Varanasi: A delegation from the department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, led by state nodal officer and additional director of agriculture, Atul Dogra, visited International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi to review ongoing research and technological innovations supporting sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.The visit included discussions on the ongoing natural farming and climate-resilient agriculture project in Himachal Pradesh, led by Panneerselvam Peramaiyan. The delegation engaged with IRRI scientists to understand the progress of the project and explore opportunities for applying research-based solutions in the state’s agricultural systems.The delegation toured ISARC’s Geospatial Lab, Computational Biology Lab, EdTech Studio, Plant and Soil Lab, Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) Labs, Speed Breed Facility, and Mechanization and Post-Harvest Unit. The visits provided an overview of IRRI’s scientific and technological capabilities in digital learning, plant and soil sciences, mechanization, post-harvest management, and rice value addition.The delegation also visited the ISARC farm area, where they observed field-based research activities, including natural farming practices, varietal cafeteria trials, and direct-seeded rice systems. The visit concluded with technical discussions with the IRRI scientists, focusing on agricultural research, innovative technologies, and their potential application in the context of Himachal Pradesh.
