The contribution of the International Rice Genebank to varietal improvement and crop productivity in Eastern India

Using survey dataset collected from nearly 9000 farmers along with pedigree and evaluation data, this study measures the contribution of the International Rice Genebank (IRG) to varietal improvement and rice productivity of farmers in Eastern India. The authors empirically test the relationship of ancestry to productivity changes while controlling for the effects of other farm inputs and environmental factors. Through pedigree analysis, authors also confirm that 45 to 77% of the genetic composition of improved rice varieties is derived from the genes of IRG accessions. Findings demonstrate the valuable contribution of the genetic resources conserved and distributed by IRG to the development of improved rice varieties.