New Delhi, India
January 20, 2009
Source: ICAR
An international agreement signed
today between the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI), Philippines will support and facilitate
India's rice research for the next 3 years, helping the nation's
rice production at a time of new challenges such as global
climate change, increased cost of production, value addition and
the revitalization of food production.
The IRRI and ICAR have announced details of the new ICAR
workplan agreement (2009-2012), which ensures India's continued
access to the advanced rice research from around the globe and
the technologies subsequently developed. The workplans are
developed in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement between
the ICAR and IRRI signed in New Delhi on 15 th March 1974, and
in keeping with their desire to continue develop, promote, and
accelerate close collaborative efforts in the fields of rice
research and training.
Both India and IRRI have benefited through various workplans
developed. The last workplan was completed during 2005-2008.
Significant amount of rice germplasm exchanged during the
workplan period. 399 nursery sets of 24 types of INGER nurseries
(3,097 elite breeding lines; 26,281 seed packets) were supplied
to India. The development of submergence tolerance lines in a
number of rice varieties such as Swarna, Samba Mahsuri etc.
through use of sub1 gene were major achievement. These lines
tolerate submergence upto 17 days. India contributed 142
breeding lines to IRRI for use in breeding programme and INGER
in 2008. Twenty eight Indian scientists were also trained in
Marker Assisted Technology at IRRI.
The present Workplan (2009-2012) includes agreements on three
major projects supported by the Bill & Melinda gates foundation:
Stress-tolerant rice for poor farmers in Africa and South Asia
(STRASA); the Cereal systems initiative for South Asia (CSISA);
Creating the second green revolution by supercharging
photosynthesis: C 4 rice.
STRASA aims to develop and distribute improved varieties of rice
that can be grown in rainfed ecosystems—where farmers have
little or no access to irrigation—and withstand environmental
stresses such as drought, submergence, and salinity.
CSISA's 10-year goal is to produce an additional 5 million tons
of grain annually and increase the yearly incomes of 6 million
poor rural households by at least $350. The initiative will
employ innovative public-private partnerships for delivery of
technology to farmers.
“The agreement will develop, promote, and accelerate rice
research and training efforts between IRRI and ICAR,” said Dr.
R. S. Zeigler Director General, IRRI. “The renewed collaboration
will also provide important support for India's other
investments in agriculture and help India strengthen its science
capacity.”
Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, Dr. Mangala Rai
stated that the work plan for the next three years will focus on
genetic resources conservation, evaluation, and enhancement;
enhancing productivity and sustainability of intensive cereal
systems; improving productivity and livelihood for fragile
environments; impact, mitigation and adaptation to climate
change; and strengthening linkage between research and
development. Dr. Rai further stated that by converting rice from
C 3 photosynthesis to the more efficient C 4 photosynthesis,
more carbon dioxide could be utilized and more grain could be
produced. There will be enhanced crop information management
system through India-IRRI Collaborative breeding programmes.
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