India’s Modi opens resilient rice laboratory in the Philippines

Lian Buan

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India’s Modi opens resilient rice laboratory in the Philippines
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Manila for the 31st ASEAN Summit, also visits the International Rice Research Institute in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, November 13, inaugurated the Resilient Rice Field Laboratory at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a global rice research organization based in Los Baños, Laguna.

Modi is in the Philippines for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits, where India is a dialogue partner.

IRRI has an office in India, and 16 other countries in Asia and Africa.

The new laboratory will focus on developing rice varieties that can withstand flooding and the challenges that come with salinity-prone areas. Salinity or salty conditions affect grain yields negatively. (READ: IRRI experts discover ‘wonder’ rice gene)

Developing countries such as the Philippines and India deal with massive flooding each year. Most of the world’s rice is grown in Asia but according to IRRI, 20 million hectares of rice fields in the region are prone to flooding.

“In India and Bangladesh alone, more than 5 million hectares of rice fields are flooded during most of the planting seasons,” IRRI said in a statement.

 

India partnership

The Philippine laboratory will conduct the research, and the data will be forwarded to the Indian office for testing. IRRI’s South Asia Regional Center is in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

“The Varanasi Center would help increase farmers’ income by enhancing and supporting rice productivity, reducing cost of production, value addition, diversification, and enhancement of farmers’ skills,” Modi said.

On Twitter, Modi said he met with Indian scientists and researchers who work at IRRI. (READ: World’s first global standard for sustainable rice launched in PH)

“India is also involved in helping IRRI in strategic planning, helping decide key goals, and working to overcome hunger as well as poverty,” he said.

IRRI will also work with the Indian Center for Agriculture Research to have local farmers test the innovation.

“This ensures innovations are tailored to farmers’ needs and quickly adopted – creating a responsive, real-time laboratory dedicated to the development of high quality, profitable rice varieties for those in need,” IRRI said.

IRRI Director General Matthew Morell praised India’s commitment to mitigate the risk of climate change for rice farmers. (READ: 3 types of rice ready for climate change)

“The establishment of research facilities and Centers of Excellence such as this one and the one in Varanasi is a testament to the Indian government’s commitment to South-South collaboration as a key mechanism for meeting food security needs and improving the livelihoods and welfare of farmers – the farmers who play a critical role in transforming the global rice sector into an efficient, highly productive economic driver of the region,” Morell said. – Rappler.com

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Lian Buan

Lian Buan is a senior investigative reporter, and minder of Rappler's justice, human rights and crime cluster.