Network Approach

Though research efforts on hybrid rice in India were initiated during 70s, but these were mostly of academic nature. There was no coordinated applied result oriented programme to develop, evaluate and release the hybrids and to develop seed production technology and adopt transfer of technology for popularization of hybrids.

Hence, in the project initiated in 1989, a national network approach was adopted by including all the concerned research institutions, public and private seed agencies and departments of agriculture of target states. Appropriate International organizations were also included for consultancy and training purposes. Effective linkages were established among all the agencies and the project was implemented involving all the partners in a coordinated and mission mode approach.

The hybrid rice research network consists of 12 centers across the country in the target states, with the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad as the coordinating centre. Each centre in the network is assigned specific responsibility such as developing basmati hybrid (New Delhi centre), developing hybrids for shallow lowland(Cuttack), developing long duration hybrids for Coastal region (Maruteru), development of two-line hybrids (DRR, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Pantnagar), development of inter sub-specific indica x tropical japonica hybrids (DRR, Hyderabad, Maruteru and Pantnagar). Other centers are developing region specific hybrids well adapted to their states/region.