The Indian Institute of Rice Research (formerly Directorate of Rice Research) is organising the 50th annual group meeting here on Sunday. Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya will inaugurate the meeting at the IIRR auditorium at Rajendranagar.

Over 500 rice scientists from different national institutes and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, the Philippines) would discuss various issues related to rice research.

“The workshop is being held to review the work done across the country in the field of rice research during 2014-15. It will prepare an action plan for 2015-16,” V Ravindra Babu, Project Director of IIRR, has said.

The IIRR coordinates multi-disciplinary and multi-location testing of seed varieties, crop management and crop protection technologies in different ecosystems for increasing and stabilising rice production. About 50 funded centres are involved in the process.

The coordinated research efforts resulted in the development of 1,100 varieties, including 75 hybrids, during the 50-year-journey.

“The five-day event will bring together hundreds of rice scientists in the public and private sector, farmers and other stakeholders to discuss issues related to rice research,” he said.

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