In collaboration with national rice research and extension systems, the regional research and development technical assistance (TA) covers water shortage countries in South Asia (Bangladesh, India, and Nepal) and Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Lao PDR) through further adaptation research, trialing, and knowledge transfer of the technologies developed under Regional Techinal Assistance (RETA) 6276 Development and Dissemination of Water-Saving Rice Technologies in South Asia. ADB funds are used for activities related to large-scale seed multiplication and distribution of climate-adapted varieties, evaluation and dissemination of second generation water-saving rice varieties, and development and initial dissemination of new, third generation aerobic and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) varieties, and impact analysis of the TA.
The TA is expected to ensure the availability of climate-adapted rice varieties through collaboration with national and provincial seed multiplication agencies, public and private sector institutes, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) for large-scale seed production and distribution. Varieties developed under the TA shall be available for cultivation to all farmers in beneficiary countries and can be shared with different research institutions in different countries after the signing of the IRRI standard material transfer agreement.