Chhattisgarh researchers and scientists will now be able to do research with International Rice Research Institute

Agreement signed between Chhattisgarh Government, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, and International Rice Research Institute Manila, Philippines

Agriculture Production Commissioner observed modern research techniques at International Rice Research Institute

Raipur 09 February 2023/ Scientists and researchers in Chhattisgarh will now have access to research and investigation facilities at the International Rice Research Institute in Manila, Philippines. A tripartite agreement (letter of intent) has been signed in this regard between the Chhattisgarh government, the Indira Gandhi Agriculture University in Raipur, and the International Rice Research Institute in Manila. The agreement was signed in the presence of Agriculture Production Commissioner, Dr. Kamal Preet Singh, who recently visited the International Rice Research Center in Manila.

Besides observing the speed breeding program, Dr. Kamal Preet Singh also held discussions with the scientists at the research institute about the new varieties of rice being developed and gained information about modern technologies. Under the leadership of the Agricultural Production Commissioner, the team of the Chhattisgarh government’s agriculture department provided detailed information about the farmer-friendly policies and programmes of the Chhattisgarh government, including the Narva, Garua, Ghurwa, Badi programme, and the Godhan Nyay Yojana. The discussions were well received by the scientists at the research institute.

The Chhattisgarh team that visited Manila also observed more than 1,30,000 varieties of rice stored at the Institute’s world’s largest rice germplasm collection, which has been preserved for over 100 years. The Agriculture Production Commissioner emphasized the need to accelerate the development of new varieties of rice in Chhattisgarh in order to increase the production and income of farmers through the Agricultural University. During the discussion between the Agriculture Production Commissioner and senior officials of the Institute, it was agreed that the International Rice Research Institute would work closely with the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University to use new techniques of rice research to develop new varieties of rice in Chhattisgarh. The Vice-Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Girish Chandel, and the Breeding Program Modernization Head of IMRI Dr. Sanjay K. Katiyar, also accompanied Dr. Singh.