ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the historical development of rice-breeding research in Asia. It discusses methodologies for establishing priorities among rice research programs. The chapter presents the results of the analysis, and also discusses the implication of these results for rice research in Asia. It outlines the results of an exercise undertaken by one of the international centers, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in an effort to clarify its own research priorities. The history of the development and dissemination of modern rice varieties from the IRRI is well documented. The establishment of the IRRI in 1962 as the main station in an international hierarchal system can be viewed as a temporary departure from the basic developing country research process, in Robert E. Evenson's view. The analysis of production potential in different rice-growing environments has implicit implications for income distribution. The chapter reviews the productivity of research investment and the structure of the research system.
