International rice researchers visit Meghalaya

Shillong, Feb 25 : A team of experts from the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) visited state's rice growing areas to improve its production and there by up-scaling farmers' income. "The visit is part of a mapping exercise of rice growing areas with the objective of increasing productivity by several times, ideally under organic conditions," Julian A Lapitan, IRRI senior research fellow, said. Led by Lapitan, a team of four experts from IRRI concluded their four-day tour of the state yesterday after visiting places like Resubelpara in Garo Hills, Ri-Bhoi and rice fields of Jaintia Hills district. "We interacted with farmers through which we, at IRRI, would try and evolve a successful technology to suit local needs in the state," Lapitan told PTI. The team also visited the the Central Agriculture University and the research complex of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research in the state. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had met IRRI officials during his visit to Philippines last December. Meghalaya is an agricultural state with about 80 per cent of its total population depending entirely on agriculture for their livelihood.