The Journey of All India Co-ordinate Rice Improvement Project started in 1965, with its head quarters at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The pre AICRIP Indian Rice Research system was isolated, in some research establishments and universities. The varied difference of opinion regarding the testing of first semi dwarf rice variety TN(1), in every major rice growing areas of India led to the establishment of first nationally coordinated rice improvement project with a fulltime coordinator. To begin with, AICRIP work was carried out at 22 network centers in 7zones each under the responsibility of a Zonal coordinator. Twelve regional stations viz, Palampur, Pantnagar, Kapurthala, Chinsurah, Sambalpur, Raipur, Maruteru, Karjat, Nawagam, Mandya, Aduthurai and Pattambi were established in the major rice growing states of the Country. Upper Shillong, Kalimpong and Imphal were identified as testing centers. 

Considering the Progress and future challenges, during fifth five year plan (1974-79), ICAR provided 23 additional centers, thus raising the number of 45. In order to meet the objective of technology development and evaluation, the AICRIP was elevated as the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) in April, 1983 with the added mandate of pursing research on irrigated rice for strengthening and stabilizing rice production in the country. During VI plant period (1980-85), 8 more sub centers were sanctioned raising the total to 53. There were total of 61 centers including 8 subject related special centers. In the VII plan period (1985-86 to 1989-90) the number of enters was reduced to 50 (18 main and 32 sub centers). During the VIII plan (1992-97), there were 51 approved centers of which six centers were withdrawn and Karnal center was erged with Kaul in the IX plan period (1997-2002). The total number of centers during X plan (2002-2007) increased to 46 with the approval of Kanpur and Nagina centers and to 47 during XI plan (2007-2012) with addition of Navsari in southern Gujarat in western India. During the ongoing XII plan (2012-2017), two enters viz., Karimganj and Sabour have been withdrawn. So, currently there are 45 funded centers, there are more than 100 voluntary centers where trials were conducted on voluntary basis in each discipline.    

DRR was upgraded to national institute status as ‘Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR)’ during the golden jubilee year, from 15thDecember 2014. The institute activities are aimed at accomplishing the vision, mission and mandate of IIRR keeping in view the “Farmer First” motive of ICAR.

 OUR GOAL

Welfare of the present and future generations to Indian rice farmers and consumers by en suring food and nutritional and Livelihood security

OUR MISSION

Develop technologies to enhance rice productivity, resource and input use efficiency and profitability of rice cultivation without adverse affect on the environment.

OUR MANDATE

Basic and strategic research for enhancing rice productivity under irrigated ecosystem

Coordination of multi-location testing to develop location specific varieties and technologies for various ecosystems

Dissemination of technologies, capacity building and establishing linkages

GOI Notification dated 20^th may, 2016 

Organising and participation in Farmers’ Day/Agri-Expo

IIRR has regularly organised farmers day and have participated in various Kisan melas and farmers' fairs organised by other organisation to popularize the rice production technologies. In such events various stakeholders like farmers, extension officials, scientists and students visit and were acquainted about the performance of various rice production technologies. IIRR has organized and participated in the following events and the details are given below. 

Tribal Sub Plan

During last five years, overall 1,250 tribal farm families were supported with critical inputs and technical know-how to enhance their livelihood through rice related technological interventions. These programmes were mostly implemented in the tribal dominated districts of Telangana state. The off-campus training gave them the first hand information to adopt the latest technological interventions to break the yield barriers. The table presented below give the clear details about the number of demonstrations, technological interventions and the critical inputs distributed them year wise. 

Media Co-ordination 

During last five years under report, Co-ordinated the radio talk and doordarshan programs for IIRR scientists. Every year more than 10 scientific talks were delivered by rice scientists of IIRR on various aspects of rice production technology through All India Radio, Hyderabad station. The talks were delivered during the cropping seasons of both kharif and rabi seasons. 

Kisan Call Centre

Kisan Call Centre was started by the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India at the National level with a view to leverage the telecom infrastructure in the country to deliver extension services to the farming community. The purpose of the Kisan call centre is mainly to respond to issues raised by farmer's instantly in local language on a continuous basis through toll free phone No 1551. IIRR as a level II centre has been answering to AP farmers on various aspects of rice production technologies whenever clarification and suggestions were requested and suitable information were provided by the scientists of IIRR.

Mobile Agri-Clinic Program

Mobile Agri-clinic program was officially inaugurated on 18th  November, 2016 by honourable Union Minister of Labour, Shree Bandaru Dattatreya. The Mobile Agri-Clinic program aims at directly benefiting the farmers of Telangana. This is a modest beginning to serve the farming community directly and to take up the practically applicable technologies/knowledge to farmers’ doorsteps.

As a part of this program, a Mobile van with state of art facilities (soil testing kit, seed samples, information standees, brochures, health care products etc.,) has been put into operation. A multi disciplinary team of 3-4 scientists visited different villages and interacted with the farmers. The program was planned in collaboration with PJT State Agricultural University, State department of Agriculture, ATAARI, KVKs and several NGOs.

During  2016-17, 49 villages were covered with direct out-reach to 1,568 farmers. During the field visits, 833 soil samples tested, 212 plant samples were diagnosed for different biotic and abiotic stresses, 21 on site crop management trainings conducted with the involvement of 92 officials from SAU/DAATTC/ KVKs/NGOs/SDA.  

Frontline Demonstration 

The extension principle of “Seeing is believing” is very well epitomized at IIRR. Organization of FLDs on newly released varieties/technologies is a very useful  strategy for their popularization, and thereby helping to enhance the production and productivity of rice in the country. IIRR coordinates the Rice frontline demonstration which is organized every year all over the country demonstrating suitable elite cultivars and appropriate crop management technologies in farmers’ fields in association with SAU’s and state department of agriculture. It is sponsored under NFSM scheme of Ministry of Agriculture. During last five year, about 3,014 FLDs of 1 hectare each have been conducted.   

ICAR-IIRR Registered Genetic Stocks with NBPGR

ICAR-IIRR Varieties and hybrids available for Commercialization through Licensing

Rice Based Products

List of MOAs signed IIRR

MOUs signed IIRR

ICAR- IIRR Copy Rights registered