Mr. Papademetriou stated that rice is the life-line of the Asia-Pacific Region where 56% of humanity lives, producing and consuming more than 90% of the world’s rice. The demand for rice is expected to grow faster than the production in most countries. How the current level of annual production of 530 million tonnes can be increased to over 700 million tonnes by the year 2025 using less land, less water, less manpower and fewer agro-chemicals is a big question. Alternative ways to meet the challenge by horizontal and vertical growth have their own prospects and limitations. Considering this scenario, the bridging of the yield gap for producing more rice appears to be somewhat promising.
Development of more location specific technology for crop management as well as technology transfer and adoption, coupled with manpower development in appropriate areas, have to be handled by the countries themselves. The sharing, testing and utilization of technology and knowledge across the national boundaries have to be facilitated by Regional and International bodies through various networks supported by them.
The Integrated Crop Management approaches, including available location-specific technologies coupled with active institutional support from governments, particularly for input and village credit supplies as well as stronger research and extension linkages, can expedite the bridging of yield gaps and thus bring about an increase in production. Location specific packages of technologies moving towards “prescription farming” could be made available and popularized.
The yield deceleration, stagnation and decline observed in high-yield environments must be arrested, first by systematic studies to understand the causes and then by the development of new varieties and appropriate crop management practices. As this phenomenon affects the most productive ecosystem - irrigated rice and the permanent asset, the soil, - it is hoped that Eco-Regional Initiatives and AEZ networks may help.
Technical knowledge is an important factor in determining the adoption of improved crop management practices and increased yields. Transfer of knowledge on intensive technologies has to receive priority. The bridging of knowledge gaps can help bridge yield gaps. A new paradigm need to be added to transfer and use newer seed and knowledge based technologies under new policy environments.
Yield variability is driven primarily by variability in the natural environment, and the challenge to research workers is to confront such variability in productivity by genetic and input manipulations. On the genetic side, there is ample evidence that considerable progress has been made (and can be further expanded) in exploiting natural tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses, which are polygenically controlled. But the diversion of resources towards risk reduction in optimizing phenotypic expression must be traded off against more direct progress in terms of mean yield performance. Thus, one has to consider the trade off between high yield and yield stability. Development of varieties with high stability may therefore be considered as an alternate strategy.
The efforts to break the rice yield ceiling (NPT rice, hybrid rice, and through agronomic manipulation) need to be geared-up to attain higher yields. This technology must be made available through IRRI and FAO operated networks for testing and deployment by NARS.
Technologies to decrease the cost of production and increase profitability must be considered very seriously at the same time. Issues in poverty alleviation, social justice and diversification in agriculture are inter-linked and should be handled at that level. The Asia-Pacific Region has the resilience to meet its future demand and could remain a net exporter of rice, provided concerted efforts are continued with greater vigor and thrust.
The trade globalization provided by GATT, WTO and COMESA, and geographic comparative advantages of producing a crop, can provide major incentives for farmers to strive hard and bridge the yield gap. The Region may also focus on other continents to substitute the needs at the Asia-Pacific region. Africa can be a promising “Future-Food-Basket” for Asia, but concrete policy framework and support background under the South-South Co-operation and NAM must be addressed. The complementary strength of Asia and Africa can work wonders. This can be a boost to provide a solid platform for a shared prosperity for both continents.
