IRRI, Jain Irrigation sign MoU on water efficient irrigation

NEW DELHI: IRRI on Friday entered into a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) with JISL for collaborative research and adaptive field trials on paddy using micro irrigation. Jain Irrigation will closely work with IRRI’s scientists to determine optimal irrigation and fertigation systems for irrigated rice and wheat.

India alone has 43.8 million hectares of irrigated rice paddies. Research by Jain Irrigation indicates that drip technology can reduce water use and maintain yields in many crops. Now, Jain Irrigation and IRRI want to determine if drip irrigation can do the same in rice. If so, it could be a promising technology to address dwindling water availability and increasing demands on irrigation water.

MoU Highlights:

Jain Irrigation and IRRI will jointly conduct research to investigate drip irrigation in rice paddies to determine if and how it can improve water-use efficiency and maintain yields.

This is the 1st time IRRI is experimenting with drip irrigation for paddy cultivation.

Jain Irrigation and IRRI hope that the project will lead to new ways to ensure water and food security.

Drip irrigation is a tool that can reduce water use and at the same time increase yield and quality of the crop produce; a win-win situation.

JISL is one of the world’s largest Micro-Irrigation manufacturers. IRRI, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is a nonprofit independent organization that, through rice research aims to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure that rice production is environmentally sustainable.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Dr Robert Zeigler, Director General, IRRI.