Upland rice: Challenges and opportunities in a less favorable ecosystem

IRRI's upland rice research has made progress in solving some of the dilemmas in the upland rice ecosystem, although many challenges remain. IRRI researchers are gaining a better understanding of the ecosystem's constraints, opportunities, and research approaches. Cultivar improvement, use of farmer participatory methods to reduce erosion, and weed management are areas where research advances are being made. Developing perennial upland rice and managing weeds using less herbicide are exciting new projects being pursued. Enhancing rice productivity is seen as an entry point to alleviating the interrelated problems of declining productivity, lack of sustainability, and poverty in the uplands. Delay can irreparably damage the uplands and gravely affect the people who depend on them for survival.