Over 600 farmers to attend IIRR's Farmers' Day

Hyderabad, Nov 6 (INN): The Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) is organising the Farmers' Day on Saturday at Rajendranagar premises.

Approximately 600 rice farmers representing the Telangana state will take active part in this mega event. Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattareya will be the Chief Guest of this function. Legislative Council Chairman K. Swami Goud, MLA T Prakash Goud and senior official sof Telangana Government will attend the function.

The IIRR, Hyderabad has been playing a key role in developing sustainable rice production technologies to enhance the productivity, livelihood, resource and input use efficiency and profitability of rice cultivation without adversely affecting the agricultural environment. Over the years, novel and improved agro-technologies and problem solving innovative products by the rice scientists have been immensely benefitted the Indian rice farmers as well as rice sector.

The Indian Institute of Rice Research will display the profitable and sustainable rice technologies to the farmers. IIRR rice variety Improved Samba Mahsuri sample seed pockets will be given to all the farmers at a nominal price of ten rupees. This variety is 100% resistant to bacterial leaf blight and a high yielder. Rice related literature in Telugu language will be distributed to all the farmers. On this occasion, five innovative rice farmers will be felicitated and they will be asked to explain their achievements to the gathering.

The farmers have been requested to bring the soil samples from their fields and these samples will be analysed immediately with the help of IIRR developed soil testing kit and soil health card will be distributed to the farmers instantly. Approximately 15 private agro-input companies, ICAR Institutes and ANGRAU will be installing their exhibition-cum-sale counters to help the famers.

The major themes on which the IIRR developed technologies will be demonstrated and displayed in this function are water saving technologies, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, useful and harmful insect pests of rice, improved high yielding varieties and hybrids, seed production, labour saving technologies, small scale mechanization in rice farming and sustainable rice production practices. A question -answer session will also be held to clarify the doubts raised by the rice farmers.