LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (13-14 August 2025) - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) hosted a delegation from the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Assembly and Modernization (BRMP) Food Crops to advance a digital tool helping farmers grow rice more sustainably.

Activities of the two-day program included meetings with key scientists and a focused writeshop on a survey on farmers’ feedback. Held as distinct events on consecutive days, the visit aimed to align research priorities and refine how farmer insights are synthesized and communicated for the improvement of the Indonesian version of Rice Crop Manager (RCM), locally known as Layanan Konsultasi Padi (LKP), an online app that provides site-specific nutrient and crop management recommendations for rice farmers.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the delegation was welcomed by IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto in a special dinner with the RCM Indonesia Project team.

During the strategic meeting with IRRI key scientists, Research Director for Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Systems Dr. Virender Kumar welcomed the visiting delegates and explored future potential collaboration. “IRRI’s new five-year strategy to drive sustainability in rice-based agri-food systems aligns well with the Indonesian government’s focus on extension, research, and dissemination, which helps ensure long-term impact even after projects end,” he said. “Embedding RCM in Indonesia’s national system ensures farmers directly benefit from innovations while policymakers are guided by evidence-based tools,” he added.

It is vital that our new joint work plan with Indonesia integrates a comprehensive, end-to-end technology package, spanning improved varieties, agronomic practices, GIS tools, insurance, and site-specific recommendations, to ensure impact at scale.” said Deputy Head for Rice Breeding Innovation Dr. Sankalp Bhosale.

In addition to the meetings, the delegation toured IRRI facilities, including the newly constructed speed-breeding facility, the Long-Term Continuous Cropping Experiment field, a mechanical rice transplanter, the Riceworld Museum, and the International Rice Genebank.

The writeshop convened relevant actors from both organizations to refine the report and analysis from the completed farmers’ feedback survey. The team validated key results, harmonized methods and definitions, agreed on the report structure, and finalized data visualizations, tables, and annexes.

Dr. Nuning Argo Subekti, BRMP Food Crop’s Head of Partnerships and Results Dissemination Unit, and RCM Indonesia Project Coordinator, outlined the survey’s objectives, saying “This survey aims to capture the feedback of farmers on LKP by looking at the changes from using LKP recommendations versus farmers’ practice on cost efficiency and fertilizer efficiency, and to capture the advantages of using LKP.”