India: Research and extension workers get training on technology transfer systems

A 4-day training workshop, Rice technology transfer system (RTTS) for stress-prone environments in South Asia, was held jointly by IRRI and the Faculty of Agriculture of Annamalai University in India.

Twenty-five researchers and extension workers from Bangladesh, Nepal, and India participated in the workshop, which was held at the Annamalai University campus in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, on 29 April–2 May 2013.

R.M. Kathiresan, dean of the university's Faculty of Agriculture, cited improved dissemination of rice technology among farmers and quality seed production as crucial for successful adoption of a rice variety.

U.S. Singh, regional coordinator for South Asia of the Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project, reported that IRRI is developing new genotypes that can sustain multiple stresses and transferring the stress-tolerant gene in the background of popular varieties to stabilize rice productivity in stress-prone areas covered by the project. He also reported that Swarna-Sub1 was overwhelmingly successful in Tamil Nadu, while CR1009-Sub1 and Samba Mahsuri-Sub1 will soon be introduced in the state.

Julian Lapitan, manager of IRRI's National Programs Relations and coordinator of the training, said that dissemination and transfer of affordable and sustainable technologies need speeding up in order to improve productivity of farmers.

Seeds of the newly released variety CR1009-Sub1 was distributed to more than 20 farmers from nearby areas during the event.


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