Key Highlights:
₹12 crore Speed Breeding Facility launched at ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad
₹1.6 crore Modern Seed Godown also inaugurated
Goal: Faster rice variety development + better seed storage for farmers
Along with the Speed Breeding Facility, Dr. Jat also inaugurated a Modern Seed Godown built at a cost of ₹1.6 crore. Together, these two facilities are designed to accelerate the development of improved rice varieties with higher yields, better climate resilience, and greater stress tolerance.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Jat praised ICAR-IIRR for its significant contributions to rice research across India. He said the new infrastructure represents a critical step towards combining advanced scientific research with efficient seed systems — ultimately benefiting millions of farmers across the country.
The Speed Breeding Facility is expected to dramatically shorten crop breeding cycles, meaning scientists can now develop and test new rice varieties much faster than before. The Modern Seed Godown, on the other hand, will ensure safe storage and timely distribution of quality seeds to farmers when they need them most.
Dr. Jat also stressed that such investments are essential for building climate-resilient agriculture, improving farm productivity, and ensuring India’s nutritional security in the years ahead. He linked these efforts to the national vision of “Viksit Krishi for Viksit Bharat” — meaning developed agriculture for a developed India.
Dr. D. K. Yadava, Deputy Director General of Crop Sciences at ICAR, also addressed the gathering, underlining the importance of stronger research infrastructure in speeding up crop improvement and improving farmers’ access to quality seeds. He congratulated ICAR-IIRR for its sustained contributions to national food security through rice research.
ICAR-IIRR Director Dr. R. M. Sundaram presented the institute’s key achievements, ongoing research programmes, and future vision during the event. Dr. Jat later interacted with the scientific, technical, and administrative staff of the institute, acknowledging their dedication to advancing rice research in India.