Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center does research work under contract with farmers. Farmers will pay and use their research results. The Center is under the University of Arkansas. The Division of Agriculture in the University of Arkansas is the core research team. Work by the Center is strictly applied research, closely linked to practice. They often deal directly with farmers. The Center and Riceland Food Co., closely cooperated with each other in testing the quality of milled rice grown from researching new seeds.
The Center operations are based on different funding sources. About 75% of its total operation costs come from the state government (under funds for Arkansas University), including salary, other operating costs. Regarding the researching activities, the Center is demand-driven based on farmers’ requests. The Arkansas farmers have established the Rice Research Promotion Board, whose founders are farmers. The research work is almost fully based on contributions from farmers and private firms. Farmers contribute through a check-off program: for each 20 kg of rough rice sold, they contribute 1.5 cents. The Center assess the research demands of farmers through several channels: collect ideas through regular meeting with Rice Research Promotion Board, agricultural extension staff meets with farmers in counties, visiting fields, looking at crops, receiving requests by phone, mail and do survey assessment of needs. Then the researchers write research proposals, submit them to gain approval by (i) the Center’s leaders, and (ii) the Promotion Board
Case study Progress of seed development in Arkansas: Researcher-Grower-Dealer 1. Develop an information system of farming system in Arkansas and all Southern regions (Texas, Louisiana, Missouri …). The big problem for rice crop production in the U.S. is water resources. About 80% of irrigation for U.S farms now is based on underground water. So that besides the database about soil, capacity of water resources of each state is also considered by the researchers. 2. Breeding seeds: - Expected outputs: standard varieties, high quality, water saving, which all are inspected and certified - Time: it takes about 10 years for research and development of a new variety - Cooperated with miller (Riceland Food) in testing in mill 3. Publication: - Annual B.R Wells Rice Research Series publication (Rice information: (http://www.uark.edu.depts/agripub/Publications/researchseries/) - Rice search (book) The purpose is that the farmers can look at these publication and make decisions for their prospective planting 4. Sell seeds to seed growers: which are in the private sector (farmers, seed companies) 5. Seed growers need to submit all their growing products for certification (annually) Seed dealers: marketing and selling seeds for farmers, both in Arkansas and other states in the Southern region |
The Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, under USDA. Different from the Arkansas Rice Research Center, this Center concentrates on basic science research, which supports farmers in long-term. They don’t often deal with farmers in the fields. The most impressive output of the Center is the GENE BANK.
Interview the USDA economist who leads the Gene Bank (man on the left) |
Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, Stuttgart, Arkansas |
Every year, the Center collects and updates its Germ Plasm Core Collection. The U.S Rice Collection includes 21,280 individual varieties, which come from 152 countries. All of these are maintained in special storage (20% humidity, 43oC) for about 18 years.
Hoang Ngan, Information Center, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development, www.agro.gov.vn
Written from trips in Arkansas State, The United States, May, 2007