Author: irrieducation

Hyderabad, India — The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in partnership with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), launched a five-day national training course on genomic predictions and data-driven crop breeding on 24–28 November 2025 in Hyderabad. 

The training brings together 37 plant breeders, geneticists, research scholars, and early-career scientists from across the country to strengthen their skills in modern genomic tools essential for rice improvement. The program combines lectures and hands-on sessions covering quantitative genetics, statistical genomics, predictive modeling, and genomic selection. Participants are working with actual breeding datasets to learn R programming, mixed models, relationship matrices, G × E interaction analysis, and genomic prediction methodologies. 

During the opening ceremony, ICAR-IIRR Director Dr. Raman Meenakshi Sundaram emphasized the importance of genomic innovations in building resilient and productive cropping systems. He highlighted the need for open-access data, collaborative research, and continuous capacity development to advance national food security objectives. 

The course is led by IRRI Rice Breeding Innovation (RBI) scientists Dr. Waseem Hussain, Dr. Mahender Anumalla, and Ms. Margaret Ciar, who are guiding participants in applying genomic selection and predictive breeding tools in real-world breeding pipelines. 

IRRI Senior Scientist and Regional Breeding Lead–South Asia Dr. Vikas Kumar Singh said the training reinforces the critical role of integrating genomic information with data-driven decision-making. He noted that the program equips India’s next generation of breeders to fast-track varietal development and supports IRRI’s ongoing commitment to strengthening national breeding capacity. 

This year’s edition builds on earlier runs of the course first launched at IRRI Headquarters in the Philippines in 2024 and replicated at ICAR-IIRR the same year. The program has since attracted participants from Asia and Africa and is regarded as one of IRRI’s most impactful capacity development initiatives. 

Participants are expected to apply genomic prediction, data-driven breeding, and optimized crossing strategies in their institutional programs following the training, contributing to India’s efforts to advance agricultural innovation and sustainability. 

Interested in similar training opportunities? Visit education.irri.org to learn more or email us at irri-education@cgiar.org.

Varanasi, India — The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) launched a five-day national training program on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in rice-based systems at its South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi on 17–21 November 2025. The program aims to strengthen national capacity in accurately measuring methane emissions and identifying climate-smart mitigation strategies for rice cultivation.

Rice fields in South and Southeast Asia account for more than half of total national methane emissions, making precise monitoring essential for achieving climate targets. The training, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Rice Systems: Procedures and Measurement Standards,” equips participants with practical skills in field gas sampling, laboratory analysis, data evaluation, and emission calculations. 

The course covers key learning areas including climate change impacts on rice production, mechanisms of GHG emissions in rice systems, IPCC-aligned inventory methods, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) mitigation practices, field setup and sampling protocols, laboratory analysis procedures, and country-specific case studies. Hands-on sessions guide participants through step-by-step measurement and reporting processes based on IRRI’s established research methodologies. 

Participants represent a broad mix of public and private institutions, non-governmental organizations, and NARES partners. Institutions include the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Kerala Agricultural University, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Punjab Agricultural University, Rallis India Limited, Eco Agripreneurs Pvt. Ltd., The Nature Conservancy, and RestoreEarth Solutions. 

The training opened on 17 November with remarks from Dr. Anilyn D. Mannings, Head of IRRI Education, who welcomed participants, and Dr. Anthony Fulford, Soil Scientist, who addressed attendees on behalf of ISARC. Dr. Ando Radanielson, Senior Scientist and Environment and Climate Change Specialist, presented the course framework. 

ISARC Director Dr. Sudhanshu Singh underscored the significance of evidence-based strategies for reducing GHG emissions in rice systems. “South Asia must lead with scientific approaches that reduce emissions while maintaining productivity. This program is a timely and impactful initiative in that direction,” he said. 

IRRI Research Director Dr. Virendra Kumar, who inaugurated the program, emphasized the importance of building a collaborative community of scientists, researchers, and policymakers capable of accelerating climate action through rice-based systems. 

Dr. Pratap Bhattacharya, Head of the Crop Production Division, ICAR–Central Rice Research Institute, highlighted the global importance of accurate GHG monitoring. “Scientific precision in GHG measurements is essential for shaping effective agricultural policies and mitigation strategies, not only for India but worldwide,” he stated. 

Throughout the week, participants engaged in field demonstrations, laboratory work, and data interpretation exercises designed to strengthen their capacity to support national climate goals. The program reinforces IRRI and ISARC’s commitment to advancing climate-smart agriculture through rigorous research, accurate measurement, and strong institutional partnerships. 

Interested in similar training opportunities? Visit education.irri.org to learn more or email us at irri-education@cgiar.org.

I grew up in a farming community where agriculture shaped everyday life. The persistence of my family, most of whom were farmers, guided my academic path. Observing how climatic variability strained their efforts led me to agricultural sciences, particularly crop improvement and agronomy. From early on, I understood that rigorous science can transform traditional practices into sustainable, productive systems that protect livelihoods.

I currently serve as a Tutorial Assistant in Agricultural Botany. This role has deepened my commitment to research drought tolerance in rice because it addresses a central constraint to productivity and a central risk to household income in Africa’s rainfed and irrigated landscapes. My research interest is developing and delivering climate-resilient germplasm and agronomic packages that maintain yield even with scarce water supply, while remaining feasible for smallholders. The approach combines phenotyping for drought tolerance, geospatial targeting for variety placement, and seed system strengthening so that improved options reach both women and men equitably (International Rice Research Institute [IRRI], 2024).

This focus directly supports the Climate-resilient and Eco-friendly Rice for Africa initiative. The project advances resilient and eco-efficient rice systems through evidence-based technologies. My contribution is to connect trait discovery and on-farm validation with delivery science. In practice, this includes co-designing on-farm trials for drought-tolerant lines, linking seasonal advisories to variety of choice and planting windows, and collaborating with local multipliers so that quality seed flows efficiently to priority environments. These steps are consistent with current IRRI efforts that couple stress-tolerant rice with climate-risk mapping and targeted dissemination in Tanzania (IRRI, 2024).

The importance of this problem is evident in my national and local context. Tanzania is among Sub-Saharan Africa’s larger rice producers, with milled output reported at about 2.45 million metric tons in 2023/24 and 2.52 million metric tons projected for 2024/25. Harvested area is approximately 1.10 to 1.13 million hectares and average yields about 3.33 to 3.39 tons per hectare on a rough basis (U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service [USDA-FAS], 2025). Despite this scale, production is highly exposed to water risk. Only about 289,386 hectares were irrigated in 2019/20, which represented roughly 2.3 percent of the total planted area nationally (National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] & Office of the Chief Government Statistician [OCGS], 2021). Sector strategies note that more than 70 percent of Tanzania’s rice area is rainfed, which concentrates vulnerability to rainfall variability and dry spells (Ministry of Agriculture, 2021). Over the past three decades, the country has experienced at least six major droughts, underscoring the systemic nature of water shortages (World Bank/CIWA, 2021). These constraints periodically require market management; for example, the Government of Tanzania issued about 150,000 metric tons of rice import quotas in 2024 to stabilize supply (USDA-FAS, 2025). This means that without innovations in climate-resilient rice, food insecurity and economic vulnerability will continue to rise. Addressing this challenge through science-based solutions is, therefore, both a national priority and a personal calling.

Drought-tolerant rice varieties reduce the need for intensive irrigation by lowering pressure on water resources while maintaining productivity. This adaptation strategy directly improves farmers’ capacity to withstand climate shocks. Moreover, eco-friendly practices associated with such varieties as reduced fertilizer use and sustainable water management can help minimize greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to mitigation efforts. Recent syntheses report substantial water savings and notable reductions in methane emissions when Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is correctly implemented and monitored, often without compromising yield (Gao et al., 2024; Li et al., 2024).

As a member of this project, I expect to sharpen my skills in plant breeding, molecular biology, and eco-friendly agronomic practices, while also learning from interdisciplinary collaboration across countries and contexts. I hope to contribute not only through scientific research but also by bridging knowledge between the laboratory and farming communities. My vision is to emerge from this experience as a researcher equipped to lead innovation for climate-resilient agriculture, ensuring that smallholder farmers especially women are not left behind in the fight against climate change.

In conclusion, my academic interest in African rice drought tolerance, combined with my professional background and personal motivation, strongly aligns with the goals of the project. By addressing a pressing local and continental challenge, promoting gender equity, and advancing climate-smart innovations, I am committed to contributing meaningfully to the success of this project.

I grew up in a small district called Maswa, situated in the northern part of Tanzania, south-east of Lake Victoria. I was raised by my mother. She was a nurse but also a smallholder farmer. She cultivated rice and maize at our farm located around our home. Just like other smallholder farmers, my mother faced many challenges, such as unpredictable weather patterns, use of old, traditional varieties, limited access to inputs, and poor local soil knowledge. Growing up with my mother exposed me to the most traditional ways of cultivating rice and the challenges they faced. The whole experience basically drove my desire to one day become an agricultural researcher; hence, I chose to pursue a BSc in Agronomy.

I got employed as a Junior Agronomist at a coffee producing company called Ngila Estate Ltd., situated in Tanzania’s Karatu district. I worked under the principles of climate-smart agriculture and was presented with a certification by the Rainforest Alliance. I also worked in the Department of Pest Scouting and Control. As an agronomist, I practically performed soil sampling for pH and nutrient analysis and recommended the best ways to solve pH and nutrient imbalances. I did research based on the effectiveness of biochar as a soil amendment and the effectiveness of local lime sulphur on treating leaf rust and coffee berry disease.

As a Climate-resilient and Eco-friendly Rice for Africa (CERA) Master’s student, my study area is focused on climate adaptation objectives using agronomic technologies. It addresses the urgent challenge of sustaining rice production in drought-prone areas.

Rice is the second most important commercial and food crop in Tanzania after maize. More than 18% of households rely on rice as a staple, and the sector provides livelihoods for over 2 million smallholder farmers (URT, 2020). Tanzania is the second largest producer of rice in Southern Africa after Madagascar, with a production level of 818,000 tons (JICA 2007). However, Tanzanian rice productivity is lower than most of its neighboring countries and one of the weakest in the world (European Union, 2010). About 71% of the rice in Tanzania is produced under rainfed conditions, while irrigated land accounts for 29% of the total, with most of it in small village-level traditional irrigations, making it highly vulnerable to drought and erratic rainfall. Studies indicate drought stress can reduce yields by 40–60%, particularly in semi-arid regions such as Shinyanga, Dodoma, and Morogoro (AfricaRice, 2021). Paddy rice cultivation is one of the most important sources of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) (IPCC 2014; Arunrat et al., 2018), and is the major driving force for climate change (Smith et al., 2014).

This makes the problem statement highly significant in the national context. Thus by promoting various agronomic strategies like water management practices, particularly promoting intermittent drainage and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) (Minamikawa and Yagi, 2009), system of rice intensification (SRI) (Gathorne et al., 2013), improving organic management by composting, using rice cultivars with few unproductive tillers, high root oxidative activity, and high harvest index (Zheng et al., 2014), application of fermented manure like biogas slurry (Petersen, 2018), incorporation of biochar and adopting direct-seeding of rice (DSR) (Susilawati et al., 2019) will contribute to closing Tanzania’s rice yield gap, improving resilience in smallholder systems, mitigating GHGs and supporting national strategies for climate adaptation and food self-sufficiency.

As a member of the project, I intend to contribute by addressing gender equity and climate change challenges. Women provide more than half of the labor in rice farming in Tanzania, yet they face barriers to resources and training. By ensuring their active involvement in agronomic research and farmer training and promoting labor-saving, climate-smart technologies, I aim to reduce gender gaps and empower women farmers economically and socially.

On climate change, my focus is on promoting adaptation strategies such as drought-tolerant varieties, water-saving irrigation methods, and soil fertility management to safeguard yields in drought-prone regions. I will also emphasize mitigation practices, including eco-friendly soil amendments, biochar, conservation tillage, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers, which can lower greenhouse gas emissions. These contributions will help build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable rice systems that align with national food security and climate goals.

I expect to enhance my knowledge and skills in climate-smart and eco-friendly rice production, particularly in developing practical solutions for drought-prone areas. I look forward to contributing to scientific innovation through agronomic research and sharing findings that address yield gaps and strengthen resilience in rice systems. I also expect to promote gender equity by ensuring women farmers actively engage in training and decision-making, thereby supporting inclusive development.

Through this project, I hope to strengthen collaboration with researchers, policymakers, and farmers across Africa, expanding my professional network and exposure to diverse expertise. I also expect to gain experience in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as in farmer capacity building. Ultimately, I aspire to align my contributions with Tanzania’s food security priorities and Africa’s broader climate-smart agriculture goals, ensuring sustainable and impactful outcomes.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be selected as part of the Climate-Resilient and Eco-Friendly Rice for Africa project. This scholarship is both an honor and a responsibility, and I am committed to contributing meaningfully toward its goals of food security, climate resilience, and gender equity. I look forward to learning, collaborating, and applying my skills to support sustainable rice systems in Tanzania and across Africa. My sincere thanks go to the project team and sponsors for this trust.

Growing up in Tanzania, pilau was always a dish of joy in my family, fragrant rice filled with spices and shared at gatherings. Every plate carried more than flavour; it carried the story of the farmers who work tirelessly in the fields. Over time, I became more aware of the fragility of their livelihoods. Droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and declining soil fertility often reduce their harvests. What concerned me most was the reality that these challenges do not affect everyone equally. Women, landless farmers, and other vulnerable groups are often excluded from resources and decision-making, making them more exposed to climate shocks. Witnessing these inequities shaped my research interest: exploring how fairness is addressed in drought adaptation strategies and how these strategies impact the most vulnerable rice farmers.

My academic path reflects this passion. I began with a degree in Actuarial Statistics, which allowed me to analyze complex data and understand patterns. I am now pursuing a master’s in project management and Evaluation, which equips me to design, monitor, and assess development projects. Together, these skills enable me to ask critical questions about adaptation: who benefits, who is left out, and how these choices shape the future of farming communities.

Rice is central to Tanzania’s food system and daily life. It is the second most important crop after maize and a staple for millions of households. In the 2022/23 season, farmers harvested over one million hectares of rice, producing about 2.4 million tons. Average yields were only 2.2 tons per hectare, although this varied from less than one tonne in some regions to more than four tons in the best performing areas (Discover Agriculture, 2025). There has been some progress. For example, under the TANRICE2 programme, yields rose by 40 percent in seven years, from 3.2 to 4.5 tons per hectare (The Citizen, 2020). Yet many farmers, especially those relying on rainfed systems, still use traditional varieties that yield only 1.5 to 2.5 tonnes per hectare and are highly vulnerable to drought (IRRI, 2024). When climate shocks strike, these households are left with little income, food insecurity, and fewer options to recover. The burden is not shared equally. A study in Mbarali District found that 78 percent of men participated in multiple rice production tasks compared to only 49 percent of women. A larger proportion of women were confined to low participation roles, while very few reached high participation levels (FAO, 2021). This shows how unequal access to land, credit, and decision-making limits women’s ability to benefit from rice farming, even though they are central to production.

As a CERA scholar, I aim to place equity at the heart of climate adaptation strategies. I will focus on making the barriers women face in accessing irrigation, drought-tolerant seeds, and climate information visible. Highlighting these disparities allows us to design strategies that enable women to participate fully and share fairly in the benefits of climate-smart rice farming. When women thrive, entire households and communities become more resilient. On climate change adaptation and mitigation, I study how different farmer groups adopt practices such as improved water management, soil conservation, and new rice varieties. I am interested in how these innovations are distributed, because leaving the most vulnerable behind weakens overall resilience. Many of these practices also contribute to mitigation by promoting resource efficient and environmentally friendly farming methods.

Being part of the CERA project is both a professional step and a personal commitment. I look forward to learning from the scientists at IRRI, working alongside fellow scholars, and engaging with rice farming communities to understand their lived experiences. I want to strengthen my ability to translate research into practical recommendations that can influence policy and practice. Most importantly, I hope to ensure that the benefits of climate-smart rice production reach those often excluded, especially women and marginalised groups.

I imagine a future where rice farming in Africa is resilient, fair, and environmentally sustainable. A future where farmers, regardless of gender or status, are equipped not just to survive climate shocks but to thrive. A future where every grain of rice, whether in pilau at a celebration or in a simple family meal, reflects resilience, fairness, and dignity. For me, being a CERA scholar is not simply about academic achievement. It is a pledge to champion equity, sustainability, and a better future for farmers in Tanzania and across Africa.

I was raised in Ruvuma, a region in southern Tanzania, where my mother has been cultivating maize on our family farm, located 22 km from our home. Like many women farmers in East Africa, she faced recurring challenges from unpredictable rainfall and limited access to reliable weather information. Most of the time, she relied on indigenous knowledge to decide when to plant a practice that, given today’s shifting climate patterns, often felt like a gamble. These uncertainties frequently result in low yields and unstable household income. Witnessing her navigate these struggles inspired me to pursue a career in agricultural research, with a strong focus on climate change adaptation and rural livelihoods.

Over the past two years, I have been privileged to contribute to regional projects such as Enhancing Climate Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) and Building Equitable Climate-Resilient African Bean and Insect Vectors (BRAINS). Both initiatives underscored the critical role of ensuring that women, youth, and persons with disabilities have timely access to weather and climate information. Through this work, I witnessed how empowering vulnerable groups with knowledge strengthens decision-making, improves resilience, and ensures that they benefit more equitably from agricultural innovations. These experiences taught me that while technologies and improved practices are essential, true transformation in African agriculture also requires addressing inequities that prevent women and youth from realizing their full potential.

As a Climate-smart and Eco-friendly Rice for Africa (CERA) PhD scholar, my study will focus on strengthening the resilience and inclusivity of rice farming systems in East Africa. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how inequities within the rice value chain, particularly those affecting gender groups (with special lens of women farmers), shape the adoption of climate-smart practices and influence household livelihood outcomes. This aligns closely with the CERA project’s vision of promoting climate-resilient, eco-friendly, and socially just rice systems in Africa.

Rice is central to food security in Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania, rice accounts for about 17–21% of total grain or cereal production and is cultivated by over one million households, making it central to both food security and income generation (Lyanga, 2025). Extreme climate events, including droughts and floods, significantly reduce rice yields in Tanzania like any other country in our region and globe at large. Studies show that such events can cause yield losses ranging from 25% to over 70% in severe cases, with some Tanzanian floodplain farmers reporting losses of 50–100% during extreme floods (Mwakyusa et al., 2023; Akpa, 2024). Tackling these challenges is more than about productivity; it is about reducing vulnerability and promoting equity along rice value chains. My work aligns with CERA’s goals by exploring climate-smart practices that build resilience while promoting sustainable, low-emission rice systems.

I will actively engage women-led households and youth groups in rice-farming communities, for co-developing participatory approaches that reflect their realities. This will not only strengthen inclusivity but also ensure that the isolated groups’ voices shape the design and adoption of adaptation strategies.

Under CERA’s climate change mitigation and adaptation goals, my research will analyze how different climate-smart rice practices perform under variable conditions, considering both costs and benefits along rice value chains. By generating evidence on which practices are most effective and feasible for smallholders, I hope to inform strategies that are value chain node specific that reduce climate risks while supporting the sustainability of actors regardless of their gender groups and other socioeconomic aspects.

The agriculture sector in Tanzania employs about 65% of the population, with rice also identified as a strategic crop for national and regional food security (Basungu, 2023). Yet gender groups like women farmers face systemic barriers: less than 20% of women own land, and fewer than 15% have access to formal credit (Awoke et al., 2025). At the same time, rice yields average just 2.2 tons per hectare, far below the potential of 6–7 tons under improved management (Kwesiga et al., 2020; Mboyerwa et al., 2022). Bridging these gaps requires not only technical innovations but also institutional reforms that ensure these gender groups, like women and youth, can actively participate and benefit in the face of climate-related risks.

In regions which experience extreme weather phenomenon such as Morogoro in Tanzania and Mwea in Kenya, the stakes are even higher. Farmers in these areas are already grappling with shorter and less predictable rainy seasons, sudden floods, and rising production costs. Without deliberate action, these challenges threaten not only household welfare but also national food security. Addressing them requires climate-smart and gender-responsive solutions that enable farmers, especially women, to adapt, build resilience, and sustain their livelihoods.

Finally, as an ambitious CERA scholar, receiving this scholarship is both a personal milestone and a responsibility. I look forward to engaging deeply with rice smallholder farmers, particularly different gender groups of weather-extreme regions areas of Tanzania and Kenya and learning from their lived experiences. In working with CERA’s diverse network of partners, I also see this as an opportunity to grow into a researcher and/or academician who can bridge science and community realities, by disseminating the contextualized research findings, hence making rice systems not only climate-resilient but also socially just and equitable.

Varanasi, 20 September 2025: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi, in collaboration with IRRI Education, has successfully concluded a four-day advanced training program from 17 September to 20 September 2025 on “Advanced Approaches to Soil Health Management in South Asia’s Rice-Based Cropping Systems.”

The program brought together participants from leading agricultural universities and ICAR institutes, including ICAR-IISS Bhopal, ICAR-IIFSR Modipuram, BHU-Varanasi, SHUATS Prayagraj, Punjab Agricultural University, and others. Renowned experts from BHU, ICAR-NBAIM, ICAR-IARI, IFDC, and ISARC contributed as resource persons.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, Director of ISARC, remarked that soil is the foundation of our food systems. Through this program, IRRI is building regional expertise and preparing the next generation of professionals to safeguard soil health for sustainable food security.

Unlike routine training courses, this program was designed as an in-depth, blended learning experience that combined lectures, hands-on activities, field visits, and laboratory demonstrations. Key sessions included digital tools for soil and crop management, where ISARC soil scientists Dr. Anthony Fulford and Dr. Ajay Mishra led sessions on the Rice Crop Manager (RCM), a farmer-friendly decision-support tool designed to optimize nutrient use efficiency and enhance productivity in rice-based systems.

Participants also explored the scope of soil spectroscopy for rapid and cost-effective soil analysis, with demonstrations at ISARC’s advanced laboratory highlighting its potential to support farmers with timely and precise soil health information and offering scalable solutions for better nutrient management.

A session on soil health governance and policy, delivered by Dr. Yashpal Sahrawat, Director-Resilience and Environment at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), USA, emphasized the importance of policy frameworks and governance mechanisms such as the Bharat Soil Health Policy, with a timeline of phased implementation by 2047. This session included discussions on institutional support for promoting sustainable soil health practices at both national and regional levels, and called for low-cost, incentivized soil health policy.

In addition to classroom sessions, participants engaged in exposure visits to progressive farmers’ fields in Varanasi, where they observed integrated soil and water management practices in real-world settings. They also worked with soil health kits and conducted lab-based analyses to strengthen their technical expertise.

By combining scientific insights, digital innovations, and policy perspectives, the training equipped soil scientists, agronomists, extension professionals, and faculty members with actionable knowledge and practical skills to advance climate-smart, farmer-centric soil health management strategies across South Asia.

Interested in similar training opportunities? Visit education.irri.org to learn more or email us at irri-education@cgiar.org.