IRRI DG Zeigler meets with Indian agriculture minister

IRRI DG Bob Zeigler (right) meets with Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

During his recent visit to India, IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler had an audience with Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar, during which he apprised the minister of recent developments in rice research at IRRI and the support extended by IRRI to the Government of Assam during a recent flooding in the state.
The DG also extended an invitation for Mr. Pawar to visit IRRI in the near future, which the minister accepted in appreciation of IRRI's contributions in India. 

Dr. Zeigler was accompanied by J.K. Ladha, U.S. Singh, and M.S. Rao during the meeting with the minister held on 12 September 2012. S. Ayyappan, secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, was also present. 

The day before their meeting, Dr. Zeigler also met with various officials of the agriculture ministry to share his views on various concerns related to rice and converse with them.

Mr. Ashish Bahuguna, on behalf of the other ministry representatives, acknowledged the IRRI-India partnership, particularly the great success of IRRI-bred stress-tolerant rice varieties.


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