Nepal-IRRI to sign deal

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, NOV 12 -

The Nepal government and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are to sign an agreement to collaborate in rice research and rice technology development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives had submitted a proposal in this regard to the council of ministers that was approved by its bill committee on Oct. 27. The committee has also approved the memorandum of understanding signed between IRRI and the government. The secretary of the Agriculture Ministry and the director general of IRRI signed the memorandum on behalf of their respective organizations. According to a ministry official, the two sides will hold a discussion on the agenda and fix the date for the signing.

As per the proposed pact, the collaboration term will last for five years which can be renewed, the official said. “Collaboration with IRRI will be a milestone in research on Nepali rice and its development,” said ministry spokesperson Hari Dahal. He added that it would also contribute to formulating a rice policy in Nepal. Nepal is in the 17th place among the world’s rice producing countries. Last year, rice output amounted to 4.5 million tons. However, the country faces a rice deficit of 316,000 tons, said the Agriculture Ministry.