PM contributes 2 Indian rice varieties to IRRI’s gene bank

Los Banos, November 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today contributed two Indian rice seed varieties to the gene bank of the international rice research centre in the Philippines, which, he said, is working towards mitigating global poverty and hunger by improving the cultivation of the key grain.

The Prime Minister visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, an urban locality situated at a distance of around 65 km from Manila — the capital of the Philippines — and interacted with a large number of Indian scientists working there.

A number of scientists at the IRRI briefed the Prime Minister on flood-tolerant rice varieties which they said can withstand 14-18 days of submergence and can provide 1-3 tonnes more yield per hectare in flood-affected areas.

Modi said the flood-resistant rice varieties which can withstand 14-18 days of submergence would help farmers and enhance their income.

“Salinity tolerant rice varieties will help farmers where the soil is saline, for example Kutch. I also saw a drought-tolerant rice variety that can help farmers in times of droughts,” Modi tweeted.

Modi said he was also shown drones that could be used in the agriculture sector and help farmers.

A ‘rice field laboratory’ named after the Prime Minister was also inaugurated by him at the institute. He unveiled a plaque marking the inauguration of the Shri Narendra Modi Resilient Rice Field Laboratory.

“A contribution from India to IRRI...presented two Indian rice seed varieties to the IRRI gene bank,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

The Prime Minister also undertook a symbolic groundbreaking for a new plot for submergence tolerant rice varieties. Modi said he saw a detailed exhibition on rice varieties and the impressive work done by IRRI with women farming cooperatives.

“My visit to IRRI was a great learning experience. Saw the exceptional work IRRI is doing towards mitigating poverty and hunger by improving rice cultivation. Their work benefits many farmers and consumers, particularly in Asia and Africa,” he said. Modi said India is also involved in helping 

IRRI in strategic planning, helping decide key goals and working to overcome hunger as well as poverty.

The Indian government is also setting up a regional centre of the IRRI in Varanasi, the Prime Minister’s constituency, to develop high-yielding rice varieties. The IRRI, which has offices in 17 countries, is known for its work in developing rice varieties that contributed to the Green Revolution in 1960s.

“The Varanasi Centre would help increase farmers’ income by enhancing and supporting rice productivity, reducing cost of production, value addition, diversification and enhancement of farmers’ skills,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. — PTI 

Visits Jaipur Foot centre 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited the Mahaveer Philippine Foundation in Manila that has helped rehabilitate thousands of disabled people in the country with the famed Jaipur Foot, an artificial limb 
• External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Modi interacted with nine-year old Carlo Migel Silvano, who is one of the thousands in Philippines fitted with Jaipur Foot, at the Foundation
• This year alone, 757 amputees in the Philippines have benefitted from the Foundation, which is an associate centre of the Jaipur-based Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti of the famed artificial limb