More than seeds

The most recent July-September 2014 issue of Rice Today, a quarterly magazine published by IRRI on behalf of the Global Rice Science Partnership, features an article More than seeds (pages 36-37) about of the climate-smart rice being grown by Indian farmers. These rice varieties have been developed by IRRI and are being distributed under the Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) Project, funded by DEVCO. These varieties have already had a major impact on the lives of 10 million farmers in South Asia and Africa.

In India, about 5.36 million hectares are flood-prone. In South Asia, it is about 12 million hectares. Almost half of South Asian agriculture is rainfed and is prone to climate change-related problems such as flooding, salinity, and drought.