“Research Group workshop on Hill Rice” held at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam
The 3rd National Rice Group Meeting for Hill Rice was held at the ICAR Research Complex North Eastern Region (ICAR-RC NEH), Umiam, Shillong on 27th February 2016. The meeting is being organised under the auspices of ICAR-IIRR (Indian Institute of Rice Research), Hyderabad and the ICAR-RC NEH, Shillong. Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR-RC NEH inaugurated the group meeting as Chief guest while Dr. Ravindra Babu, Director, ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad chaired the proceedings of the one-day group meeting. Dr. BC Deka, Director, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Umiam was the guest of Honour.
A day long “Research Group” workshop was organized to work out research strategies for “sustainable rice production in hill ecosystem”. A total of 50 scientists from all the hilly states of India participated in the workshop including scientists from ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad and scientists of ICAR-RC NEH, Central Agricultural University, Shillong and Manipur, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar J&K, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Palampur as well as Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Scientists from Kalimpong, Researchers from Agricultural Department of Meghalaya and Manipur participated in the workshop.
The aim of the group meeting is to review the research work on hill rice cultivation and technology being carried out under the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP). The group meeting is expected to come out with suitable refinements in technology and identification of promising entries for rice research and cultivation in hill region. Rice is the staple food for the people of North East but the region is not self-sufficient in rice production. Thus, the motive of the meet was to develop strategies for sustainable rice production in NEH Region.
The workshop was chaired by Dr V. Ravindra Babu, Director, ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad. Speaking on the occasion he stressed on the fact that the institute has 25 co-operating Centre’s for Hill rice and the motive of the institute is to improve the productivity and quality of rice. The North-eastern region contributes to only seven percent to the national rice productivity and the multiple constraints faced by the region are to addressed in the workshop.
The chief guest for the occasion was the Director of the institute Dr. S.V. Ngachan who in his welcome address spoke about the importance of rice as the primary staple food of the South Asian countries and how technology can be disseminated to the farmers so that they can improve their livelihood. He emphasises on the need for collaborative and multidisciplinary research for developing location specific package of practices for enhancing productivity of rice.
The other dignitaries present for the occasion were Dr T Ram, PI, AICRIP, Dr B.C. Deka, Director ATARI, and D.J. Rajkhowa, head Crop Production. Dr. Ram gave a brief account of the progress of rice research with respect to hill ecosystem in last one year. Dr. B.C. Deka emphasised on the need for engaging KVK personnel for developing location specific rice production technologies. Whereas, Dr. A.K. Mishra, Head, NBPGR, Umiam emphasises on the need for germplasm conservation and their efficient utilization for developing desired rice variety. The vote of thanks was given by Dr Anup Das Senior Scientist Agronomy.
Lighting of the lamb by the Dr S. V Ngachan and Dr. Ravindra Babu, Director, ICAR-IIRR
Scientist along with the director of the institute Dr S V Ngachan
