Background
The
Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) focuses
on rice farming systems where low and unstable yields are commonplace
and where extensive poverty and food insecurity prevail. It
aims to benefit the 100 million farm households in Asia that
are dependent on rice. Working
on rice environments with problem soils which rely on unpredictable
rains and which are susceptible to flooding, farmers had no
recourse but to continue to grow mainly traditional varieties
and use very few, if any, external inputs. Consequently, productivity
gains have been small. To improve the livelihoods of millions
of farmers in these unfavorable rice environments, an innovative
approach was needed to address the challenges of achieving
sustainability and raising productivity. Through improved
rice productivity, households can then diversify into income
generating activities and thereby achieve a higher standard
of living and a better quality of life. |
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Approach
The diverse nature and wide geographical spread of the rainfed environments
make it essential that research is carried out in partnership with
national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) drawing
on local scientific expertise and farmers’ indigenous knowledge. CURE
is a platform within which NARES and IRRI researchers can partner
together with farmers and extension workers to tackle key problems
in sites representative of the diverse ecosystems. CURE’s strategy
involves on-site farmer-participatory research linking scientists
from NARES, international research centers, and advanced research
institutions using a multidisciplinary approach for technology generation,
validation, and dissemination. CURE also closely collaborates with
local government units and nongovernment organizations to disseminate
technologies over a wider area. Membership comprises 26 institutions
in 10 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. |
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Vision
To be a regional facility for promoting partnership among
national and international research organizations in order
to understand and prioritize rice research problems and to
develop technological options for improving productivity and
conserving natural resources in unfavorable rice growing environments.
Mission
To contribute to improving food security, reducing poverty,
and maintaining the natural resource base by developing and
disseminating technologies of short- and long-term economic,
social, and environmental benefits to low-income rice farmers
and consumers.
Values
CURE is guided by a commitment to:
- Partnership
with organizations that share common goals
- Multidisciplinary
research teamwork
- Farmer-participatory
approach to research
- Scientific
excellence " Gender consciousness[
- Cross-cultural
communication
- Learning
from indigenous knowledge
- Environmental
protection
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Objectives
CURE aims to increase the productivity and sustainability of rice-based
systems in unfavorable rainfed environments through research on
rice as an integral component of the rural livelihood systems. With
continued increase in rice productivity, households can release
resources for diversification into other income-generating activities
that can improve their standard of living and quality of life.
The
specific objectives are:
- To
serve as a platform and forum for identifying and prioritizing
rice research for rainfed environments that generate international/regional
public goods for improving rural livelihoods;
- To
provide logistical support to coordinate NARES-IRRI-ARI strategic
research collaboration in key sites for developing and validating
technologies that address high priority issues to increasing and
sustaining productivity; and
- To
promote resource sharing and information exchange across national
programs.
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