|
||
|
|
|
|
||
 Irrigated Rice Research Consortium
|
 |
BackgroundThe Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) was established in 1997 with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It has provided a platform and mechanism for partnerships between national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) and IRRI. This has greatly strengthened the development and delivery of appropriate technologies and has helped identify and address regional research needs in irrigated rice. After two highly successful 4-year phases, IRRC Phase III began in January 2005, will end in December 2008. IRRC Phase II (2001-2004) Phase II centered on work group themes based on specific research needs to solve problems with high potential impact in the collaborating countries. The work groups were composed of interdisciplinary teams of research and extension workers at sites in three or more countries. Phase II had six work groups: (1) Nutrient and integrated nutrient-pest management (Reaching Toward Optimal Productivity) (Phase III: Productivity and sustainability workgroup) (2) Hybrid rice (Phase III: part of Productivity & sustainability workgroup) (3) Water saving (Phase III: Water saving workgroup) (4) Weed ecology (Phase III: Labor productivity workgroup) (5) Rodent ecology (Phase III: part of Productivity & sustainability workgroup) (6) Postharvest management (Phase III: Post production workgroup)
In addition, a facilitating impact work group on technology communication, dissemination, and evaluation facilitated the delivery of technologies.
IRRC Phase III
IRRC Phase III has four problem-solving Work Groups established on themes that link directly to the Millennium Development Goals: • Productivity and environmental sustainability (Productivity and sustainability workgroup) • Increasing productivity under water-scarce conditions (Water saving workgroup) • Improving labor productivity (Labor productivity workgroup) • Improving post production techniques and diverse rice markets (Post production workgroup)
These workgroups will develop and validate technologies that cut across rice production processes and the value chain. Innovative and participatory approaches, such as farmer field schools, field days, participatory research, and media campaigns, will be used to enhance farmers’ understanding of technologies suitable to local conditions. Phase III will have a strong focus on scaling out these technologies to promote impact in the context of specific country needs, through strong participation of governments and stakeholders at national and local levels.
|
|
|
|
About IRRC |
|
|
|
