IRRI satellites face closure due to lack of funds

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is subsisting on a drastically reduced budget of $24-million this year, from $32 million after its major donor, Japan withdrew its support for the agency.

IRRI director general Dr. William Padolina said about 50 percent of the research center’s operations have been paralyzed as many of its personnel are laid off from their jobs.

"We were forced to cut down on our operational expenses, we had to lay off some of our employees. This year, we are running on a budget of only $24 million and we realized that we cannot just be depending on the benevolence of donors that can pull out anytime," said Padolina.

The Japanese government which is the IRI’s biggest benefactor, withdrew its support for the agency because it has put up its own rice research institute.

With Japan fading out of the picture, there are talks that other IRRI satellites will be phased out.

Padolina said the success of IRRI encouraged the establishment of similar rice research agencies, essentially duplicating the IRRI’s functions.

The IRRI is a non-profit agricultural research and training center established in 1960 to help developing countries increase food production, particularly rice, a staple in most Third World Countries. It has been credited with developing high-yielding rice varities that can be grown and harvested using less water, labor and chemical inputs.

Currently, IRRI has 29 donors which include country-contributors or private institutions.– Rocel Felix