas decisions calling for 
multidisciplinary inputs are made on the basis of appropriate interchange and interaction
among team members, All of the specialists on the team who were interviewed expressed 
satisfaction with the system, This was also the case with the plant breeder member of
the team. There was also obvious satisfaction with the integration of activities over all 
teams. As a result of overlapping memberships on the various tea's, plus the activities 
of the operations committee, each participating scientist, regardless of discipline, felt 
that he was aware of the present status and general direction of the entire program. The 
system, up to this point, represents an example of interdisciplinary cooperation that may 
well be unrivalled in the area of genetic improvement.
(c) The International Rice Testing Program
The administration of the International Rice Testing Program was consolidated in 
early 1f 75 in order to (l) improve efficiency in testing germplasm and breeding lines and 
to make them available to national programs and (2) make the program more responsible to 
the needs of national programs. The TAC Mission observed International Testing Program 
nurseries at two locations in Indonesia (Bogor and Sukamandi) and discussed these nurseries 
with members of the staff at these stations. The nurseries were well managed and they 
were obviously highly regarded by the local staff. A broader view of these nurseries was 
obtained at IRRI headquarters in discussions with various staff members (including IRRI 
staff members resident in Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India). It is evident
that the IRTP provides easy access to a wide variety of breefing materials and that the 
program receives strong support from scientists in national programs (as well as from 
IRRI staff). This program would clearly benefit from a computer-based data management
- 17 -
system and this will be adopted as soon as necessary equipment becomes available. It will
also benefit from selective expansion in a number of locations to test for specific adapta-
tion and steps are being taken to correct this deficiency.
l'-5‘ The International Rice Testing Program will become of increasing importance with
the recognition that a wider range of rice varieties is needed to spread the new rice tech-
nology to the many areas and environments it has still not reached.
/6. It was with some concern, therefore, that the Team learnt that the program was
still funded as a Special Project with UNDP support, It is recommended that this program
which is basic to the whole of IRRI's cooperative activities, should be transferred to 
'core1 funding from the expiry date of the current special project.
2. Pest Control and Management
(a) Fungal, Bacterial and Virus Diseases 
(i) Current Status of Programme
n. Varietal resistance at present is the only economic means that is available to 
control the major diseases of rice, Disease control research at IRRI has appropriately 
avoided emphasis on chemical control which is often not dependable and too expensive for 
most small farmers. Thus research has been concentrated in the following areas:
l) development of effective methods for screening germ plasm collections to
identify specific and diverse sources of resistance so that genetic resistance to the
mo.jor plant pathogens will not have a single source;
2) the variability of the causal agent and the relationship of variability to
stability of resistance;
3) incorporation of resistance by crossing, screening progenies of crosses, 
and, when necessary, testing progeny at many different sites and environmental condi­
tions; and
/) in cooperation with the breeders, determination of the genetic bases of
The major fungal disease of rice on a worldwide basis at the present time is 
rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oiyzae. This disease is particularly serious under
upland and rainfed conditions and is much more serious in South America and Africa than in
tropical Asia. However, it represents a continuing threat to rice wherever it is grown and 
there is obviously a need to develop varieties with stable resistance to the blast fungus.
This pathogen has a remarkable ability to shift in virulence; there are no counterpart
examples in complexity in any of the known fungal diseases of plants. The blast fungus
not only has different pathogenic races in different localities and seasons, but cultures
of monoconidial origin consist of a number of different pathogenic races. Furthermore,
a given isolate from a single lesion does not necessarily produce progeny of equal viru-
lence or with the same race pattern. Recent studies at IRRI emphasize that the approaches
- 18 -
in breeding for blast resistance require continuing intensive efforts in the future, In
accordance with this need, the International Blast Nursery, which was first established in 
1963, has now been extended to 60 locations in over 30 countries, Background information
from observations obtained in these nurseries has made it possible during the past 12 years 
to identify varieties (Tetep and Carreon) with a broad spectrum of relatively stable re-
sistance to the blast fungus. Improved lines have been recovered now from Tetep and the
resistance from some of these lines is being maintained, These are currently under test 
and will be very helpful for future breeding work. The intensive screening program in 
which more than 50,000 lines per year can now be evaluated is making it possible to in­
sure that elite breeding lines distributed will have acceptable levels of resistance to the 
rice blast fungus at the time of distribution. It may be possible to identify lines which
represent the complete spectrum of race resistance and to hybridize these lines. Select­
ions can be screened at the three or four locations in the world where the rice blast fun-
gus occurs at epidemic levels each year, The best lines derived can be selected and hope-
fully will still possess the complete spectrum of race resistance, This cycle can be 
repeated until performance gains are no longer evident. After several cycles, it may be 
possible to synthesize a stable multi-line which can be incorporated into the GEU program.
49. Because of the complexity of the genetic system that governs virulence in the 
rice blast fungus and the time required to unravel the problem, basic studies on this 
problem cannot become a sole commitment of the present staff because of other essential
research responsibilities. Current efforts should certainly be encouraged to arrange for 
certain aspects of the work to be done by other research agencies in departments which 
have the requisite expertise.
50. A second important disease is sheath blight (Thanatephorus cucumeris). This
disease is a potential threat to new improved varieties since their density of growth 
concomitant with the use of increased levels of nitrogen apparently favors infection, One
of the difficulties in evaluation of resistance to sheath blight is the fact that this
disease mainly occurs as the plants approach maturity; thus rapid, large scale seedling 
evaluation tests are not possible. Disease development is also affected not only by stage 
of growth but also by very specific weather conditions. Large-scale testing in the field 
is therefore essential in order to evaluate materials. Furthermore, there is evidence of 
variation in virulence in the sheath blight fungus and the scope of this variability has 
not been fully assessed. Unfortunately, lines with high levels of resistance to sheath 
blight have not been detected as yet, although approximately 10,000 lines and varieties 
have been tested since 1972. The potential severity of the disease is evident when one 
considers the fact that yield loss experiments have shown reduction of up to 25^> in 
severely infected plots. In view of the current trends in the breeding program to develop 
nitrogen-responsive varieties characterized by dense growth patterns, monitoring of ad­
vanced breeding lines for susceptibility to this disease should be continued.
- 19 -
51. More efficient and rapid screening methods need to be developed with the expecta­
tion that materials can be screened without requiring current long-term field evaluation 
procedures as an essential requirements except in the advanced stage of development. Further­
more, higher levels of resistance need to be detected if there is any reasonable prospect of 
providing lines to the breeders in the GEU program with adequate levels of resistance. There 
is no question, however, that high susceptibility needs to be avoided and constant vigilance 
maintained as new lines and varieties are released.
52. Among the six virus, or virus-like, diseases of rice that occur in the tropics, 
the rico tungro disease is one which is currently the greatest threat to rice production in 
Southeast Asia. In 1971 this disease caused a 30loss in rice production in Central Luzon. 
Similarly in Sulawesi, in Indonesia, several thousands of hectares were seriously damaged by 
the disease. A second virus, grassy stunt, has increased in severity beca\ise of recent out­
breaks of one of its vectors, the brown planthopper. Fortunately, in three major rice grow­
ing areas (Philippines, Indonesia and India), two other virus diseases, yellow dwarf and 
orange leaf, are of minor importance becau.se the long latent period in the insect and the 
rapid early death of the infected plants minimizes the possibility of transmission and in­
tensification of these diseases in a given area.
53. Because of difficulties in controlling the insect vectors, effective control of 
tungro and grassy stunt depends on the development of resistant varieties. Evaluation of 
resistance to a virus disease such as tungro requires much more complex methodology than 
that required for other pathogens such as bacterial blight or rice blast. The only effective 
way of inoculating plants with the virus requires the use of the insect. This transmission 
is further complicated by the fact that the tungro virus does not persist in its insect vec­
tor. The current program has made it possible to increase greatly the number of entries that 
can be tested per year. However, the breeding program requires testing of large numbers of 
breeding lines at a given time. Procedures may need to be developed that will insure uniform 
infection of high plant populations under field conditions. A number of lines and varieties 
resistant to the tungro virus have been identified. These lines may involve resistance to 
tho insect vector and/or resistance to virus multiplication.
y. • A screening program similar to the one developed for the tungro virus has been 
developed for testing varietal resistance to grassy stunt. One selection from a species 
of wild rice has been obtained with resistance to grassy stunt. All of the recent varieties 
(lR2p, IP 29, IR30, 33132 and IR3''0 and most of the advanced breeding lines, now carry this 
grassy stunt resistant factor.
55. The increase in importance of bacterial blight as a threat to rice production was 
concomitant with the increased planting of the improved dwarf varieties of rice in Southeast 
Asia. The development of resistance has been complicated by the identification of distinct 
stains of the bacterium differing in virulence in different geographic areas. Improved in­
oculation procedures developed by IRRI scientists have made possible large-scale evaluation 
and genetic material with high levels of resistance are available for incorporation into im­
proved lines.
- 20 -
56. A number of relatively minor foliage diseases need to be watched carefully in the 
evolution of new breeding lines. In particular, observations should be continued on the 
relative prevalence and severity of Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora oryzae). At present 
this disease is considered to be a minor problem because it appears relatively late in the 
growing season and may have little impact on yield. However, Cercospora leaf spot appears 
to be more prevalent now on new breeding lines than previously. This pattern often signals 
subtle shifts in selection for factors governing resistance to a given pathogen. This dis- 
east does have the potential of causing heavy damage on susceptible varieties. It was nec­
essary to develop lines with high levels of resistance to this disease in the USA. This 
breeding effort was complicated by the evidence for a number of distinct races in the USA. 
Knowledge of the race situation in S. E. Asia is lacking at present.
57. Other diseases that also bear watching are leaf scald. (Rynchosporium oryzae), 
brown spot (Helminthosporium oryzae), stem rot, and in particular nematode diseases in up­
land rice.
58. Kore species of nematodes cause damage to upland rice than lowland rice; the rela­
tively rare occurrence of nematodes causing significant damage to lowland rice has been 
attributed to the impact of flooding on most phytopathogenic nematodes. It may be necessary 
in the future to consider adding a nematologist to the plant pathology group at UtRI in 
consideration of current long-range plans for increasing emphasis on upland rice.
(ii) Program Evaluation and Future Needs
59. In evaluating the effectiveness of the program in plant pathology the questions to 
be raised relate to whether or not sources of resistance to the major diseases of rice have 
been identified and whether effective techniques for screening for resistance have been 
developed. At present breeding lines with high to moderate resistance to blast, bacterial
blight, tungro and grassy stunt are available, Uniform and critical disease evaluation pro-
cedures are now available that make it possible to screen very large populations of plants. 
The methodology for screening rice breeding lines on which a large scale was not previously 
available, particularly in the cases of tungro and bacterial leaf blight.
60. Techniques for evaluation of resistance to sheath blight, a disease considered to 
be of minor importance until recently, have also been developed which have made it possible 
to demonstrate significant differences between lines in tolerance to attack by the sheath 
blight pathogen.
61. The establishment of international blast nurseries has served as a prototype for 
the establishment of bacterial blight nurseries and other recent developments of the Inter­
national Rice Testing Program.
62. As essential adjuncts to the work supportive to breeding, evaluation and varietal 
development programs and the newly established GEU project, investigations in plant pathology 
have added new knowledge in the following areas: recognition and description of 3 distinct 
virus diseases of rice (tungro, grassy stunt, and orange leaf), and their respective vectors, 
the non-persistant nature of the tungro virus in its insect vector, the existence of strains
&
- 21 -
of the "bacterial "blight pathogen differing in virulence to different rice varieties and breed­
ing lines, the nature of variability of the rice blast fungus and possible means of coping 
with its unusual capability for shifting virulence patterns.
63. In terms of future needs, consideration should be given to adding a senior scientist
to the pathology group preferably with depth of experience, or training, in fungal genetics
and/or epidemology. In view of the importance of rice blast research and the potential threat
of a number of other fungal pathogens it is essential that continuity be maintained. A
pathologist with background in fungal genetics would mesh well with the research capabilities
of the other scientists in the GEU program. A second area of alternative research capability 
would be an individual with experience in the area of epidemiology who could apply computer
technology in the analysis of disease epidemics.
6d. The prospects are high that the current efforts to increase cropping intensity will
have significant impact on diseases. Successive crops or rice with relatively short periods
between each crop enhance survival potential of diseases and insects, Relatively minor dis-
eases may increase in intensity and pathogens that normally only appear late in a given season
will possibly be present at high inoculum levels at the start of a growing cycle with result-
ait changes in epidemiological patterns. At present one entomologist has been assigned the
responsibility for total pest management in the cropping system program, It may be necessary
to consider the prospect of adding one additional staff member with ecological and spidemiol-
ogical training in plant pathology to assist in this program, The diversity of cropping
svstems with a variety of crops, each with its separate and distinctive groiips of pathogens,
will require an individual with very good broad general training in plant pathology. The
Department of Plant Pathology at UPLB can become directly involved in this area of study
with crops other than rice since several pathologists on their faculty are currently working
on the diseases of the specific crops involved.
65. The primary emphasis in development of the Cropping Systems Network has been placed
properly on an evaluation of the environmental and agronomic and socio-economic components
required. These were well covered in the tropics discussed in the papers included in the pro-
ceedings of The Cropping Systems Workshop (IRRI, March 1975)» However, the direct integra­
tion of pest management in the broad sense and disease control in particular, needs to be 
developed and expanded as the intial phases of the program are completed, In many areas
the reason farmers have for avoiding certain crop sequences is not just lack of knowledge
of technology but may be becatise of prior experience, Disease and insect attacks are im-
portant components of the negative attitude toward certain crops in a given area and caution 
needs to be exercised in expanding specific crop systems without careful monitoring programs
for possible development of disease and insect problems.
66. In a consideration of current programs supportive of GEU, efforts of pathologists
to select and hybridize lines with promising levels of resistance should be encouraged since 
there is an advantage in maintaining some diversity in approaches in the development of
genetic material that may be incorporated in advanced material. This work should be done
- 22 -
with the view that promising lines can be constantly introduced into the breeding program on 
a continuing basis and that the breeders are kept well informed of the progress in identifica-
tion of this material. In collaboration with the staff scientists concerned with breeding 
efforts should be made to identify the genetic basis for inheritance of factors for disease 
resistance as a concomitant to a program to ensure diversification of sources of resistance
to specific plant pathogens, Currently the genetic base for resistance to major pathogens
in IRRI varieties is restricted to a few sources and this is a cause of concern.
67. At present, staff members have not been involved in studies on the nature and con­
trol of fungi that may be involved in long-term storage problems. It is not known whether or
not new and improved varieties may be subject to new or different types of mold problems, The
prospect that increasing amounts of rice will be harvested with higher moisture levels almost 
insures the prospect of increased attack by mold fungi in storage. This is an area which
would be best handled by a pathologist working in concern with the engineers concerned with 
adequate design of drying and storage facilities.
(b) Control and Management of Rice Pests - Insects 
(i) Current Status of the Program
68. Approximately 70 insect species are recorded as pests of rice; of these 20 occur 
regularly and are considered of economic importance. However, as for most agricultural pests, 
detailed figures are lacking about the damage caused, but a 20 - 30 per cent loss of yield 
under uncontrolled conditions is generally accepted. Insects can thus be considered as one 
of the major factors in reducing rice production. With increased fertilizer usage, optimum 
water control, miltiple cropping, etc. losses due to insect attack may be even greater, as 
confirmed in experiments conducted from 1962 to 1975 at IRRI-
69- The objective of IRRI's program of control and management of rice insect pests is 
given as "to develop and test economically sound rice insect pest management practices and 
packages which optimize rice yields in the tropics without producing damage to the environ­
ment." This objective is realistic and is in line with the current concepts of modern 
insect control.
70. The major approaches used by IRRI entomologists to achieve the objectives are:
- to make the fullest use of host-plant resistance to control the major pest- 
species;
- to study the effectiveness of various insecticides and to develop the most 
appropriate application techniques;
- to study the economic significance of the individual pest-species;
- to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of naturally occurring biological 
control elements; and
- to develop a comprehensive integrated pest control program.
- 23 -
71. Of these objectives, the first two, and in particular the work on host plant resis­
tance, have so far received major attention. Host plant resistance alone is, however, not
adequate for permanent and effective control of the whole range of insect species attacking 
rice plants. The reasons are as follows:
varietal resistance is generally of a relative nature and there are only a 
few cases of high resistance approaching immunity;
for a greater number of species significant resistance has not been detected; 
through the development of biotypes, the insect species concerned may over­
come the host plant's resistance; and
the development of a resistant variety, when possible, takes at least 5 years, 
and sudden outbreaks of new pests can thus not be immediately controlled even 
if source of resistance were available.
72. The work carried out at IERI has resulted in the development of a series of varieties
with a high degree of resistanct to some of the major pests. The varieties IR20, IR26, IR28,
TR24, IH30, IR 32, and IR34 were bred to be moderately resistant to the striped stemborer. 
A number of varieties has been identified as moderately resistant to the yellow stemborer;
however, few of the current varieties show significant resistance to all the four stemborer 
species known and which are, on the whole, probably the most series pests of rice.
73. The varieties IR26, IR28, IR29, IR30, and IR34 possess a high degree of resistance 
to the green lcafhopper, the vector of tungro virus, and to the brown planthopper, which
causes hopper-bum and also transmits grassy stunt virus. In the latter species the exist- 
enee and development of biotypes has been well recognized by IRRI scientists and steps are 
being undertaken to cope with this problem.
74. Work in breeding for resistance to rice gall midge has been undertaken in close 
collaboration with scientists from India and Thailand. The resistance of IR32 to rice gall midge
midge was the outcome of such cooperative experiments conducted by scientists in India.
75- Which a great amount of material has been tested, so far no significant resistance 
is identified against rice whorl maggot and rice leaf folder. The latter has in recent
years, often been observed to infest heavily those fields planted with high-yielding, short-
statured rice varieties.
76. In view of the limitations of host-plant resistance other control techniques should 
also be considered carefully. For the immediate future, synthetic organic pesticides will 
be the most effective tools to control rice insects. Insecticides offered by various manu­
facturers are continuously tested in IRRI's screening programme. Those compounds which show 
promise in the laboratory and greenhouse screening are further evaluated under field condi-
tions. Particular attention is paid to the search for those insecticides with a low mammalian 
toxicity and which are rather selective. This type of work is very time-consuming and re­
quires regular contacts with about 25 chemical companies relying quite heavily on IRRI's
facilities for field testing.
- 24 -
77. The early field work on pesticide application techniques was mainly on foliar sprays, 
hut these proved in general not very effective and consequently frequent applications were 
necessary. The search for alternative application techniques led to the use of granular
systemic insecticides applied to the soil and water of paddy fields. This method was further 
developed and led finally to the root zone application technique. This was more efficient and 
gave longer lasting results than paddy water application. One application proved generally
sufficient for a season-long control, compared to 6 applications needed when broadcast ap­
plication was involved. This longer residual activity is apparently due to the fact that 
the chemical is readily available to the roots and is protected from decomposition and leach­
ing.
76. Plant analysis studies have shown that a systemic insecticide placed in the root 
zone was taken up by the plant in greater quantities than when it was broadcast in the paddy 
field. The insecticide levels in the plant were 8-10 times higher; even at 70 days after 
treatment concentration was still twice that of the other treatments carried out at 20-day
intervals. This method seems therefore very promising and simple techniques and equipment
have been developed by IRRI scientists to apply the insecticides in the root zone (e.g. the
so-called mudball technique and the use of a very simple soil applicator). It is now planned
to test the most promising control technology under varying climatic and soil conditions
throughout the Philippines.
7?. 'T'he high efficiency of the root zone method, the application of which in practice 
is still relatively limited, creates theoretically increased chance for the development of
insecticide resistant instect—strains. Care should therefore be taken that such a develop-
ment can be detected at an early stage. 
80. The studies on the ecology of the commonly occurring rice pest species have provided 
a considerable amount of useful data. Observations on the population fluctuations of the
brown planthopper, the green leafhooper and the rice sternborers showed that these insects can
be rather easily monitored. Data on seasonal population changes may therefore serve as a
basis for perper timing of insecticidal applications, These studies have also shown the
stimulating effect of a number of agricultural practices on the abundance of certain species. 
Planthoppers and leafhoppers have become more important during recent years.
81. The orevalence of parasites and predators in rice fields is under study and it nas 
so far been found that in particular the number of predators of the green leafhopper and
the brown planthopper is often relatively high. The primary objective of this work is to
quantify the role these beneficial organisms play and to study methods which permit not onlj
maintenance but increase of their activity. Further, a screening program is to be developed 
to test the selectivity of the various insecticides used for the control of rice pests.
82. A significant contribution to the effective control of the brown planthopper has
been the establishment of the "economic injury level". This threhold is now part of the of-
ficial rice pest-control recommendations in the Philippines and Taiwan, Studies have also
been initiated to determine the economic injury thresholds of other important pest species.
- 25 -
On the basis of such information, it will he possible to formulate a pest-control scheme
which can make the best integrated use of both barietal resistance and insecticidal control. 
83. Within the cropping systems programme, entomological studies are undertaken to
nrovide a practical pest management package of recommendations for each cropping pattern.
To achieve this goal, the major pest species as well as their natural enemies in the various 
crops are listed. This concerns in total ten cropping patterns including 8 major field
crops. For the moment, pesticides will be the mainstay of control measures. The effective-
ness of pesticides is now tested empirically, utilizing pesticides currently available to 
the farmer. Ifhere possible, use will also be made of varietal resistance.
(ii) Program Evaluation and Future Needs
8/.. Four entomologists are currently employed by IERI to carry out tne various activities 
described above. One of the senior entomologists is at the same time Director of Research an
and only some 20 per cent of his time is devoted to entomological research, The other three
entomologists spend on an average 50$ of their time on research, 20$ on administration and
'j—lOfj on receiving visitors (mainly representatives from pesticide companies). Tne rest is 
spent on activities such as teaching, seminars and travel. One entomologist is fully occupied
with the cropping systems program.
85. In the opinion of the Team the entomological research undertaken at IREI should 
mainly cover topics which are of relevance to the overall crop protection problems in rice 
growing. The current program is well in line with this criterion.
86. It is considered that the breeding program for host-plant resistance has been ex-
tremely productive and that it is of excellent quality. This work has not only been of great
benefit in rice-growing, but the outstanding results obtained have considerably stimulated
similar work being undertaken elsewhere on other crops. It can therefore be stated that
these activities of IRRI have been of benefit to the development of crop protection research
in general. Care should be taken to see that this high performance can be maintained. In
this connection some concern must be expressed that the managerial duties of the senior
entomologist responsible for the host-plant resistance work might detract from the scientific
guidance of the program, in the future.
87. Proposals have recently been put forward for closer collaboration between IRRI and 
the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Such collaboration
could well have relevance for IRRI's future program of work.
88. It has often been claimed that basic studies on the biochemical factors governing 
the relationship bètween phytophagous insects and their host plants might considerably faci- 
litate the selection of resistant crop varieties. The practical proof for this hypothesis
is still lacking and work carried out in this regard has shown that the insect—host—plant
relationship is extremely complex. A great deal of research is still needed to clarify
current ideas.
- 26 -
3o. The analysis of the mechanisms governing the resistance of certain rice varieties
(particuarly those with a high degree of resistance) towards certain rice pests might he of 
help in evaluating the potential use which can he made of this background knowledge in the 
improvement of rice resistance to pests. Basic ecological and physiological research is 
needed for this type of work which falls under the mandate of ICIFE. The possible practical 
implications would best be appreciated if close collaboration with ERI could be ensured.
90. The major pests for which experimental material is available are not encountered 
in Africa and IRRI therefore believes that most of the work will need to be done at ERI.
This vie-- is supported particularly since the research will certainly include a rather large 
amount of insect behavious studies. ERI is excellently equipped to provide the material and 
the necessary field and laboratory facilities, although some extra greenhouse facilities 
might be needed.
91. As a first step towards this collaboration, an ICIPE scientist might be stationed 
at ERI. Regular contacts with ICIPE's headquarters will be needed, as they are well-equipped 
to provide technical support through the Chemistry Research and Sensor;/ Physiology Research 
Units. But the detailed character and the amount of support needed from the headquarters 
can only be realistically appreciated at a later stage. It is therefore suggested that nego­
tiations with ICIPE be continued with the aim of producing some firm proposals for collabora­
tion.
9?. The research on insecticides has resulted in the development of a very effective 
and economical application technique which is easily adaptable to various rice growing situ- 
a. t ions. A1though the current screening program of pesticides provides an excellent opportu­
nity to identify potential new compounds in an early stage, it also implies a. great amount 
of routine work which is normally not undertaken in agricultural research institutes, The
evaluation of the results and the necessary contacts with commercial representatives require 
a considerable amount of time, which is thus lost for innovative research activities, Of
the 50 compounds screened so far during 1975 none has proven more promising than the pestici-
des currently used, The Team considers therefore that these activities should be reduced to
a minimum level.
93. The development of new application techniques, such as the root zone application, 
may have considerable impact on the amount of residues found in the rice plant. This could 
he of importance in particular in cases where rice-straw and bran is used to feed cattle.
It is ERI's responsibility to foresee this type of impact of its pesticide application recom­
mendations. The analytical work needed to obtain the necessary information should however 
be subcontracted, when necessary, to specialized public institutions.
The work undertaken on the ecology of rice pests, including study on biological 
control elements, crop-loss^evaluation studies and the study of an integrated control package, 
is of high quality and very productive. This type of work Bhould permit the development of 
standardized sampling techniques and the subsequent establishment of procedures to determine 
the economic injury levels of the major rice pests in other rice growing countries. Both ele­
ments are of basic importance for the development of an effective and lasting pest-control 
strategy.
- 27 -
95- The testing out of such a strategy has however to he done under the various agro- 
ecological conditions. Optimal use of IRRI's findings in this field can only be made there-
fore when an effective exchange mechanism for this type of information can be established
with entomologists working with the same objectives in the various rioe producing countries.
A very commendable effort in this direction has already been made by the recently initiated
regular publication by the Entomology Department of "The Rice Entomology Newsletter", This
publication is aimed at providing: (l) a rapid, informal, and inexpensive means of com­
municating new pest problems, new ideas and new research findings; (2) a medium for re­
porting the results of international experiments; (3) a forum for disseminating news of
common interest. The eventual linkage with other international programs on integrated pest
control might further increase the possibilities for making the fullest use of IRRI's re­
search findings.
96. The development of new cropping systems, particularly those increasing the number 
of rice crops during the year will almost certainly lead to an increase of pest problems. 
Particularly in areas formally characterized by a distinct crop-free season, The careful
evaluation of such a development is of imminent importance and it is strongly recommended 
that efforts should be directed to those crops combinations that can reduce such a develop-
ment.
97. As mentioned above, IRRI is currently undertaking an effective entomological re-
search program which covers a rather large range of modern pest control problems, This pro-
gram is however of a rather pragmatic character due to the relatively small number of
researchers involved. This is particularly so when one considers the overall importance of
rice pests in rice growing, The current staff is successfully carrying out the program
particularly so as they are assisted by a rather large number of technicians, and it is 
anticipated that they will be able to formulate practical solutions. They do not however
have the ability to study in detail the factors that govern the population changes of the
major pests. Such studies might provide answers to the question as to why the overall pic-
ture of insect pests in rice growing has changed so dramatically over the last 10 years.
Answers are needed that would contribute to the future avoidance of major catastrophies
such as those caused by Tungro and the brown planthopper.
98. The cropping systems studies involve a highly complex variety of insects. The de-
velopment of efficient and economic pest control programs for each of the situations studied
will require a large number of detailed studies on population changes, complemented by a
critical evaluation of various control elements. It should not be expected that one ento-
mologist can successfully take care of all the aspects of such a program.
99- In summaiy, the entomological program currently undertaken by IRRI is very pro-
ductive. In the opinion of the Team the amount of screening work on pesticides should be
reconsidered and preferably reduced to the benefit of the research on host-plant resistance.
More basic ecological studies will be needed to evaluate at the earliest possible stage the
- 28 -
impact of the introduction of the package of modern rice growing technology on the status of 
rice pests in the various rice growing countries. This should also include a study of the 
secondary consequences of the introduction of new pest control methods, It is therefore reco-
mmended that an insect ecologist be added to the research staff and that the extension of 
greenhouse facilities, which are already rather limiting in the current program of work, be 
undertaken as soon as possible.
(c) Weed Control
(i) Status of the Current Program
100. Weeds as competitors of agricultural crops in using space, water, nutrients and 
sunlight require constant attention and thus weed control has almost invariably been in in­
tegral part of man's activities to grow his crops successfully. 
101. With the introduction of modem rice varieties of a more compact habit often result­
ing in a more intensive use of soil and other production inputs, the problems of weed control
have become even more acute, For example, weed control for direct seeded rice is more critical
and more difficult than for transplanted rice. The control of weeds in double cropping may 
delay considerably the time needed for soil preparation for the second crop. Depending on
environmental situations and on the availability of sufficient labor, weeds might thus be­
come one of the main factors interfering with crop productivity. These problems are in
general even more apparent under upland conditions than in irrigated rice growing. 
102. At IRRI, two agronomists are responsible inter alia for the weed control research 
program. The objectives of this program are to examine the agro-economic importance of 
weeds in rice growing to evaluate current weed control practices, to develop weed control
technology, and to study integrated weed control practices to minimize the need for herbicides. 
103. Research so far undertaken has considerably increased the knowledge of chemical 
weed control in rice growing. An important finding was the identification of low-cost herbi­
cides (of the 2.4-D type) for transplanted tropical rice. The effectiveness of 2.4-D however, 
varies considerably between locations mainly due to difference in water control and to the
composition of the weed population. Very effective selective herbicides have since been 
identified for transplanted rice; there are however all more expensive than the 2.4-D types. 
New herbicide screening is usually completed by an evaluation in farmers' fields.
104. For direct-seeded flooded rice, certain herbicides available commercially in several 
Asian countries, give excellent weed control without injury to the rice crop. The ultimate 
use made of such compounds will of course depend to a large extent on the costs involved to 
the farmer. For the moment, the majority of the weeding in rice growing countries is still 
carried out by hand or with simple hand tools.
105. Other results indicate that:
- the use of herbicides to control annual weeds in transplanted rice creates 
ideal growing conditions for certain perennial weeds;
- 29 -
- For long-term control of more difficult and persistent weed species, a low rate 
of herbicide followed by light weeding and relatively high plant densities is
recommended; and
- the response of rice to nitrogen fertilizer application is markedly influenced 
by the adequacy of weed control.
One of the two agronomists is specifically involved in weed management in the crop- 
ping systems program. The objective of this is to provide a weed management package for
the major cropping patterns used by rice farmers, starting with the pattern presently used
at the outreach test sites.
(ii) Evaluation and Future Heeds
107. The weed control research at IRRI is undertaken against the background of producing
a complete package of modern rice growing technology enabling the farmer to icnrease his rice
production. This leads to the situation that IRRI is undertaking a rather intensive testing
program in herbicides although the farmers' usage is still relatively small. The cropping
systems program for example, is relying heavily on rather expensive herbicides to avoid weed
problems in the second rice crop, But the costs of these herbicides might exclude their use
under normal farming conditions, The impression was formed that the further development of
chemical weed control might widen even further the considerable gap between available
knowledge and the current application practices, The Team therefore feels that for the im-
mediate future, more emphasis should be placed in the weed control program on increasing 
the development of efficient and economic non-chemical weed control methods.
8. Cropping Systems
108. Research on cropping systems constitutes a major inter-disciplinary project, second 
only to GEU, and absorbing almost a quarter of the institute's budget.
109. The program was begun at IRRI many years ago by Prof. Richard Bradfield, who de-
veloped techniques for fitting a variety of legumes and other crops betv/een rice plantings, 
with the primary objectives of improved human nutrition and soil fertility maintenance. 
Bradfield's innovative experiments revealed the opportunities available for more intensive
and diferse cropping.
110. Given the limited scope for further increases in area under crops and for major
yield advances beyond those now attainable in the field with high inputs, more intensive 
cropping systems offer the main route to increased food production and the more efficient
use of land, labor and capital resources, It is this consideration that has led to the rapid
build-up of the cropping systems program at IRRI. This currently comprises 7 senior staff
at Los Banos, most of them recent appointments, as well as a substantial part of the co-
operative country programs, especially in Indonesia.
(a) Rice-rice systems
111. In many areas with rainfed lowland rice, which constitutes about half of all the 
rice grown, the wet season is probably long enough to support at least two crops of rice. 
Commonly, however, the one crop is transplanted rather late with traditional varieties of 
long duration, harvested at the end of the rainy season.
- 30 -
112. Research at IRRI has shown that in many of these areas, at least two crops of rice 
can he harvested during the wet season, particularly if the first is sown early in the season
■by direct seeding, and the second is transplanted immediately after the first crop is harves­
ted, often after zero tillage hut some herbicide treatment, To do this successfully has 
required some ingenious agronomic research, as well as access to shorter duration varieties.
Such practices significantly decrease the farmer's leisure time, and may expose the crops 
to additional losses hy rats and other pests where the innovative farmers crops are the
only ones ripening early in the district, In many cases, however, the risks seem slight, and
the Team saw several convincing demonstrations at Batangas and Ilo-ilo, of the major increases
in output obtained in farmer's fields. In fact, so convincing are the demonstrations that
the practice is spreading rapidly to other farms in the test areas and the Philippine Depart­
ment of Agriculture has developed plans to expend this practice on a considerable scale next 
year . Many aspects of these techniques require further study, however, and it is to be hoped
that IRRI's reputation will not suffer from their early and rapid extension beyond the experi­
mental areas. Moreover, if quickly adopted on a large scale, quite major problems of local 
oversupply and storage of grain could develop, especially for the mid-monsoon harvest when
the danger of mycotoxin production may be greater.
(b) More Complex Systems
113. Rice-rice may be the most suitable cropping system on some heavy textured paddy
soils, in some cases followed by a legume crop such as raung-bean. On lighter soils and in
areas with a shorter wet season, the rice crop may be preceded or more commonly followed by
maize, sorghum, soybeans, mung-beans, peanuts, cassava and other crops, Apart from their
nutritional advantages, such multiple crop systems are probably also beneficial in terms
of fertility maintenance, and the control of weeds, pests and diseases.
114. Variety trials on the associated crops are being conducted to determine the most
suitable cultivars, particularly as regards duration. Success in devising some of the
more intensive cropping systems depends on access to varieties of short duration and ap—
propriate flowering behavior. Indeed, it is the unavailability of these that has often
prevented farmers from developing such systems in the past.
115- Much effort is also being given to agroclimatic mapping in Bangladesh, Java and
the Philippines, on a basis that is more informative for cropping systems research, For
example, this requires more exact description of the duration of the wet periods sufficient 
for paddy rice ( 200 mm per month) and other crops, and of the rainfall distribution leading'
into and out of these priods. The group is also developing procedures for more rapid and
relevant surveys of soils (especially tillage potential)feiming systems and land capability.
Combined with all this are programs for the control of weeds and insect pests in a con­
siderable diversity of crop systems and environments.
- 31 -
(c) Assessment
116. The Team is concerned that such ambitious coverage may spread the efforts and skills
of the 7 senior staff too thin, despite their evident enthusiasm for the task. Por example,
how realistic is it to lupe that one entomologist can cope with the many and diverse insect
pest and disease problems associated with such a wide range of crops and climates.
117. There may also be some danger in the rapid build-up of such a Belf-contained 
multidisciplinary team that it may become somewhat isolated from the rest of the research
staff, especially given the evangelical fervor for the cropping systems concept and network. 
118. One other main concern is that by its very nature, much cropping systems research
must be site- or environment specific. It requires detailed examination of the variations 
in soil and land levels over a farm, of local climate and local socio-economic considerations. 
Indeed, the art of farming is to talee full account and advantage of such local factors. To
what extent, therefore can such research be generalized into the development of principles?
119. As an empirical exercise, it has considerable extension value, and is obviously of 
keen interest to farmers who are themselves continually experimenting with their own procedures, 
such as Lorenzo Jose who had developed a 5 x 40 cm spacing of rice plants in east-west rows. 
Indeed, as the cropping systems group readily admit, there is much to be learned from an 
analysis of the reasons for many traditional practices. However their role is not merely 
to analyze traditional practice, but to challenge expand and change it by introducing new 
crops, varieties and agronomic techniques and new equipment appropriate to the individual 
farm operation.
120. The cropping systems group, being relatively new, admits that it is still in the 
observational, descriptive phase, and that it may be several years before it can move into 
the "design phase". To quote from the conclusions of the cropping systems workshop held 
at Los Banos in March 197 5:
" No paper in the workshop touched on quantitative aspects of the design 
phase. This indicates the empirical nature of our cropping systems work.
We are still testing on a case-by-case basis and have not yet learned to 
generalize our results and to extrapolate systems knowledge to other areas.
This area of desifiency is the greatest weakness of our present work."
121. The Team endorses and commends this candid self-evaluation of the cropping systems 
program, but has yet to be convinced that the requisite generalization and entrapolation can 
be accomplished. In the light of the experience to date there can be no doubt that valuable 
new cropping systems technology can be developed and applied on a local scale. But the 
work of an international institute must be capable of extrapolation and impact beyond local 
test sites. This is the standard against which the cropping systems program should be as­
sessed over the next five years.
122. Since the very nature of cropping systems research requires attention to a great 
variety of crops, environments and objectives, it is apparent that the IERI group cannot pos­
sibly respond to all the problems raised within the Cropping Systems Network. Its objectives 
should be limited to the central problems common to most cooperating countries, such as the
- 32 -
maintenance of soil fertility under intensive multiple cropping, The Team believes that
little further expansion of the Cropping Systems group should occur, at least until the gen-
eralizability of its research is established.
123. The Team also recommends that H£RI initiate some arrangement for the coordination
of all research on tropical cropping systems within the various international and national
institutes concerned with this area of work, in view of the great range of problems of con­
cern to each team.
4. Snvironment and its Influence
124. Given the magnitude of yield losses in tropical rice due to the depredations of
pests, diseases, weeds, water stress and poor soil fertility, analysis of the potential pro­
duction of rice crops under various climatic conditions might seem a little academic. Its 
value lies in the indication it affords to plant breeders and agronomists of the extent 
to which further yield increase may be possible, and of ways in which this might be achieved.
125. IRRI has long been concerned with the limitations to yield by light and temperature
and has made notable contributions in this area, particularly in the last few years. By in.
genious combinations of experiments in the pbytotron and in the field, the effects of light 
and of temperature at all stages of crop development have been resolved. Most of the work 
so far has concentrated on the grain filling Btage of the life cycle, and from this it ap­
pears that even at quite low levels of incident radiation, the capacity to store assimilates 
is more likely to limit grain yield than is their supply. Storage capacity is largely de­
termined by the number of spikelets per square meter of ground, and future work should 
concentrate on how spikelet number is determined. Whether assimilate supply in the repro­
ductive stage, or the extent of nitrogen uptake, or characteristics of the flower induction 
process predominate, needs to be resolved.
126. However, progress has been such that the potential grain yield under a range of 
temperature and light conditions can now be estimated with reasonable confidence. These 
estimates suggest that yield limits may be about 25 per cent above the highest obtained in 
the wet season, and possibly 50 per cent above those in the dry season. Although these 
leave some headroom for further progress in plant breeding and agronomic practice, they 
suggest that one should not expect further large breakthroughs in the yield of tropical rice.
127. Analysis of climatic response during the grain filling stage also emphasizes how
brief that stage is at tropical temperatures. Lack of sufficient time for grain develop­
ment becomes a major limitation to yield, and every effort should be made to find genotypes 
with more extended duration of grain growth. Given the brevity of the grain filling period,
the main route to increased production must presumably be through increase in the number of 
crops per year by shortening of the life cycle.
- 33 -
120. Ab a result of the analyses of climatic response carried, out so fair, preliminary work
has been done on an empirical model relating productivity to climate, Only after much further
analysis will the construction of a more satisfactory explanatory model be possible, The develop-
ment of such an explanatory model should be of considerable value in pinpointing the limiting pro­
cesses in yield development in tropical rice, li should also make assessments of rice production
problems in the various rice-growing regions of the world much more effective, especially those
of potential yields in areas where rice is being introduced as a new crop.
129. However, before such modelling can be accepted with confidence, far more research is
needed on the limitations to yield imposed by extreme temperatures and by daylength. Cool temp­
eratures limit crop growth and fertility in many high altitude areas, to an increasing degree 
as population growth forces rice cultivation to progressively higher levels, as in Indonesia. 
Similarly, even brief exposures to high temperature, especially at anthesis, may be injurious, 
particularly in the more arid areas to which rice cultivation is being extended, as in the Kiddle 
East. Screening of cultivars and plant breeding materials may be necessary in breeding programs 
for such areas.
130. I.; ore research on the control of flowering in rice by daylength is likely to be required
if emphasis on local adaptation is increased, Although local selection will be most effective in
achieving such adaptation, the nature of daylength control of both flower initiation and inflor-
escence development in rice needs to be better understood.-
131. Apart from the investigations noted above, the phytotron is being used to examine the
epidemiology of both diseases and pests of rice. Much more work of this kind is required be-
fore pest and disease outbreaks can be forecast with confidence.
132. In view of the fact that research on environment and its influence takes on 3 per cent
of the resources of the Institute, the extent of progress already made suggest that these re­
sources are being used with commendable efficiency.
9. Soil Fertility
(a) Problem Soils
133. The success of the improved varieties has thrown new emphasis on the need for better
farming practices of tillage, fertilizer use and water control. The soild of the Philippines
are fertile and relatively free of the problems of salinity, alkalinity, acidity and nutrient
deficiency which face rice farmers in many countries, IRRI staff are, however, sharply aware of
these constraints in other rice growing countries and have carried out an enterprising program
to find both scientific causes and practical solutions to soil problems of the rice crop.
134. The first approach has been to screen large numbers of rice varieties and breeding
lines for ability to survive in adverse soil conditions, IRRI has both unique opportunities and
good facilities for these studies and are using them to develop varieties which will tolerate
zinc deficiency, iron toxicity, salinity and alkalinity, Irrigable areas previously unable to
grow rice are now in profitable production as a result. However, tolerant varieties are not
- 34 -
always a good solution. IRRI soil scientists have pointed out that where soil deficiencies
are due to the chemical unavailability of an essential nutrient Buch as phosphorus, then an
appropriate variety may be able to extract the element more efficiency and thus to grow where 
otheres fail. Where, however, the soil is deficient in total phosphorus, a variety with a
low demand will only "buy time" until fertilizer supply is organized.
135. Por the study of problem soils under flooded conditions, the kinetic analysis meth­
ods are proving to be fruitful, but the techniques involve repeated analysis over ten weeks
or more and are therefore essentially suitable for the investigation of major problems rather
than for routine diagnosis, Thus, IRRI soil fertility studies offer a valuable backing to
national development programs but do not lessen the need for national soils laboratories in
support of national extension staff, IRRI laboratory studies, both of problem soils and of
rice strains which will tolerate them, are taken through to field studies in cooperation with
national research staff, Since the Philippines are relatively free of such problems, which
are acute in important irrigable areas of India, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt, the Team recommends
that serious consideration be given to expanding the core budget to cover experiments carried 
out by IRRI staff in cooperation with national staff at one or more suitable national sta­
tions. This principle has already been applied to deep water rice in Thailand and could
usefully be developed for soil problems of general application such as salinity, alkalinity,
and acid sulphate toxicity, Such work should be closely centered on soil amendments for rice
growing, with full use of tolerant varieties, and should not attempt to duplicate the large
scale programs of existing specialized salinity laboratories in India, the USA and elsewhere.
(b) Soil Physics
136. The history of soil research on other cereal crops in temperate climates records a
long persistance of erroneous mythology, supporting excessive and purposeless cultivations. 
These continued until the separate functions of the incorporation of crop residues, the des­
truction of weeds and the preparation of seedbeds were recognized and understood. The ability 
of rice to tolerate anaerobic root environments has led to methods of flooding and puddling
of irrigated rice. Where two or more flooded rice crops are taken in succession in irrigated
or very wet rainfed rice areas, the repeated flooding and puddling controls weeks, facilitates
transplanting and reduces water loss by seepage, It also destroys the physical structure
of the top soil, which dries to a very hard and unworkable condition and can only be tilled
when wet.
137. Insufficient attention appears to have been given to the applicability of these 
techniques to rainfed rice, The traditional single crop of rainfed rice is so delayed by
the flooding and puddling techniques as to be at hazard should the duration of the rain be
inadequate. IRRI's preliminary research on a direct seeded short season rice as an addit-
ional early crop has shown promise on farmers fields in the multiple cropping program. This 
depends on the attainment of a seedbed by normal dry land cultivation methods, To follow such
an early directly seeded crop by flooding and puddling and transplanting a second crop is to 
subject the soil to an annual cycle of the destruction and restoration of a physical pore
- 35 -
structure. This appears to be unnecessarily costly in energy and creates tillage difficult- 
ies. A1though a suggestion was made that a soil physicist should be engaged for a year to 
study these soil changes it is unlikely that any physical solution to these two completely 
opposite processes will be found and certainly not in one year. An interesting approach 
under study is the use of two directly sown crops in succession, each of which depends on 
tillage immediately after harvest to destroy weeds and to create a tilth before the soil has 
dried out.
138. Minimum tillage is making much progress in temperate zone agriculture as a result
of weed control by herbicides, This saves both costs and, more importantly, time at cri- 
tical periods when any delay reduces yield. These techniques are under test both at the
Institute and on farmers' fields at the Multiple Cropping System trials at Ilo-ilo. Control 
of the rice stubbles is evidently a critical factor not easily solved by herbicides, since
use of chemicals to kill rice would be hazardous where rain could wash them onto other rice 
crops. The capacity of different rice varieties to ratoon, and their ability to root deeply
appear to be important characteristics for study in multiple cropping.
139. Since so much of the techniques of soil and water management in rice depend on the 
physical properties of the soil, methods of characterising these seem to need more attention. 
In its dry tilled state, the determination of pore structure by coating clods with Saran,
by the technique developed at the Soil Conservation Laboratoiy at Beltsville, would prob-
ably be more convenient and effective than the wax coating methods in use. In the puddled
stage, the soil could only be tested by the somewhat arbitrary civil engineering criteria
of the Atterberg limits, Comparatively few soil scientists have worked in both agricultural
soil structure and engineering properties but it is recommended that an early opportunity
should be taken to engage an experienced soil physicist to work on this problem, The theo-
retical difficulties of relating measurements in these two conditions have attracted much
somewhat academic argument, which need not be pursued in the context of rice, It would be
essential to appoint a practically oriented physicist who could work closely with the water-
control and tillage studies, It is unlikely that effective progress in these problems
would be achieved in less than 3 years and an initial 5-year assignment would be advisable.
(c) Soil Microbiology
140. IRRI has made a significant contribution in making quantitative estimates of the 
fixation of nitrogen by rhizospheric bacteria and the algal associates of Azolla. This is
an area of research in which close association with advanced research institutes overseas
is of particular importance. A collaborative program has already been arranged between IRRI,
the Boyce Thomson Institute and Cornell University, The increased use of nitrogen fertilizers
with the modern varieties has greatly increased the priority of this work, since the prac­
tical application of biological N-fixation techniques may still be 10 years or more away. 
Intensive research is in process in many countries, however, and this time estimate may v.Tell 
be shortened.
- 36 -
141. The opposite microbiological effect, i.e. the loss of nitrogen through denitrify-
ing bacteria, has also been confirmed by IERI studies to be of serious importance in the rice
crop. Earlier studies with heavy nitrogen have located this effect as a major factor in 
losses of nitrogen fertilizer. Studies are in progress to minimize this loss through the
use of slow-release fertilizers and nitrifuation inhibitors.
142. Research to restrict these losses includes improving water control and the timing
of fertilizer application, The machinery development section is also cooperating in the
mechanization of placement of granular fertilizers combined with pesticides and of urea blo-
cks.
6. Water Control and Use
143. Although rice is an exceptionally tolerant crop which can survice a range of drought
and flood conditions, high yields are dependent on a carefully managed water regime. This
is so dominant a component of rice production that the Irrigation Engineer at IRRI worked
first with the Economics Division.
124. A good example of the very practical studies of irrigation efficiency which are
needed to increase rice production is the IRRI work on farmers' problems in Central Luzon.
This showed that they suffer frequent and serious drought of crops by interruption of water 
supply. This is not directly concerned with their distance from a distribution canal but
is due to their proximity to the head of the channel. The universal tendency of farmers to
over-irrigate results in excessive water offtake by the upstream farmer, with frequest
failures of supply of those lower down, Both detailed experiments at the Institute and 
checks on farmers yields have shown that half of the yield variation could be accounted for 
by the number of days of water stress with particular damage being caused by stress at or
near the flowering time.
145. The potential for increase of yields from the very large irrigated areas through
improved water management is therefore great, The difficulties of improving the situation 
are, however, formidable, as the Review Team were shown in a low—level helicopter ilight
over the plains of Central Luzon.
126. Although the Philippine Government has invested heavily in construction oi irriga­
tion schemes and has doubled the area of irrigation within a decade, the proportion of rice 
farmers served by irrigation supplies under any effective form of engineering water control 
is negligible. The concentration of resources into developing new schemes leaves little to
spend on improving the traditional areas. Even on the new schemes there is an absence of
gauges and measuring weirs in the main channels and hence very little data on which to es-
timate deliveries and to optimize distribution. The flat terrain offers little scope for
storage, increasing the need for better organized delivery, The majority of the area is
watered by unregulated rivers and streams diverted by ad hoc devides operated by farmers,
each concerned to draw the maximum advantage from the supply. There is no quantitative
basis for distribution and overall the ineffective use of the available water is a severe
- 37 -
constraint on the rice production, This is only partially remedied in the new irrigation
else-
schemes, which are hased on standardized concepts of engineering practice developed
where and operated without the basic measurements which permit optimum distribution.
The role of the IERI staff in this situation is innovative in all three of the
characteristic stages of irrigation development. In the primitive unimproved traditional
systems, in the areas rehabilitated by the national Irrigation Authorities and in the newest
cost fully engineered schemes, there is a need to devise better systems for the regu- high
of water to the individual farmer. Even on the new schemes the IERI staff lar delivery
to devise measuring equipment for installation at unconventional sites since the weirshave
which could have measured the water were omitted from the initial designs. Kea-and flumes
suring devices have been installed at drop-structures and at siphon sections and other
favorable spots, requiring inventive adaptation of conventional equipment.
The gradients
slight that the inter-position of the standard forms of measuring weir would raiseare so
the water level sufficiently to cause serious disturbance of the local field distribution.
In the more primitive systems an ingenious floating recording device, depending on a
vane
deflected by stream flow, has enabled records to be taken in water in which there is too
rnuch vegetable trash from cross curring operations for conventional current-meter operations.
3.48 • These examples are given in some
detail since in other parts of the world irriga-
.
Wen research ahd technology is 1» general well ahead »f applicaticn whereas in the nee 
growing areas there is evidently need for development of new technology for measurement 
under the particular circumstances of both traditional and recently constructed systems.
149- This work is of the first importance for the maximum
use of scarce water resources,
which inspite of the high rainfall are the limiting factor on rice production over much oi
the area seen by the Team. This work needs additional support, possibly by donors operat-     
ing through bilateral aid as well as from the CGIAR. It is also most important that the 
Development Banks give full consideration to detailed water distribution to farmers' plots 
in their planning of major irrigation schemes. The
lack of basic data often leads to the
application of conventional designs which are ill-suited to the particular characteristics 
of the rice growing operation . This is not a matter of academic research but of direct
improvement of rice output from irrigated areas, The Review Team considers that the close
association of the economic study of the yield effects of water distribution with work to 
improve the technology offers a high potential for increasing rice output; it should be
strongly supported.
J. The Machinery Development Program
150. Following the successful conclusion of a OSAID-funded project entitled "Equiptent
Development for Tropical Rice Cultivation” the advisory group on the project recommended 
that the BRI agricultural engineering program should be strengthened through expanded core
funding and supported by further special project activities for production extension where 
priority needs made- this appropriate*
- 38 -
151. This led to a proposal by IRRI to transfer the agricultural equipment development
work to the core budget from 1975 onwards. This proposal was reviewed by the TAC in August 
1974; the Committee concluded that an evaluation of the program was required before a deci­
sion could be taken. Although the original decision was to request the quinquennial review
team to make a special study of the program, circumstances which necessitated a decision be­
ing taken during 1975 led to the mounting of a separate review mission in Kay/June 1975*
152. The report of this Mission was discussed by the TAC in July 1975 when it was con-
eluded that, although the report had dealt in sufficient detail with the quality and or­
ganization of the program for the Committee to recommend a continued non-core supported
activity, insufficient evidence had been adduced to permit a decision to be taken on the 
question of justification of the transfer of the program to a core funded research activity.
153. The Review Team was therefore charged with further examination of the "value and 
scope of the program and the best means of developing adequate relationships with industry."
154. The Team has consequently studied the machinery development program in the light 
of its stated objectives. "To assist the expansion of rice production quantitatively and 
qualitatively as a contribution to improving the income and welfare of small rice farmers. 
This can be achieved through mechanization, inter alia, by increasing yields; removing re- 
source constraints; reducing field and post-harvest losses; increasing cropping intensity;
improving the timing and efficiency of field operations and the quality and value of pro-
duction. Potential reductions in production costs also offer indirect benefits to the con- 
sumer. Local production of designs can benefit rural industries and save valuable foreign
exchange."
155- In view of the reaction of the TAC to the Engineering Research Mission's report 
it seems necessary to attempt at the outset an answer to the question: "Should IRRI Study
Mechanization"?
156. The general question as to whether IRRI should do mechanization research arises
on two grounds: Firstly, it is generally believed, and is the accepted policy of the Insti­
tute, that research effort should be concentrated on raising yields per unit area rather 
than output per man hour, so as to emphasize total increase in food supply as a major con-
straint on development. Secondly, there is a special concern that rural landless laborers, 
for whom laboring is the only means of livelihood, may be displaced by mechanization, or 
that their displacement by family labor may be facilitated by mechanization.
157. There are three principal reasons why labor shortage may constrain production 
even in a situation of apparent low-priced labor and labor surplus.
First is the problem of peaks in labor requirements particularly in association 
with the introduction of double cropping.
Second, there is a potential for introduction of new operations which have ex-
tremely large labor requirements or are too expensive to apply at existing wage rates.
Among the many examples are: (a) a very large increase in yields per acre, requiring
- 39 -
a large increase in threshing labor; (b) introduction of plowing immediately after har­
vest before soils become very hard. This can improve yields substantially; (c) added weed- 
ings for a higher standard of production; (d) introduction of engine or wind driven pumps, 
allowing a substantial reduction in labor requirements and hence, a quantum increase in 
amount of water supply; and (e) the placement of fertilizer and insecticide pellets or 
solution directly in the root zone area.
Third, there is a tendency to overstate the underemployment of labor, There are
now a substantial number of studies which show that the lower income laboring classes in
low income countries are putting in veiy large numbers of hours per year, but at very low
levels of productivity, Their problem is less one of lack of employment and more one of
the extremely low productivity of that employment. For example, a recent study in 
Bangladesh showed that the people in the lower income working classes were putting in 3,000
to 3,500 hours per year in productive work.
158. There is often a strong farmers' desire to reduce the arduousness and drudgery
of work at its social best. Such drive may transfer jobs from some well-to-do family workers
to low income laborers working in local machine shope. This process should not be under—
rated as part of the total incentive system for increasing production and levels of living. 
In addition, such processes do not create problems in societies with very equal distribution 
of land ownership.
159. The question of labor saving technology is a very complex one. Labor may be con-
straining to adoption of new varieties and practices and so the additive effects of mech-
anization and changing plant characteristics must be assessed. The question is then not
one of whether or not IRRI should do agricultural engineering research but: (a) what
choice of problems should receive emphasis; and (b) what proportion of resources should
go to that effort.
160. In choosing problems to work on, one must give first emphasis to the knowledge
of the engineers themselves as to the technical constraints under which they operate: thus 
engineering judgments must receive considerable weight in allocating their resources. Ify— 
yond that, it has been shown to be useful to integrate the work of the engineers with the 
agricultural economists and biological scientists. The "rice production constraints" pro-
gram is a natural mechanism for such interaction — and that program should, in any case,
put somewhat more emphasis on the whole question of labor constraints.
161. The Review Team concluded that an agricultural engineering program is essential
to IRRI's broad approach to increasing rice production by the removal of certain critical
constraints. The present program has demonstrated a flexibility to meet changing demands
__ special machines for fertilizer placement and insecticide placement; continuing work on
low cost dryers to facilitate growing of a crop to be harvested in mid wet season as part 
of a two crop program; work on a two wheel power—tiller to facilitate faster seedbed pre­
paration, an operation which uses little hired labor; and design of machinery, including 
the power-tiller, appropriate to manufacture in low income countries, thus adding to em-
ployment in that operation.
- 40 -
162. The present program seems appropriate in size and orientation to those needs and
should he established as a part of the core program of the Institute.
163. Having reached that conclusion, thereby endorsing the general recommendations of 
the engineering program reviex^ mission, the Team recognized that it would be not
only desirable but an essential part of its mandate to make some proposals for continued 
emphasis, or changes in emphasis in the Engineering Department's program, To this end a
close inquiry was made into the extent to which the recommendations of the earlier review
mission had been put into practice.
164. It noted with approval that the Department has resisted or has been constrained
from distraction into theoretical design problems of complicated or more sophisticated 
equipment such as four-wheel power-units, although a single unit, already under construct­
ion during the earlier review, has been completed to serve as a test bed for implements 
which may be designed for 4-wheel 15-25 h.p. units which are being produced in large numbers 
in Thailand and the need for implement design or adaptation work could be pressing. The
mill design spade-lug tractor wheel, using locally available materials has already achieved
a good market.
165. The rapidly increasing mechanization of village life, as evidenced by the abundance 
of motor—cycles, scooter based taxis and small transport vehicles is also reflected in a con­
siderable increase in production of IRRI designed power-tillers, expected to reach some 
30,000, mainly in the Philippines and Thailand in 1976. The attention being given to second
generation design, responsive to farmers needs and stated wants, such as the fitting of
steering clutches, is applauded.
166. Similarly, the axial flow thresher is increasingly being manufactured, and second
and third generations are undergoing trial or design at IRRI. Of potential interest, fol­
lowing the production of self propelled and trailer loaded machines with simplified screen­
ing, is the design of a small, lighter model capable of manual transportation into paddies 
along the bunds.
167. The eari ier recommendation that in the field of post-harvest technology IRRI should
confine its activities to the needs of the small rice farmers is endorsed. However, in view
of the observed need for small scale drying equipment, more essential now that some farmers
are harvesting their first of two crops in the wet season, the Team believes that more at-
tention should be given to this problem especially to models utilizing rice hulls and straw
(often wet) as fuel.
168. The improvement of a village level milling machine, separating the operations of
hulling and milling, and working in conjunction with a grain cleaner is also supported
st rongly. Not only will this provide a cleaner sample of head rice but it will permit re­
covery of the valuable bran as a component for animal feed and for extraction of bran oil. 
Whatever other organizational networks might be established in the post harvest field the
work of IRRI, both in engineering and economics, will provide a most valuable input which
should not be duplicated but regarded as complementary to any additional activities.
- 41 -
169. A further recommendation of the earlier review mission which has not yet been put 
into practice, except for increased personal level contacts, is the establishment of closer 
linkages, even a degree of integration, with the cropping systems program. This program, 
working in farmers fields with farmers practices, accepts that the trials will be conducted 
with whatever power source the fanner normally employs. Results given of the trials do not 
however indicate whether the tillage and cultivation operations were performed manually, by
carabao (buffalo), power-tiller or tractor. In view of the considerable differences, parti­
cularly in turn-round time between crops possible with improved power sources, the Team be­
lieves an integration with the program to be essential. Power sources could and should then 
form one of the variables in the systems under study.
170. The outreach and industrial extension activities of the program are adequate, and
with the stationing of additional staff in other countries, possible through the special
project (SUAID) funding, and the establishment of a regional UtlDP/ESCAP program on mechaniza­
tion at UPLB, a considerable increase in industrial activity outside the Philippines may be
anticipated.
171. Finally, the Team believes that the resources allocated for this program (some o
per cent of the total core budget) are adequate and should remain more or less at that
level. ITo other agency, national or international is so involved in rice-mechanization as 
IRRI and the industrial sector is not willing to become involved in what it appears to con-
sider as still high risk research.
8. Post-harvest Management
172. IRRI presently has a relatively small program in post-production research, as it
has been the policy of its Governing Board to emphasize research related to the production 
stages of rice. Post production research at IRRI Headquarters in Los Banos is carried out
within the machinery development and management department and is mainly limited to the
economic evaluation of sources of post-production losses, The objectives of the current
research program are:
to assess the technical and economic characteristics of existing rice post­
production Bystems;
to analyze through experiments and field studies, the sources and levels of 
quantitative and qualitative losses and their relationship with post­
production practices;
to assess the impact of alternative economic and policy measures on the 
volume and quality of rice made available for market sale;
to examine the physical and chemical characteristics of rice which affect 
the technical and economic performance of post-production systems; and
to develop suitable technological alternatives to improve the efficiency 
and effectiveness of post-production operations.
- 42 -
173. The research activities so far undertaken can be sunmarized as follows:
survey of 600 farmers in the Philippines to assess the level and type of 
technology employed;
a survey of l80 rice mills to evaluate the economic characteristics which 
govern the operation;
assessment of field losses and study of paddy samples to allow determination 
of quality changes resulting from untimely harvest, lack of proper drying and 
other constraints in the system;
evaluation of alternative drying surfaces; and
- collaboration with the machinery development and management department on the 
development of various types of equipment related to the harvest and post­
harvest stages.
174. The post-harvest management program of IRRI is currently run by one agricultural 
economist and its problem-solving activities are strictly related to equipment development.
174. In its outreach program, the IRRI representative in Sri Lanka has assisted the
Paddy Marketing Board (FT1B) in carrying out a program of modernizing the paddy post-produc­
tion industry and the development of plans to increase its productivity. One of the major 
functions of this collaboration has been the training of the Paddy Marketing Board staff. 
About 30 trainees were given intensive training abroad and about 1200 FMB staff have com­
pleted some training at the center.
(a (a) Evaluation
175- The Team commends IRRI's policy in the field of post-production research and be­
lieves that it lias been soundly conducted during recent activities, having avoided the dis­
persal of funds and manpower over too many research activities. However, it is to be expected
that with the increased production, which has to a large extent resulted from IRRI's re-
search work, post-harvest problems will increase, This will be especially true where the
practice of multiple cropping is introduced, leading, among other things, to the need for
special diying facilities, The mission therefore recommends that the need for post-produc-
tion research be carefully analysed by 3RRI and that research be undertaken at the early
stage on matters of prime importance within any overall programs which may be established 
by international agencies. (See below paragraph 178).
176. As an initial effort in this direction, the mission wishes to refer to the report 
of an advisory group meeting on rice post-harvest problems which was held at IRRI in April 
1974, to "identify problems, establish priorities, and suggest areas for possible intensi­
fication or expansion of IRRI's activities in the rice post-harvest area. The main resolu­
tion adopted by this group reads as follows:
" It is essential that a major centralized effort be made to provide research 
and development capability in the field of post-harvest technology and to expand 
or develop joint outreach programs with national organizations. Noting the 
large number of high priority problems in which IRRI could take a major role 
or have joint responsibility and the number needing interdisciplinary collabora­
tion, the group recommends that IRRI expand its present programs to cover many 
of the major problem areas."
- 43 -
177. Por future use of such information, it will however be necessary to further specify 
the relative importance of the various priority items listed and to outline the type and 
amount of research needed.
173. Currently, several international agencies are discussing possible joint planning
of activities to cope with the problems of post-harvest losses and management. Insofar as
these activities will relate to rice the Team would urge that IRRI play a major role, parti-
cularly in those activities which relate to harvesting, drying, storage and milling, at the 
village level; and the reduction of losses caused by rodents, insects, pests, fungi and
bacteria.
9. Constraints to Increased Rice Production
179- The program dealing with constraints on rice production is allocated approximately 
3-V' 0f personnel time and involves direct collaboration amongst the agricultural economists, 
the agronomists and the statisticians, plus considerable consultation with other departments. 
130. The objectives of the "constraints" research are stated as follows:
ni. to develop and apply procedures for identifying the physical and socio­
economic factors that influence the adoption and efficient use of techno­
logical and institutional innovations designed to increase rice production;
2. to define and, where practical, test alternative measures for alleviating 
constraints to increased rice production."
131. The project has initially emphasized the first of these objectives, and most spe- 
cifically focuses on "developing and testing a methodology for identifying and explaining
the "gap" between the yields obtained in the experiment station and those obtained by 
farmers." It is assumed that such understanding will assist scientists and administrators 
in research programs to establish research priorities and planners to provide for reduction
of key constraints.
132. Thc basic characteristics of the research are: first, the collaboration of bio-
logical scientists, economists, and statisticians in defining and laying out tests; second,
the placing of alternative packages of practices on farmers fields and comparison of these 
recommended approaches with farmers actual practices, all under actual farm conditions; and 
third, a wide dispersion of research sites over four different countries (Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka).
133. The project is conceived in relatively simple terms; first raising the question
as to what can be achieved under farmers' conditions and secondly, measuring what is actually
achieved by farmers in those same situations, In practice, the research is designed to
allow handling of a relatively large number of variables in a situation in which the amount
of data required and the difficulty of collection demands that the sample be relatively
small. There is also a very complex and intensive training program necessary to provide
uniformity in trials on farmers' fields with the rather precisely defined levels of inputs
and sets of practices. In this training, the cooperation of the agronomists is essential
- 44 -
to ensure that the experiments will he carefully laid out. For this purpose the participants
must also be well grounded in the agronomy of the various practices so that trials can be
correctly executed. The actual development of the sample farms is done by teams of economists
and agronomists working together.
184. The direct contribution of the work lies in two directions. First, the information
derived from the study, even at its early stages, is proving of immense policy value in in­
dicating what are the current constraints on achieving high yields under farmers' conditions 
and thereby providing a sound basis for public programs to remove those constraints. For ex­
ample, at present, it appears that farmers are using fertilizer well below optimum levels.
The detail of that information provides the technical basis for an improved extensin and input 
supply program to help farmers correct this deficiency and clearly suggests the basis for fur­
ther economic analysis to see if public price policy should be changed. Second, the data pro­
vide a basis for influencing the research program at IRRI and at other research centers towards 
lines of most potential impact on production. For example, it is found that although insect 
damage is one of the most important explanators of the difference between what can be achieved 
and what is actually achieved by farmers, it also appears that there is much jet to be learned 
about the optimal combinations of insecticides and the level and efficacy of their use for 
economic return under farm conditions.
105. The research design is sufficiently flexible to be continued over the years and
gradually modified and evolved to bring increasing analytical power to bear on what are found
to be the more important sources of constraint, so those may be dealt with in greater detail.
lob. A major indirect contribution of the "constraints" project lies in the development
of a methodology which is highly replicable and the training of people to carry out that meth-
odology. The problem which is being attacked is by definition one which will be with us as
long as research institutes are turning out new information. Thus, the project has a long
term future, thereby justifying a substantial investment in development and refining of
methodology. It is a highly innovatoiy approach with a distinctive methodological contribu-
tion. The methodology itself does need further development and requires a continuing effort 
in its evolution particularly as it is replicated over time and over wide geographic areas.
187. As is clear from the above, the research approach is highly innovative and extre- 
mely useful. It plays precisely to the comparative advantages of the various international
institutes since it allows economists and biological scientists to work together on applied
problems related to the most current and relevant innovations for increasing agricultural 
production. It is also of course a highly practical approach, concerned specifically with
facilitating on the one hand the movement of research results into actual practice, by id­
entifying and provoding the basis for reducing the various constraints on application, and 
on the other hand indicating where research results themselves might be deficient for use
under farmers' conditions and thereby providing the basis for communicating this important 
laiowledge back to the research stations themselves.
-45 -
106. There are three future thrusts particularly appropriate to the constraints study
activity at the present time, for each of which there is an intellectual capacity necessary 
to fulfill the need, and each of which is recognized by the staff.
169. First, a more complex research design should be developed so that interaction bet-
week the various components of the production package can be analyzed and studied. It is
already apparent that there are complex interactions which it is not possible to analyze
with the present very simple design and small samples, Some expansion of the design may be 
necessary with consequent enlargement of samples. Specifically, the whole question of
pest control needs to be looked at in this context and in greater detail.
190. Second, further progress needs to be made in evolution of the technical package
to provide concentration on the highest priority factor. Again, the pesticide problem pro­
vides a specific example of the need for improving the technical package in the context of
present knowledge. It should be clear in the context of these recommendations, however,
that the sample design and overall methodology are such that it is expected that the questions
to be studied and the way they are studied will evolve over time with changing sample design,
changing number and nature of practices and in other ways.
191. Third, there needs to be more detailed attention to analysis of the labor con- 
straint. This would be particularly valuable in influencing the agricultural engineering
and chemical pest control programs, but has broader implications as well, Addition of labor
analysis would require detailed indepth studies of labor supply relationships in the farm 
household. Such work is going on independently, but in association with the IRRI research
staff, and could perhaps simply be incorporated partially into the current constraints ef- 
fort. It should be recognized that collection of detailed, timely labor information takes 
a tremendous amount of resources and represents a major imposition on cooperating farmers,
so that the IRRI researchers are quite right in hesitating in taking up this thrust. How-
ever , the need for such effort will become increasingly clear as other aspects of the analy­
sis proceed.
192. In addition to further development of the methodology, there needs to be expansion
of the geographic area of coverage. At the moment the approach is being applied in sample
areas in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The approach is of great im­
portance to all of the countries in the region and thus needs to be expanded to them. Un­
fortunately, all the countries in the region are short of exactly that type of agricultural
economist best equipped to work on this extremely important problem area. There are few
agricultural economists with a feel for farm survey approaches, confident in working with 
the biological scientists located at institutions facilitating such collaboration and unable
to define an effective research project, Thus, it is unlikely that this approach would
grow spontaneously in very many locations. Fortunately, the approach lends itself parti­
cularly well to a substantial outreach program.
- 46 -
193. There would be a number of problems in expanding outreach in this respect. Perhaps,
the most important is finding the right institutional structure and senior personnel to work
with in the specific countries, There is a tendency for the most competent economists work-
ing on the agricultural sector to be located in institutions which do not include work in 
the production sciences with respect to agriculture. Conversely, the agricultural research 
locations very often have none, or relatively weak agricultural economics components which 
are often particularly deficient in exactly the kind of leadership necessary to make a pro­
ject of this type work. Thus, considerable flexibility and imagination will be needed to 
find the right combination of institutions and personnel to work with - and that optimal 
combination will differ very much from place to place, The IERI scientists can play a very
useful role in diagnosing the best institution or combination of institutions for carrying 
on this work; proceeding to introduce them to the possibilities; collaboratively working 
out research designs suited to the specific situations; and then conducting the training 
programs, follow-up meetings, conferences, and symposia necessary to the success of the pro-
gram.
194. The results of such an expanded network in this area would be very substantial.
First, it would provide a basis for interchange amongst agricultural economists and agron­
omists working on some of the most crucial problems of increasing production. The inter­
action which grows out of this rather broad based program on constraints oould carry over 
to other programs. Second, the very interaction amongst agricultural economists and 
agronomists from diverse areas could have very useful cariy over effects in influencing the 
whole spectrum of policy oriented studies in the program. Particularly if the outreach 
aspect is to be expanded beyond the present four countries there may be need for some ad­
dition of personnel, particularly in agricultural economics.
10. Consequences of Hew Technology
195- The problem area of consequences of new technology is allocated 2.3% of research 
time. It is carried out largely within the agricultural economics department although the 
focus is in directions in which it is useful to interact informally with the various bio­
logical scientists at the Institute. The areas of emphasis within the many consequences of 
new technology in agriculture have been particularly on the effects on output and pro­
ductivity; the effects on income distribution; and the secondary effects on prices and price 
policy. In general, the choice of problems on which to work has been most influenced by 
the comparative advantage of an agricultural economist at IRRI in working with micro level 
farm data, particularly that relating closely to the "constraints" work, and to aspects 
which give particular advantage in interacting with the biological scientists. Far from 
being sharply constraining, this emphasis truly opens a vast area of policy analysis. In-
deed, far and away the most important, and yet most underexplored area of agricultural eco­
nomics research in developing countries, is that policy oriented research based on specific
factual information as to what is actually happening on farms and why. It is from this
information that one can discern to what extent adequate supply of fertilizer is being
- 47 -
supplied; to what extent agricultural prices for outputs and inputs are in order and sympa­
thetic with the rapid spread of new technology and increased productivity; how and to what 
extent investment in irrigation and management of irrigation is constraining; and so on. 
Similarly, it is only through careful micro study at the farm level that one can know the 
actual facts and their importance with respect to changes in the distribution of income and 
the relief on the one hand or the exacerbation on the other hand of income distribution and
social equity problems, In the past agricultural economics research on development problems
has been far too weighted toward analysis of secondary data and away from contact with the
technical knowledge so crucial to understanding rural development policy, In brief, the
current frontier in research on economic development policy problems lies at places such as
UIRI and the cooperative institutions.
196. The "consequences" work has already had the direct value of contributing information 
of considerable importance to determination of fertilizer price policy in the Philippines.
It is helping to contribute to a very useful methodological framework for studying the in-
come distribution effects of new technology, Perhaps more important it is helping remove
the veil of ignorance with respect to the distribution of benefits of the new technologies, 
a veil which has provided the basis for a good deal of misinformation which can and perhaps
has been quite destructive in the policy arena.
197. The work on consequences of the new agricultural technologies should be seen as
so far very ad hoc in nature. Eventually there should be a systemization similar to the ap- 
proach to the, "constraints" work. To do this will require further broadening of the already
very excellent contacts in the region in order to focus on the most relevant and important
problems. The work of the IRRI scientists in this area is so well thought of and well known
in the region that this task will be greatly facilitated.
198. Because of the high degree of complementarity of the particular type of consequences 
work which is being done with the work on constraints, and the great scarcity of such work 
done in full oognizance of the nature of the biological science advances and the actual ef-
feet on farm levels, it is-important that the consequences work be gradually expanded over 
time. Again, there can be very useful multiplier effects in suggesting ways of undertaking 
similar studies on very specific conditions in the various host countries. Conferences and 
symposia developed around the results of the consequence studies could be veiy useful in 
this respect. In essence, it is important that sufficient personnel be available so this
work can be expanded along with the constraints effort. The following general observations
are therefore given on the total program effort in Agricultural Economics.
(i) Agricultural Economics Program-Staff Time Allocations
199. The staff in agricultural economics is comprised of five persons. One is assigned 
essentially full time to the cropping systems project, one to various aspects of the mech­
anization work, and three divide themselves over the four areas of the "constraints" study, 
the "consequences" study, the water management work and the basics of theory and methodology. 
These latter four areas, and particularly the "constraints" and "consequences" work so 
closely interact that'it is probably best to retain the flexible division of responsibili-
ties in these areas.
- 48 -
200. The existing allocation of agricultural economics time among the various areas of
work seems generally appropriate, The work on "constraints" is of great importance and de-
serves the highest priority, In the short term, as production expands, greater weight will 
need to be given the "consequences" work, Similarly, the agricultural economics input into
the cropping systems and mechanization work is important to those key overall areas of in-
quiry.
201. At first glance, the agricultural economics effort may appear highly applied. 
However, it should be noted that the "constraints" work is very much an effort to develop 
a highly original and complex methodology which has potential for widespread application.
Thus, the effort has potential for very large multiplier effects.
202. The single greatest need for sound agricultural policy in south and southeast 
Asia is vigorous research grounded firmly in microanalysis of farm level results and con­
straints and full knowledge of the technical potentials. The IRRI agricultural economicsts 
are in an extraordinarily good position to do such work and have effectively exploited 
that position. It should be recognized that very few institutions have succeeded in this 
integration which is almost totally lacking in the national systems of most of the coun­
tries in the region. Thus, it is exceedingly important that IRRI's extraordinarily good 
example in this area be preserved and that an effort be made to develop similar programs 
in the various nations of the region as well as at the other Institutes. Because the 
agricultural economics profession in countries of South and Southeast Asia has, in general, 
been quite deficient in exactly the areas of interdisciplinary research in which the pro­
gram at IRRI has been strongest, there is opportunity for a strong leadership role for IRRI 
in demonstrating how a research program of this type can have a very positive and useful 
effect in advancing the processes of agricultural development. These opportunities call 
for particular attention to bringing into close working relationship with IRRI some of the 
most able senior agricultural economists in the various countries of the region. Particu­
larly, since there are no Asian staff among the senior personnel in the agricultural economics 
programs and because of the special problems in developing appropriate institutional ties 
as well as special problems of policy problem formulation in the region, it would seem highly 
desirable to use the present position of the senior visiting professor to: (a) improve 
substantive and institutional aspects of the constraints work; (b) assist in defining rele­
vant policy programs; and (c) as a basis, when opportune, for increasing the emphasis on 
methodology and application of quantitative and mathematical methods. These functions would 
clearly be best fulfilled by recruiting for one to three or four year periods, some of the 
rather substantial number of first clans researchers in national institutions in the region. 
There are probably at least 8 or 10 researchers in the region fully up to the quality of the 
outstanding IRRI senior personnel working in agricultural economics. It is fair to say 
that none of these people are working in curcumstances as favorable for effective policy 
analysis and as complementary to work in the biological sciences as the group at IRRI.
- 49 -
203. It goes without saying that at such time as permanent senior staff in the agricultural
economics group are replaced or added to on a permanent basis, the objective of highest qual-
ity and productivity in the program is likely to be most effectively advanced at this stage
by adding a person well versed in the culture of, and preferably from, the south and southeast
Asia region, Thus, it is recommended that steps be taken immediately to initiate a search for
a senior agricultural economist from south or southeast Asia to fill the vacancy shortly to
occur in the Agricultural Economics Department. The person appointed should participate es-
pecially in the "constraints" and "consequences" programs.
204. Finally, the question of the quantity of resources to allocate to agricultural eco-
nomics should be seen as not only a question of allocation of the Institute's limited resour-
ces, but also more generally as one of allocation of resources within the agricultural
economics profession more broadly. The point of much of the preceding analysis is that the
profession is very deficient in the farm level, production science oriented approach - which
is most important to policy determination. Thus, special effort is needed to facilitate
increasing the impact of the IERI effort through widening and deepening the effort.
(ii) Publication Policy in Agricultural Economics
205. The quantity and quality of publications from the economics group is impressive, 
They are largely in the form of mimeographed papers which receive very limited circulation.
The professional journals in economics have, in general, an orientation which is unfortun­
ately not highly responsive to much of the work in the economics group, Thus, it would
be desirable to greatly expand the department's mailing list and undertake much wider dis-
semination of the research results.
11. Research Concepts and Organization
(al Multidisciplinary Approach
206. At present research at IERI is organized in 39 different major and minor project
areas with responsibility assigned to one scientist as a project leader. Of these programs,
it appears that 21 involve two or more disciplines. Certain projects, such as cropping
systems, can be further subdivided in eight sub-projects but the entire program can be
considered to be multidisciplinary in nature. The GEU program is considered to repre­
sent 14 different projects each involving two or more scientists from different disciplines.
207. It Ì3 premature at this point to predict what impact this organization will have
on the pattern of research effort and publications, An analysis of the publications of
staff scientists in the 1973 annual report revealed that of 69 publications, six repre-
sented involvement of two or more staff members. Fifty-five list two or more authors, but
most of these represented the joint research of a graduate student and staff member. It
may be that the current research organization will involve, and in fact require, greater
interaction between scientists than was previously the case. The publication effort will
possibly still follow discipline-oriented pathways. The organizational pattern requires
that an increased amount of time be spent by the scientists involved in interdisciplinary
- 50 -
projects in joint discussions and group meetings if specific programs such as the GEU are
to be effective and productive, There is no alternative to this type of continuing com-
munication effort if progress is to be made, It must also be recognized that less research
time will be available to the scientists for their more traditional disciplinary oriented
research commitments. A number of scientists at IRRI are, however, still relatively un­
affected by the organizational changes and are free of involvement in interdisciplinary 
projects. Such diversity in assignment is desirable.
208. In general, it appears that there is good interchange between laboratories repres­
enting different disciplines with respect to the sharing of equipment and assistance in the
resolution of specific research problems, This aspect of the general research program could
be enhanced if all graduate students were provided with a brief orientation program that 
would acquaint them with the full range of research facilities and equipment and the pro­
cedures that they might follow in the utilization of facilities in laboratories other than
those to which they are assigned.
209. Specific reference must be made to the statistics program which serves all project
areas and is comprised of one senior statistician with several assistants. This staff must
service a very wide variety of demands ranging from genetics to economics and from multiple
regression to simulation, It is the Teams' impression that the demands are well met at both
the mediani can and the intellectual level, and it commends the way in which the statistical
support to inter-disciplinary studies has been organized, from planning experiments to in­
terpretation of data. Appropriate computer facilities will be needed and vie have made our 
recommendation separately (see paras. 315)*
(b) Research Concepts and Materials of Relevance to National Research 
210. Probably the major achievement of IRRI's first decade was to specify and breed a 
plant type suited to high input agriculture in the tropics. The initial success of the 
variety IRo, and the attainment of yields of more than 9 tons per hectare, led to a new 
concept of crop productivity attainable in the tropics, new hope for self sufficiency in
food production in many less developed countries, and new confidence in the value of agri­
cultural research within the tropics.
211. According to Dalrymple, IRS and other high yielding rice varieties (HYV) developed 
under national programs now cover more than 17 million ha, and more than one-fifth of the
area under rice in Asia. IRRI's success in specifying a plant type so well suited to low­
land rice culture provides a temptation to continue along the same path by improving and 
making more comprehensive and specifications for high input lowland rice, while also "re­
engineering" the plant types for rainfed lowland, upland, deep water and other rice environ- 
ments. This tendency may be reinforced by one conception of the role of the international 
institutes as being to develop general purpose widely adapted plant types suitable for use 
in many countries.
212. The Team questions whether this is the best way forward in IRRI's second decade. 
But in doing so it does not question that the breeding of new varieties is one of the most 
effective ways of increasing yield and of reducing pest and disease problems, and one which 
may particularly help the small farmer.
- 51 -
213. IR3 rice has proved to have considerable adaptability, but is most suited to high 
input systems with well-controlled water supply and access to inputs of fertilizers, pesti-
cides, herbicides, etc. However, it lacked resistance to many pests and diseases, as well 
as the grain qualities of accepted varieties, These defects have been progressively elimi-
nated in its successors by concurrent selection for an ever-increasing array of characteris-
tics At least 35 desirable traits are sought in current selections, particularly resistance
to the many pests and diseases which sporadically attack tropical rice.
214. The Team agrees that resistance to many of these must be aggregated into new
varieties in order to protect rice fanners against loss, particularly as more and more of
them obtain their production package inputs on credit. But as the number of characters under
selection increases, so does the likelihood of including linked undesirable characteristics, 
especially given the rapid pace at which selection must proceed. (See para. 37 )• Evidence
of this may be the fact that IR3 is still the highest yielding variety when pests and dis-
eases are under control, Since the importance of the various pests and diseases varies from
place to place, the attempt to breed an omnibus variety with all possible desirable characters
may be reaching the point where its yield potential at any one site is being restricted by the
inclusion of unnecessary characteristics for that site.
215. Moreover, such omnibus varieties are only justified by very widespread use, which
itself increases their genetic vulnerability to breakdown of resistance. Yet another cost
of such comprehensive selection may be that materials from IRHI's extensive crossing program 
of considerable potential value at specific sites are being eliminated from consideration
by the very comprehensiveness of present selection methods.
216. Adoption of the HYV's in the irrigated lowland areas (approx. 200 of the total)
has been extensive, at least in the dry season when their greater yield potential is more
readily realized. Traditional varieties are still preferred in many lowland areas during
the wet season because of their adaptation to local conditions, as revealed in IRRI's "Changes
in Rice Farming in Selected Areas of Asia", The main challenge now before IRRI is to help
improve varieties used during the wet season in the rainfed lowlands, in the uplands (one-
sixth of the total area), and in the deep water areas (one-tenth of the total rice area),
v/hich collectively constitute the greater part of the rice crop.
217. Local (site-specific) adaptation is more important in all these areas than in the
irrigated lowlands, and is likely to be sufficiently complex that local selection will be
far more effective than centralized selection.
21C. For example, the timing of flowering in relation to the cresting of floodwaters
is crucial to adaptation of floating rice, Even though the requisite genes for stem elonga-
tion may be present, too early flower initiation prevents stem growth from keeping up with
the rising floodwaters, and the plants drown. It is not enough for the floating rice to
be sensitive to daylength; its response must be such that flower initiation occurs at the
right time in relation to the usual rising of the floodwaters. Such responses will vary
from site to site and must be selected locally.
- 52 -
213. In the upland areas also, daylength control of flowering time is likely to be an
important component of drought avoidance. Traditional varieties show a considerable diversity
of flowering response, and local selection is probably necessary to optimise this. The op­
timum rooting strategy for drought avoidance may also vary from site to site depending on 
soil conditions, rainfall patterns, etc. Other characteristics, such as leaf rolling and 
stomatal behavior, will also vary in local value.
219. In these more extreme environments, therefore, local adaptation through local sele-
ction is likely to be an important component of yield ability, and stability, and it is
doubtful whether a widely adapted plant type can usefully be specified. This might be done 
for the rainfed lowlands but even then some local adaptation may be important, particularly 
to local biotypes of pests and diseases. There may also be strong local preferences for 
taste, aroma and quality of grain, or for adaptation to local harvesting methods, as was 
seen in Indonesia.
220. Consequently, although the ideotype concept was useful in defining the objective 
of IFIRI's early breeding program for high input areas, it is suggested that the breeding
programs for other rice environments should place more emphasis on early selection for local
adaptation, in cooperation with the now-stronger national programs, IRRI's new policy of
no longer releasing named varietie could be the first step in this direction. Considera-
tion should be given to:
1) Reduced selection of advanced materials at Los Banos;
2) The distribution of P2 and other early generation segregating materials 
to the national programs; and
3) Joint participation by IRRI and national program staff in local selection. 
221. Given IRRI's access to the most comprehensive array of rice genetic resources,
and its facilities for crossing and data handling, the generation of a wide range of new 
genetic combinations for international distribution is a logical role for the institute. 
The change of role proposed above would be a logical extension of the International Rice 
Testing TIurnery (IRTN) activities, as well as giving timely recognition of the growing 
capacity of the national programs. Although the national programs might be overloaded to 
some extent in the initial phases, feedback through the IRTN should soon permit the id­
entification of successful parental materials for particular areas, leading to the restri-
ction of populations tested at each site.
222. One advantage of this procedure - apart from the more rapid development of locally 
adapted lines, and the greater genetic heterogeneity and reduced vulnerability this implies 
- would bo the reduced loss of locally-valuable breeding materials which may be currently 
eliminated because of their poor adaptation at Los Banos. A disadvantage could be the loss 
of that sense of achievement by IRRI and its plant breeders which comes from the release 
of a successful variety. However, joint participation in the selection of many locally suc­
cessful varieties should be quite as rewarding to IRRI and its staff, as is already evident 
from the experience o£ CBIKYT.
1/ See Statement Annex III.
- 53 -
223. The proposals above are simply a reinforcement of a trend which seems to be al—
- ready underway, but which may be slowed by continuing strong adherence to the plant type
concept. This adherence was evident, for example, in the several plant type specifications
presented to the Team, including those for low input (LIP) and zero input (ZIP) types.
There are considerable dangers inherent in the use of such terminology, which may be mis-
understood as offering high yields for low or no inputs.
224. Although querying the concept of combining ever more desirable characteristics in
single varieties, the Team nevertheless suggests that urgent consideration be given to 
aggregating as many compatible genes for resistance to each pest and disease as can be lo­
cated. in several cases, there appear to be rather few resistant genes involved (e.g. 5 
for green leafhopper, 4 for brown planthopper). These invaluable genetic resources may be 
squandered by allowing each pest and disease organism to cope with them by developing re-
sistance one step at a time, High priority should therefore be given to further analyses
of the genetic base of resistance to all the major pests and diseases and to monitoring changes 
in virulence patterns of these organisms, so that the present rather empirical selections 
for resistance can be replaced by the deliberate synthesis of lines with multiple resistance.
225. Another characteristic which probably merits special attention is earliness of
flowering and short duration of life cycle, As multiple cropping increases, so will the de-
mand for progressively shorter duration crops, and there will be an increasing need to under­
stand both the basis and the consequences of reducing the basic vegetative phase in tropical
rice.
(c) Hission-Oriented Basic Research Links with Donor Countries
226. The primary objective of the International Centers is to help the LDC's to increase
their home-grown food supplies, They are international chennels through which advances in
science from all sources may be applied to the production problems of tropical agriculture.
227. Research concerned with the solution of practical problems in the tropics may in-
volve very difficult scientific studies which may bring specialists to the limits of current
scientific knowledge. The question of which problems should be studied at the Centers, and
which should be remitted for attention by overseas laboratories with greater resources, is
one which concerns IRRI more immediately than it affects the younger Centers. 
223. For problems which are specific to the rice crop, such as the chemistry of flooded 
soils under tropical temperatures, the field environment must be studied and measured to the 
stage at which they can be specified for reproduction in small samples under precisely con­
trolled laborator;/ conditions. At this stage other scientists, in well equipped laboratories, 
could be invited to join the investigation on a cooperative basis. The scientific discus­
sion and contacts need to be two-way. Visits by experienced specialists from countries with 
advanced technology can be of immediate advantage to IRRI, and visits by IRRI scientists to 
the overseas centers to discuss the methods used and the latest field observations are of
equal importance.
- 54 -
22°. The value of such direct support from njajor laboratories in donor countries has 
been recognized by some of the members of the Consultative Group and some useful groundrules 
have been developed, particularly for the collaboration of American, British and Dutch re­
search centers.
230. Firstly, the donor countries agree to provide the necessary funds for travel, and 
sometimes for equipment and staff support at the donor's laboratories. These funds are
extra to the amounts pledged by the donors to the Consultative Group, and are organized and 
administered as part of the donor's aid program. The arrangements usually involve Ph.L. 
or post-doctoral staff from Universities or Research Institutes who are provided with travel 
funds and salary to work for a year or more at an International Center followed by more work
at the home laboratory on samples from the tropical experiments. 
231. This pattern has been building up in the past three years and all the well estab­
lished Centers are now taking part.
232. There is a substantial potential for growth in these linkages, but there are also 
some sharp limitations. The Centers must not be seen as a source of funds for research de­
partments in the donor countries or they could be flooded by inappropriate requests, The
applications must be screened and the funds allotted by the donor agency, and kept apart from 
the funding provided for the Centers, Collaboration of this type needs experienced staff
from donor countries, preferably with some tropical experience rather than Ph.D. students, 
although the latter may provide useful additional help.
233. The effect of such collaboration on IRRI staff should be to stimulate the special-
ists to keep abreast of progress in their disciplines and to give them the backing of equip­
ment and skills which it would be uneconomic to reproduce in Los Banos.
234. This type of collaboration will prove increasingly necessary, as the raising of 
agricultural efficiency in the tropics introduces increasingly difficult scientific problems.
The costs of expanding the IRRI laboratories to undertake all necessary scientific back up
for the countries of S.E. Asia would be prohibitive.
235. For the specialists the contacts with overseas centers will serve to redress the 
balance of the constant pull of field consultations of seasonal urgency, which tend to over­
ride the need for intensive work within their own disciplines.
236. The opportunity and the fluids are there. The initiative lies with the Institute, 
which would initiate approaches to seek the specialist collaboration which would be most
useful to them.
- 55 -
•*
IV. TRAINING
237. The training program at IRRI and the cooperative training programs in Thailand and 
Indonesia were examined, with primary emphasis on the specific training programs currently 
in progress at IRRI. First, research-oriented training includes programs in which partici­
pants can obtain either the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in cooperation with the College of Agri­
culture, University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB). Course requirements are completed 
at UPLB and thesis research is conducted at IRRI, under the supervision of Institute scientists 
who are affiliated graduate faculty members of the graduate school at UPLB. Similar arrange­
ments are possible whereby an individual student can complete his course work for the Ph.D. 
at certain other universities in various countries. The student can then move to Los Banos 
for the dissertation research at IRRI. At present, an arrangement between UPLB, Cornell Uni­
versity, and IRRI is in the process of being developed, so that the degree may be obtained at 
either UPLB or Cornell with the final examination to be administered in Los Banos by a Cornell- 
extended graduate committee.
230. A second research-oriented training component is the non-degree program in which 
participants work on specific research projects under the guidance of an institute scientist 
for a period of 6 to 12 months. Such individual participants may be involved in planning and 
initiating specific programs that are relevant to their own country's rice production prob­
lems. Presumably, such individuals will have completed a reasonable level of graduate or 
post-graduate training in their home country prior to assignment in the area research project.
A third research training category comprises post-doctoral fellows who may work at IRRI for 1 
or 2 years.
239- A second major category of training programs are those which are supportive of the 
international research networks. The five major training programs in this area are:
1) The G3U training program of /] months' duration.
This relatively new program which was first offered in March 1975 is primarily for 
those individuals who will be involved in the development of varieties when they return to 
their home countries.
2) The multiple cropping systems training program.
This is a 5-month course which is designed to train participants in production tech­
nology related to growing specific crops or combinations of crops and to develop improved 
cultural practices for those crops used in cropping systems built around rice.
3) The international rice agro-economio network (HAHN) training program.
This is a 2-month training program for agronomists and economists in methodology 
and techniques which are used to measure those constraints which prevent rice farmers from 
exploiting the full potential of modern rice varieties.
- 56 -
4) The agricultural engineering training program.
This 2-week course deals with manufacturing and utilization of various machines 
involved in all aspects of rice production, This was first initiated in 1975 and offers a
unique opportunity for training in rice mechanization.
5) Rice field experimentation workshop.
The objective of this 3-week training progarm is to assist young researchers from
rice experiment stations to become competent in the following areas: (l) practices and
problems in tropical rice production; (2) application of the knowledge of recent rice re­
search in solving production problems; (3) design and management of conventional experiments 
in breeding, agronomy and entomology; (4) management of seed production plots; (5) record-
ing,=analysis, and interpretation of experimental data; (6) preparation and presentation Ox
short technical reports; and (7) the use of experimental tools and scientific instruments.
240. A third major responsibility of the training program covers the extension produc-
tion courses which have two primary components. The first of these is the 6-month rice
production training program, which is offered once a year, to train rice production special- 
ists and extension workers in modem rioe production, This is a course that requires direct 
involvement of the participants in field rice production as well as in classroom experience, 
These individuals are trained to develop similar programs in their home countries and usually 
involve teams of three or more individuals who remain as a team of trainers once they return
home. Such trainees have a multiplier effect upon returning to their homes.
241. The second is the 2-week rice production course which is an intense practical course
to teach participants recent technology in rice growing. Participants perform various pro-
duction operations during the period that they are at ERI. There are two such courses of-
fered each year, in November and December. The former is taught by participants in the
six-month rice production course as a means of providing them with training experience, The
latter is handled primarily by institute staff and is intended for ERI research assistants,
and scholars and fellows who may be training in more specialized research.
Evaluation of training programs
242. Since the training programs were initiated, approximately 1600 individuals have 
completed training at ERI. These trainees were representative of 49 different countries.
Presently an average of 143 participants come from Asian countries where most of the rice
of the world is grown.
243. Host of the graduates of training programs
have been in the 2—week rice production 
course and the 6-month rice production training program. More recently, training for the
four programs in association with the genetic evaluation and utilization program, the crop-
ping systems training program, the international rice agro—economic network, and the agri-
cultural engineering program have resulted in a marked increase in the number of trainees,
so that the total in 1975 was over 170. PerhapB the most impressive development has been
in the number of research trainees currently enrolled in various departments with a total
of 51 research scholars, 32 post-M.S. fellows, and 11 post-doctoral fellows, or a total of
94. Of these, 26 are involved in Ph.D. programs at UPLB or will use the research project
at ERI to fulfill their thesis requirements at other universities.
- 57 -
244- The evaluation is based on discussions with: (l) graduates of the training pro-
grams in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines; (2) post-doctoral fellows, trainees, and
research scholars at IRRI; (3) examination of training program materials; (4) assessment
of continuing demands for production training courses from recipient countries; (5) evi­
dence of progress of trainees in pre- and post-training examinations; and (6) specific
examples of trainees in the post-training period.
245- On the basis of discussions in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as at IRRI it is
our impression that the. 6-month rice production training program and the 2-week rice pro-
duction course have been continuously up-graded to reach current well-organized levels.
These courses have been uniquely effective in achieving their respective goals, The courses
provide the individuals with the specific training that is desirable and which can be ef­
fectively used upon return of the trainees to their respective countries. It is also evident
that the program usually results in enthusiastic, highly motivated and self-confident indi-
viduals. This component of the training program is worthy of high commendation; the evalua­
tions made by trainees properly reflects their satisfaction with the training program as it
is presently constituted, A review of the records of the grades of trainees in practical
and written exams to determine level of knowledge at the start, and following completion of
the 6-month rice production course, reveals average grades for a typical group of trainees
of 24$ and 39$ at the start and 8$ and 74$ at completion.
246. The five relatively new courses which have been recently initiated are in the early
stages of development but show high promise for effective utilization of IRRI staff and fut-
ure beneficial impact in the national programs.
247- There are two major aspects of the training program which need to be considered.
The first is the method by which IRRI selects and determines who will be a trainee, and
whether or not the criteria used for selection result in obtaining the best-qualified
trainee. It is obvious that there are points of ambivalence that have characterized IRRI's
attitude in this regard, It is not always possible to obtain the highest quality of indi­
vidual among applicants since only a limited number from a given country may wish to make
entry into the system and one muBt make use of the personnel available who will be supported
or have the funding from their own respective countries. It would seem that, as training
programs develop in the countries involved, IRRI needs to look forward to a period when it
should be increasingly selective in terms of the quality of individuals seeking entry for
training in the IRRI programs. This is of increasing importance with respect to the grad-
uate training programs.
243. A second aspect relates to the research training component, It is sugggested that
efforts be made to inform the scientific community in the developing countries of the world
of some of the unique and challenging unresolved problems available in various aspects of 
rice research. Examples include studies on the genetic and physiological base for disease 
resistance, aspects of insect ecology and epidemiology, a wide range of physiological and
biochemical problems associated with the growth of the rice plant, and aspects of nitrogen
- 58 -
fixation in lowland rice soils. Many of these problems would require that individual scho­
lars do their work at IRRI but there are increasing numbers of scientists seeking opportunities 
for sabbatical leave, or post-doctoral fellowships, who would have a deep interest in working 
on problems associated directly or indirectly with food production. Expanding the post­
doctoral fellowship program, or visiting scientist project, would have to be approached with 
some caution because of the limited facilities available. However, a moderate expansion should 
be possible. The key unresolved basic problems in rice production and technology could be 
defined and scientists in various disciplines could be info ed in scientific society news­
letters or opportunities for study. This could attract a number of individuals who currently 
are now fully aware of the opportunities for work in the designated areas.
2 <19. The Team concurs with the plan to increase the number of post-doctoral fellowships 
for established scientists in developing countries who have obtained their degrees in a de-
veloped country. This should provide an opportunity for those individuals to become adjusted 
to specific problems that they will need to resolve in their home country; for individuals 
recently trained in a developed country to become acquainted with research on rice production; 
and for established scientists to improve their skills and techniques in rice research, In
addition this would help to keep heavily committed IRRI senior scientists up-to-date in their 
disciplines. It needs to be borne in mind however that the post-doctoral fellow has to be
provided with adequate funding, particularly if he has a family and other commitments at 
home which make it financially difficult for him to fully utilize the opportunities that 
may be available.
250. Post-doctoral fellowships should serve as a training tround for scientists from 
developi g countries, as well as the developed countries, who might be potential or future 
employees of IRRI either at Los Banos or in the outreach programs, If post-doctoral fel-
lows are of the quality desired and if they are properly screened, they can advance the 
research program at IRRI at a faster rate than those individuals who are trained at lower 
levels. Thus, serious consideration should be given to the opportunity for expanding ap­
propriate facilities and support to enable this component of the training program to be 
expanded.
251. The new organization of research programs at IRRI has to some extent decreased 
the time available for the senior scientists at IRRI to carry out specific research pro­
grams. Post-doctoral fellows, free of administrative and other commitments, can move 
research programs ahead. It would » > of course, be preferable that such appointments be 
mainly on a 2-year rather than a 1-year assignment in order to provide for continuity and
the completion of well-planned projects. 
252. In considering the present status of the research training programs at IRRI, the 
comparative analysis of the IRRI and CBRITT training programs by B. S. Swanson provided
helpful information .1/ Swanson considered that the higher research productivity, and
l/ Swanson, B. E. 1975* Impact of the international system on research capacity and 
an agricultural productivity. The IRRI and CBRIYT training programs.
-59-
concomitant lower involvement of URI graduates in rice production problems, indicated that
the IHRI training program was not meeting its primary commitment in developing research 
workers who could transform new knowledge into improved agricultural technology and integrate
this effort into their national rice production programs, Swanson, in thiB analysis, may 
have overlooked one important difference between rice and wheat programs, A large number
of scientists are involved in basic and applied research on wheat in all advanced countries
of the world. With the exception of Japan, the number of investigators concerned with basic 
and applied research on rice is very small indeed. IRRI is thus faced with a double res­
ponsibility in generating basic knowledge essential for development of the technology of 
rice production. Thus many of the comparisons made by Swanson, of training programs for 
crops as different as wheat and rice, must be considered in the oontext of research informa-
tion that is available at the starting point in time of the respective programs.
252. In completing the evaluation of the training program, answers were sought to the
following specific (Questions:
1. Is the objective to provide scientists who staff national programs with the 
specialized knowledge they need with respect to rice? Is it to provide a cadre 
of technicians to man national centers or programs that are directed by sci­
entists from the international center? Is it to provide production program 
trainees with the technical knowledge and skills needed to train the extension 
specialists to make national production programs effective?
253. At present the overall IRRI training program has all three as its objectives.
The research-oriented programs (degree and non-degree, including courses supportive of the
international research networks) have the first two objectives, except that the second ob-
jective as stated above should be modified to " • • • or programs where IRRI scientist(s)
work in cooperation or collaboration with national scientists."
254. The six-month rice production training program has the third objective listed
above for its main objective, However, a few more efforts need to be exerted to convince
policy makers to establish training centers where national rice extension specialists could 
be trained with IRRI help in providing trained traineers. The implementation of vigorous
national production programs seems to create more awareness and a better appreciation among 
national leaders of the need for trained extension workers and consequently the need for
the establishment of training centers.
2. To what extent are the objectives and the content of the trainig program 
based on an objective analysis of the professional requirements of the commodity 
research and extension programs of the countries served by the Institute?
255. To a large extent, the objectives and the content of the training programs are
based on the national requirements, The training needs of a country with whom IRRI is re-
quested to collaborate is an integral part of the collaborative project which is prepared 
by national leaders and IRRI scientists or outside consultants. Examples are: (l) the 
proposed Sri Lanka project; (2) the proposed Pakistan rice program; and (3) the assessment
of Indonesia's training needs by a team of consultants.
60 -
256. Research training programs must, of necessity, reflect the interest of the staff
member supervising the research scholar or fellow» The critical question is whether or not
tile research program of the staff member is relevant to rice production problems, more parti­
cularly the rice production problems of the particular country, IRRI staff members are
fortunately well aware of the rice production problems in the home countries of trainees.
3. To what extent is the research training program viewed as a substitute for
the employment of technicians on the Institute's regular staff?
257. While the research scholars and fellows can and do substitute at times for regular 
research assistants, the training program is apparently not "consciously" viewed as such.
4. What is the optimum size of the training program? Over what range is it 
complementary, and over what range is it competitive, with the research pro-
gram of the Institute?
25G. It is recognized that a staff member can only effectively handle a limited number
of research trainees at any one time. The research-oriented training programs (degree, non- 
degree, supportive of international networks) are complementary to the research program, 
There is no evidence that the research scholar training program dilutes the research pro-
gram of the Institute.
259. If one assumes that each staff member can adequately supervise up to 4 scholars/
fellows the current staff strength at IRRI (33) can handle 33 to 132 at a time. The staff
for the organized short courses have the programs developed in such a manner that these do 
not require a major input from individual scientists.
260. In view of the crucial role of the various training programs within the overall
responsibility and strategy of IRRI, the Team strongly supports the Director's proposals for 
another 60 bed dormitory for trainees and for the construction of 8 more post-doctoral
apartments. (See para. 331)•
- 61 -
V. COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
261. It is clearly recognized "by IRRI that its ultimate goal, of increased rice pro-
duction, can only he achieved at the national level. Consequently, a considerable effort
is made to ensure that its work is carried out in the closest cooperation with national re-
search and production programs.
262. It is on the basis of the use made of IRRI's research work that an ultimate evalua-
tion of its effectiveness can be made.
263. Ilo single blueprint for work at the national level can be applied, in the light 
of the wide variation of soil, climate and other environmental characteristics as well as
socio-political conditions both between and within countries. Different patterns of coopera-
tion and collaboration have therefore been evolved and the Team had the opportunity to study
some of these in detail.
264. An appreciable part of these activities form, or should form, an integral part of
the core program. To recapitate, they include the following:
«1. International Rice Testing Program (IRTP). IRRI and each national program
nominate their most promising genetic materials for global evaluation in yield
and screening nurseries. In 1975, IRRI supplies 475 sets of 12 different nur-
series to 50 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
2. International Rice Agro-Economic Network (IRAEN). IRRI is collaborating
with scientists in several rice growing countries in Asia to develop a methodology
to monitor problems that slow down the farm adoption of improved rice varieties
and technology, through IRAEN.
3. International Cropping Systems Network (iCStO,. Through this network, sci- 
entists are testing different cropping patterns in farmers' fields in different
countries.
4. Earm Machinery Development Network. IRRI cooperates with a network of national 
research organizations and manufacturers to help develop appropriate mechaniza-
tion technology for small farmers.
5. Research Program on Deep Water Rioe. Deep Water rice is not grown in the 
Philippines and facilities for field experiments cannot be easily built at IRRI.
Therefore, IRRI has developed a collaborative project with Thailand to develop 
varieties and associated technology for rice production under deep water condi-
tions."
265. Other cooperative activities under the core program include training (See Chapter
TV), the holding of conferences, seminars, workshops and symposia.
- 62 -
266. Publications also form a major contribution of the Institute to the dissemination
of a bibliography of global rice literature; the quarterly "IRRI Reporter" which summarizes 
current research findings; books on specialist topics including rice diseases, cropping
systems, etc.; the annual reports and Research Highlights. (See Chapter 6).
267. The distribution of segregating and fixed lines is a major contribution of the In-
stitute and in 1975 alone over 103,000 seed samples were issued. With the establishment in
1974 of the International Rice Testing Program mentioned above (See Chapter III), the ex- 
change of materials has been systematized to the increasing benefit of all participants,
creating a better two-way flow of both materials and trial results.
263. Outside the core program, under the general heading of 'Outreach Activities' and
with the sponsorship of diverse multi— and bilateral donors, IRRI has been involved in
eight cooperative country programs, details of which are given in Annex IV.
269. The Review Team had the opportunity to examine some of these activities during
visits to Thailand Indonesia and the Philippines, and heard details of national level
activities in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and of cooperative programs with IITA, CIAT
and WARDA.
(a) Collaboration with the Host Country (Philippines)
270. The Review Team was addressed by the Honorable Mr. A. R. Tanco, Jr., Secretary
of Agriculture, on the collaborative programs with IRRI, particularly in the area of rice 
development, being conducted in the Philippines. Sec. Tanco described at length the
Kasagana 99 program and showed how, in a short span of 3 years, this program has had a
striking impact on improving rice production in the Philippines.
271. There are 3.5 million ha of rice grown in the Philippines: approximately 1.1
million ha wet season irrigated, 0.6 million ha dry season irrigated, 1.4 million ha rain-
fed, and 0.4 million ha of upland.
272. Nearly all, except the upland rice, is transplanted. The current national goal 
is to increase irrigation hy 80,000 ha per year during the next five years, There are 42
million people in the Philippines annually consuming 103 kg. of milled rice per capita 
which is equivalent to 3.6 cavans (l cavan - 50 kg.) of paddy. An additional 4 to 5 mil“
lion cavans per year are needed to keep up with estimated population growth.
273. The current outreach program in the Philippines was established in 1972 at the
request of Secretary Tanco, under a sontract with the Philippine Mission of the U.S. Agency
for International Development. The present contract expires in May 1977»
274. The objective of the contract is the assignment of an IRRI crop production speci- 
alist to assist the "National Pood and Agriculture Council" (NPAC), a national coordinating
organization, in "organizing and incorporating the results of agricultural research into 
an effective extension program." The on-going Philippine national rice production pro-
gram, Masagana 99, is operating successfully and after five crop seasons, the Philippines
as of October 1975, may have a significant Burplus of rice at the beginning of the main
harvest season.
- 63 -
275. The IRRI crop production specialist works on an inter-agency basis as:
(1) a member of the national management committee of the Masagana 59 program;
(2) a member of each of two inter-agency technical advisory committee _
fertilisers and pesticides;
(3) consultant to the Masagana 95 Information Committee; and
(4) associate adaptive research leader of the MFAC - sponsored cooperative 
six-agency, "Unified Rice Applied Research, Training and Information Program" 
(URARTIP), which was established in 1970 to develop high priority applied 
research on farms, the training of extension workers, and tho provision of 
information for the national rice production effort.
27 6. Through these inter-agency arrangements, a "modern package of rice production tech­
nology" was developed for uso by farmers enrolled in the Masagana 99 rice production program. 
The technology package was adequately supported by low-cost production credit, price support 
to farmers, price ceiling to consumers, extension supervision, a massive private and public
sector publicity program, and organized leadership from President Marcos through provincial 
governors down to the municipal and barangal (village) level.
277. Currently the program involves annually 50 per cent of the rice hectarage and half 
of the rice farmers (average of 2 ha per farm), on 1.7 million ha, with emphasis on trans­
planted irrigated rice. During the 1975 dry season, approximately 550,000 ha of irrigated 
rice end 50,000 ha of rair.fed (bunded) rice on 300,000 small scale rice farms were in the
supervised program. During the 1975 wet season 700,000 ha of irrigated rice, and 400,000 ha
of rainfed direct seeded rice on 700,000 small scale rice farms participated in the program.
 r-t '5c- { The major thrust of IRRI's work in the Philippines is, thus, in the area of pro­
moting applied and adaptive research by national agencies; participating in the planning 
and formulation of sound developmental projects; and in providing necessary training to the 
staff of the organizations entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the Masagana 59 
program. The cooperative applied research, started in 1571, has helped to identify the steps 
needed to bridge the gap between what research workers find as possible in farmers' fields 
and what the farmers actually obtain. An important outcome of such research in farmers' 
fields is the development of techniques for raising two good crops of rice where only one
uncertain crop could be grown before; the first crop to be direct seeded and the second crop
to bo transplanted.
275. The Review Teem was happy to observe that IRRI has forged strong links with the
national research and developmental agencies in the Philippines, Its assistance to the 
national programs is greatly appreciated and welcomed. The research infrastructure of na­
tional agencies involved in this program may need strengthening with IRRI's technical ad­
vice.
t
- 64 -
(b) Relationships with other International Research Centers.
(i) Africa
280. There are about 5 million hectares uncles rice in Africa. Whilst IRRI has global
responsibility, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria,
has regional responsibility in Africa for rice research. In addition, the West Africa Rice
Development Association (YBARRA) is supported by CGIAR for conducting rice trials in 13 West
African countries. Therefore, for IRRI to serve effectively the needs of West African rice
research, there has to be a tri—partite agreement between IRRI, IITA and WARDA. Dr. Robert
F. Chandler, Jr., former Director of IRRI is now a consultant with WARDA and the Team was
informed that the Director of IITA, the research coordinator of WARDA and Dr. Chandler will 
meet the Director of IRRI in the second week of December 1975 when a suitable memorandum of
understanding will be drawn up. Such a memorandum will help IRRI to serve more effectively
the rice research organizations in Africa.
281. WARDA is a very interesting exercise in regional cooperation in rice research and
development, and both IRRI and IITA could jointly help this cooperative endeavor of 13 na-
tions of VJest Africa to succeed, The immediate aim of these nations has to be the attain-
ment of self sufficiency in rice. The various countries of the region are importing at
present 550,000 toms of rice per year. raising the average yield by about half a ton
per hectare it would be possible to meet the entire rice needs of West Africa. IRRI has
therefore both a challenge and an opportunity in this region.
232. IRRI is also examining the possibility of developing a project in the United Arib
Republic of Egypt to serve the well developed rice program of Egypt, the leader of which
could act as a regional representative in the Near East.
(ii) South and Central America
233. In Latin America, there are about 7*0 million ha under rice; Brazil alone has about
5.0 million ha of which 82$ is upland rice. IRRI has already helped CIAT in a vigorous pro­
gram to develop modern rice varieties which are now covering about 40$ of the irrigated rice
area in Latin America. This has been facilitated by the fact that ex-IRRI scientists have
been employed by CIAT on this program. Upland rice has not however received adequate atten- 
tion as yet. Both the Director and Associate Director of IRRI have visited Brazil and IRRI
is now in the process of developing a cooperative program in Latin America by stationing an
IRRI scientist at CIAT. The IRRl/CIAT team would encourage the development of strong links
between IRRI and Latin American rice programs through CIAT, and the Team believes that this
would be the most effective method of functioning in the area, If, however,it is found to
be more desirable to have direct links between IRRI and Brazil, a suitable memorandum of
understanding could also be entered into with the Government of Brazil, 
(cl Relationships with International Agencies
(il FAQ
284. The Team considers that closer collaboration should be established between FAO
and IRRI and welcomes the appointment by FAO of a liaison officer to further relationships
with IRRI.
- 65 -
235. Following the transfer of the International Rice Commission Secretariat to the Rome
headquarters of the Organization it had. been decided that the forum for discussion of rice 
problems in the region should be the new Regional Plant Productivity and Farm Management Com­
mission. Although rice still remained the top priority crop in the Region the new forum would 
permit the examination of problems in the broader context of farming systems, IRRI1s own
orientation towards cropping systems forms a basis for the continuation of reciprocal attend—
ance of ERI and FAO Regional staff at each others meetings, in the same way as was formerly
done with the International Rice Commission.
266. It appeared to the Team that there was one specific area, that of extension, in which
FAO/lRRI collaboration could be strengthened on a complementary basis. Although ERI had be-
come involved in extension through lack of other agencies involvement, it did not wish to be—
come more deeply involved. The team fully supported this attitude.
(ii) IBRD
237. The Team applaus the efforts made by the ERI employed team in the sub—contract
from the borld Bank for the development of the Sukamandi Research Station in W. Java, This
has involved a number of research scièntists in overseeing the construction and equipment 01
laboratories during which time they have nevertheless developed an excellent field program.
(d) Relationships with National Research Programs 
(i) The Role of Country Representatives
• 263. ERI's country representatives in India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia explained 
to the Review Team the problems and prospects for collaborative programs in these countries.
In Bangladesh and Indonesia, ERI has helped in the development of basic research facilities.
In Sri Lanka, the rice research program was terminated last year, but there is still an on­
going post-harvest management program in collaboration with the Paddy Marketing Board (See
Chapter III).
289. VJith reference to India, ERI has entered into a memorandum of understanding with
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which provides for the execution of a joint
work plan on a wide range of problems. In the field of research, there is collaboration bct-
ween ERI and Indian scientists in studying the biotypes of the brown planthopper and strains 
of tungro virus. India's strong national program of research on rice can be of benefit to
IRRI in other areas such as breeding of varieties for problem soils; screening of material 
for resistance to pests and diseases; and germ plasm collection and conservation. The op­
erational research projects in rice, initiated by ICAR, could serve as a model for whole 
village studies of the operational problems in the transfer of technology, and offers po­
tential for interaction with ERI's Agro-economic Constraints Program.
2 90. A serious limiting factor in collaborative programs in different countries is the
feeling of insecurity among staff members employed in such programs (See Chapter VI, para 3<?).
- 66 -
(e) Cooperative Oountry Programa 
(i) Research Under Different Ecological Conditions
2 91. Cooperative research has "been initiated under different agro-ecological conditions
in order to cover the broad spectrum under which rice is grown. Thus, IERI has a collabora-
tive program on breeding rice for flooded conditions in Thailand and national GEU programs
are being assisted in several different countries, This kind of research will have to be
continued in the coming years so that IREI, together with each major national research sys­
tem, is able to generate material and technology which can help to improve the productivity
of rice under different farming situations. 
(ii) Experiment Station Development
292. This kind of assistance has been rendered to countries which felt the need to in­
crease their basic minimum laboratory and field facilities to enable collaborative research
to be undertalcen. IRRI is currently assisting the development of rice research stations at 
Sukamandi (see para. 287), and Karos in Indonesia and these services are highly appreciated 
by that country. However, other more appropriate agencies are available for this type of
work, and the Team believes it would be desirable for IRRI to examine with EAO, and other
agencies how work relating to the effective and rapid establishment of basic rice research 
facilities in countries where these are lacking could be accomplished. Meanwhile, IRRI 
should continue its present very positive role in a guidance capacity, but should operate 
such services only where other support is lacking.
(iii) International Network Research
293. An area of collaborative research which is of extreme benefit relates to the or-
ganization of network research, Such research is at present confined to the 4 major areas
already mentioned (in para. 264), but could be extended to additional areas where cooperative
international experiments involving the participation of several research institutions would 
be of benefit.
294. The team suggests that the IRTP should maintain the maximum flexibility to permit 
the immediate establishment of new nurseries following the onset of new or aggravated pest 
and disease attack, and especially to investigate changes in races or biotypes, especially
when new cultivars are introduced. This could be combined with other research and training
activities in such 'hot-spot'locations.
2 95- It is obvious that in such a widespread exchange of materials appropriate phyto-
sanitary precautions and quarantine arrangements, including appropriate treatments by both
sender and recipient, should be established and regularly followed, 
(iv) International Trials and Observation Nurseries
296. The International Yield and Observation nurseries are playing an important role 
in introducing rice research workers in different countries to the best material available 
both under the IRRI programs as well as programs of different national research systems. 
Gome varieties may be directly useful for introduction from one country to another, while
others might be valuable as donors of useful genes. *
- 67 -
(v) Joint Surveys and Study Missions
297. Professional collaboration between scientists at IERI and national institutes
should continue to be fostered. The initiative taken by IRRI national research program sci­
entists to examine jointly the materials grown, particularly in problem areas and in 'hot-
spot' locations for major pests and diseases, is an exceedingly important one. This will 
help national research scientists to gain an insight into problems impeding productivity 
and to take anticipatory action against possible future problems. It is becoming increas­
ingly clear that changes in rice culture leading to dense crop canopies and good soil 
fertility may generate additional disease and pest problems. Joint monitoring teams to 
areas infested with brown planthopper, gall midge, grassy stunt, tungro virus, bacterial 
blight, and other such problems should become a regular feature. The Team also commends 
IRPlI's current proposals for joint collecting teams of IRRI and national scientists to 
enrich the rice germ plasm bank; in these activities the participation of high level national 
scientists, is essential to success.
(vi) Cooperative Services
293. IRRI has developed procedures such as organizing periodic seminars and conferences, 
distribution of newsletters and other important publications for developing close linkages 
among rice scientists in different parts of the world. These steps are important and should 
be continued, and the Mission also supports IRRI's policy of co-sponsoring joint symposia 
with national research systems in rice growing countries such as the deep-water rice seminar 
in Bangladesh. Such joint symposia and conferences enable more national scientists to meet 
and discuss with IRRI scientists than would be possible at meetings held at Los Banos, and 
thus help to maximize the efforts of the IRRI scientists.
299. Coordination is only organized cooperation and therefore it is important that 
IRRI's approach to collaborative programs should be a two-way one, both IRRI and the col­
laborating agency deriving the maximum benefit from the joint effort. It is obvious that 
there cannot be a single pattern or style of cooperation. Different national research 
systems in developing countries are in different stages of evolution. Some, like Thailand 
and Indonesia need assistance in getting more scientists trained. Others, may need help 
in organizing basic research facilities. Consequently, their needs for IRRI assistance 
are different and in some cases IRRI may need to undertake on a purely temporary basis, 
local experimentation and extension. Therefore, there has to be a considerable flexibility 
in approach according to the specific needs and capabilities of that country's rice research 
system.
300. Collaborative research may be extended with mutual benefit in the following ad-
ditional areas:
(a) The establishment of a network of national genetic resource centers in rice 
coordinated by the Advisory Group on Rice of the International Board for Plant Genetic Re­
sources, already involving IRRI scientists.
- 63 -
(b) Establishment of an international grid of hot-spot screening locations for 
specific pests, diseases, problem soils and growing conditions. A specific location could 
be organized in the same manner as the Toluca Valley testing program of the International 
Potato Center for resistance to Phytophthora infestans. Once an optional screening site 
has been identified the assistance of national programmeshould be sought in providing ade­
quate supporting services. When necessaiy this may require close supervisition and partial 
funding from IERI.
(c) IRRI could collaborate further with PAO in intergovernmental meeting such as 
those mounted by the Regional Office of PAO where problems relating to the conversion of 
research results into developmental programs could be discussed. Eveiy rice growing country 
has its own pattern of promoting developmental projects depending upon its socio-political 
situation and the sharing of experiences at inter-governmental level would be of benefit.
Such a procedure v:ould also further the desirable linkages between PAO and IRRI (See para. 
284-236).
301. The Team would also like to suggest that the Consultative Group on Pood Production 
and Investment set up a sub-group on rice production with technical backstopping of IRRI.
Rice Research has reached the stage where it could give a good pay-off, provided all available 
research data could be put together into a scientifically organized extension and develop­
ment program.
302. In conclusion, the Team recognizes the crucial role of the cooperative and collabora­
tive programs in the achievement of IRRI's charter objectives, the many staffing problems as- 
sociated with these programs, and the need to preserve an effective balance between research
and development activities. The collaborative programs have served many useful functions.
But the Team believes that their major role in the future should be to help the establishment 
of strong national systems in all rice growing countries of the tropics, and to collaborate 
with these on equal terms.
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VI. PERSdTm POLICY
1. Quality and Adequacy of Scientific Staff
303. The first test of a personnel policy is the standard of staffing which it has pro­
duced after more than a decade of operation. By this criterion IRRI's policy has been highly 
successful: the quality of the staff and their adequacy to tackle their difficult and demand­
ing assignments impressed the Review Team. The effort expected of individuals is, on average, 
high by international standards.
2. Policy on Staff Salaries and Appointments
304. With respect to Senior Staff salaries, the Team was informed that it is the current 
policy of the Director to move towards ■uniform compensation for the same levels of pr'-zen re­
search ability and experience, and it commends this policy. In view of the recent growth in 
staff numbers, consideration should also be given to developing an evaluation system, with 
Senior Staff participation, to assist the Director on matters of promotion and award of merit. 
In addition to financial rewards, added incentives should also be offered to Senior Scientific 
staff through increased opportunities to participate in scientific fora of various types, in­
cluding professional associations.
305. The Senior Research Staff is drawn from many nationalities, a policy which the Team 
applauds and trusts will not only continue but be expanded. Appointments are reviewed an­
nually and tenure is implied, although not, it may be noted, guaranteed.
306. To increase diversity of contacts and to facilitate the sharing of IRRI experience, 
the Team recommends serious consideration of arrangements for staff exchange by secondment 
for 2 to 3 year periods both between International Centres and with other leading research 
organisations. It would, for example, be particularly advantageous for the developing coun­
tries to have the opportunity to draw on the experience and ability of their nationals at 
IRRI, and such interchanges should be encouraged whenever possible.
307. Given the policy that IRRI should maintain the highest quality senior staff -with 
first class physical support, it is sound complementary policy to maintain support for 
junior staff at a commensurately high level. To do so requires salary levels somewhat higher 
than the average scale for comparable skills in the community. The Team encourages the con­
tinuing reassessment of these scales, particularly in view of the substantial losses of 
valuable junior staff that have occurred recently.
3. Ilaintenance of Scientific Exchange with Leading Scientific Centers 
303. The Team recognizes that the organization of scientists of several disciplines into
problem-solving teams is essential for success and commends the Director for the progress 
made in this direction. In so small an Institute, however, the number of important targets 
may well exceed the number of staff available to deal with them; this could create a danger 
of overloading senior staff with travel and collaborative work to the point at which they 
cease to spend enough time in keeping up-to-date with their own disciplines. The Director
- 70 -
believes that active arrangements for collaborative research with leading scientific cen-
ters is a useful corrective. The Team agrees that it is important that specialists should 
be able to maintain and develop their professional- skills and awareness of research ad­
vances, on which their contribution to multi-disciplinary work must depend.
4. Terms of Employment of Outreach Staff
309. The outstanding personnel problem of IRRI is the uncertainty of the continuity of
employment for staff out-posted to regional or country programs. The essential importance
of these regional and country program collaborative appointments was clearly apparent to the 
Review Team in Thailand, Indonesia and in the Philippines. These staff have none of the ad­
vantages of the community facilities of H.Q. staff: their families are living in some iso­
lation from their own countiy men, and they have, in several cases, very real difficulties 
with education for their children. Scientifically, they work under the professional handicap 
of maintaining a "low profile" while taking substantial responsibility for research programs 
from -which they derive little or no opportunity for scientific publications. These out- 
posted staff are highly regarded in the countries for which they work, but their efforts are 
handicapped by the uncertainty of tenure, insecurity of prospects and inability to plan for 
even the immediate future of their children. This disruptive regime would be entirely un­
acceptable in other forms of professional employment at this level. No advantage is gained 
by donors from this rather callous disinterest in staff who serve them well, while the dif­
ficulties created for IRRI, as the employing agency unable to answer the questions p\it by 
the staff, are counter-productive. The Team recommends, therefore, that the core budget of 
IRRI should be increased to carry:
a) outposted specialists to assist national staff in the testing and adaptation 
of IRRI research under regional conditions; and
b) a number of man-years at IRRI headquarters against which outposted staff would 
be held for short periods at the end of their outreach postings in order to 
complete reports and to prepare for new assignments.
310. According to the Director, the initial requirements would be: (a) 5 positions;
and (b) 3 man-years.
311. VJith these provisions, the Team recommends that increased interchange between HQ 
staff and outposted staff should be encouraged and that the minimum expectancy of employ­
ment for specialists whose work continues to be acceptable, shoiild be five years.
312. Since success in such "outreach" work depends on qualities of personality as much 
as on scientific ability, selection is of great importance. It is thus further recommended 
that a system of internship be devised to ensure that recruits for the outreach programs 
have sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the philosophy and problems of the 
collaborative programs and of work in the environment to which they may be posted. Post­
doctoral fellows should be considered as part of the pool of potential outreach staff.
- 71 -
TABLE I: Number of positions by function at the International Rice 
Research Institute (1976)
Library and 
Research General Information Service
Departments Administration Services Operations Total
Senior Staff 36 7 3 2 43
Primary scientific and 
supervisory staff
Research 16 3 19s-
Kon-Research 1 6 3 10
Second level scientific 
and supervisory staff
Research 191 191
Non-Research 2 7 2 ,19 30
Clerical 43 37 12 2 94
Other 450 16 15 239 720
TOTAL 739 73 35 265 1,112
- 72 -
VII. general services aito facilities
1, Information and Library Services
309. KRI has developed an effective information service program including means used to 
disseminate information to scientists, organizations and the media, and to promote information 
exchange among the cooperating national programs.
(a) Publications
310. Kill's most widely circulated publication, the KRI Reporter (9,000 copies per 
issue), is a txro or four page information circular which reports, in lay language, the latest 
research results from KRI and from cooperating national programs. It is usually published 
on a quarterly basis but there is often sufficient newsworthy material to justify bi-monthly 
publication. The KRI Reporter is very well written, makes excellent use of illustrations
and graphs, and is among the very best publications of its kind. 
311. The KRI Annual Report (6,000 copies printed in 1974) is KRI's main technical pub-
lication. It contains research journal type papers. Since each issue runs to more than
200 pages and it is quite expensive to print, circulation is limited to libraries, research 
laboratories, rice research stations and other institutions interested in rice research, and
to individual scientists who do not have access to institutional copies.
312; Research Highlights is KRI's other main technical publication (6,000 copies printed). 
It also provides a vehicle for obtaining technical information, but more rapidly than the
Annual Report. Moreover, their methods of presentation are effectively complementary in that 
Research Highlights arranges the material reported by problem area whereas the Annual Report
arranges it by discipline, The Team commends the quality of the KRI reports and hopes that
their complementary format will continue.
313. Very early in its history (1963), KRI prepared and published a Bibliography of
rice literature and since then it has published an annual supplement to bring the bibliography 
up-to-date, This service is especially important in opening the extensive Japanese language
literature on rice to rice workers. KRI also provides photocopies of selected articles upon 
request of scientists who would otherwise have difficulty in obtaining copies.
314. KRI also published Manuals, Technical Publications, Catalogs, Proceedings of
Symposia, Conferences and Workshops, Information Leaflets, Colored Charts (e.g. of disease
symptoms) and other materials to disseminate information about rice.
(b) Librar:/ and Archives
315. The library facilities at KRI are superlative, providing ready access to staff and
students alike, to the most comprehensive and up-to-date literature on rice. Additional space
is likely to be necessary in the near future especially for achieving older issues of periodi-
cals.
(c) Conferences, Symposia, Workshops
316. In addition to written materials, KRI also provides opportunity for oral communica­
tion among rice scientists by sponsoring conferences, cymposia and viorkshops on topics of
current interest to rice scientists. In 1969» it initiated the Annual International Rice
- 73 -
Conference attended by scientists and administrators from all major rice growing areas.
This annual conference has also provided a mechanism for discussing and planning future 
direction of research programs, and for meetings of specialists (e.g. the annual meeting 
of rice pathologists and entomologists).
317. Sight symposia have been held on specific topics of interest to rice scientists 
in the 15 years since the Institute was established, the latest being on "Climate and Rice". 
(d) Audio-Visual Services, Editing, Duplicating
31o. In addition to responsibility for the publications mentioned above, IRRI's Office 
of Information Services is responsible for audio-visual services in support of training 
programs, seminars, and other meetings, editing papers which IRRI scientists submit to sci­
entific journals, and a wide variety of art and graphic work in support of the total program 
at IRRI.
(e) Evaluation and Recommendations
315. IRRI's publications, both technical and semi-technical, are not only appropriate in 
range and scope to accomplish the required exchanges of information but are also of excellent 
quality. The seminars, symposia, and workshops sponsored by IRRI have dealt with important 
topics on a timely basis. Organization and planning of such meeting appears to have been 
meticulous. Audio-visual support of the training program and of research meetings has been 
excellent. In total, IRRI's information services have been highly successful in providing 
for exchange of information among all interested institutions, scientists, research organisa­
tions, and the public media. In GhapterVII Section 7f we discuss steps that IRRI might talee 
to export its skills in information exchange to cooperating national programs.
2. General Station Administration
320. The availability of highly literate junior staff, competent in routine research and 
administration, has been put to good advantage at IRRI, whose yearly influx ox visitors, 
trainees, and visiting scientists are welcomed and looked after thoughtfully and expertly.
Total staff numbers are indicated in Table I, page 71. 
321. The scientific staff are well supported and the equipment and maintenance of labo­
ratories, experimental fields, buildings, roads and transport all confirm that IRRI is run 
to the highest expected standards.
322. The senior staff houses are of outstanding quality and elegance and the station, 
considered as an international investment, is fully able to support the additional major 
investments in laboratories and seed storage now under consideration.
3. Additional Facilities Heeded
(a) Genetics Resources Laboratory
323. The new facility proposed by IRRI would permit the systemization and coordination 
of all aspects of the Institute's program concerned with seed as follows: 
i) Germ plasm conservation; 
ii) IRRI breeding and evaluation program; and 
iii) International rice testing program.
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324. Preliminary plans for this facility are to he modified taking into consideration con­
sulting engineer advice. If funds are available, its construction will begin around September 
1, 1976, and will be completed about 10 months later. The Team reaffirms its opinion that the
provision of this facility should be given the highest priority (cf. Chapter III, para. 40 ). 
(b) Computer Facilities
325. At present, most of IRRI's computing is done by transporting tapes to and from a time 
shared computer in Manila. As plans materialize for the computerization of the GEU program 
(including the genetics resources and international rice testing programs), of the economic 
field studies and of the accounting office procedures, IRRI's computer needs will expand dram- 
atically. The Team supports the steps now underway to meet this need (see Chapter III, para.
20$ ), through the shared use of a central computer facility to be established on the campus
of the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. 
(c) Greenhouses and Screenhouses
326. The expanding GEU program v/ill demand an increase in greenhouse and screenhouse
facilities, especially for insect eer.ing (see Chapter III, para. 90 )• Two additional
greenhouses are required for 1976 and two for 1977» and the Team recommends that these re-
quirements should be met.
(d) Dormitory Space
327. IREI has two dormitories at present; a 30-room, 60-bedspace dormitory for male 
trail.ees/scholars (main dormitory) and a 15-room dormitory for ladies. The main dormitory
is utilized exclusively by male trainees; while the ladies dormitory houses female trainees 
and some of the female research assistants/secretaries, Part of the latter is currently 
being utilized as office accommodation. The institute has for the last year been leasing 
a 2^-bed space wing of the SEARCA dormitory to accommodate current over-flow of trainees.
320. Starting in 1976, tiro of the short courses, with fairly large numbers of parti-
cipants each, will be offered simultaneously beginning in March; the 4—month GEU training
program and the six-month rice production course, Por 1$76, thirty-seven are expected to
talee the GEU training program and about 30 in the six-month rice production course. The
schedule of short courses at IRRI is shown in Table
32$. It is very desirable to have all participants in a course quartered togehter, not 
only from a management point of view but also to give them more opportunity to interact with 
one another.
330. It should be noted that in addition to those participating in the organized short 
courses, there are degree and non-degree research oriented training participants, In 1975,
this group numbered $4. While some of them have their families -with them and therefore
live in the Los Banos community, veiy many of them stay in the IRRI dormitory.
331. The need for additional dormitory space is therefore critical. Another 60-bed
dormitory for male training participants is urgently needed to allow the institute to 
maximize its training activities and the Team recommehds that provision be made as soon 
as possible.
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(e) Space for Information Services
332. With the recent expansion in the Institute's size, its publications, visual materials 
and public information services have markedly taxed the space available to the Office of
Information Services. It is recommended that the extra space be provided by making a small 
addition to Chandler Hall, the Administration Building, and at the same time considering the 
provision of space for library archives (See para. 315 above).
Table H: Schedule of IRRI Short Courses
TITLE OF COURSE JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MARCH
GEU
Cropping
Systems
IRAEN
Ag. Eng'rg ■f
6 - Mos.Rice 
Production
2 wks rice 
production
Rice Field 
Expt Workshop
Number that could be accommodated in each course :
GEU 30-40
Cropping systems 20-25
IRAEN 10-15
Ag.Engineering 10-15
Six months HPTP 30-35
Two weeks RPTP 4O-5O
Rice Field Experimentation 
Workshop 15-20
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nil» IRRI - THE NEXT PHASE
1. Achievements and deficiencies
2 33. Dr. Robert F. Chandler, Jr. the first Director of IRRI, in a case history of 
IRRI's research management during 1960 to 1972 has stated that IRRI'6 achievements during 
this period were primarily due to the following factors:
(i) Adequate financial support, which meant good research facilities, sufficient 
travel funds and competitive salary scales.
(ii) Freedom given to administrators and scientists by the Board of Trustees and
the principal donors to develop and carry out a programme of research without political 
or other interference.
(iii) The decision to keep the research programme problem-oriented, including the 
selection of the practical goal of increasing rice production through increased yield per 
unit area of land.
(iv) The selection of able young scientists from the international community.
(v) The massive approach to assembling world collections, to making crosses, to 
testing widely (iR8 was tried in 87 countries) and to training young scientists and extension
workers.
(vi) The setting of high standards and the instilling in the staff of a sense of
pride, dedication and enthousiasm.
(vii) The capacity to have the scientific and administrative staff act on a truly
worldwide basis, thus carrying IRRI's findings to all continents.
(viii) The policy of IRRI to allow its germplasm collection, its segregating 
populations ani any other findings to be freely used by any national programme without 
necessarily giving credit to IRRI.
-> ; The Team endorses this view and would urge the Consultative Group on International 
Agricultural Research and the Board of Trustees of IRRI to preserve and enhance the 
contributions such factors ma.ke to assisting IRRI in ensuring high quality and effectiveness 
in its work.
‘ ) In the same case history, Dr. Chandler mentioned the following as the major 
"errors" of IRRI during 1960-72:
(i) inadequate attention to cooking quality in the early years of IRRI's
breeding work;
(ii) inadequate attention to the breeding of rice varieties with some insurance 
against the hazard of high water in times of excessive rainfall;
(iii) inadequate contact with the Asian farmers with the result that a sufficient
understanding as to why the Asian farmers were unable to reproduce experiment station 
successes could not be obtained.
336. Dr. Chandler further drew attention to the new disease and pest problems which 
IRRI had to face. "When IRRI started its research programme, it was thought virus diseases
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were of little practical importance. However, this shortly proved not to he the case. The 
tungro and grassy stunt virus diseases increased in prevalence in 1963 and 1964."
337. The Team is satisfied that adequate attention has been given to these deficiencies 
in IRRI's earlier programmes through collaborative projects on breeding rice varieties to 
suit different growing conditions and taste requirements, and through a well-planned agro- 
economic network analysing the constraints impeding the adoption of the new technology by 
Asian farmers, and applied and adaptive research on farmers' fields.
338. The following summarizes the Team's views on the next phase of IRRI's growth and 
development on the basis of both past experience and current understanding of the major 
research and development problems needing solution in rice.
2. Research strategies and priorities
339- There has been considerable public discussion as to whether the work of IRRI and 
its sister institutes has benefitted the larger farmers more than small holders, tenants 
and landless labourers. Forty-four percent of all rice farmers have less than 1 hectare 
per farm, but altogether they command less than 10$ of the whole area under rice. It has 
often been suggested that IRRI should concentrate on the needs of such small farmers. However, 
it is extremely difficult to specify problem areas for rice research which are of concern 
only, or mostly, to the farmers in this size class. Recent analyses by IRRI's economists 
emphasize the potential for the gains from increased rice production to go to the urban 
poor, through lower prices or larger employment; while the small farmer, with his low sale 
ratio, benefits from production increase with little dilution from lower prices.
3"0. Since research on higher yielding varieties, greater pest and disease resistance, 
and multiple cropping systems benefits even the very small farmer, and increased food 
supplies are crucial to improved welfare of the landless,the Team believes that the current 
priorities in IRRI's research are well based.
(a) Yield potential in rice
341. The estimated maximum yield potential and the proportion of that potential 
realized at IRRI are given below:
Estimated maximum yield and percent achieved in IRRI experimental plots j/
Duration of Estimated
effective grain Average sunlight maximum Attained $ of estimated 
filling period Yield Yield maximum
days (cal.cm-2day-1) (t/ha) (t/ha)
IRRI (wet) 25 300 7.3 6.27 82
IRRI (dry) 25 500 13.4 9.0 67
l/ Efficiency for solar energy utilization is assumed to be 2.5$
3 '2. These estimates by Yoshida indicate that IRRI has already achieved as much as 
and 6jfo of the likely maximum yield during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. This 
is a creditable achievement. The estimates also suggest that there Ì3 still some scope for 
improving further the yield potential of the rice plant under different growing conditions. 
(i) Achieving the next major advance in yield potential
343. Active interdisciplinary research involving crop physiologists, geneticists, plant 
breeders and various problem area scientists is needed to achieve a higher ceiling to yield
potential. The research contribution of crop physiologists in the early stages of IRRI's 
research was to develop a good plant type for indica rice. This was achieved by transferring 
knowledge already gathered for .japonica rice to indica rice and by eliminating, through the 
introduction of genes for dwarfing, the lodging barrier to high yields at high levels of 
fertilizer application. The major barrier for further increase in yield potential beyond the 
present level appears to be yield capacity (which is largely deteimined by grain number/m^). 
Increase in the yield capacity by genetic manipulation is essential for further increase in
rice yield.
The "reproductive stage" may have to receive greater attention since the yield 
capacity is determined during that period. Requisite studies might include:
1) the interaction between genotypes, climatic factors and nitrogen nutrition 
with respect to spikelet formation
2) the combination of a large grain size with a large number of grains
3) the increase in the length of the reproductive stage
4) the partitioning of photosynthate between growing panicles and leaves and stems
during the reproductive stage
5) the increase in the "effective grain filling period"; large grain size varieties
may merit particular attention as the IRRI germplasm collection includes 
varieties in which kernel weight varies from 11 to 45 mg.
(b) Yields in farmers' fields
3^3. So far we have been considering changes in yield potential. However, the gap
between what is possible and what is being realized in farmers' fields is very great in 
several countries and calls for concerted attention by research and development agencies. 
Barker and Anden-Lacsina in their paper on "Factors Influencing the Use of Modern Rice 
Technology in the Study Areas" 1/ have identified the following three factors to account for
the lack of even spread of modem rice varieties: (1) the availability of modem varieties 
suitable for a particular locale; (2) differences in the rice-growing environment (including 
climate, soils, irrigation, drainage, and pests and disease problems); and (3) the price 
relationships between improved and local varieties. The authors have also pointed out that 
when farmers were asked what factors they consider to be the major constraints to high rice 
yields, the control of diseases, insects and other pests was identified as the most serious 
problem in most villages.
l/ IRRI 1975 "Changes in Rice Farming in Selected Areas of Asia, Los Banos, Philippines".
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346. The estimated percentage of rice crop area and production, under different
growing conditions in South and Southeast Asia, is as follows:
Estimated percent of rice crop area and production by specific land type in 
South and Southeast Asia, early 1970's____________________
Crop area $ Production % $ IRRI resources 
early 70's early 70's committed in 1976
Irriagated 
Single crop 19 24
Double crop 14 24 37
Rainf ed 47 40 35
Upland 10 5 23
Deep water 10 7 5
347- The data indicated in IRRI's analysis of changes in rice farming in selected areas 
in Asia indicate that the greatest acceptance of modern rice varieties and technology has been
* in the dry season, both in single and double crop lands. It is also clear from the above data
that in order to meet the wide spectrum of conditions under which rice is grown, additional
efforts are being made in rainfed upland and deep water areas. IRRI has recently stepped up
its research on rainfed and upland rice and has established a joint research program in Thailand
for breeding better deep water rices. Location-specific agronomic research should be increased
only under the auspices of national agencies. 
34o. As agriculture advances in countries in Asia, it would be reasonable to expect that
the productivity of the rice crop will go up. The average yield of rice exceeds 5 t/ha even
now in some countries, e.g. USA, Japan, Spain, Australia, Taiwan, and Egypt, while most coun­
tries in Southeast Asia record average yields below 2 t/ha. When advances in productivity take
place, it may be possible to release lands marginal for rice cultivation. Large upland areas
in several countries are now under rice because the countries are not self-sufficient in their
rice requirements. When self-sufficiency is achieved, such areas can be cultivated with crops 
which can give higher return under such conditions, This can be one of the contributions which 
the farming systems program of IRRI could make in the long run. In view of these comments, and
the more limited scope for improvement in upland rice, there would appear to be too large a
proportion of IRRI's resources devoted to the problems of upland rice. 
34 9- In the immediate future however, there is need for developing better varieties as
well as more effective agronomic practices for achieving a good plant population density and
grain filling under rainfed upland and deep water conditions. We sould therefore urge that
the ongoing collaborative rice research in these fields be further strengthened.
- 80 -
3. Research policies and priorities — present and future
(a) Applied research resulting in "finished products".
350. IRRI has an impressive record of achievement in applied research such as the 
development of high-yielding rice varieties beginning with the release of IR0 in 1966; 
methods of controlling pests, patnogens and weeds; and efficient use of fertilizer and 
water. Some IRRI varieties like IR0 and IR20 have covered large areas in the rice growing 
nations of Asia. Similarly, the superior varieties released by CIAT in Colombia, on the 
basis of selections from IRRI segregating populations, have helped in raising the average 
yield of irrigated rice in several countries in South and Central America from about 2.2 
t/ha in 1966 to about 5 t/ha in 1974»
351. Finished product research in agronomy, pest and disease control, and water
management conducted at Los Banos, would naturally be of greater immediate relevance to 
the growing conditions in the southern and central parts of the Luzon Province in the 
Philippines. In a few areas in the Philippines, the potential growth in output, possible 
under farmers' conditions through the application of new technology, has been demonstrated. 
The agro—economic research group is using this knowledge effectively for identifying the 
major constraints which will have to be overcome for nar owing the gap between potential 
and actual growths in rice output and for meeting the consequences of increased production. 
These studies have shown that under conditions in the Philippines, the adoption of new 
seeds, fertilizers and pesticides has been as good with small farmers as compared to large 
farmers under irrigated conditions in Central Luzon. It therefore appears that the new 
technology developed by IRRI and cooperating institutions in the Philippines is scale- 
neutral with regard to the feasibility of its adoption by farmers with different sizes of 
holdings. The income of hired labour has also gone up by a small margin since 1966.
352. IRRI's work has been of value to other rice growing countries not only in the 
area of plant breeding but also in other areas such as pest and disease control; and the 
development of improved farm machinery which has been of benefit to several nations. The 
high priority accorded so far by IRRI to "finished product" applied research has thus paid 
good dividends.
(b) Opening up research leads which trigger a relay effort bv
national research systems
353. Dwarf plant-type breeding and breeding for multiple resistance, epidemiology of 
diseases, insecticide application techniques, multiple cropping, and analysis of farm-level 
constraints, are some examples of research programmes which have triggered a relay effort 
in several rice growing countries. A logical result of such research has been the generation 
of interest in improving the rice-based farming system as a whole. This in turn has has a 
beneficial impact on rice research by making rice scientists aware of the positive and 
negative consequences of altering the technology of the rice component of a farming system, 
(c) Mission—oriented basic research
354. This area of research, which is generally technologically complex and demands
investment that most' developing countries are unable to afford, should naturally continue
to be one of IRRI's major responsibilities.
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355- In the early years, IRHI's research staff were grouped by discipline, and inter­
disciplinary collaboration resulted from informal and spontaneous interactions. These were 
less extensive than now, and more time was spent on the disciplinary studies needed for 
increased understanding of the behaviour of rice under tropical conditions. Such work led 
to a substantial international recognition of the scientific contributions by many of 
IRHI's senior staff.
356. IRRI's interdisciplinary research has now been formalized into groups focussed 
on 10 research problem areas. The Team agrees that there was a need to strengthen inter­
disciplinary programmes within the Institute, and the GEU programme provides a convincing 
example of the value of having done so. Much of the more basic research required as back-up 
for the mission-oriented programmes can probably be arranged at overseas universities and 
institutes on a cost-free or cost-sharing basis. Such arrangements are made by CIP, CIMMYT, 
and IITA, and spare the Institute the need to spread its work too widely and thinly.
357. However, it may not always be possible to arrange for the relevant basic work 
to be done at other institutes. For example, there is a need for greater understanding of 
the means by which the life cycle of rice crops can be shortened, particularly for multiple 
cropping of rice. Further work will be needed on the apparent inverse relation between the 
duration of the basic vegetative phase and photo-periodic sensitivity, on ways of breaking 
this association, and on the consequences in terms of crop growth, nutrient uptake, phto-
synthesis and yield.
353. In view of the growing cost of energy, there is also need for stepping up research 
on the efficiency of conversion of "cultural energy" into digestible energy. The establishment 
of a phytotron with assistance from Australia, and the additional laboratory and farm 
facilities now becoming available, have enhanced IRRI's capability for basic research in 
areas such as N-fixation in rice fields by free-living organisms, integrated pest control,
chemistry of flooded soils, and increasing the sink capacity of the rice plant.
(d) The need for continuous review and flexibility
359- With the strengthening of na.tional research systems now in progress in many rice
growing nations, it will be necessary for IRRI to keep its priorities under continuous review.
In the future, the relative allocation of research efforts may tend to move over a period 
of time toward a greater emphasis on mission-oriented basic research thereby complementing 
the work of national systems. While mission-oriented basic research could help in fostering 
collaboration among advanced laboratories in developed and developing countries, the 
s.pplied research programme could further promote the initiative already taken for the 
organization of a.n international grid of interdisciplinary research through research networks. 
The agro-economic research network and the farming systems network will help to develop 
symbiotic links between research and development establishements.
360. The Team recognizes that in determining IRRI's priorities in research and develop­
ment, the Board of Trustees and the Director have tried to strike a balance between the 
immediate need for increasing rice production and the need for sustained advance in the 
future. Flexibility in approach and the capacity to redeploy resources in accordance with
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the demands of changing situations are hence important. The recent decision of IRKE to 
change its policy with reference to the naming and release of varieties is a step in this 
direction (see Annex IV). It is hoped that such a dynamic policy with regard to research 
priorities and policies will continue to be maintained. One area which will need continuous 
review by the IREI Board of Trustees is the extent of research which IREI should undertake 
at the farm and village level in the area of post-harves technology, particularly relating 
to harvesting, drying and storage. Attention to post-harvest technology is essential fo ? 
ensuring that the full benefits of increased productivity are realized.
4* Future composition and balance of the programme of research
361. In the programme of IREI for 1976, the balance of efforts in different areas will
be as follows!
Genetic evaluation and utilization.. 34%
Control and management of rice pests 11%
Irrigation water management............ . 4%
Soil and crop management..........•• 9%
Environment and its effects on rice. 3%
Post-harvest management of rice........ 1%
Constraints on rice yields.......... 4%
Increased rice yield potentials........ 1%
Cropping systems...................... . 23%
Machinery development.«.............
Consequence of new technology....... 2%
362. The GEU programme and the cropping systems programme will thus constitute about
57% of IRRI's total research efforts.
363. It is difficult to classify accurately the distribution of IRRI's research and 
training programmes as they relate to different types of rice culture. The following is an 
approximation of this distribution for 1976 in terms of the beneficiaries of IREI research 
results!
Irrigated rice........ 37%
Rainfed (bunded) rice. 35%
Upland (unbunded) rice 23%
Deep water rice............. 5%
36/-. As can be seen irrigated and rainfed (bunded) rice will receive nearly equal
attention.
365- The Team has already offered its specific comments on the different research
programmes in previous sections of this report and will therefore confine itself to some
general observations on the overall balance of the programme.
366. The GEU programme represents a cooperative effort among scientists belonging 
to all the major disciplines and hence requires effective coordination both at the 
horizontal and vertical levels. This project therefore presents challenging opportunities 
not only for pure research but also for effective research coordination. The GEU operations 
committee will have to monitor periodically the progress achieved in integrated functioning 
and ensure genuine interdisciplinary interaction.
367. The Team has already underlined the importance of getting the germplasm material
screened in collaboration with national research systems for a broad spectrum of
- 83 -
characteristics relating to yield, disease and pest resistance, and adaptation. The 
parental composition and the donors of important genes of the varieties released by IRRI 
so far, are given in Table 5. An examination of these data shows that for resistance to 
major diseases and pests the donors have been practically the same. Barring 0. nivara, 
allied species of 0. sativa or primitive cultivars have not yet been brought into the 
genetic make-up of these varieties. The source of dwarfing has also been only Dee-geo-woo— 
gen(Dgwg). TKM6 from India, which has been widely used as donor for resistance to several 
pests and diseases, has also unfortunately the same gene for brown planthopper resistance
as the variety Mudgo.
368. IRRI has recognized the need for speedy identification of diverse genes for 
resistance to different pests and diseases as well as for dwarfing and other plant 
characteristics. The dangers of genetic uniformity in high-yielding strains are now widely 
realized and have summarized in a report of the committee on "Genetic Vulnerability of 
Major Crops" published by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 1972. A dynamic GEU 
programme can help to avoid such dangers and the Team hence endorses the highest priority
given to this project by IRRI.
36;?. The cropping systems programme introduces the scientist to field problems which
he would not normally visualize in the well—endowed environment of the experimental
station. The Team has seen the applied research work in farmers' fields done under this 
programme in the Bulacan, and Iloilo areas of the Philippines. It is clear from
the limited work done so far that research workers will have to tackle several probe1ms such 
as breeding short-duration rice varieties characterized by early vigour; standardization of 
effective weed control methods; development of appropriate power sources and implements for 
tilla.ge, harvesting and drying; and agro-meteorology, for facilitating the introduction of 
two—crop systems in rainfed area,s.
370. The cropping systems programme can also help to tackle some of the serious
problems of the rural economy in rice growing countries, such as underemployment and 
malnutrition. By enabling two crops of rice » or one good crop of rice and another crop, such 
as a grain legume or maize or millet to grow where only one uncertain crop of rice grew
before, the cropping system research can make a contribution toward reducing underemployment 
and seasonal unemployment. Another advantage of such research is the identification of 
factors causing gaps between potential and actual yields in farmers' fields. Also, this 
kind of research can help national governments to identify the packages of service and of 
public policies needed to support the spread of an economically viabile technological 
package .
371. Cropping systems research is, however, highly location-specific. Farmers' decision-
making with regard to choice of crops is primarily influenced by the net profit per hectare 
per year and by the nature and extent of risks involved. Research workers on the other hand 
tend to be interested mainly in yield per hectare per year. As a new crop is introduced in 
a cropping system, its acceptance by farmers may depend upon the arrangements made for 
marketing. In many parts of Asia, an increase 01* decrease in production by a margin of
- 84 -
about 5$ may make all the difference between an uncomfortable glut and acute scarcity. 
Consequently, price fluctuations tend to be high, thus making it difficult for the poor 
farmers to decide on investments on inputs. Some form of crop insurance will help but this 
presents many operational difficulties. Ultimately, there has to be a global solution. 
Considerable fluctuations in production may also arise in monsoon Asia due to weather factors 
like typhoons, cyclone, flood and drought. It is therefore unfortunate that in a good 
production year, prices tend to fall below economic levels, thereby discouraging small 
fanners from continuing their investment in inputs. Studies of cropping systems and 
constraints on rice yields can enable the introduction of a choice of crops from which the 
farmer can choose according to his input-mobilizing potential, seasonal conditions, and 
marketability of produce. The work of the agricultural economics group, in approaching these 
problems from the perspective of on-farm studies and direct contact with the production 
scientists, is now providing useful infoiroation on those questions which may require
expansion as the impact of the production effort increases.
372. As already mentioned, mission-oriented basic research, particularly in relation
to increasing the yield potential and in the control of pests and diseases, will deserve
great greater support. The Team is particularly concerned about the growing severity of pest 
and disease epidemics, which is also reflected by farmers' reactions: (see Table below).
Villages characterized Farmers ($6) viewing as constraint
by nitrogen use Villages Obtaining Obtaining Obtaining poor Diseases, 
(No) seed fertilizer credit irrigation insects, 
pests
Lev nitrogen 11 7a 21 I6a 21a 66
High nitrogen 
Monoculture 9b 16 19 22 26 84
Mixed farming 12 12 37 31 20 64
a Data available for 9 of the 11 villages 
"k Data available for 7 of the 9 villages
Data from IRHI's publication on "Changes in Rice Farming in Selected areas of Asia
(1975» Page 23)
373. An international group of plant pathologists and entomologists is annualy 
assessing the situation and the Team recommends that this practice be continued.
5. IRRI's relationships to national research systems
374; • It is perhaps now appropriate for IRHI to specifically and explicitly state 
support to national rice research systems as a major policy objective. Such a statement 
would recognize that the effectiveness of IRRI in increasing the potential for rice 
production through research is increasingly dependent on the development of national 
research systems anà on the involvement of IRRI with those systems.
- 85 -
375- It should be clear than an objective of support of national rice research
systems is in no way a departure from IRRI's basic objective of increasing rice production* 
It is increasingly apparent that new varieties and production practices must be adapted to 
specific geographic areas, requiring cooperation with many local research stations within
national systems. It should also be apparent that what is of concern is not just the 
relationships of IRRI with the least developed national systems byt also the increasingly 
important need for IRRI to relate effectively to those national systems which are reaching 
the more advanced stages of development. The nature of the interaction process will, of 
course, vary from the least developed to the most developed systems. The more IRRI learns 
from interacting with the currently best developed systems, the more prepared it would be 
to deal with the larger group of developed systems in the future.
376. The first requisite to effective contribution by IRRI to national systems is, 
of course, to demonstrate effective research by a first class research performance of its 
own. Beyond this, there are several measures it can take to build competence and confidence 
in national systems - including using its impressive public information services and 
demonstration plots to report special successes in national systems and to assist those 
national systems to improve their reporting services; by holding joint conferences and 
training programmes; by intensive exchange visits by personnel from and to national stations
for expanded knowledge of work and procedures at the other stations; by acceptance of
service research functions to facilitate more rapid completion of promising research thrusts 
at national stations; and by national representation among the senior staff conducive to an 
interaction which reflects mutual respect. The tone should be pride in the development of 
the whole system. In this respect bringing of senior personnel from national systems to IRRI, 
as co-equal senior staff for 1 to 3 year periods, could be particularly useful in contributing 
to a sense of accomplishment and self-respect in the national systems, as well as being 
useful in relation to IRRI's research.
377. IRRI has developed close linkages with the research and development establishments
in agriculture in the Philippines. As the Philippines forges ahead in its efforts to improve
production and productivity of rice, there will naturally be qualitative and quantitative 
changes in the nature of IRRI's collaboration. The Philippine Government has shown its deep 
commitment to IRRI's Charter by the generous provision of additional land and by assistance 
in every possible manner to ensure the success of IRRI.
373. The primary advantage of IRRI associating itself with specific national development 
projects is the direct contact provided with field problems in the context of an effort to 
remove constraints to production increase. Because IRRI work is necessarily applied, it must 
have broad direct contact with the field. Association with national development projects is 
thus highly complementary to the constraints project carried out as part of the research 
programme. That project is designed to understand what the constraints are on production by 
individual analysis on farmers' fields. That work might usefully be seen in the context of 
national programmes attempting to remove those constraints. Prom that can come a perspective 
as to the kinds of constraints which may most easily be removed by public policy and the kinds 
which will have to be dealt with through the research process itself.
- 86 -
379. The primary disadvantage of working with national development projects would of 
course lie with major diversion of personnel if this effort were allowed to expand sub­
stantially, and it always stands in danger that a poor judgement would be made in terms of 
a programme with which to be associated. Further, of course, there is a danger to the
national programmes that IRET's input would result in displacing national organization in
an area in which it is most essential and, in an ancillary manner, impede the growth of
self-confidence in national institutions which eventually will require large-scale domestic
financial and personnel support.
380. It would seem in this context that the most logical formal association of IREI with
national development programmes should have the following features; First, such associations 
should be relatively small in number and chosen to provide a breadth of experience which 
relates directly to the type of research programmes being emphasized at IRRI. Second, 
emphasis should be on choice of broad based programmes which can be implemented on a national 
scale, operated at a sufficiently low level of intensity, that it can be replicated 
nationally. Third, the input from IRRI should be low key; largely in an advisory capacity 
and involving an opportunity to carefully examine what is going on and to participate in 
monitoring activities specifically. Participation in such projects should be closely 
coordinated with the work on production constraints. Specifically, the nature of the intere
action with development programmes should be guided by the needs of the production 
constraints work rather than the reverse. Of course, at the informal level, IRRI should 
continue to welcome visits and discussions with leaders of national development programmes 
as means of impressing on them the importance of national and international research 
institutions to development and as a means of broadening knowledge at IRRI of the source of 
development efforts, the altitutes of the development programme administrators and the 
nature of the problems they encounter.
6. Training
381. A very important contribution of IRRI to the promotion of the research and
development efforts of rice growing nations has been in the area of training. The Team has
dealt with this at some length earlier. Manpower development is regarded as one of the 
urgent needs by the national research agencies of many developing countries. IRRI would, 
however, have to keep under constant review the nature and types of training programmes it 
undertakes. Linkages could be developed with a few of the leading universities in both 
developing and developed countries, as has already been done with UPLB and Cornell University, 
which will enable the thesis work of graduate students to be done at IRRI and the course 
work at their respective universities. If the United Nations University starts granting 
degrees in the field of agriculture, IRRI could play an important role in providing 
facilities to graduate students of the UN University to do their research work on rice and 
rice-based farming systems.
- 87 -
332. The Team suggests that IRRI might also develop joint training programmes with
national research systems in different countries. This would help to generate a multiplier 
effect on the number of persons trained, and minimize pressure on IRRI training resources, 
and help to improve the quality and content of the training programmes organized by
national agencies.
333. While women play a pivotal role in rice production and post harvest operations 
in most countries in Asia, the attention paid to upgrade the technical skills of women 
workers has been inadequate or poor in several countries. We were impressed with the large 
number of skilled woman extension workers in the Philippines. In contrast, women have been 
practically bypassed by most training programmes in some countries although included in those 
of IRRI. IRRI could perhaps encourage more countries to expand training programmes for women 
both at the adaptive research and field extension levels by national research and development
agencies.
7. Information Services
33-' IRRI can be proud of its information services. The quality of its publications and ■ •
bibliographic services is excellent. The seminars and symposia organized periodically have 
been well planned. The audio-visual support givent to the training programmes and seminars 
is of high quality. Now that IRRI has reached a high level of excellence in its information 
services at the headquarters, it could give some attention to strengthening the information 
services and capability of cooperative national programmes. There could also be a divers­
ification in the kinds of support extended to cooperative programmes. In most countries of 
Asia, radio and television are giving increasing support to agricultural production 
programmes.
335. The preparation of film strips, video-tapes and other audio-visual aids could
themselves be part of training programmes for national information service personnel. It is 
obvious that such materials intended to be shown to farmers will have to be carefully 
prepared in appropriate languages, in consultation with national programmes so that the 
farmer is not confused by contradictory advice. In agricultural communication there is also 
need for coordination in the timing of extension advice to farmers with the availability of
the inputs needed to use the knowledge imparted.
3o6. The Team clearly recognized that these proposals imply the provision of additional
staff and other resources and full scale work would depend on their availability.
8. Participation in development projects
337. During the last 10 years, several rice growing nations have initiated large 
development projects designed to enable small farmers to derive benefit from new varieties 
and technologies. The aim of these projects is to integrate knowledge, supply of inputs 
(including credit), and assured arketing at prices remunerative to the farmer and reasonable 
for the consumer. The High—Yielding Varieties Programme of India, the BIMAS programme of
- 88 -
Indonesia, and the Masagana 99 Programme of the Philippines are examples. IRRI has been 
closely involved in the Masagana-99 Programme. The Team would encourage IRRI to support 
such national development projects, so long as IRRI's contribution is restricted to 
technical advice, training assistance and monitoring of progress in order to identify 
bottlenecks. Linkages with such rice production projects will help IRRI to continuously 
sharpen its priorities and re-design its research and training programmes, as warranted 
by the field experience.
9. Personnel management
Personnel management policies hold the key to staff morale and dedication. Therefore, 
we have gone into the complex problems which are inevitable in an international research
centre located in a developing country. The Team was informed that it is the current policy
of the Director to move toward uniform compensation for the same levels of proven research
ability and experience. The Team commends this policy as indicated earlier.
369. We have dealt with the problems of staff posted at outreach stations. We would
like to underline the crucial importance of paying attention not only to the qualities of
scientific competence and leadership but also to human qualities and the ability to adapt 
to conditions in developing countries while selecting staff to work with national research
systems.
390. When IRRI was small, relationships between headquarters and cooperating stations
could be kept informal. However, these relationships have been increasingly formalized as 
the work expanded, through memoranda of understanding with different national, regional and 
other agencies/institutions. While this is necessary to avoid misunderstandings, it is 
important that a balance is struck between conformity and flexibility.
391. We have earlier drawn attention to the handicaps suffered by IRRI particularly in
sustaining the continuity of employment of its staff. This is a problem which faces all 
international centres and to which a solution will have to be found which would provide a
measure of stability to financial support. Ideally, a Trust Fund could be created by CGIAR, 
the interest on which could cover the core expenditure of all the international centres.
The Institutes in their turn should restrict their operations to areas where they can be
most effective and useful.
10. Donor relationships and reviews
392. IRRI could not have been made such valuable contributions to rice research and
development within a span of 13 years but for the freedom that the Ford and Rockefeller
Foundations, the two original sponsors of IRRI, gave to the IRRI administration to move 
ahead as they saw fit. This trust also imposed a sense of obligation on the part of the 
IRRI administration which did not ask for funds and facilities which were not considered 
vital for IRRI's programmes. This complementary relationship, of a sense of trust on the 
part of funding agencies and a sense of responsibility and accountability on the part of
- 89 -
the Director and his staff, has to he maintained under the CGIAR system. Since 1972, when 
the centres came under the sponsorship of CGIAR, the various donors have shown their trust 
in the centres through a substantial stepping up of support to the centres from year to year. 
IRR's own core budget has grown from $2,675»809»51 in 1971 to an already pledged amount of 
$9|030»000*00 in 1976. While this is an excellent index of the confidence enjoyed by the 
Director and staff of IRRI, we have noted with some concern that a disproportionately large 
amount of time has to be spent by the Director and senior scientists in explaining their 
work, preparing notes and memoranda reports, etc. to various donor agencies. This pressure 
has grown to a point where it could start having an adverse impact on the work of the 
Institute. Scientists should not be tied up with too much paper work neither should they 
be distracted by too many non—professional visitors. We would like to suggest that the feed­
back relationships with donors be maintained by the following two annual events as io 
current practice:
(a) presentation by the Director of a summary of the work and future programme of 
the Institute at the International Centres Week.
(b) an annual presentation week where all donors could send their representative to 
see the work of IRRI and also meet the members of the IRRI Board. As the response to this 
proposal in the first year was minimal, we urge the Donors to take advantage of this
opportunity.
393. The decision of CGIAR members on allocation of funds to the core budget of 
research centres is based upon the recommendations of TAC. TAC in turn has established a 
healthy procedure of discussing its views with the Directors of international centres before 
finalizing its recommendations to CGIAR. This practice ensures that TAC gets its doubts on 
priorities and new programmes clarified by the Director before it expresses its own view. 
IRRI's budget through CGIAR funding amounts to $8,607,000.00 in 1975» while its budget for 
special projects undertaken on behalf of different donors during the same year amounts to 
$2,816,000.00. Table III indicates the growth, in financial terms, of IRRI since 196O.
The Team feels that such a positive relationship between Directors and TAC should be 
maintained and further strengthened.
3>:. Now that a Quinquennial Review Programme has been initiated by TAC on behalf of 
CGIAR, the Team suggests that the work of IRRI should not be interrupted by donor reviews 
excepting those which may be necessary in connexion with any substantial addition to the 
programme•
TABLE III: The Growth of BRI in Financial Terns Since lgGO
\
1 Capital Operating Percentage 
Grants Ex p enditures Lie rea se
October 1959 - I960 ($ 250,000.00 $ 159,618.73*
( 6,995,000.00
1961 188, 166. 90* 13%
1962 434, 453. 74* 130%
1963 360,000.00 511, 951.89* .18%
1961 565, 552. 97* 10%
1965 172,853.93 840,558.30* 48%
1966 105, 972. S7 1, 025, 094. 24* 22%
1967 1, 202, 031.24* 17%
1968 79,000.00 1,2SS,344.59* 7%;
1969 1, 723, 001.96* 34%
1970 2, 138, 437. 7 6* 23%
1971 365, 956. 82 2,309,852.69* 8%'
1972 335,595.81 2,557,995.32* 11%
1973 284,186.43 2, 800, 306. 01* 9%
1974 1, 283, 199. 00 3, 693, 205. 00* 32% (16%).
1975 3, 237, 000. 00 5,370,000.00** 45% (30%) 
1976 2, 153, 000. 00 6, 877, 000. 00*** 28% (14%)
* Actual Expenditures 
** Estimated Expenditures 
*** Proposed Budget
- 90 -
ix. sumkary of recckkeudaticks
395- To facilitate references to the recommendations of the Review Team they are listed
below, in the order of the chapters and paragraphs in which they are made » or in which sup-
porting arguments are advanced. In Chapter II it is pointed out that the recommendations
made for the expansion of staff and facilities at IRRI are conservative, in the opinion of
the team, relative to the returns likely to ensue from additional research. (para. 21).
396. Chapter II. Tfte Impact of IHRI Work on Rice Production and Cost Benefit 
Analyses of Research Investment:
1. The Team recommends that full and close interaction be maintained between the 
economists working on‘thè ’constraints''program 'and"scientists of the technical disciplines 
in order to maintain under constant review, and ensure flexibility in, the allocation of 
research resources between and within research departments (para. 26).
397- Chapter III. Research Programs, Priorities and Accomplishments
1. Genetic Evaluation and Utilization;
The Team recommends:
2. That the development of safe and adequate facilities for the protection and utili­
zation of the IRRI collection of rice germplasm to be given top priority and that the 
facilities are currently planned by IRRI, which appear to the Team to be adequate to service 
both the immediate and long-term needs of the Institute,1b established (paras. 39-40).
3. That efforts be made to encourage duplicate storage of IRRI’s germplasm collec­
tion in national and regional rice germplasm centres and that duplication of national and 
regional collections be deposited with IRRI (para. 41).
r • That high priority be given to the completion of the collection of indigenous 
rices of South and Southeast Asia (para. 41).
5- That a plan be developed in collaboration with national and regional institutions 
in Rest Africa to conserve African rice germplasm (including weed races) (para. 41)•
6. That the proposed global network on rice germplasm conservation be implemented 
with the advice and assistance of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, and 
that the assistance and collaboration of appropriate institutions in West Africa and tem­
perate Asia be sought to rejuvenate seed stocks of African and temperate zone rice varieties 
which are not adopted to the Philippines environment (para. 41)•
396. Chapter III
2. Pest Control and Management: (a) Fungal, bacterial and virus diseases 
The Team recommends:
7. That in the evolution of new breeding lines a close watch needs to be kept on 
relatively minor foliar diseases, with special reference to Cereaspara leaf spot 
(Cereospora oryzae). Other diseases warranting attention are leaf scale (Rhynchosporium 
oiyzae), brown spot (ilelminthosporium oryzae) and stem rot (paras. 56-57).
- 91 -
8. That the incidence of nematode infestation in upland rice be carefully monitored, 
in view of the increasing emphasis on this type of cultivation, and that consideration be 
given in the future to adding a mematologist to the research staff (para. 53).
9- That consideration be given to adding a senior pathologist to the research staff, 
with training and experience in funp-al genetics, or, as an alternative, in epidemiology 
(pana. 63).
10. That consideration be given to adding a further senior pathologist, with experience 
in ecology and epidemiology to the cropping systems program, to assist the entomologist cur­
rently assigned full responsibility for pest and disease management problems within that pro­
gram (para. 64)
11. That in view of the current activities in the Department of Plant Pathology of the 
University of the Philippines, Los Banos, on the diseases of crops associated with rice in 
cropping systems, efforts be made to involve that Department in plant disease work within 
the cropping systems program (para. 64).
12. That caution be exercised in expanding specific crop systems without careful moni­
toring of potential disease and pest problems (para. 65).
13. That encouragement be given to pathologists to select and hybridize lines with 
promising levels of resistance in order to maintain some diversity in the inputs to advanced 
breeding lines (para. 66).
14. That in collaboration with breeders efforts be made to identify the genetic bases 
for inheritance of factors for disease resistance as a concomitant to a program to ensure 
diversification of sources of resistance to specific pathogens, as the current narrow base 
in a cause of concern (para. 66).
15. That consideration be given in the future to the desirability of associating patho­
logists with research into rice storage in view of the prospects of an increasing amount of 
rice coming into storage with higher moisture levels (para. 67).
(b) Insect Pests
The Team recommends:
16. That care be taken to maintain the current high performance of the staff in ento­
mology and that in this connection the managerial duties of the senior entomologist respon­
sible from the point of view of their possibly detracting from scientific guidance of the 
program in the future (para. 86)
17. That negotiations be continued with ICIFE, with the aim of producing some firm 
proposals for collaboration which might include the stationing of an ICIFE scientist at 
IRRI (para. 91 )•
18. That work on the screening of commercial pesticides should be reduced to the min­
imum level compatible with the identification of potentially useful new compounts (para. 92).
- 92 -
19. That care he exercised, to monitor the amount of pesticide residues found in the rice 
plant following application of such new methods as the root-zone application and that if
necessary the specialized analytical work required be subcontracted to public institutes 
(para. 93).
20. That detailed evaluation be made of the effects of various cropping systems on 
insect pest population, particularly of those systems likely to lead to a build-up of rice
pests through increasing cropping with rice, and that efforts be directed to those crop 
combinations which could reduce such build-up (para. 56).
21. That an insect ecologist be added to the staff of the Entomology Department to work 
on the detailed studies of population changes proposed above and the critical evaluation of 
various control elements (para. 95).
22. That additional greenhouse/screenhouse facilities be provided, to accommodate the 
very heavy insect screening program now developing (para. 99)»
23. That more emphasis be placed on the weed control program on the development of ef­
ficient and economic non-chemical weed control methods (para. 107).
399. 3. Cropping Systems
The Team recommends:
24. That the objectives of the Cropping Systems Program be limited to the central 
problems common to most cooperating countries, such as the maintenance of soil fertility 
under intensive multiple cropping, and that little expansion of the group should be con-
sidered until such time as the generalizability of its research is established (para. 122).
25. That IREI initiate arrangements for the coordination of all research on tropical 
cropping systems within the various international and national institutes concerned with 
this area of work, in view of the great range of problems of concern to each team (para. 123). 
400. 4. Environment and its Influence
The Team recommends:
26. That every effort be made to find rice genotypes with an extended duration of the 
grain-filling stage (para. 127).
27. That analytical work on climatic response be pursued vigourously with the objec­
tive of constructing a more satisfactory explanatory model relating productivity to climate 
(para. 128).
28. That more research be made into the limitations to yield of rice imposed by ex­
treme temperatures and by day length, in particular into the control of flowering (flower
initiation and inflorescence development) by day length (paras. 129-130). 
401. 5. Soil Fertility 
The Team recommends:
29. That serious consideration be given to including provision, in the core budget of 
IRRI, of funds to cover experimental work carried out on problems soils by IERI staff in 
cooperation with national staff, at suitable stations in countries with specific soil
- 53 -
problems such as salinity, alkalinity and. acid-sulphate toxicity; such work to be closely 
centered on the needs for soil amendments for rice cultivation, avoiding duplication of large 
scale, more general programs on these problems (para. 139).
30. That a practically-oriented soil physicist be appointed for up to five years to 
work on the physical problems of soils associated -with the water-control and tillage studies 
(para. 139)*
.01. 6. '.,'ater Control and Use
31. That in view of the extreme importance of proper use of scarce water resources, ad­
ditional support be sought by HRI for this work both from CGIAR and bilateral donor sources 
(para. 14-9) -
32. That regional development banks be encouraged to give full consideration tr detailed 
water distribution proposals in their planning of major irrigation schemes (para. 149)*
33. That strong support be given to the close association of the economic studies on 
the yield-effects of water distribution, with work to improve the technolog;,- of the opera­
tions (para. 14 S)*
02. 7- The Machinery Development Program
The Teem recommends:
3- . That the Agricultural Machinery Development and Management Program be established 
as part of the core program of the Institute (para. 162).
35- That more attention be giver: to the problem of small scale crop drying equipment 
especially to models capable of utilising damp straw and rice hulls as fuel (para. 167).
36. That the work of IRRI in the field of post-harvest technology be restricted to 
the farm and village level and utilized as a complementary input to whatever regional or 
global organizational network might be established in this field (para. 167).
37. That support be continued for the development and/or improv ment of village level 
milling machinery capable of separating the operations of hulling and milling and working 
in conjunction with a grain cleaner (para. 16c).
33. That the Machinery Development Program establish closer linkages, even to e, degree 
of integration, with the Cropping Systems Program and that farm power source constitute one 
of tiie variables in trials conducted by the latter (para. 169).
39* That the resource allocation for the program (some 80/ of the total), which is 
considered adequate, should remain more or less at that level (para. 171).
-'03. 3. Post-harvest Management
The Team recommends:
40. That the needs for post-production research he carefully analyzed by IRRI to spe­
cify the relative importance of the various priority items simply listed by the advisory 
group meeting of April 197'' (para. 175)*
- 94 -
41. That ERI play a major role, within any jointly planned activities on post-harvest 
research, on operations related to harvesting, village level drying, storing and milking, 
with particular reference to the reduction of losses caused by rodents, insect pests, fungi 
said bacteria (para. 17o).
-04. ?. Constraints to Increased Rice Production
The Team recommends;
■ :2. That a more complex research design be developed to permit analysis and study of 
the interaction between the various components of the production package, and that this ex­
panded design and consequently wider sampling should allow for more detailed examination of 
such specific questions as pest control (para. 189).
43. That further progress be made in the evolution of the technical package of inputs 
to provide for concentration on the highest priority factor, again considered to be pest 
control (pesticide input) (para. 190)*
44. That more detailed attention be given to the analysis of the labour constraint, 
and that in this context consideration should be given to incorporation with the constraints 
program of current work being conducted independently but in association with ERI staff 
(para. ljl).
45. That the geographic area of coverage of the constraints program be expanded to 
as many countries of the region as possible, utilizing an outreach approach as necessary, 
where national services are unable to conduct the work for themselves (para. 192).
46. That consideration be given to the need for additional personnel in economics if 
expansion of the constraints program is undertaken (para. 194).
.05. 10. Consequences of new Technology 
The Team recommends;
47. That ERI consider an eventual broadening of contacts in the region to focus on 
the most relevant and important problems and a gradual systematization and expansion of 
the program, currently of rather an ad-hoc nature, subject to adequate availability of 
personnel (para. 197).
■ •3. That close working relationships be established with senior agricultural econo­
mists in the countries of S. E. Asia in particular through the use of the visiting profes­
sor position for this purpose (para. 202).
49- That, as senior economist positions at ERI fall vacant, consideration be given to 
filling them from the S. E. Asia region and that steps be taken immediately to initiate a 
search for a senior agricultural economist from the region to fill a vacancy shortly to 
occur; the person appointed to work especially in the 'constraints' and 'consequences' 
programs (para. 203).
- 55 -
50. That a special effort be made to facilitate widening the impact of the IRRI effort 
in economics, through widening and deepening the effort itself, and that in tnis connection 
it would be desirable to greatly expand the publications mailing list to effect wider dis­
semination of research results (para. 204).
06. 11. Research Concepts and Organization
(a) hulti-disciplinary approach 
The Team recommends:
51. That the inter-disciplinary program organization of IRRI be continued and that 
even greater interaction between scientists be supported if necessary (para. 20'/).
52. That all graduate students be given a wider acquaintance in their briefing with 
the total programs of IRRI and the full range of expertise and facilities available for 
their worn (para. 206).
53. That the statistical service continue to receive adequate support and be provided 
with suitable computer facilities as planned (para. 209)•
(b) Research concepts
The Team recommends :
5i. That the breeding program should now place more emphasis on early selection l'or 
local adaptation to diverse environments in cooperation with stronger national programs.
In this connection the new policy of no longer releasing named varieties is commended 
(para. 220).
55- That, notwithstanding the above recommendations, urgent consideration be given to 
aggregating as many compatible genes for resistance to each pest and disease, as may be 
located in order to -widen the currently rather narrow bases of resistance aid provide material 
for more deliberate synthesis of lines with multiple resistance (para. 224).
56. That special attention be given to a search for genes for early flowering and short 
duration of life cycle to meet the progressively increasing demand for shorter duration 
crops (para. 225).
(c) mission oriented basic research
The Team recommends:
57. That IRRI should initiate further approaches to specialized overseas centres able 
to assist and participate in more basic research activities relevant to IRRI's mandate 
but requiring facilities and expertise which it would be uneconomic to duplicate at the 
Institute (paras. 233-236).
f 07. Chapter IV. Training 
The Team recommends:
53. That IRRI should anticipate a probable need to become increasingly selective in 
terms of quality of individuals seeking entry to its training program, as more advanced 
tradning programs are developed in the countries which it serves. This is of particular 
importance with respect to the graduate training program (para. 247).
- 96 -
59. That stronger efforts be made to inform the scientific communities in the de­
veloping countries of the opportunities available for work on unique and challenging un­
resolved problems in rice research (para. 246).
60. That plans to increase the number of post-doctoral fellowships for established 
scientists from developing countries be implemented, and that provision for adequate fund­
ing be made (para. 249).
61. That more effort be made to assist the establishment and conduct of rice pro­
duction training courses at the national level including training for women (paras. 29 and
333).
62. That in view of the crucial role of training provision be made for an additional 
60 bed dormitory and post-doctoral apartment accommodation as proposed by the Institute 
(paras. 260 and 33l).
403. Chapter V. Cooperative Relationships 
The Team recommends:
63. That IRRI's technical advice continues to be made available for the strengthening 
of the research infrastructure required for the support of national agencies programs where 
other assistance is unavailable (para. 279).
6/. That current activities in the establishment of cooperative programs in africa 
and Latin America continue to be pursued vigorously to meet these challenging opportunities 
(paras. 230-233).
65. That closer collaboration should be established with PAO especially in tue specific 
are a of extension in which IRRI's involvement should be kept to the minimum compatible 
with effective dissemination of its research results (paras. 234-236).
66. That consideration be given to the benefits which could accrue from a close us­
sociation with the strong national rice research programs of India, especially the opera­
tional research projects of ICAR, which could servo as a model for pilor village studies 
on technology transfer, of use to IRRI's Agro-economic constraints program (para. Z-o).
67. That cooperative programs aimed at covering the broad spectrum of research under 
different ecological conditions be continued (para. 291).
63. That the International Rice Testing Program maintain the maximum flexibility to 
permit the immediate establishment of new nurseries following the onset of new or aggra­
vated pest or disease attacks, and to investigate changes in races or biotypes especially 
when new cultivars are introduced (para. 294).
69. That appropriate phytosanitary precautions and quarantine arrangements should bo 
established and rigorously followed (para. 295).
70. That professional collaboration be maintained between IRRI and national scien­
tists in the joint examination of materials grown in "hot spot" areas for pest and disease, 
and in the joint collection of materials to enrich the germ-plasm bank (para. 297).
71. That IRRI's policy of seminars, conferences and jointly organized national level 
symposia on specific problems be continued (para. 298).
- 97 -
72. That collaborative research may be extended with mutual benefit to the establish­
ment of a network of national rice genetic research centers, coordinated by the Advisory- 
Group on Rice of the IBPGR, and an international grid of screening locations for specific 
pests, diseases, soil problems and growing conditions (para. 300).
73. That consideration be given to the establishment by the Consultative Group on Rood 
Production and Investment of a sub-group on rice production with the technical backstopping 
of ERI (para. 301 ).
209. Chapter VI, Personnel Policy
74. That consideration be given to the development of a staff evaluation system, in­
volving Senior Staff participation to assist the Director on matters concerning promotion 
and the award of merit increments (para. 30k).
75- That further incentives be offered to scientific staff through increased oppor­
tunities to participate in scientific fora, including meetings of professional associations 
(pare,. 304).
76. That, in view of recent losses of valuable supporting staff, salar;/ scales of 
such staff should be kept under continuous review (para. 30?).
77. That the core budget of ERI be increased to permit the establishment of five ad­
ditional posts for outreach staff and 3 man/years at headquarters to hold existing outreach 
staff pending reassignment (paras. 309-310).
76. That increased interchange between headquarters and outreach programs be encouraged 
and that consideration be given to a five year minimum term of employment for staff whose 
work continues to be acceptable (para. 31l).
75. That a system of "internship" be devised for staff destined to work on outreach 
programs in order to ensure an adequate acquaintance with ERI's philosophy, research pol­
icies and programs, and that post-doctoral fellows at ERI be considered as pant of a pool 
of potential outreach staff (para. 312).
410. Chapter VII. General Services and Facilities
The Team recommends:
GO. That current plans to meet the computer needs of ERI through the shared use of 
a facility to bo established at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos, be brought 
to speedy fruition (pare.. 325).
ol. That additional space be provided for the Information Services of ERI, and for 
library archives possibly through a small addition to the main administrative building 
(para. 332).
411. Chapter Vili. ERI - The Next Phase
The Team recommends:
C2. That greater attention be given to studies on the 'reproductive stage of rice
as a contribution to attempts to increase the yield capacity by genetic manipulation 
(para. 344).
- 90 -
03. That on-going collaborative research work aimed at the development of better 
varieties and more effective agronomic practices under rainfed upland and deep water con­
ditions be strengthened (para. 349).
u.: . That although some basic research might be arranged on a collaborative basis with 
other institutes as recommended there are some areas in which disciplinary research at the
Institute should be strengthened. These include further work on the apparently inverse 
relationship between the duration of the basic negative phase of rice and photo-period 
sensitivity, on ways of breaking this relationship; on the consequences in terns of crop 
growth, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis and yield; and, in view of the growing cost of
energy, on the efficiency of the conversion of 'cultural energy into 'digestible' energy
(paras. 356-35-')•
35. That the priorities of IRRI's research program be kept under continuous review 
as the relative alloca.tion of research efforts, may, over time tend to move towards greater 
emphasis on mission-oriented basic research to complement the work of national systems 
(para. 360).
36. That the high priority currently assigned to the Genetic Evaluation and Utilisa­
tion Program be maintained (para. 363).
37. That the annual review of the pest and disease situation be continued, in view 
of the growing severity of epidemics reflected by farmers themselves in the consideration 
of the constraints on their production (paras. 372-373).
.3. That, -whilst IRRI should recognise support to national rice research systems as 
a. major policy objective, such associations should be relatively small in number and rele­
vant to IRRI's research programs ; should be with broad based programs or programs capable 
of being replicated nationally and should be low key and largely of an advisory nature 
(paras. 374 and 330).
39. That IRRI consider assistance to national information services in the field of
rice research and production through the inauguration of special training courses including 
the production of film strips, video tapes and other audio-visual aids capable of repro­
duction in the appropriate vernacular, as part of the training (para. 385).
90. That IRRI's contribution to the support of national development projects involving 
rice production he limited to technical advice, training assistance and the monitoring of 
progress, and that such contacts be continued as a valuable contribution to the orientation 
of IRRI's research and training programs (para. 387).
9l. That in view of the relationships now established between IRRI and the TAG, permitting 
an annual examination of the total program (core and outreach activities), and a quinquennial 
revie;:, the Institute should not be subject to continuing donor reviews except as may be 
necessari'- in connection with substantial additions to the program (paras. 393-394).
- 99 -
X. ACKTOyfLBDGEMSITS
12. The Heviex; Team wishes to express its deep appreciation of the assistance and 
hospitality offered by the numerous people with whom discussions were held and whose names
are recorded in Annex II.
213. A special debt of gratitude for the devotion of their time to supplying the Team
with required information and fidine it in its visits to projects and programs is owed
to the following:
In Thailand:
Dr. Prakob Kanjanasoon Dr. Ben R. Jackson
Director General Plant 3reeder & IRRI Representative
» Department of Agriculture The Rockefeller Foundation
Central Agricultural Station G.P.O. Box 2453
Bingidien, Bangkok 9» Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
hr. Germsak Auakul 
Rice Division
Banglchen Agricultural Experiment Station 
ministry of Agriculture 
Bongkhcn, Bangkok 9» Thailand
In Indonesia:
Dr. A. T. Birovro Ir. Sadikin Sumintawikarta
Head, Bureau of Planning Head, Agency for Research à Development
Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture
Jl. Imam Bonjol 2.9 Jl. Imam Donjol 29
Jakarta, Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia
Dr. Richard A. Morris
Representative à Statistician/Economist
Cooperative CRIA-IRRI Program
c/o Central Research Institute for Agriculture
Jaian L'erdeka 55
Bogor, Indonesia
In the Philippines:
The Honorable A. R. Tanco, Jr. Dr. Ryle C. Brady 
Secretary of Agriculture Director
Department of Agriculture International Rice Research Institute 
DA Building, Elliptical Road P.0. Box 933 
Diliman, Quezon City Manila, Philippines
Philippines
Dr. D. S. Athwal 
Deputy Director
International Rice Research Institute 
P.0. Box 533 
Manila, Philippines
ANNEX I
THE TAC QUINQUENNIAL REVIEW MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
ITINERARY
23 November Team assembled in Bangkok
24 November, a.m. Visit to Rice Division, Department of Agriculture, Bangkhen, Bangkok. 
Presentation of national programmes.
p# m • Visit to Huntra Rice Experiment Station, Presentation of deep-water
rice research programme.
25 November, a.m. Visit to PAO Regional Office, Bangkok. Discussions with FAO and
ESCAP officials.
p.m. Rice Division, Department of Agriculture, Bangkhen, Bangkok. 
Presentation and discussion of IRRI Cooperative Research Programme.
26 November, a.m. Bangkok to Jakarta, Indonesia.
p.m. Visit to Agency for Research and Development, Department of Agriculture. 
Discussion with Ir. Sadikin Sumintawikarta, Head of Agency. Visit to
Planning Bureau, Department of Agriculture. Discussions with Dr. A.T.
Birowo, Head of Bureau and of Agro-economic Survey.
27 November, a.m. Visit to Central Research Institute for Agriculture (CRIA), Bogor. 
Programme presentation by Associate-Director (Dr. Rusli Hakim) and 
staff.
Tour of laboratories and field facilities. Agronomy, Entomology, 
Pathology, Physiology/Mineral Nutrition, and the Muara Field Station.
p.m. Presentation and general discussion of programmes by CRIA and IRRI staff. 
Visit to Botanical Gard.ens, Bogor.
28 November, a.m. Visit to Sukamandi Branch Station of CRIA. Presentation of programmes 
by the Director, Ir. Sadikin Somaatmadja, CRIA and IRRI staff.
Visit to UNDP office. Discussion with SAA/FAO Country Representative, 
Mr. A, Denton-Thompson (Brader and Webster only).
Review of new laboratory facilities and experimental fields.
p.m. Review and discussion of programmes with Director and Staff and World 
Bank representatives.
29 November, a.m. Visit to Maros Research Station (LPPM -'CRIA), South Sulawesi. 
Presentation of programmes by Director, Dr. Ibrahim Manwan, station and 
IRRI staff.
Visit laboratory facilities and fields.
Review and discussion of programmes.
p.m. Return to Jakarta.
Depart Jakarta for Singapore.
30 November, a.m. Depart Singapore for Manila.
p.m. Arrive IRRI, Los Banos.
- 2 -
1 December, a.m. - Introduction to IERI and general presentation, by the Director.
- Cooperative Country Programmes.
- Training Programmes.
- Genetic evaluation and utilization (GEU) programme.
P*J - GEU - continued
2 December - GEU - concluded
3 December, a.m. - Control and Management of Rice Pests.
p.m. - Soil and Crop Management for Rice.
4 December, a.m. - Environment and its influence.
- Mechanization Systems.
- Machinery Development.
- Post-Harvest Management.
- Machinery demonstration.
p.m. - Constraints on Rice Production.
- Consequences of New Technology.
5 December - Cropping Systems Programme.
6 December - Collaboration in the Philippines^/
7 December - Helicopter visit to Banane, Cold Tolerance Nursery Plants.
8 December - Visit to Ilo-ilo, cropping systems field work.
9-12 December,a.m.Individual visits to Departments and report writing.
12 December,p.m.Presentation of main findings of the Team to Director and Staff. 
13 December - Team dispersed.
u Field visits were paid to various aspects of IRRl's field work daily, 
during the lunch break, from 1 - 7 December.
2/ Individual members of the Team visited appropriate departments and 
members of the University of the Philippines, Los Banos, during the 
course of the stay at IRRI.
AMEX TI
THE TAC QUTHQUBMIAL REVIEW MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED
Thailand
Dr. Prakob Kanjanasoon Mr. Natavudh Bhasayavan 
Director-General, Dept, of Agriculture Agronomist, Technical Division 
Dept, of Agriculture
Mr. Sermsak Awakul
Assistant Chief, Rice division Dr. Damkheong Chandrapanya
Chief, Rainfed Rice Branch, Rice Div.
Mr. Chai Prechachat
Chief, Deep Water Rice Branch RD. Mr. Supachai Bangiiang 
Agronomist, Technical Division
Mr. Nopporn Supapoj
Rice Breeder - Deep Water Branch Dr. Delane E. Welsch
Agricultural Economist, Rockefeller Fndn.
Dr. Praphas Weerapat
Chief, 'nisease and Insect Resistance Breeding Dr. Carl Knorr 
Project Manager
Mr. Suvit Pushsapavesa FAO/UNDP Plant Protection Project
Chief, Lowland Rice Branch
Dr. Ben Jackson 
Mr. Songkran Chitrakan Plant Breeder, TRRl
Rice Breeder
Lowland Rice Branch (Varietal Testing) Dr. Bhakdi Lusanandana 
Regional Plant Production & Protection 
Sr. Sombhot Suwannavong Officer, FAO Regional Office, Bangkok
Director of Technical Division
Dr. D.H. Parish
Dr. Tanongchit Wongsiri Regional Fertilizer Programme Leader 
Director, Plant Protection Centre FAO Regional Office, Bangkok
Mr. Samnao Rugtrakul Dr. Ray Billingsley, Deputy Chief,
Direct or Joint FAO/ESCAP Division
Agricultural Engineering Division
Dr. D. Hilie Ris Lambers 
Mr. Chak Chakkaphak Associate Plant Breeder, IRRI
Agricultural Engineer Dr. Sala Dasananda
Regional Administrative Officer
Mr. Paitoon Nakarak FAO Regional Office, Bangkok
Engineering Division
Dr. S.D. Chaudhuri 
Regional Agriculturalist 
FAO Regional Office, Bangkok
Indonesia
Dr. A.T. Birowo Dr. Hidayat Nataatmadja
Head,Planning Bureau Asst. Director, Agricultural Economist
Department of Agriculture, Jakarta CRIA, Bogor
Dr. Rusli Hakim Ir, Dandi Sukarna
Associate Director, Corn Breeder, Asst. Director, Entomologist
CRIA, Bogor CRIA, Bogor
Ir. Sadikin Sumintawikarta Dr. D.M. Tantera
Head, Agency for Research & Development Head of Rice Project, Pathologist, 
Department of Agriculture, Jakarta CRIA, Bogor
!
- 2 -
Ir. Soetjipto Mr. Sadikin Somaatmadja 
Agronomist, CRIA, Bogor Director, CRIA, Sukamandi
Ir. Syariffuddin Ir. K. Sunendar
Agronomist, CRIA, Bogor Plant Pathologist, CRIA, Sukamandi 
Ur. B.H. Siwi Ir. Hendarsih
Rice Breeder, CRIA, Bogor Entomologist, CRIA, Sukamandi 
Ir. Rumiati Ir. Sanasi
Physiologist, CRIA, Bogor Entomologist, CRIA, Sukamandi
Ir. Soemarno 
Agronomist, CRIA, Bogor Ir. Aan Andung Daradjat Plant Breeder, CRIA, Sukamandi
Ir. Sismiati
Physiologist, CRIA, Bogor Dr. 0. MochidaEntomologist, IRRI/CRIA, Sukamandi
I>r. Siregar
Rice Breeder, CRIA, Bogor Dr. Y. SoepriamanPlant Pathologist, CRIA, Sukamandi
Ir. Soeharjan 
Entomologist, CRIA, Bogor Ir. Tatang Suryana Entomologist, CRIA, Sukamandi
Mr. H.M. Beachell
Rice Breeder, IRRI, CRIA, Bogor Ir. Ayuk WakyaEntomologist, CRIA, Sukamandi
Dr. R.A. Morris
Statistician/Economist, IRRI* CRIA, Bogor Ir. Taryat TyubaryatPlant Breeder, CRIA, Sukamandi
T)r. J.L. McIntosh
Multiple Cropping Agronomist, IRRI, CRIA, Bogor Dr. L.T. PalmerPlant Pathologist, IRR/CRIA, Sukamandi 
Dr. R.T). Freed
Plant Breeder, IRRI, CRIA, Bogor Dr. S.J. ParkPlant Breeder, IRRI/CRIA, Sukamandi
T)r. M. Wessel, Team Leader, 
Indonesian/Netherlands Project, CRIA, Bogor Dr. Ibrahim Man wan Director, LPPM/CRIA, Maros
Dr. Y. Iwata, Pathologist,
Indonesian/Japanese Project, CRIA, Bogor Dr. P. Van Halteren.Entomologist, IRRI/CRIA, Maros
Dr. C.P. Marnaril Dr. P. S. Rao
Agronomist, IRRI/CRIA, Maros Plant Pathologist, IRRI/CRIA, Maros
Philippines
The Hon. Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. Dr. D. Panganiban 
Secretary for Agriculture, Director
Government of the Philippines Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Manila
Prof. R. Obias Mr. H. Custodio
University of the Philippines University of the Philippines
Los Banos Los Banos
Dr. R.V. Cuyro Dr. E. Pantastico
Mr. Guillermo Valdez Mr. Felicito Tidan
Regional Director, BPI BPI
Iloilo Iloilo
Mr. Manny Palada Miss Rose Servano 
Agricultural Extensionist Agricultural Extensionist 
Iloilo Iloilo
Mr. Ti qui son Mrs. L. Tumadiang 
Farmer, Iloilo Iloilo
- 3 -
Mr. Rafael Tasic Mr. Virgilio Cuaresma
Mr. Ruben D. Bahatan 
Municipal Mayor, Banane
IREI Staff
Dr. N.C. Brady Dr. M.D. Pathak
Director, IRRI Assistant Director (Research)
Dr. D.S. Athwal Mr. H.T. Murphy
Associate Director Assistant Director (Administration)
Dr. M.R. Vega Mr. P.M. Salacup 
Assistant Director (Training) Controller
Mr. Z.Q. Pizarro Mr. P.V. Ramos, Associate Agronomist & 
Senior Administrative Associate, Farm Superintendent
Miss R.C. Pascual Dr. J.C. Torio,
Pood & Dormitory Services Head - Information Services
Mr. A.O. del Mondo, Mr. T.R. Hargrove 
Head, Manila Office Associate Editor
Dr. R. Barker Dr, H.E. Kauffman, Plant Pathologist & 
Agricultural Economist Joint Coordinator
Dr. R.W. Herdt Dr. D.G. Ranter 
Agricultural Economist Visiting Scientist
Dr. Y. Hayami Dr. L.M. Vergara 
Agricultural Economist Librarian
Dr. E.C. Price Dr. R.R, Harwood 
Associate Agricultural Economist Agronomist
Dr. A.U. Khan Dr. H.G. Zandstra 
Agricultural Engineer Agronomist
Dr. J.B, Duff Mr. V.R. Carangal 
Associate Agricultural Economist Network Coordinator,
Dr. D.O. Kuether Dr. R.L. Tinsley 
Associate Agricultural Engineer Visiting Scientist
Dr. J.A. McMennamy Dr. T.T. Chang 
Associate Agricultural Engineer Geneticist *
Dr. S.K. De Datta Dr. w.R. Coffman 
Agronomist Associate Plant Breeder
Dr. J.c. O'Toole -BiV H. Ikehashi 
Associate Agronomist Plant Breeder
Dr. K. Moody Dr. s.H. Ou 
Associate Agronomist Plant Pathologist
Dr. B.O. Juliano Dr. R.C. Ling 
Chemist Plant Pathologist
Hr. E.A. Heinrichs -Dr. T.W. Mew
Entomologist Associate Plant Pathologist
Dr. V.A. Dyck Dr. Yoshida 
Associate Entomologist Plant Physiologist
Dr. j.a. Lit singer 
Associate Entomologist
- 4 -
»
Mr. V.E. Ross Dr. K.A. Gomez 
Rice Production Specialist Statistician
Dr. L.D. Haws Dr. T.H. Wickham
Senior Scientist Associate Agricultural Engineer
Dr. I. Watanabe Dr. H.D. Catling, Project Leader & 
Soil Microbiologist Entomologist, Bangladesh
Dr. W.H. Freeman Dr. J.E. Wimberly, Rice Processing Advisor 
iRRl Representative, India & Project Leader, Sri Lanka
Dr. r. Feuer
Crop Production Specialist
Representatives from Other Institutes
Dr. William k. Gamble, Dr. Harry Will 
Direct or-General Research Coordinator 
International Institute of Tropical West Africa Rice Development 
Agriculture Association (WARDA) 
Ibadan, Nigeria Monrovia, Liberia
Ansia in
IRRI Statement on the Release and. Earning of New Varieties
Since the first IRRI variety, Ht-8, was released in 1966, it has been the policy of 
the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to officially release and name nev; rice
varieties. This practice has served a purpose in calling these varieties to the attention 
of scientists and production specialists in rice growing countries throughout the world. 
However, marked expansion in national rice improvement programs and the development of 
international cooperation through the recently expanded International Rice Testing Program 
appears to make this practice no longer necessary. Accordingly, IRRI will no longer of­
ficially release and name rice varieties. We will leave to the national organizations 
the responsibility for such releases.
IRRI will continue to make breeding material available to all nations, largely through 
the International Rice Testing Program, All rice improvement programs will be encouraged
to utilise IRRI material and to release IRRI selection as varieties, using names or desig­
nation of their own choice.
In the Philippines, IRRI's elite breeding lines will be provided for evaluation and
release through the Philippines Seed Board, The Philippine Seed Board has expressed its
intention to continue using the IR designation for IRRI selections released in the
Philippines.
IRRI will continue to keep interested parties informed of varieties released by co- 
operators in the International Rice Testing Program, Some IRRI lines will be included in
these releases, but they will be released and named by national rice organizations in the 
country wherein they have been tested and not by IRRI.
This policy was established on November 14, 1975» and- is effective until further
notice.
Sd/-
i;. G. Brady 
Director
♦
IRRI'3 Cooperative country programs.
Residenta-/ Short-term
a- / Trainingb- /
Scientists Consultants Man- 
Country Cooperative Activities Donor Duration (Man-years) (Man-months) No. years Remarks
Bangladesh Rice research and training Will continue with 
and development of BRRI FF 1966-75 13.9 49.5 58 73.2 FF & CIDA support
Research on rice-based 
cropping systems IDRC 1974-77 1.0 10.0 2 1.0
Pakistan Rice research & training FF 1966-71 3.7 35.4 24 22.1 A new project is 
1973-75 1.6 2 .9 being developed
India Accelerated rice research USAID 1967-73 21.0 10.4 22 20.0 A collaborative 
and training FF project is underway.
Sri Lanka Research and training in 
rice research and mult­ A new project is 
iple cropping FF 1967-74 7.5 13.4 79 56.8 being developed.
I
Rice processing and 
marketing FF 1972-76 4.8 11.7 27 8. 1
S. Vietnam Rice research and training USAID 1971-75 6.6 22.1 18 7.6 Premature termina­
tion due to war.
Egypt Rice research and training FF 1972-75 3. 1 A new program for 
regional services 
is being developed.
—Refers to services provided until termination of the project or through 1975 if project is continuing, 
b/
Refers to the training provided through 1975. In case of USAID contracts in Indonesia and Vietnam, 
funds for training were provided separately as needed and were not included in the contracts. ...continued/
r:
Lk-J!
td
r
Table 4 (cont'd.)
Residenta-/ Short-terma- / Trainingb^ /
Scientists Consultants Man-
Country Cooperative Activities Donor Duration (Man-years) (Man-months) No. years Remarks
Philippines Incorporation of results 
of research into the Expected to 
national production program USAID 1972-75 2.8 continue.
Indonesia Support to NRRP FF 1970-75 4.7 6.8 3 2.4
Development of facilities 
and acceleration of rice Dutch
research at Maros Govt. 1972-77 8.0 1 1.0
Research on rice and crop^ »
ping systems at CRIA, -»•
Bogor USAID 1972-76 14.5 6.1 66 39.0
Research and station World
development at Sukamandi Bank 1973-79 3.8 12.8
* *