By Lynette Kil
INTERNATIONAL Rice research institute (IRRI) will partner with PNG government to ensure the production of rice comes in both quality and quantity by involving integrated solutions.
IRRI Interim Director General Ajay Kohli who arrived in the country to signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the National Agriculture Institute and the Department of Agriculture recently said the institute has a long standing history with other rice exporting countries especially in the Asia Pacific Region and would ensure that PNG is self-sufficient in ten years.
“With the signing of the MoA, IRRI now decided to start work immediate with PNG to try and bring some of the rice variety including rice that are tolerant to rice diseases,” Kohli said.
“Signing the papers is only one thing, but let’s do the job, lets harvest the rice, when there is passion and drive nothing can stop you.”
He added that IRRI would also prioritize grain quality by implementing an integrated solution, which includes an effective irrigation system, integrating shrimp and fish farming into the rice paddy, and enhancing drought tolerance measures.
“The important aspect of rice is not only for consumption, but more importantly in to understand the baseline information on how to grow rice,” Kohli said.
He said IRRI will also invite its umbrella organisation the Consortium of International Agriculture Research Centres (CGIR) to do crop rotation which is part of the integrated solution.
“CGIR is the world largest global agricultural innovation network, it comprises of 15 international agriculture research centres, with more than 9000 scientists working in low and lower-middle income countries,” he said.
“IRRI is there to support you (PNG Government) all the way through with the passion and drive the PNG government has in Agriculture, there is no reason why PNG can have its own home grown rice and stop importing.”
Caption: Picture Supplied
