Improving sustainable productivity in rice-based rainfed lowland systems of South and Southeast Asia

The lowland rice-producing areas of the world may be classified first by water regime: those with a reliable and controlled external supply of water and a drainage system, theirrigated ricelands, and those depending solely on rainfall and runoff, therainfed lowlands. The latter are diverse and range from drought-prone lands to those subjected to flooding in excess of several meters during the growing season. Rice production in these areas hasn't really benefited from the technological advances that were so successful for irrigated rice, yet hundreds of millions of Asia's poorest people depend upon the rainfed lowlands for their livelihood. This paper presents a retionale for devoting resources to research for the rainfed environments of Asia, and examines the institutional context and the key constraints and opportunities for intervention. The research strategies directed towards increasing sustainable productivity in these areas are presented, including the unique challenges presented by environmental heterogeneity and variability.