Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented two Indian rice seed varieties to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) gene bank in Los Banos near the Philippines capital of Manila.
“A contribution from India to IRRI…presented two Indian rice seed varieties to the IRRI gene bank,” Modi, who is attending the ASEAN Summit said.
At the IRRI, the prime minister saw a detailed exhibition on rice varieties and the impressive work done by institute with women farming cooperatives and also interacted with Indian scientists, students, researchers working there.
“India’s ICAR and IRRI have been cooperating for four decades. India is also involved in helping IRRI in strategic planning, helping decide key goals and working to overcome hunger as well as poverty,” he tweeted.
“My visit to International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was a great learning experience. Saw the exceptional work IRRI is doing towards mitigating poverty and hunger by improving rice cultivation. Their work benefits many farmers and consumers, particularly in Asia and Africa,” he said in another tweet.
India is also setting up a regional centre of the IRRI in Varanasi, the Prime Minister’s constituency, to develop high-yielding rice varieties.
The IRRI, which has offices in 17 countries, is known for its work in developing rice varieties that contributed to the Green Revolution in 1960s.
PM Modi arrived in Manila on Sunday for the 15th India-Asean Summit, the 12th East Asia Summit and his bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Dutertethe.
This year marks the 25th year of the India-Asean dialogue partnership and the golden jubilee of the formation of the Asean regional bloc.
The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.