Odisha :Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan seeks stronger IRRI partnership for climate-resilient rice farming
Odisha is exploring deeper collaboration with IRRI’s South Asia Regional Centre to promote climate-resilient rice, improved varieties, mechanisation and advanced farming technologies. Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo also discussed short-duration crops suited to flood-affected areas to improve farm productivity, sustainability and farmer incomes.
BHUBANESWAR: Deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Thursday visited the International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) at Varanasi and discussed possibilities of collaboration on climate-resilient rice cultivation, agricultural innovation and technologies for improving farmers’ productivity and incomes.
Singh Deo, also the minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, toured key research and demonstration facilities, including speed breeding and varietal cafeteria facilities, mechanisation and post-harvest units, direct-seeded rice trial plots, drone demonstrations and regenerative agriculture fields. Scientists of the centre briefed the deputy chief minister on technologies being developed to enhance productivity, efficiency and sustainability in rice cultivation.
He also visited the geospatial lab, plant and soil laboratories and the NABL-accredited Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA), where he was apprised of advanced research and efforts to promote value addition in rice.
At an interaction with scientists and staff of ISARC, IRRI scientist and India acting country manager Swati Nayak highlighted the institute’s long-standing collaboration with Odisha and its focus on rice-based farming systems, livelihoods and economic opportunities for small farmers.
Singh Deo said the visit had been a valuable learning experience and expressed the state’s interest in deeper collaboration with IRRI, particularly in identifying rice varieties and short-duration crops suited to farmers’ needs during the current flood situation.
“Rice cannot be separated from India, and I sincerely appreciate the work of IRRI and ISARC scientists in developing new technologies and strategies for farmers,” he said. ISARC executive director Vikas Kumar Singh said the centre looked forward to expanding its partnership with Odisha. Balangir MP Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo accompanied the deputy chief minister.
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Source : The New Indian Express
