J K Ladha
Do you think biotech will dominate the rice research agenda for India?
Biotech will get its due, but in the Indian situation water and natural resource management is more important. We have to learn from the previous green revolution's negative impacts and work for sustainable rice farming now.
Is India still drawing from IRRI's research or is it relying on its own?
No, India is still keen on IRRI's research on rice and has actually doubled its grant this year from US $150,000 to US $300,000 this year.
What's IRRI's agenda for India?
We want to explore India's inherent rice genetic resources. Eastern India, particularly Jeypore district in Orissa, has the richest genetic diversity of rice in the world.
Is IRRI finding enough funds to continue public-centric research?
Although funding is not a problem, the funding pattern has changed considerably. Thirty years ago, we had funding with no strings attached, which gave scientists a free hand to do things the way wanted, but now that is no more the case.