Varanasi: The two-day national policy dialogue, ‘Repurposing Rice Policies for Sustainable and Resilient Systems in India: Lessons and Priorities,’ jointly organised by the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), concluded on Sunday at ISARC, Varanasi. Advisor to the UP chief minister Awanish Kumar Awasthi highlighted the critical role of innovation and policy support in strengthening the agricultural sector as part of the state’s vision of building a USD 1 trillion economy. He emphasised the importance of promoting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) to enhance productivity, conserve water, and improve resource efficiency. He noted that the state govt plans to scale up DSR adoption through mechanisation and encouraged experts to provide actionable recommendations to support sustainable rice systems in Uttar Pradesh.Addressing the closing ceremony, former director ICAR-IARI Padma Shri A K Singh emphasised the importance of timely water availability and promoting improved technologies to support rice farmers. He also highlighted the strong potential of Basmati cultivation in Uttar Pradesh to enhance farmers’ income and strengthen the state’s rice sector.Director, ISARC, Sudhanshu Singh welcomed the guests and participants. He emphasised that the deliberations would contribute to strengthening sustainable and resilient rice systems.
