{
    "title": "Government of Odisha and ICRISAT Sign MoU for Four RKVY Projects to Strengthen Seed Systems and Promote Climate-Resilient Agriculture ",
    "modified_at": "2026-09-23 12:44:00",
    "published_at": "2026-08-31 15:30:00",
    "url": "https://pressroom.icrisat.org/government-of-odisha-and-icrisat-sign-mou-for-four-rkvy-projects-to-strengthen-seed-systems-and-promote-climate-resilient-agriculture",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/JFNd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "The Department of Agriculture & Farmers\u2019 Empowerment, Government of Odisha, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for implementing four RKVY-DPR projects focused on strengthening seed systems on 28 August 2026. ",
    "slug": "government-of-odisha-and-icrisat-sign-mou-for-four-rkvy-projects-to-strengthen-seed-systems-and-promote-climate-resilient-agriculture",
    "body": "<p>The MoU was exchanged between <strong>Shri Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture &amp; Food Production, Department of Agriculture &amp; Farmers&rsquo; Empowerment (DA&amp;FE), Government of Odisha</strong>, and <strong>Dr Manzoor Dar, Principal Scientist and Global Head &ndash; Seed Systems and Delivery, ICRISAT</strong>, in the presence of <strong>Hon&rsquo;ble Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Agriculture Minister of Odisha, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo; Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture, Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav; Chief Postmaster General (CPMG), Shri Nirmaljit Singh; Director of Horticulture, Shri Kalunge Gorakh Waman</strong>, and other senior officials.</p><p>The partnership aims to <strong>increase pulse and oilseed production and promote crop diversification in Odisha</strong> by combining the Government&rsquo;s efforts in agricultural development with <strong>ICRISAT&rsquo;s scientific expertise, technical knowledge and experience in seed systems</strong>. The collaboration will support the development and adoption of improved approaches to strengthen crop production and contribute to more diversified and resilient agricultural systems across the state.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The four projects covered under the MoU are: </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Strengthening Seed Systems of Pulses and Oilseeds (Greengram, Blackgram, Niger and Sesame) in Odisha </span></li><li><span>Atmanirbhar Odisha in Pulses through Enhanced Seed Systems for Lentil, Fieldpea and Pigeonpea </span></li><li><span>Developing Self-Sufficiency in Chickpea Seed Production and Delivery to Enhance Crop Diversification in Odisha </span></li><li><span>Speed Breeding in Pulses for Faster Delivery of Climate-Resilient Varieties in Odisha State </span></li></ul>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/16c16160-09ec-4cb2-a13f-20e7caab9628/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-16c16160-09ec-4cb2-a13f-20e7caab9628\"\n                data-id=\"16c16160-09ec-4cb2-a13f-20e7caab9628\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/16c16160-09ec-4cb2-a13f-20e7caab9628/-/inline/no/FB_IMG_1787924791773.jpg.jpeg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/16c16160-09ec-4cb2-a13f-20e7caab9628/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>Following the exchange of the MoU, Dr Manzoor Dar, Principal Scientist and Global Head &ndash; Seed Systems and Delivery, ICRISAT, presented an overview of the proposed interventions. These include the deployment of improved technologies, innovative approaches to seed production, and measures to enhance farmers&rsquo; access to quality, climate-resilient seeds.</p><p>The partnership will also support Odisha&rsquo;s broader efforts towards self-sufficiency in pulse seed production, crop diversification, and faster access to improved, climate-resilient varieties for farmers.</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-ddaadfb3-3b7b-43f3-adac-536fc3da5d65\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/9a54d1b8-b32d-4ad1-8b4a-e36cdd6771f8/-/crop/185x185/0,1/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Parkavi Kumar\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Parkavi Kumar</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Senior Communications Specialist &ndash; Asia</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+91 (40) 30713296\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+91 (40) 30713296\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>+91 (40) 30713296</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.icrisat.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"icrisat.org\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>icrisat.org</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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    "contacts": [
        {
            "name": "Parkavi Kumar",
            "company": null,
            "description": "Senior Communications Specialist \u2013 Asia",
            "email": "parkavi.kumar@icrisat.org",
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