Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 22: One day “5th Annual Hill Rice Research Group Meeting” was held at SKUAST-J Chatha by Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR), Hyderabad in collaboration with All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Project on Rice (AICRP on Rice) group of SKUAST-Jammu.
The Group Meeting was organized under the patronage of Prof Pradeep K Sharma, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-J, who was chief guest in the inaugural session. The meeting was attended by Dr Dileep Kachroo, Registrar, SKUAST-Jammu; Dr L .V Subba Rao, Dr M S Prasad, Dr B Jhansi Rani and Dr Sri Devi from Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad; Rice scientists from J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, North Eastern States and senior faculty members of SKUAST-Jammu.
Professor P K Sharma highlighted the importance of rice crop in Northern hill zone of India. He opined that ecological variability in hills is very high which needs to be harvested for increasing crop yield and quality. He underlined the need to develop varieties specific for SRI, direct seeding and upland systems. He mentioned that in the era of climate change there is need to develop nutrient use efficient, water use efficient and short duration varieties.
Dr Anil Gupta, Professor & Incharge Scientist AICRP (Rice) presented introductory remarks. The focus of the meeting was to review the ongoing rice research activities in hill agro-ecology of India and to frame strategies for developing rice varieties and standardizing associated technologies for achieving higher yield levels.
Dr Subba Rao, Dr M S Prasad and Dr B Jhansi Rani outlined the status of rice research in the Hill Zone and enlisted some of the promising varieties and technologies in this regard.
Scientists from AICRP Centres at Khudwani (Kashmir), CSK HPKV Palampur, Malan (HP), Dualakaun (HP), Almora (UK) and North East States presented their research findings and suggested scientific interventions for proportion of hill rice. The group of scientists favoured establishment of a National Centre for Germplasm Screening against cold stress, promotion of japonica rice varieties and broadening of rice germplasm. It was observed that race profiling of pathogens in the hill region is very important. It was emphasized that local germplasm of rice should be evaluated across different centres to select for desirable traits.
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