An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

IRRI today 1871. Research to assist farmers bypassed by the modern technology, withemphasis on developing varieties and management practices for a)rainfed rice, both dryland and wetland, b) medium deepwater conditions,and c) areas with adverse physical environments, such as high andlow temperatures and poor soil conditions.2. Investigations of ways of increasing the fixation of atmospheric nitrogenand of improving the efficiency of the utilization of fertilizer nitrogen.3. Studies of cropping systems research to assist the rice farmer in increasinghis year-round income.4. Socioeconomic studies of constraints to high yields and the consequencesof the new technology — research that would involve detailedstudies of villages composed largely of rice-growing farm families and,in cooperation with the International Food Policy Research Institute,studies and evaluation of national rice policies.5. Innovative research to increase yield potentials, such as the developmentof hybrid rice varieties, mutation breeding, anther culture, and rapidgeneration advance.6. Small-farm machinery development and testing.7. Continuation of training and of research on irrigated rice as high-prioritycomponents of IRRI’s program, but with the focus on projects in thosetwo areas that are not easily carried on by national programs.To support these research and training activities, IRRI naturally will continueto have strong library and information services and to communicate withthe rice scientists of the world through international conferences, workshops,and symposia. There is no doubt that for the foreseeable future, IRRI will be theglobal center for the study of the rice plant and that scientists everywhere willlook to it for breeding materials, for new information, and as the place to trainyoung rice scientists in all the key disciplines.The founders of the International Rice Research Institute have indeed seentheir aspirations realized in its achievements in advancing rice technology, innotably improving international cooperation among rice scientists, and in itscontinued commitment to increasing the world supply of a vital food andimproving the lot of the farmers who produce it.