ISSN 2027-1238
E-Newsletter No. 3
April 2009

For its work to have impact, CIAT is committed to participating in dynamic research-driven partnerships. One such partnership is with the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), which is generating unprecedented impact on rice production throughout Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

"The relationship between CIAT and FLAR has the potential to revolutionize the rice industry in LAC," said Dr. Gonzalo Zorrilla, Executive Director of FLAR. "While we still have a long way to go, our future is certainly bright, based on the results we've already achieved."

For example, over the last 5 years, rice farmers in Venezuela used improved varieties and better management practices developed jointly with FLAR. Yields increased from 4 to more than 5.5 tons per hectare. FLAR and CIAT hope to replicate these results in other LAC countries.

"One of FLAR's strengths is its ability to rapidly disseminate research findings among all its members, ensuring that improved varieties and cultural practices reach farmers faster," Zorrilla said. "As our partnership continues to grow and expand, we hope to continue improving our ability to reach those farmers who need this research most."

Founded in 1995, FLAR comprises a diverse group of LAC governmental institutions, farmer associations, and private industries who want to develop the rice sector of their respective countries. In addition to its headquarters based at CIAT, FLAR also has a research facility located in Santa Rosa, Colombia, and regional coordinators working on projects in several countries.

FLAR's partners share the leadership, which is organized as one administrative and two technical committees who collaborate with the executive director. Every year, the committees meet to address issues, share research findings, and plan future activities.

CIAT, a FLAR member, supports the organization's activities by providing a legal infrastructure for the group. It also provides fields, laboratories, office space, and, most importantly, research findings from many of its other long-term rice research projects. By creating a certain synergy between CIAT and FLAR activities, the group can operate more efficiently and focus on moving research findings quickly throughout the region to maximize impact.

Today, 70% of FLAR's funding is invested in breeding new rice varieties, with 13 so far having been developed. Moreover, the breeding program picked up significantly last year and is expected to double the number of varieties available within the next 2 years.

"Rice research in LAC is important. Most people associate high rice consumption with Asian countries, not realizing that rice is the most important staple crop in Latin America," Zorrilla said. Although some regions are certainly less dependent on rice than others, annual rice consumption in such places as Colombia, Brazil, and Costa Rica averages about 50 kg per person. For other places like Panama and the Dominican Republic, consumption is higher at 70 and 80 kg, comparable with Japan's figures of 90 kg per person.

"In LAC, although rice consumption across society is generally high, the highest consumption rates are found among the most economically disadvantaged," Zorrilla pointed out. "By increasing rice yields and production in these countries, we not only improve a country's food security in general, but we also improve the amount of food and nutrients reaching society's most vulnerable," he said.

Breeding new rice varieties is certainly a significant component of what FLAR does, but the Fund also works at improving cultural and harvesting practices. "People too often focus on breeding new rice cultivars, as if this will solve all their problems," Zorrilla said. "Breeding is certainly important but, in Nicaragua, we saw how farmers could increase yields from 4.5 to 9 tons per hectare, simply by using better farming practices with the same old varieties."

On discussing FLAR's future direction, Zorrilla is quick to note limitless possibilities. However, for the short term, the group is focused on breeding and agronomy, and wants to explore projects that will help increase market access and address production inefficiencies.

"We are tremendously pleased to work with FLAR," said Dr. Ruben Echeverría, Director General of CIAT. "This is a partnership we are committed to and look forward to working with in the years to come, helping to solve the issues faced by LAC rice farmers."

Contact:
Gonzalo Zorrilla, g.zorrilla@cgiar.org