Cloud computing seen boosting rice sector

The rice sector is making full use of cloud computing and research bodies begin uploading data into a one-stop accessible reference place to help boost rice research and development.

The system uses cloud computing for rice statistics and analytics, led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS) such as AWS Glue, Athena, and S3 for data extraction, transformation, and loading while the transformed data is stored in AWS cloud warehouse Redshift.

IRRI said the main objective of the database is to provide and further develop a dedicated regional high capacity, high-quality internet connectivity network for research and higher education.

The database will contain data from existing household surveys conducted by IRRI globally and will include data from national bureaus and international organizations.

Currently, consolidated database with disaggregated data on production by season and gender of household in the barangay level does not exist for rice sectors in Asia.

“Without new knowledge especially in science and technology, without the new knowledge that will be generated, it will be difficult to make good decisions on conservation and resource use, something that is vital to the success of rice production,” academician Dr. William Padolina said.

DoST-ASTI Director Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. emphasized the importance of this collaboration with IRRI and DoST-ASTI’s long-standing partnership.

“The DoST-ASTI and IRRI, over the years, have established a good working relationship through our partnership in the areas of research networking, high-performance computing, and cloud computing,” Marciano said.

“RICESTATS DATABASE will enable the dissemination of comprehensive rice socio-economic data through an easily accessible database interface on a wider scale.

The project will provide a resource for agricultural and social science researchers, academia, policymakers, donors, and investors in the rice sector and beyond,” IRRI Representative for the Philippines Dr. Romeo Recide said.

He said the database will empower Asian countries by enabling them to participate in collaborative programs like RICESTATS DATABASE. They also bridge the digital divide that exists within the global communities of research, education, and health.