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

Appendices 189materials could readily be applied over wide areas with benefit to rice yields and wouldhave important social significance. One approach to this objective might be theestablishment of an International Rice Research Institute. The object of this Institutewould be threefold, namely:A) To bring together available information on rice and its management,B) To recruit and organize a group of competent resident investigators who willwork on the basic and applied problems of rice production, andC) To establish international cooperative relations directed towards increasing theeffectiveness of research and its general application.On the assumption that a significant social and scientific contribution could be madethrough the establishment of an International Rice Research Institute, considerationhas been given to the most logical site for such an operation. For a number of reasons,it has been decided that the Island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands is a most logicalchoice. Many of the reasons are obvious but others might be mentioned which includethe fact that the Philippine Islands is an important rice-producing area but one wherethe demand far outstrips the supply. Average production figures are low, managementpractices are primitive, and opportunities for research, demonstration, and extensionare great. Furthermore, the Philippine Islands has a progressive School of Agriculturelocated at Los Baños and this Institution has had the benefit of a number of years ofassociation with leading agricultural scientists from Cornell University under an ICA-College Contract. There is in the Philippines an understanding of the need for greatlyincreased agricultural research and acceptance of the principle of international cooperation.Another asset is the fact that the Philippine Government has friendly relationshipswith essentially all of the countries in Asia.An International Rice Research Institute located in Asia could at once begin thestudy of a broad spectrum of important problems which are involved in rice improvement.Examples of these may be listed as follows:1) Varietal improvement leading to the development of hybrids which were welladapted to the important rice-producing areas in the region under consideration;2) Research in the fields of genetics, cytology involving studies of polyploidyinduced mutations and outcrosses;3) Ecological, physiological, and biochemical investigation with respect to theproblems of nutrition, growth, and reproduction;4) Soil physics, soil chemistry, and soil microbiology of paddy soils;5) The water relationships of rice with reference to the effect of temperature andmineral content on plant growth;6) The fertility problems of rice production;7) Studies of the pests and pathogens which attack rice and basic studies of hostparasiterelationships and control methods;8) Mechanization of rice production;9) The handling and storage of rice;10) Economic studies relative to all phases of production and marketing.A number of other aspects of rice research could be mentioned but the foregoingshould serve to illustrate some of the sorts of projects which could be undertaken withthe expectation that definite benefits would accrue as new methods, materials, andinformation become available.If an International Rice Research Institute were to be established in the PhilippineIslands, it is assumed that this would be begun modestly but set up in such a way as tobe able to expand in response to demonstrated progress.