MoU signed between Assam Agricultural University-Assam Rice Research Institute and ICAR-National Rice Research Institute

JORHAT: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was held between the Assam Agricultural University-Assam Rice Research Institute (AAU-ARRI) and ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI) on Thursday for the development of joint scientific collaborative research, scientific technologies, publications and academics between both the institutes.

AAU- Assam Rice Research Institute Regional Agricultural Research Station, Titabar, Jorhat is one of the premier institutes under the administrative control of Assam Agricultural University that principally dedicates in rice research. The improvement of rice and rice-based cropping system for the uplift of rice producers and traders across Assam is the major mandate of the institute. The institute plays a key role in the development of high yielding rice varieties that are widely popular across the state. So far, the institute has developed more than 45 high yielding rice varieties which include popular varieties like Ranjit, Ranjit-Sub-1, Bahadur, Bahadur-Sub-1, Gitesh, Luit, Kapilee, Disang, Numoli, Shraboni, Dholi and so on.

In 2021, the station also developed a high-yielding purple rice variety namely Labanya which is diabetic friendly, easy to cook and is high in antioxidants and fibre. Apart from that, AAU-ARRI also collects and maintains around 7,000 germplasm of different categories out of which around 3,000 are indigenous rice cultivars. The institute was established in November 26, 1923 and is celebrating its centenary this year in 2023.

ICAR- National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, on the other hand, is a pioneer institute of ICAR under Crop Science Division that primarily carries out research on rice crop on both conventional and frontier areas for the benefit of rice growers/producers and traders across India. The mandate of ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack is to generate technologies through interdisciplinary research on rice and to disseminate these technologies to the farmers situated at various agro-ecological zones of India. The institute also emphasizes on the collection, evaluation, conservation and exchange of rice germplasm.

This collaboration between AAU-ARRI, Jorhat and ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack is one of its kind and will bring about the generation and promotion of several new technologies/ varieties, high impact scientific publications arising from collaborative work between both the institutes. This collaboration will also help in the exchange of rice germplasm between both the institutes. Apart from that, this agreement between AAU-ARRI and ICAR-NRRI will also lead towards students and faculty/resource person exchange programmes, participation of the faculty members, students and research scholars in the courses, conferences, seminars, etc. and also organization of joint academic programs between the institutes.

The MoU was signed by Dr AK Nayak, Director, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack and Dr Mrinal Saikia, Director of Research (i/c), AAU, in presence of various dignitaries. In this programme, Dr Bidyut Chandan Deka, Vice Chancellor, AAU, also delivered a valuable speech on ‘Transformation of NARES System into Agribusiness platform: AAU model to emulate’.

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