17TH SESSION OF THE COMMISION
4-9 FEBRUARY 1990, GOIANIA, BRAZIL
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Review of world rice situation and outlook 1989-90
Development in rice irrigation
Environmental aspects of rice production
Diversification of rice farming systems
Research needs for sustainable rice production in Latin America
Rice improvement through biotechnology
Research needs for sustainable rice production in West Africa
The 17th Session of the IRC was held at the National Centre for Rice and Beans CNPAF/EMBRAPA, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil from 4 to 9 February 1990 and attended by 48 representatives from 33 of the Member Nations of the Commission, 8 observers from 8 other Member Nations of FAO and 19 observers from international organisations. The Commission elected His Excellency Iris Rezende Machado, Minister of Agriculture, Brazil as Chairperson of the Commission; Mr. Michel Jacquot of France as First Vice-Chairperson and Mr. T.V. Sampath of India as Second Vice-Chairperson. The Commission was addressed by H.E. Iris Rezende Machado, Minister of Agriculture, Brazil and Chairperson of the Commission. Mr. L. Brader, Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO on behalf of the Director-General of FAO delivered the Welcome Address.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSION
Review of the World Rice Situation and Outlook 1989-90
1. Note should be taken
of the rapid and extensive changes in production, trade, stock and prices that
can follow policy changes.
2. Global rice stocks in 1989 were only sufficient to cover about 13 percent
of the annual consumption; contingency plans for covering crop failures should
be reviewed.
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Development in Rice Irrigation
3. The possibilities
of rice irrigation by sprinkler, to assist double cropping and sustainable farming,
where basin irrigation is inappropriate, should be studied.
4. Studies for new irrigation schemes should continue, even though they may
seem economically unattractive, since doubts exist about continued high yields
or yield increases from the currently available rice lands.
5. Investment in on-farm water storage can be considered an economically sound
strategy rather than developing/implementing additional larger schemes/projects.
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Varietal Improvement in Rice
6. Research and extension
efforts should be expanded to try to break through the yield ceiling in rice:
this work should be location specific.
7. Hybrid rice has succeeded very well in China, but it will be difficult to
develop where conventional high-yielding varieties are not yet widely used.
8. An expansion of the technical network for hybrid rice, proposed in 1986 with
enhanced activities, should receive urgent attention.
9. Recurrent selection, using genic male sterility or chemical sterilants, may
be a helpful tool in both hybrid and pure line breeding.
10. Formulate an international project to develop suitable mechanisation systems for rice farming in Latin America.
11. Design and produce equipment suitable for Asian rice grower sand disseminate information about those already available would be valuable.
Environmental Aspects of Rice Production
12. The major importance
of government policies in controlling the bad environmental effects of forest
removal for rice farming should be recognised.
13. Emphasis should be given to developing more productive upland systems and
soil erosion control measures, which give early economic benefit for farmers.
14. Development of mangrove forests, for rice culture, should proceed only after
evaluation of their existing economic and protective value, and a review of
acid sulphate soil problems.
15. Where family incomes
are rising, reduced rice consumption (in favour of meat, etc.) can be compensated
by the development of better quality, easily prepared rice and rice-based convenience
foods.
16. A palatable and nutritious bran and oil can now be produced during the rice
milling process. Installation of a plant for this purpose should be profitable
and useful for most rice producers.
17. Production cost analysis
will help rice growing countries to develop more profitable production systems
and identify problem areas as ,for example, the need for higher-yielding varieties
for the Cerrado region of Brazil.
18. Land reform should perhaps receive more attention in view of land degradation
associated with tenant farming attitudes.
19. Fertiliser use should receive attention to maximise efficiency, with use
of green and organic matter, to supplement mineral fertilisers and possibly
produce them locally in order to reduce shipping costs.
Diversification of Rice Farming Systems
20. Improved sustainability
can be achieved by greater incorporation of food legumes in rice-based farming
systems. Better market development and improved genotypes of both rice and legumes
should be developed to maximise progress.
21. Rice-fish systems should receive more inputs of research, extension and
policy initiatives to speed development.
22. Integrated pest-management can play a major role in reducing pollution and
production costs, and Members should initiate phased programmes without delay.
23. The increased emphasis
on developing ecosystem-friendly procedures, such as integrated pest management,
should receive continued support.
24. Members should evaluate the extent to which their national resource base
of rice land is under threat from such problems as water-logging, salinisation
and erosion and make plans to arrest the decline.
25. Cropping systems, with closed nutrient loops and with a tendency to improve
soil and water quality, should be developed and encouraged by policy changes.
Research Needs for Sustainable Rice Production in Latin America
26. Member Countries should establish teams of rice scientists to broaden the research base. A wider genetic base, in varieties with better disease and insect resistance, is needed.
Rice Improvement through Biotechnology
27. Biotechnology and
conventional inbred line breeding should be used in harness. The new methods,
such as embryo rescue and another culture, depend on conventional breeding for
source material. This may allow faster progress and the achievement of previously
unachievable results.
28. Efforts to identify novel genes, to transform rice, should be stepped up,
as the procedures for this operation have been established.
Research Needs for Sustainable Rice Production in West Africa
28. Member Countries
should expand their efforts to develop rice systems, which could be adopted
by African farmers not familiar with Asian intensive systems.
29. Economic use of Azolla or other nitrogen-fixing organisms, or organic matter,
should be extended to the African swampy lands with sustainable rotations, or
mixed cropping with rice, to replace the shifting cultivation of rainfed, non-flooded
upland rice.
30. Control of run-off and erosion, methods of diking, terracing, levelling
and water harvesting, including farm reservoirs in the rice fields, should be
studied more seriously.