IARI agriculture fair showcases STRASA, CSISA and IRRI technologies

By Mayank Sharma & Manzoor H. Dar

Thousands of farmers, researchers, scientists, and government officials attended the annual Kisan Mela (agricultural fair) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute  (IARI) campus in New Delhi, on 10-12 March.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) hosted an exhibit booth featuring technologies developed by the Stress-tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project and Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA). The booth also displayed IRRI technologies and products including the manual transplanter, the community mat nursery, and performance charts of stress-tolerant rice varieties, in partnership with Improved Rice-based Rain-fed Agricultural Systems (IRRAS) and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM). Various literatures on stress-tolerant rice management, seed production, and postharvest techniques were also distributed to farmers and extension workers.

Thousands of farmers from different states visited the IRRI booth  and enquired about the latest technologies developed by the Institute. Many also shared their experiences using IRRI technologies.

Mr. Ram Raji from Madhubani, who has been cultivating Swarna-Sub1, a flood-tolerant rice variety for three years,  was awarded by the Government of Bihar for getting highest paddy yield in the district in 2011.

This year’s Kisan Mela was inaugurated by Dr. J. S. Sandhu, deputy director general (Crop Science) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The representatives from IRRI-India  who attended the event included Dr. Sheetal Sharma, Dr. Sarvesh Shukla, Mr. Mayank Sharma, Mr. Bhanu Bhadauria, Mr. Girija Swain, Dr. Maneesh Dwivedi, Ms. Poornima, Ms. Ishika Gupta, Ms. Mamta Mehar and Mr. Shriram Manogaram.

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