Govt inks MoA to set up IRRI's regional centre in Varanasi

The Agriculture Ministry today signed a memorandum of association (MoA) for setting up a regional centre of the global rice research institute IRRI in Varanasi, the prime minister's constituency, to develop high- yielding rice varieties.
The Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), which has offices in 17 countries, is known for its work in developing rice varieties that contributed to the green revolution in 1960s.
IRRI's South Asia Regional Centre will be set up at the campus of National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) in Varanasi.
The MoA was signed between Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Patnaik and IRRI Director General Matthew Morell.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said: "The rich biodiversity of India can be utilised to develop special rice varieties. This will help India achieve higher per hectare yields and improved nutritional contents."
Country's food and nutritional security issues will also be addressed, he said in a statement.

The proposed centre will operate under the governance of IRRI Board of Trustees, who will appoint an IRRI staff member as director.
This will be the first international centre in eastern India which will play a major role in harnessing and sustaining rice production in the region, the ministry said.

It is expected to be a boon for food production and skill development in eastern India and similar ecologies in other South Asian and African countries, it added.
The Centre would have modern and sophisticated laboratory with the capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw. It will undertake capacity-building exercises for stakeholders across the rice value chain.