Visit of Shri Suryapratap Shahi Ji, Minister of Agriculture, Agricultural Education and Agricultural Research, Govt. of UP to ICAR – Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad on 05 Feb, 2023

Dr. Raman Meenakshi Sundaram, Director, ICAR-IIRR welcomed Hon’ble Shri Suryapratap Shahi Ji, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Agricultural Education and Agricultural Research, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh who visited the Institute along with Officials of State Department of Agriculture, viz., Shri. SB Singh, Sh. VP Singh and others. Dr. Sundaram gave a brief presentation about the institute's mandate, achievements and new initiatives launched in the Institute. The Hon’ble Minister in his address to the staff of the Institute, applauded the achievements of ICAR-IIRR and emphasized on increased coordination and communication between ICAR institutes like ICAR-IIRR, State department of agriculture, KVKs, and State Agriculture Universities of Uttar Pradesh. He also suggested that the Institute can play a central role in the popularization of high zinc and other biofortified rice varieties in certain regions of UP state, where malnutrition in children and women is prevalent. Further he emphasized that the Bundelkhand region of UP requires special attention for demonstration of high yielding, low input use efficient and climate resilient rice cultivars. Banda Agriculture University, KVKs and the state department of agriculture may work in coordination with ICAR-IIRR. The Hon’ble minister also asked ICAR-IIRR to put up a joint proposal in consultation with State Agricultural Universities of UP, State Agricultural Department by May 2023 for funding under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The proposal may include improvement of target traits for the benefit of rice farmers of Uttar Pradesh, popularization of modern rice technologies, in addition to Infrastructure development. He also suggested that ICAR-IIRR may supply seeds of climate resilient and biofortified rice varieties in addition to the popular low glycemic index rice variety, Improved Samba Mahsuri. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. MBB Prasad Babu, Principal Scientist and Head, Prioritization, Evaluation and Monitoring Cell, ICAR-IIRR.