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UNDP okays Rs 100 m aid for hybrid rice project

The United Nations Development Programme will provide India a new grant assistance of $ 2.55 million dollars (over Rs 100 million) to support further development and largescale adoption of hyrid rice technology.

The new assistance is part of the Food Security Programme supported by the UNDP and will be implemented over a three-year period by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad.

The UNDP had earlier extended financial assistance to India for initial development of hybrid rice which yields about 50 per cent higher than the best high-yielding rice varieties.

For the successful large-scale adoption of the now proven hybrid rice technology, a strong research base supported by systematic and well-planned seed production and equally effective transfer of technology efforts are cited to be necessary. The UNDP assistance is to harmonise integration of these three components.

The activities of the UNDP supported programme will be carried out at 12 research centres spread across the country. Public and private sector seed agencies, departments of agriculture in participating states, ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendras and non-governmental organisations will be actively involved in the hybrid rice seed production and technology transfer operations.

UNI

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