“Rice Walk” organized at ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack
ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack organized “Rice Walk: Walk with Rice, Know Your Rice” programme on 13th November, 2019. Over 1500 students & teachers (from 15 schools in and around Cuttack-Bhubaneswar twin city), farmers, scientists from ICAR institutes & centres, state government officials, institute staff, family members and general public participated in the Walk. Director of the Institute Dr. Himanshu Pathak inaugurated the Rice Walk and expressed that the purpose of this unique event is exhibiting NRRI technologies, farm and laboratories to raise awareness about rice among the students and general public. He also released an extension bulletin entitled “Know Your Rice” encompassing all major field and lab research activities and achievements of the institute for distribution to all students and visitors.
The participants visited the Institute Research Farm of about 200 acres with full growncrops of newly developed high yielding rice varieties. The visitors were guided and explained by the scientists of the institute during the Walk. They were exposed to the development of rice varieties, rice varietal cafeteria and other agro-technologies related to rice production, plant protection, bio-fortification (high protein rice), climate smart rice with tolerance to both drought & submergence, hybrid rice, rice-fish integrated farming system models, resource conservation techniques, farm mechanization, agro-met observatory, seed processing, enhancing rice quality, crop physiology and micro-environment. The participants also visited the institute rice Museum, rice Gene Bank with collection of over 35,000 rice germplasms and various laboratories of the institute and at end, enjoyed a brief documentary film on the institute.
All the students, teachers and other visitors were found very excited and enthusiastic in learning the science behind rice research and development, and various significant contributions of this world’s first rice research institute in alleviating hunger from the country and ensuring food and nutritional security. They expressed that similar programme should be observed every year for the benefit of all. The event was coordinated by Dr. S.K. Mishra, Principal Scientist and Dr. Rahul Tripathi, Senior Scientist, NRRI, Cuttack.
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| Director Dr Himanshu Pathak inaugurating the Rice Walk | Students listening to the Director about the purpose of the Rice Walk |
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| School children visiting the institute research farm under the guidance of scientists | Students gaining experiences in the institute varietal cafeteria |
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| Students being clarified on various queries by scientists | Students being explained about the Integrated Farming Systems |
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| Students visiting inside NRRI Museum | Farmers and farmwomen visiting various experimental plots |