Agronomic research on effective water use for rice production as a pathway to a nourished world: Northeast Thailand Project of University of Tokyo

Abstract

Attaining reasonably high levels of food self-sufficiency rate within a country is important not only for food security but also for efficient use of natural resources inside the country. Japanese food self-sufficiency rate is exceptionally low among developed countries, with only 40 percent at original calorie basis (2002). This implies importation of virtual water from abroad (estimated 40 billion tons per year) without fully utilizing domestic agricultural water (58 billion tons per year). Japan chose to import food and export industrial products during 1960s of rapid economic growth, but alternative decision making would be possible and may be more relevant at present and in future, as the society matures to prioritize operation of sustainable natural resource management and provision of safe and quality food. We have conducted agronomic study from 2001 to 2007 to assess alternative rice production technology in relation to fresh water resources. This study involved participation of students in the discipline of plant science: as the educational goal, rice crop responses to different water regimes were analyzed either field or plant levels, while the research goal was to invent new or modified rice production technology adapted to water scarce situations. We chose 3 subprojects: (1) increasing yield for upland rice, (2) developing water-saving lowland rice production, (3) stabilizing rice production in rainfed lowland in northeast Thailand and Cambodia (2003-2007). The first and the second are water-saving rice production technology to broaden the perspectives of Japanese scholars for sustainable food production under water in Japan, because rice production is by far the largest water consumer in Japan, and saved is can be utilized for possible other crop production. The reason to include the third subproject rainfed fragile ecosystems, as well as to extend research and academic collaboration with the leading and responsible institutes in the target environments, to attain more sustainable natural resource management and food production in Asia. This paper focuses research and academic achievements through collaboration with Thai scientists, particularly in Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Center, on improvement of direct seeding in northeast Thailand. In the presentation, collaborative manners of University of Tokyo, academic achievements, as well as research highlights on genotypic requirement and alternative crop management for direct seeding are to be shown. Our overall study explores pathways to a nourished world through technical innovation of effective water use for rice production. We also emphasize to attain human resource development, who is open to global as well as regional problems, and who is not only good at discipline sciences but also insightful for sustainable development of society including various stakeholders.