PM Inaugurates International Rice Research Institute

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI SARC) in Varanasi.

• It is the sixth campus of IRRI SARC. 
• The institute will complement the government's effort to double farmer's income by 2022.

What will IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI SARC) do?

• The education and training arm of IRRI SARC will educate scientists and agriculture leaders about the latest technologies and innovations for sustainable farming.
• The IRRI SARC will house laboratories for digital crop monitoring and assessment.
• IRRI SARC will house demonstration fields for testing various varieties of rice.
• IRRI SARC will also house Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA), which would be a suite of modern laboratories where rice grains are assessed for quality and nutritional value and sensory evaluations for grain taste, texture and aroma are conducted on-site facilities.

Significance of the IRRI SARC:

• It will serve as a hub for rice research and training in South Asia and SAARC region.
• The IRRI SARC will aid in improving crop production, seed quality and the nutritional value of rice.
• The Centre will work with national partners to enhance farmers' knowledge and income and deliver advanced research, teaching and services in the connection.
• IRRI SARC aims to improve livelihood and nutrition, abolishing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition among those countries which depend on rice-based agri-food systems.
• The Centre will help in utilizing the rich biodiversity of India to develop special rice varieties which will help India to achieve higher per hectare yields and improved nutritional contents.
• The Centre will support in adopting a value chain based production system in the country by reducing wastage, adding value and generating higher income for the farmers.

Question:

Q. Where has Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI SARC)?
a. Agra
b. Dehradun
c. Varanasi
d. Goa