The need for new farming methods Dryland farmers typically obtain less than half the yields that research stations can achieve under similar conditions. In Andra Pradesh, India, for example, research scientists have been able to harvest about 6 tonnes of grain and pulses per hectare in a double cropping system. Traditional single crop systems in the area typically yield only about 0.6 tonnes of grain or 1.2 tonnes of chickpeas per hectare. Some rice farmers in Southeast Asia have recently neared research station yields. But further scientific advances could push yields higher. The International Rice Institute aims to achieve annual yields of 15 tonnes per hectare, compared with the current world average of 3.5 tonnes. If average annual farm yields per hectare could approach two-thirds of research station yields under comparable climatic conditions, enough food will be available to feed the hungry millions of tomorrow.