Overview

As home to IRRI’s global headquarters, the Philippines share a special history with the Institute since its founding in 1960. Over the decades, this partnership has played an important role in enhancing the resilience and securing the livelihoods of many Filipino rice farmers.

The Philippines remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, with frequent typhoons, floods, and prolonged dry spells causing significant losses and disruptions in the country’s rice production. Recent data shows that production reached 19.1 million metric tons of paddy rice, marking a 3.8% decrease from the previous year. With only about 4.7 million hectares of arable land and an average yield of 4.1 metric tons per hectare, the Philippines continues to rely on rice imports, reaching approximately 4.8 million metric tons in 2024 to meet local demand, especially during lean seasons (Ricelytics, 2025).

To overcome these challenges, IRRI collaborates with Philippine government agencies and research institutions to develop and expand the reach of high-yielding and climate-resilient rice varieties suitable that can thrive in irrigated, rainfed, upland, and stress-prone areas. Joint initiatives also promote better farming practices, including water-saving technologies and smarter use of agricultural inputs, while supporting the conservation and use of its rich genetic diversity.

IRRI also supports climate adaptation efforts through digital tools like crop modeling, remote sensing, decision-support systems, and satellite-powered crop insurance and agro-advisories. These tools help Filipino farmers, extension workers, and policymakers make more informed decisions in managing climate risks more effectively. Through capacity building and scaling up proven technologies, IRRI also enables broader adoption of innovations, contributing to a more resilient and competitive rice sector in the Philippines.

Overview

Rice is a key driver of Myanmar’s economic development, supporting the livelihoods of more than 5 million rural households. As one of the world’s top rice exporters, Myanmar accounted for around 5 percent of global milled rice exports in 2023 (USDA, 2023). In the same year, the country produced an estimated 25.6 million metric tons of paddy rice across 6.5 million hectares of farmland, with average yields of 4 metric tons per hectare (FAO, 2023).

Myanmar holds strong competitive advantages in the global rice market with its abundant land, water, and labor force. These resources present great potential to enhance rice productivity and broaden export opportunities in the country.

Since 1965, IRRI and Myanmar have collaborated on initiatives to strengthen the country’s rice systems through the development and adoption of improved crop varieties, better crop management practices, and agricultural technologies, aimed at achieving higher yields, more efficient resource use, and increased farmer incomes. In addition, efforts to integrate rice with other food systems, such as fish farming, have contributed to better nutrition and more diversified rural incomes.

IRRI also supported Myanmar in training and nurturing young rice scientists. In partnership with local and international organizations, it promoted climate-resilient practices and digital tools, helping farmers adapt to environmental challenges while safeguarding their yields and livelihoods.

While national issues have affected some activities, IRRI continues to maintain its presence in Myanmar and remains committed to supporting the country’s rice sector to ensure food security, sustainable production, and economic resilience for millions of its farming households.

Overview

IRRI and Nepal have maintained a partnership for nearly six decades. Since 1966, IRRI has provided improved rice germplasm and other innovations, trained rice researchers and stakeholders across the value chain, delivered technical assistance, and facilitated international collaboration in rice research and development. Over 70% of the improved rice varieties developed in Nepal have utilized IRRI's genetic materials. The establishment of the IRRI Nepal Office in 2005 further strengthened collaboration with national partners, enhancing research and development (R&D), capacity building, and innovation. This ongoing partnership has significantly improved rice production and food security in Nepal.

Rice is not only the staple food of Nepal but also the most important crop, deeply intertwined with the country's culture, livelihoods, and economy. Ensuring food security is synonymous with ensuring rice security. Rice is cultivated across altitudes ranging from 60 to 3,050 meters above sea level, the highest altitude for rice cultivation in the world. It covers 1.45 million hectares and produces 5.5 million tons of paddy rice annually, with an average yield of 3.8 tons per hectare. Despite its critical role, Nepal's rice sector faces several systemic challenges, including subsistence farming, low yields with large yield gaps, limited access to innovations, vulnerability to climate change, scarcity of inputs, low levels of mechanization, high post-harvest losses, inefficient value chains, high dependency on imports, and weak research and development capacity.

IRRI's response to these challenges in the rice sector is integrated into its long-term collaboration with the Government of Nepal through a joint 5-Year Workplan. IRRI's research-for-development priorities in rice-based agri-food systems include: 

• Breeding improved rice varieties
• Developing agronomic innovations
• Sustainable management of natural resources and the environment
• Establishing climate-resilient rice value chains
• Creating vibrant seed systems
• Implementing scale-appropriate mechanization and post-harvest innovations
• Enhancing market systems and rice value chains
• Conducting socioeconomic research, including gender and policy considerations
• Fostering capacity building 

By working together with key government, academic, private sector, farmer, and other partners, IRRI continues to promote a productive, efficient, resilient, sustainable, and inclusive rice-based agri-food system in Nepal.