Did you know annual farm equipment repair and maintenance costs are more expensive than buying new ones? This is why the IRRI Breeding Operations Unit, led by Engr. Princess Lilia Dela Cruz, has taken important steps to review existing farm equipment and resource utilization to match the research needs and improve the overall resource management efficiency.
Progressive men and women farmers, SPs, and representatives from non-government organizations from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana participated in a hands-on demonstration of mechanized direct-seeded rice. The objective was to allow stakeholders to observe and experience advanced agricultural practices.
 |
| Joint discussion and collaborations to initiate joint crossing block design activities at ANGRAU breeders in RARS, Maruteru, and ARS, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. |
Influential mega varieties, mainly SWARNA and BPT 5204, have long dominated the Indian rice sector, as the main staying varieties of Indian rice production since the 1980s. These cultivars provide a reliable and high-yielding option for farmers nationwide. With a goal to replace these market-demanded mega rice varieties with more upgraded rice (climate-resilient, more productive, and late-duration maturity), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) collaborated with the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) on a transformative journey to start joint breeding efforts. The partnership aimed to have a shared vision of replacing these established mega varieties with new, high-yielding, and improved genotypes.
