Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective to promote research on rice. The MoU would help accelerate development in rice-based farming system as well as strengthen cooperation among Pakistani and IRRI scientists, a senior PARC official said on Monday.
He said that Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC, and Dr Achim Dobermann, DDGR (IRRI) Philippine signed the MoU. Under the MoU high priority would be given to varietals improvement for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses including germplams and breeding material exchange, germplasm collection and conservation; human resource development for the next generation of rice scientists and farmer intermediaries and extension professionals; development of good agronomic practices for varieties developed for the local rice-based production systems; and technology and information sharing and policy support, the official added.
