Depending on the location and ...

Depending on the location and cultivation method one could have different alternatives to irrigating rice. A few exmaples: - a project by Syngenta called pani-pipes looks at alternating flooding thus reducing the amount of water and increasing yield actually. These are essentially pipes that help look at the soil moisture and trigger irrigation only below a certain level (vs. being flooded 100% of the time). similar means are avaialble today with soil moisture sensors which can help make better decisions. - Irrigation of rice with drip irrigation is technically possible yet usually financially cahllenging. It works yet requires different management practices and in most cases requires plenty of education to smallholders and is too expensive for implenetation on a braod scale. - Use of mechanical (pivot/lateral) irrigation has also been used in the united states and has had good success with 30% less water yet requires the right scale. - Certain varieties are more adapt and some chemistries (Crop Enhancement by Syngenta) can help the plants mitigate water and heat stresses. clearly there are many other questions related to the soil, pest and diseases, nutrition and climatic conditions to enable an optimal production system which are related to the water and all play a role in the success or failure and need to be considered when thinking of a solution. Hopefully this helps. Peleg