IRRI South Asia Regional Centre

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IRRI South Asia Regional Centre is a state-of-the-art scientific research facility that supports research collaboration, training, and service provision to institutions, scientists, and other stakeholders from South Asian and African nations

Scaling climate-smart mechanized solutions for rice–wheat systems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh IRRI, through the CGIAR-suppo...
15/06/2026

Scaling climate-smart mechanized solutions for rice–wheat systems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

IRRI, through the CGIAR-supported Scaling for Impact (S4I) initiative, organized an Innovation Package and Scaling Readiness (IPSR) Workshop at ISARC, Varanasi, bringing together stakeholders from government, research, development, and private sectors to assess pathways for scaling climate-smart mechanized technologies in rice–wheat systems.

The workshop focused on accelerating the adoption of Mechanized Direct-Seeded Rice (mDSR) and Zero-Till Wheat (ZTW) to address labor shortages, rising cost of cultivation, water scarcity, and climate-related challenges while improving productivity, profitability, and resilience for smallholder farmers in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Participants identified key enablers for scaling, including supportive policies, mechanization service delivery, financing, market linkages, capacity building, and institutional partnerships. A field visit to Barahani village, Chandauli, showcased the benefits of mDSR, with farmers highlighting reduced water use, reduced cost of cultivation, and timely wheat sowing.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from the Department of Agriculture (DoA), NABARD, BHU, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Bayer, ITC, KVKs, Mahayogi Gorakhnath University, FAARD Foundation, UPDASP, Savannah Seeds, Gramin Development Society Bahraich, Umang Sunera Samiti, private service providers (PSPs), women self-help groups, farmer groups, and IRRI teams to develop a shared roadmap for scaling climate-smart and resource-efficient rice–wheat production systems across Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

CGIAR IRRI

A delegation led by Nitiranjan Sen, Managing Director of the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), along with senior of...
08/06/2026

A delegation led by Nitiranjan Sen, Managing Director of the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), along with senior officials from Odisha, visited the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi, to learn about the Centre's research advancements and seed system development in rice-based agri-food systems.

During the visit, the delegation toured ISARC's key research and innovation facilities, including the Centre of Excellence in Rice Value addition (CERVA) Labs, Plant & Soil Lab, GIS Lab, Edutech Labs, Speed Breeding Facility, Mechanization Hub, and Computational Biology Lab, and interacted with scientists and experts to gain insights into cutting-edge research, advanced breeding technologies, seed systems, digital innovations, geospatial applications, and mechanization solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

The visit provided a platform for knowledge exchange and discussions on strengthening seed systems, especially for climate-resilient and healthier rice, rice value addition, fostering innovation, and accelerating the adoption of improved technologies to support resilient and farmer-centric agricultural development in Odisha.

In India, farmers can grow rice with less water, less labor, and a smaller climate footprint without sacrificing yield a...
04/06/2026

In India, farmers can grow rice with less water, less labor, and a smaller climate footprint without sacrificing yield as two new rice varieties developed specifically for dry direct-seeded rice (DSR) systems—DRR Dhan 92 and CR Dhan 217—have been identified for release.

Developed through advanced genomic-assisted breeding, these new varieties combine more than 19 traits linked to stronger crop establishment, stress tolerance, resilience, and grain quality.

🌾 DRR Dhan 92 yielded 18% more grain than the widely grown MTU 1010 under direct-seeded conditions.
🌾 CR Dhan 217 delivered average yields of 5.9 t/ha, reaching as high as 8.7 t/ha under favorable conditions.

After three years of national testing across diverse environments, the varieties have demonstrated the consistent performance needed to help farmers confidently transition to DSR systems.

Learn more here: bit.ly/43GFydE
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India PMO India Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Advancing climate-smart and resilient rice-based farming systems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The World Bank Implementation...
04/06/2026

Advancing climate-smart and resilient rice-based farming systems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The World Bank Implementation Support Mission visited UPAGREES project intervention sites in Dhanapur block, Chandauli district, to review ongoing Kharif 2026 field activities under climate-resilient rice-based cropping systems.

The delegation observed field demonstrations on mechanized Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), rice nursery enterprise development, and soil health management interventions aimed at improving system productivity, enhancing resource-use efficiency, reducing cultivation costs, and strengthening climate resilience.

Discussions focused on scaling climate-smart technologies, promoting scientific crop management practices, improving soil health, supporting farmer capacity building, and accelerating the adoption of sustainable rice production systems across Uttar Pradesh.

The visit highlighted the collaborative efforts of UPDASP, IRRI, and the Department of Agriculture in promoting sustainable agricultural technologies and strengthening resilient rice-based cropping systems across Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Strengthening climate-smart and resilient rice-based farming systems in Uttar Pradesh. The World Bank Implementation Sup...
04/06/2026

Strengthening climate-smart and resilient rice-based farming systems in Uttar Pradesh.

The World Bank Implementation Support Mission visited UPAGREES project intervention sites at Gajpatipur village, Tejwapur block, Bahraich, to review ongoing Kharif 2026 field activities under climate-resilient rice-based cropping systems.

The delegation observed demonstrations on laser land levelling, mechanized Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), and mechanized weeding operations aimed at improving resource-use efficiency, reducing labour dependence, reducing the cost of cultivation, and enhancing climate resilience in rice farming.

Discussions with farmers focused on soil health management, using balanced nutrients, sustainable crop management practices, and scaling climate-smart technologies to improve productivity and profitability. Beneficiary farmers also shared their experiences of cultivating DSR and its potential to address labour scarcity while improving farm productivity.

The visit highlighted the collaborative efforts of UPDASP, IRRI, and the Department of Agriculture in accelerating the adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies and strengthening resilient rice-based cropping systems across Uttar Pradesh.

As the 2026 monsoon season approaches, preparedness remains key to building resilient farming communities and reducing c...
03/06/2026

As the 2026 monsoon season approaches, preparedness remains key to building resilient farming communities and reducing climate-related risks.

Navigating the 2026 Monsoon: FPO Preparedness for the Kharif Season, organized by Friends of Women's World Banking, brought together experts from the agriculture and climate resilience sectors to discuss strategies for strengthening Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) readiness amid evolving monsoon patterns and climate uncertainties.

Representing IRRI, Dr. Swati Nayak shared insights on the major challenges farmers faced during the last Kharif season and highlighted the importance of climate-resilient practices, informed decision-making, and proactive planning to help farmers navigate increasingly variable weather conditions.

Advancing climate-smart rice farming in Uttar Pradesh. ISARC, in coordination with Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture...
29/05/2026

Advancing climate-smart rice farming in Uttar Pradesh.

ISARC, in coordination with Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project (UPDASP) and Department of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, jointly facilitated a cluster-level field day at Varanasi district under the World Bank-supported Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UPAGREES) project.

The delegation visited the DSR cluster demonstration fields at Ghosila village, Sewapuri block, where laser land levelling and mechanized Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) sowing operations were demonstrated to promote climate-smart and resource-efficient rice cultivation.

Discussions focused on scaling climate-resilient technologies, strengthening agricultural mechanization, improving water-use efficiency, reducing cultivation costs, and promoting sustainable rice-based farming systems across Uttar Pradesh.

The delegation also visited ISARC facilities and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Varanasi, to review ongoing research, farmer outreach, and capacity-building activities under the UPAGREES program.

Read more: bit.ly/4dOzQev

A high-level delegation led by Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Fa...
30/04/2026

A high-level delegation led by Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, visited IRRI South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi to strengthen collaboration on digital agriculture, rice value chains, and climate-resilient farming.

The visit featured the inauguration of a GIS-based workshop on optimizing agricultural land use and rice fallow in Odisha, bringing together government officials for capacity building on data-driven agricultural planning.

The delegation engaged with IRRI scientists, reviewed ongoing initiatives, and toured ISARC’s advanced research facilities, including CERVA, GIS systems, SpeedBreed facility, mechanization hub, and the agri-business value addition technologies. The discussions, attended by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Additional Secretary, and Joint Director, focused on scaling geospatial solutions and improving farmer livelihoods.

A comprehensive review meeting under the chairmanship of Commissioner cm Secretary of DAFE, Govt of Odisha was also held on the Promoting SHG-Led Entrepreneurship through Value Addition with the project team.

Frontline extension staff are emerging as a critical force in advancing climate-smart agriculture in eastern Uttar Prade...
27/04/2026

Frontline extension staff are emerging as a critical force in advancing climate-smart agriculture in eastern Uttar Pradesh, as IRRI strengthened frontline capacity through hands-on training under the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UPAGREES) project.

Held at ISARC, the training aimed to strengthen the technical and operational capacity of project staff implementation on the ground. The World Bank-supported UPAGREES project aims to strengthen the rice–wheat farming system in eastern Uttar Pradesh by promoting sustainable practices, improving efficiency, and supporting farmer livelihoods.

Read more: bit.ly/4tyoSQS

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IRRI South Asia Regional Cent
Varanasi
221106

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Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

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