Yield and income effects of rice varieties with tolerance of multiple abiotic stresses: the case of green super rice (GSR) and flooding in the Philippines

Abstract

With the increasing frequency of extreme climatic events, the new challenge is to develop rice varieties that are tolerant of drought, water submergence, and salinity. There are now new high-yielding green super rice (GSR) cultivars developed at the International Rice Research Institute with increased tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. But a clear understanding of the economic benefits of these varieties under farmers' production environments is not yet fully understood. In this article, we assess the yield and income effects of GSR rice varieties using a two-year panel data from one province. We use matched samples from a propensity score matching method and a fixed-effects model within a difference-in-difference (DID) framework to estimate the yield effects. The income effects were evaluated using the parameter estimates from the yield/production function model. The results of the ordinary least squares and DID fixed-effects regressions reveal significant and positive effects of GSR varieties on yield. The most important finding is that the benefits from these varieties are strongly felt when there is flooding. This evidence was not as robust when matched samples were used. However, it is clear that the yield benefits from GSR varieties could improve rice food security and help alleviate poverty in the country.JEL classifications: Q12, Q16

Genomic Breeding of Green Super Rice Varieties and Their Deployment in Asia and Africa

“…of drought (Zhang 2007). In addition, because of the frequent occurrences of extreme weather worldwide, the conflicts between agricultural production and environmental resources are becoming increasingly intense (Yorobe et al 2016). Therefore, ensuring the food security and sustainable development of agriculture has become a key strategic concern worldwide.…”

“…An excellent socioeconomic performance has been achieved by the popularization of GSR varieties in the target African and Asian countries. Socioeconomic assessment of some GSR varieties bred for rainfed and irrigated lowland environments in the Philippines and Bangladesh showed that GSR varieties contribute significantly to the yield and net income of farmers (Ali et al 2012;Yorobe et al 2016). Compared with conventional rice, GSR varieties showed significantly enhanced yield and economic output (by 0.89-1.83 tons and USD 230.90 per hectare, respectively) and disease/insect resistance (Yorobe et al 2016).…”

“…Socioeconomic assessment of some GSR varieties bred for rainfed and irrigated lowland environments in the Philippines and Bangladesh showed that GSR varieties contribute significantly to the yield and net income of farmers (Ali et al 2012;Yorobe et al 2016). Compared with conventional rice, GSR varieties showed significantly enhanced yield and economic output (by 0.89-1.83 tons and USD 230.90 per hectare, respectively) and disease/insect resistance (Yorobe et al 2016). Currently, 59 varieties have passed regional tests and variety approval in countries in South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam), and Africa (Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali) ( Table S3).…”

Technology adoption, impact, and extension in developing countries’ agriculture: A review of the recent literature

“…They find that the use of this risk-reducing variety leads to higher adoption of other improved agricultural inputs and practices, such as adoption of a more labor-intensive planting, inorganic fertilizer application, and credit utilization. One issue of abiotic stress-tolerant varieties is that the benefits of adoption become visible only when the specific stress, which they are tolerant to, appears (Yamano, Luz, Habib, & Kumar, 2018;Yorobe et al, 2016). The study of submergence-tolerant rice variety adoption in Bangladesh shows that experience of submergence in the previous year increases adoption (Yamano et al, 2018).…”

Neighbors follow early adopters under stress: panel data analysis of submergence‐tolerant rice in northern Bangladesh

“…In the case of stress‐tolerant crops, their benefits become visible only under the specific stresses they are tolerant to and shows an advantage in terms of yield when there is climatic event like flood (Yorobe et al., ). Thus, learning opportunities of stress‐tolerant crops are limited for farmers.…”