Bhubaneswar: In a bid to tackle crop loss due to scanty rainfall in Odisha, the State government has inked a MoU with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to promote new high yielding stress tolerant and climate resilient paddy.
The Mou was signed in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after a team led by IRRI deputy Director General (research) Matther Morell visited several paddy cultivation area in Odisha and intercated with the farmers.
He said that the farmers are positive to adopt the new technology in agriculture to raise the productivity.
With the signing of Mou, the IRRI will provide better flood and drought resistant seeds, manage post harvest activities and increase capacity building of farmers.
The pact envisages to promote the development of cooperation in the field of research, development, training, improvement of production technology of rice and extension.
Notably, Odisha has incurred huge crop loss due to frequent natural calamities like flood, cyclone and drought. The paddy production came down to 1821 kg per hectare due to cyclone Phailin and subsequent flood in 2013-14. Odisha harvested 2360 kg per hectare of paddy in 2014-15 despite flood.
The MoU will remain in force for a period of five years. It may further be renewed as per mutual consent of both the State government and the IRRI.
