Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi furthered his vision of doubling farmers’ incomes with the inauguration of the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI SARC) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Inaugurated by the Prime Minister on December 29, 2018, the research facility will strengthen the national research capacity of rice-growing countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Delivering advanced research, education and services to improve crop production, grain quality and the nutritional value of rice, IRRI SARC will also work with national partners to enhance farmers’ knowledge and income.
“This is a landmark moment for India and IRRI,” said IRRI Director General Matthew Morell. “This state-of-the-art rice research center will catalyze South-South collaboration, strengthen the research expertise and capacity of rice-growing countries in the region, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is only through the support of our network of global partners, such as the Government of India, that knowledge and innovations gained at this facility can be speedily tailored to meet needs of farmers in India, across South Asia, and across Africa.”