Hyderabad-based Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) has launched three network projects this month on rice management, functional genomics and molecular breeding to be implemented at a cost of Rs 18 crore.
According to DRR director BC Viraktamath, the Rice Knowledge Management Portal, the first of these projects, was being funded by the National Agricultural Innovation Project. It is aimed at developing a single highway information system on rice. The network project comprising 8 collaborative partners and 20 rice research centres has a budget of Rs 5.87 crore.
On the other hand, the project on functional genomics is being funded by the Department of Biotechnology. It involves participation of 13 research centres in seven institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, state agricultural universities, Council of Scientific and industrial Research and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. The budget outlay for this project is Rs 9.34 crore.
The project on molecular breeding is being funded by DBT and involves 9 research centres. It aims to develop biotic stress-resistant rice. The project is being implemented at a cost of Rs 4.34 crore.
