India: Stronger inter-country linkage sought to improve technology delivery

The Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project prepares for stronger linkage among its partner countries India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and others in Africa as the project moves toward Phase 3.

This was the focus of the project's 3-day (9-11 April 2013) annual review and planning workshop held at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex in Delhi. Planning was made for the second year of Phase 2 of the project.

Abdelbagi Ismail, overall project coordinator, said that STRASA, being a flagship project of both IRRI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), demands more from its members, especially given the strong support and direct involvement of the BMGF at various levels of the project implementation.

Bas Bouman, director of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), also stated that STRASA is the flagship project of GRiSP.

David Mackill, overall STRASA advisor and consultant, cited how the project's good progress will now require better coordination and partnership and greater involvement of young scientists.

Gary Atlin, senior program officer for Agriculture and Research Development of the BMGF, commended project outcomes both at product development and dissemination levels, with real effort made on products delivery to farmers. He thanked the Government of India for its support to seed dissemination through the National Food Security Mission, Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India, and similar initiatives.



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